in carbon bisulphide in the manner adopted by Chydenius, could the authors obtain the compounds ThS, and Th,O,S2, which Chydenius claims to have prepared (Jahresber., 1863, 194). In both cases, the compound produced contains thorium and sulphur in equal atomic proportions, indicating the existence of ThS or ThOS. A. G. B. Variety of Gold Purple Soluble in Water. By E. A. SCHNEIDER (Zeit. anorg. Chem., 5, 80-83).—To obtain a solution of this form of gold, an alloy of gold, tin, and silver is treated with concentrated nitric acid, and the resulting black powder is washed with ammonia, whereby a ruby-red coloured solution is obtained. This solution is dialysed until it contains no more ammonia; it is coagulated by dilute acids and salts, and by heating under pressure, but not by alcohol, nor by concentrated sulphuric acid. It contains 0.5800 gram of gold, and 5-4048 grams of stannic oxide per litre ; 50 c.c. of the solution gelatinises when evaporated to 3 c.c., but the jelly dissolves again in water. Diluted 10 times, it is still red, and a layer 1 cm. thick allows the red, yellow, and less refrangible rays of the green in the spectrum to pass. Potassium cyanide decolorises the liquid, and causes the separation of stannic acid. When shaken with mercury, the colour of the liquid passes into brownish-red, and the mercury extracts gold. When poured into an excess of strong hydrochloric acid, the solution changes in colour to violet, and yields finely-divided gold on dialysis. This behaviour indicates that the soluble form of purple gold is a mixture of the hydrosols of gold and stannic acid, a conclusion supported by the fact that the addition of a few drops of gold chloride and a reducing agent to the hydrosol of stannic acid produce a purple solution. The presence of the hydrosol of stannic acid is essential to the existence of the hydrosol of gold. The author notes a similar behaviour of silver chloride, which can be obtained in a condition in which it can only be coagulated by acids when silver nitrate is added to a dilute solution of ferric chloride. The hydrosol of stannic acid is best obtained by pouring a dilute solution of stannic chloride into a very dilute solution of ammonia, and dialysing. The clear liquid contains 5 164 grams of stannic oxide per litre. Its behaviour is similar to that of the purple gold solution described above. A. G. B.. Mineralogical Chemistry. Rock Salt from Deésakna. By J. LOCZKA (Zeit. Kryst. Min., 22, 82; from Földtani Közlöny, 21, 353-358).-Deésakna is situated in the Hungarian county of Szolnok-Doboka, and the salt mined at this locality is characterised by its extreme purity. The author subjected to analysis a pure, transparent crystal of sp. gr. 2148 with the following results. B. H. B. Falkenhaynite, a new Mineral of the Wittichenite Group. By R. SCHARIZER (Zeit. Kryst. Min., 22, 85; from Jahrb. d. k.k. Geol. Reichsanst., 40, 433).-A greyish-black, dense ore from Joachimsthal was analysed, and, after deduction of 13.16 per cent. of quartz, 12.77 per cent. of magnesia-bearing spathic iron ore, and 3.66 per cent. of copper pyrites, gave results corresponding with the formula Sb2S,Cue, in which one-quarter of the antimony is replaced by arsenic, and one-fifth of the copper by iron and zinc in the ratio of 5 to 3. B. H. B. Franckeite, a new Ore from Bolivia. By A. W. STELZNER (Jahrb. f. Min., 1893, ii, Mem. 114-124).—The ore described occurs in the Animas mining district, south-east of Chocaya. Locally it is known as llicteria, and is described by Jackowski, a Polish engineer resident in the district, as a mineral unknown in Europe, and as consisting of lead, zinc, tin, and silver. Analysis (by C. Winkler) yielded the following results. 1 Pb. 50.57 Sn. 12:34 Sb. Gangue. Total. 