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CONGELATION  OF  BISULPHIDE  OF  CARBON. 
ON  THE  CONGELATION  OP  BISULPHIDE  OF  CARBON. 
By  N.  Y.  Wartha. 
The  congelation  of  bisulphide  of  carbon,  which,  according  to 
the  treatises  on  chemistry,  requires  a  temperature  of  — 90°  for 
its  solidification,  may  be  easily  effected  by  directing  a  very  rapid 
current  of  dry  air  upon  the  surface  of  the  pure  liquid  (purified 
by  an  amalgam  of  silver)  contained  in  a  glass  vessel. 
If  a  thermometer  be  plunged  into  the  bisulphide  of  carbon 
during  this  operation,  a  snowy  crust  will  be  noticed  covering  the 
sides  of  the  vessel  and  the  thermometer,  even  before  the  temper- 
ature has  become  0°.  The  temperature  then  rapidly  descends  to 
— 18°  and  a  white  mammillated  mass  rises  to  the  surface,  and 
sometimes  even  stops  up  the  tube  for  conducting  the  air.  Soon 
all  the  liquid  disappears  and  the  thermometer  commences  to  rise 
again  up  to  — 12°,  where  it  remains  stationary  as  long  as  the 
bisulphide  of  carbon  is  solid.  In  this  state  it  presents  the  same 
phenomena  as  solid  carbonic  acid. 
The  bisulphide  of  carbon  will  remain  solid  for  some  time,  and 
in  this  state  it  possesses  a  peculiar  aromatic  odor.  Its  forma- 
tion may  be  utilized  for  the  production  of  ice,  thus  :  add  to  some 
water  contained  in  a  capsule,  a  few  cubic  centimetres  of  bisulphide 
of  carbon,  and  bring  a  rapid  current  of  air  to  play  upon  it.  The 
water  will  soon  solidify,  just  as  the  bisulphide  of  carbon  itself, 
provided  the  latter  is  present  in  sufficient  quantity,  the  tempera- 
ture may  then  reach  — 15°. 
Bisulphide  of  carbon  cannot  be  solidified  in  vacuo,  except  it 
be  mixed  with  ether. 
The  temperature  above  cited  are  in  degrees  centigrade. — 
Deutsche  Chemische  Gresellschaft,  1870,  No.  2,  in  The  American 
Chemist,  Oct.,  1870. 
INEFFICACY  OF  YOUNG  C ANTHARIDES. 
According  to  J.  Neutwich,  the  young  immature  cantharis 
insect  does  not  possess  the  blistering  property;  it  is  only  the 
adult  flies,  capable  of  the  act  of  reproduction,  which  contain  can- 
tharidin. — Zeit.  fur  Chem.  and  B6p.  de  Fharm. 
