Abstract
Le Moniteur Scientifique, April, 1872. This number commences with a translation of a paper by M. Mayer, on alcoholic fermentation, and on the nutrition of the yeast plant, and is followed by a long dissertation on scents, according to recent discoveries in chemistry and physiology, by M. Papillon. The next is a translation of a lecture by Dr. Hofmann on organic chemistry and therapeutics. The author points out the numerous discoveries which have advanced the science of medicine, showing also clearly that to the remarkable and rapid development of this branch of chemistry during the past few-years, is due the more scientific and complete system of therapeutics now obtained. He also points out in how many instances medicine has derived immense benefit from the discoveries of new compounds, which at first seemed only to possess a theoretical interest to chemists.—A paper on Anthracene and its derivatives, follows, by M. E. Kopp. It treats, in the first instance, of the formation from anthracene of dichloranthracene, and on the action of sulphuric acid on this body. This yields an acid called disulphodichloranthracenic, and which possesses in dilute aqueous solutions a most intense and beautiful fluorescence in the blue end of the spectrum. The salts of this acid, the soluble ones of which exhibit the same property, are here described. This acid, by simply heating or by the aid of oxidising agents, is converted into disulphanthraquinonic acid. Dibromanthracene may be made to yield an analogous series of compounds, which, in some instances are also beautifully fluorescent. Disulphanthraquinonic acid, heated strongly with a caustic alkali, is converted into alizarin, which is identical with the colouring matter obtained from madder root. In this paper a description is given of the methods proposed by the various patentees in the matter, thus forming a tolerably complete history of this new branch of industry. Some space is also occupied with a discussion as to the state in which alizarin occurs in garancin; the balance of evidence seems to show that it is glucoside, which may be called ruberythric acid, and which by the assimilation of two equivalents of water, forms alizarin and two equivalents of glucose.—M. Blossum contributes another part of his memoir on Caoutchouc and Gutta-percha considered from a chemical standpoint. In this article he discusses the vulcanisation of caoutchouc, and the manufacture of the softened variety, giving Parkes' process for vulcanising, which consists in exposing the articles to the action of a mixture of carbonic disulphide and chloride of sulphur, after which treatment they are boiled in dilute soda solution; the same communication also deals with vulcanite and the vulcanite employed in dentistry.— Dr. Benrath has a paper on the Chemical Theory of Devitrification. The author has made numerous analyses which show reason to think that a part of devitrification is due to a separation of silica, which was previously held in solution by a silicate. The number finishes with a critical analysis by M. F. Papillon on the recent work of M. Ritter, “On the Relation between the Modifications of the Blood Corpuscles and the Modification of the Excretions,” which appears to be a very valuable work.
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Scientific Serials . Nature 6, 273–274 (1872). https://doi.org/10.1038/006273c0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/006273c0