0.71 98.87 The mineral also contains about 0.1 per cent. of germanium and per cent. of silver. The formula is 5PbS,2SnS2,Sb2S3. This new mineral, which is of special interest as indicating the character of the occurrence of tin in the Bolivian mines, and also as containing germanium, is named franckeite by the author in honour of C. and E. Francke, two mining engineers specially interested in Bolivian mining. B. H. B. Kylindrite. By A. FRENZEL (Jahrb. f. Min., 1893, ii, Mem. 125-128). At the Santa Cruz mine at Poopô, in Bolivia, a new mineral has been discovered. This the author has named kylindrite from the cylindrical form in which it occurs. The mineral has a metallic lustre, a blackish-grey colour, a hardness of 25 to 3, and a sp. gr. 5:42. Analysis gave the following results. Ph. 35 41 Ag. Sn. The formula is therefore Pb,Sb2, SnS21 or 6PbS,Sb2S3,6SnS2. The mineral differs both in chemical composition and in physical properties from the two similar sulphur lead salts of tin and antimony, plumbostannite and franckeite. B. H. B. Artificial Minerals obtained in Chemical Industries. By C. WINKLER (Zeit. anyw. Chem., 1893, 445—447).-The author describes the occurrence of the following minerals produced artificially. 1. Iron pyrites, obtained in the process of recovering sulphur from soda residues. The mineral is cryptocrystalline, and has a sp. gr. of 47336. Its composition is as follows. It occurs in well 2. Gypsum, obtained in the same process. developed monoclinic crystals, yielding, on analysis, 3. Trona, obtained in the manufacture of bicarbonate of soda by the ammonia-soda process. It is formed in magnificent, pellucid, monoclinic crystals. As formed in the Ebensee ammonia-soda works, the product has exactly the same composition as natural trona, according to B. Reinitzer, Na,H2(CO3)3 + 3H2O. The author's analysis leads to the formula Na H(CO3)2 + 2H2O. B. H. B. New Natural Phosphates. By A. GAUTIER (Compt. rend., 116, 1171–1177).—In a previous paper (this vol., ii, 419), the author pointed out that the bed of concretionary phosphates found in the grotto of Minerva constitutes a new type of phosphorites in which the phosphoric acid is combined with calcium and aluminium. This remarkable deposit furnishes also the bibasic natural calcium phosphate, brushite, and a new aluminium phosphate. Brushite, PO.CaH,2H2O, has hitherto been found only in a guano rock in the Antilles. The description given by Dana of metabrushite corresponds exactly with the properties of the Minerva brushite. The analyses given by the author are in accord with the formula 2PO.CaH2+ 3H2O. Minervite is the name given by the author to the new aluminium phosphate. Its composition, P2O, Al2O,,7H2O, approaches that of callainite and gibbsite. B. H. B. Chondrostibian, a new Swedish Mineral. By L. J. IGELSTRÖM (Zeit. Kryst. Min., 22, 43-46).-In January, 1893, the author discovered another new antimony mineral in the Sjö mine, celebrated for its occurrence of the minerals hæmatostibiite, ferrostibian, stibiatite, basiliite, and melanostibian. To this new mineral the author has given the name of "chondrostibian" (xóvopos, a grain, and stibium, antimony). The small grains of the mineral occur in barytes, and appear at times to form minute crystals of octahedral form. On analysis, it gave the following results. Sb2O3. A8205. MngO3. FeO3 30.66 2.10 Total. 100.00 The formula is consequently 3R2O,,Sb2Oь + 10H2O, in which R2O, represents Mn2O, and Fe2O3. B. H. B. Descloizite from the Obir. By A. BRUNLECHNER (Jahrb. f. Min., 1893, ii, Ref. 254-255; from Carinthia, 2, 8).-The crystals of descloizite were found in fissures in limestone, associated with goethite. Pseudomorphs of descloizite after vanadinite are also met with. The VOL. LXIV. ii. 42 results of analysis of these are given by the author. The minerals originally occurring in the fissures were galena, blende, marcasite, and calcite. Subsequently the galena became converted into lead sulphate by the decomposition of the marcasite, the lead sulphate was then converted into vanadinite, and finally descloizite was formed. B. H. B. Ettringite and Alabandine from Arizona. By A. J. MOSES (Zeit. Kryst. Min., 22, 16—19).-Ettringite, H1CaAlO18(SO3)3 + 24H,O.