ON CYANOGEN AND ITS COMPOUNDS. 
231 
prove that the oil of mustard is really converted into the 
oil of garlic by the action of metallic potassium. I intend, 
however, to return soon to this metamorphosis. 
Chem. Gaz. from Comptes Rendus. 
ART. LXVIL— PATENT GRANTED TO ALFRED VINCENT 
NEWTON, LONDON, FOR IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MAN- 
UFACTURE OF CYANOGEN AND ITS COMPOUNDS, PARTICU- 
LARLY THE PRUSSIATES OF POTASH AND SODA. 
This invention consists in the application of nitrogen gas, 
which is obtained by the decomposition of atmospheric air 
or from the waste gasses of sulphuric acid chambers, to the 
manufacture of cyanogen and the cyanides. It is stated 
that, by the means adopted by the inventor, the difficulties 
of carrying into practical and economical use the grand 
principle of employing nitrogen obtained from the surround- 
ing atmosphere have been surmounted. 
The different materials which are employed in the process, 
according to the peculiar circumstances of the case, are as 
follows : — 1 . Whatever may be the source whence the nitro- 
gen is obtained, it may always be employed, provided it is 
not accompanied by oxidating substances. It is not neces- 
sary that the nitrogen shonld be perfectly pure ; it may be 
mixed with carbonic oxide, hydrogen, carburetted hydro- 
gen, and other gasses ; but the presence of oxygen must be 
carefully avoided, as well as all matters capable of affording 
it, as they would tend to destroy the cyanogen as fast as it 
is formed. This essential point is effected and obtained in 
an (economical manner by using atmospheric air, taking the 
precaution to convert the oxygen contained therein into car- 
oonic oxide, before it is permitted to come into contact with 
the cyanides already formed. The means by which this is 
accomplished will be hereafter explained. Another source 
of nitrogen is the waste gases of sulphuric acid chambers, 
after being washed in a solution of sulphate of iron and of 
