"^Nori  fs^i        Pharmaceutical  Colleges,  etc.  517 
for  nickel-plating,  by  the  action  of  zinc  upon  salts  of  nickel  in  the  presence  of 
chloride  of  zinc  and  the  metal  to  be  coated.  By  this  process,  the  author  in- 
forms us,  he  has  succeeded  in  plating  objects  of  wrought  and  cast-iron,  steel  cop- 
per, brass,  zinc  and  lead.  It  is  only  necessary  that  the  size  of  the  objects 
should  permit  them  to  be  covered  entirely  by  the  plating  liquid,  and  that  their 
surfaces  should  be  free  from  rust  or  grease.  The  following  is  the  modus  oper- 
andi : 
A  quantity  of  concentrated  chloride  of  zinc  solution  is  placed  in  a  cleaned 
metallic  vessel,  and  to  this  is  added  an  equal  volume  of  water.  This  is  heated  to 
boiling,  and  hydrochloric  acid  is  added,  drop  by  drop,  until  the  precipitate 
which  had  formed  on  adding  water  has  disappeared.  A  small  quantity  of  zinc 
powder  is  now  added,  which  produces  a  zinc  coating  on  the  metal  as  far  as  the 
liquid  extends.  Enough  of  the  nickel  salt  (the  chloride  or  sulphate  answer 
equally  well)  is  now  introduced  to  color  the  liquid  distinctly  green  ;  the  objects 
to  be  plated  are  placed  in  it,  together  with  some  zinc  clippings,  and  the  liquid 
is  brought  to  boiling. 
The  nickel  is  very  soon  precipitated,  and  in  course  of  fifteen  minutes,  if  the 
work  has  been  properly  performed,  the  objects  will  be  found  completely  coated. 
The  coating  will  vary  in  lustre  with  the  character  of  the  metallic  surface ; 
where  this  is  polished  the  plating  will  he  likewise  lustrous,  and  vice  versa. 
Yarying  the  process  by  the  addition  of  a  salt  of  cobalt,  instead  of  nickel, 
will  afford  a  cobalt  plating,  which,  the  author  informs  us.  is  steel  grey  in  color, 
less  lustrous  and  more  liable  to  tarnish  than  the  nickel. — Journ.  Frank.  Inst., 
Oct.,  1871. 
The  Chicago  College  of  Pharmacy  has  lost  everything  it  possessed,  during 
the  late  disastrous  fire,  with  the  sole  exception  of  its  members.  The  cabinets, 
the  library,  the  furniture  of  their  hall,  the  "  Pharmacist,"  even  the  private 
collections  and  apparatus  of  the  Professors  at  the  time  stored  in  the  building, 
have  been  burned.  The  course  of  lectures  had  been  opened  in  the  first  week 
of  October,  and  the  prospects  were  bright  for  a  full  class,  when  the  conflagra- 
tion destroyed  in  a  few  minutes  what  had  cost  years  of  labor  to  build  up.  It  is 
possible  that,  notwithstanding  the  calamity,  the  lectures  may  be  resumed  again 
during  this  winter;  but,  to  assist  the  College  and,  if  possible,  to  help  the 
Pharmacist"  on  its  feet  again,  it  is  the  plain  duty  of  all  subscribers  to  and 
advertisers  in  the  latter  to  send  in  their  dues  for  subscription  and  advertising 
without  delay,  and  we  appeal  to  all  who  may  be  indebted  in  this  way  to  our 
young  sister  institution,  to  forward  their  dues  to  Prof.  A.  E.  Ebert,  corner  of 
Twelfth  and  State  streets,  Chicago,  who  escaped  the  enormous  destruction  of 
property,  and  who  will  receive  all  moneys  for  the  College. 
Druggists,  manufacturers,  publishers  and  others,  who  are  able  to  contribute 
specimens  of  drugs,  chemicals,  apparatus,  or  publications,  have  an  opportunity 
of  aiding  the  cause  of  pharmacy,  if  they  will  make  such  donations  to  the  cabi- 