-This mineral was found at the Lucky Cuss mine at Tombstone, Arizona, in white, crystalline limestone incrusting fissures and cavities in a silicate of lime and alumina. It resembles a finely fibrous pectolite. Its hardness is somewhat above 2, and its sp. gr. 1.27. Alabandine.-A deposit of alabandine was found at the same mine. The quantity raised amounted to 50 tons. On analysis, the mineral yielded 36.90 per cent. of sulphur and 63-03 per cent. of manganese. Its colour is dark steel-grey to deep black with an olive-green streak. Its hardness is 3 to 4, and its sp. gr. 4:03. B. H. B. Idocrase. By F. PISANI (Jahrb. f. Min., 1893, ii, Ref. 252; from Bull. Soc. fran. min., 15, 47-49).-The author gives the following results of an analysis of idocrase from the Septimer. Sio. Fe2O3. Al2O3. MgO. CaO. Loss on ignition. Total. 0.9 100.1 39.0 1.8 14.3 6.7 37.4 The mineral forms compact, pale greenish-yellow, laminated masses, having a hardness of 6.5 and a sp. gr. of 3.28. B. H. B. Peculiar Lava from Northern California. By J. S. DILLER (Jahrb. f. Min., 1893, ii, Ref. 338-339; from Bull. U.S. Geol. Surv., 79, 33). The author describes a late volcanic eruption in Northern California and its peculiar lava. In the latter, the pyroxene is chiefly hypersthene, monoclinic augite being of rarer occurrence. Scattered through the mass are quartz, felspar, and olivine, and in the groundmass there is a second generation of felspar with globulitic glass. The lava has the following composition. TiO2 + SiOg. AlgO3. Fe2O3. FeO. CaO. MgO. KO. Na2O. HO. Total. 79.49 11.60 0.33 0.49 1.64 0.09 1.52 4.04 0.68 99.88 B. H. B. Two Turkish Meteorites. By S. MEUNIER (Compt. rend., 117, 257-258). The author has examined specimens of the meteorites recently presented to the Museum of Natural History by Halid Edhem Bey. The first was found in 1873 at Tirnowa, in Roumelia. It is covered with a black crust about a millimetre in thickness. On fracture, a clear, grey mass is presented, characterised by its clastic or fragmentary structure. Its sp. gr. is 3.69. The meteorite belongs to the lithological type designated since 1870 in the Museum collection by the name of mesminite. The second meteorite fell on June 2, 1883, in a forest near the village of Urba. It is uniformly white. It has a sp. gr. of 3·427, and is very finely granular. B. H. B. Analysis of the Wawilowka Meteorite. By P. MELIKOFF (Ber., 26, 1929-1932).-This meteorite fell in June, 1876, at Wawilowka, in the Cherson district. In 100 parts it contains: A, decomposed by hydrochloric acid, Fe, 179; Ni, 0-93; Co, 0.06; FeS, 682; P2O5, 0.21; olivine, 55.08. B, undecomposed by hydrochloric acid, FeO,Cr2O3, 0.23; silicate, 34.27. The metallic iron and nickel are present nearly in the ratio NiFe2; the olivine has the composition 2FeSiO4,5MgSiO4, with some of the Mg and Fe replaced respectively by Ca, K2, Na2, and Mn; and the undecomposable silicate belongs to the class M"SiO3. C. F. B. New Iodine Spring in Austrian Silesia. By M. GLÄSER and W. KALMANN (Zeit. angw. Chem., 1893, 447-448).—The authors have analysed the water from a salt spring at Roy, in Austrian Silesia, with the following results, expressed in grams per litre : Exercise and Respiratory Interchange. By W. MARCET (Proc. Roy. Soc., 54, 42-52).—In three persons, if the excretion of carbonic anhydride fell, the oxygen absorbed rose, and vice versa. In a fourth person, of immature age, the oxygen absorbed and the carbonic anhydride expired rose and fell together. During exercise (stepping), at first there is an accumulation of carbonic anhydride in the blood; this is next given out in the form of a wave, which is renewed after a certain lapse of time. In two persons, the ratio of carbonic anhydride expired in rest to that expired during exercise was found to be the same, namely, 0·123; but further experiment is necessary before this can be laid down as a general law. As a rule, half an hour's rest was sufficient to bring matters back to the normal condition. W. D. H. Influence of Sodium Chloride on the Digestibility and Assimilation of Proteïd. By S. GABRIEL (Zeit. Biol., 29, 554— 569).-Former experimental work has led to the conclusion that |