Societies and Academies

Abstract

LONDON. Society of Public Analysts, Oct. 2.—H. E. Cox: Chemical tests in relation to fur dermatitis. Paraphenylenediamine is the most frequently used of the intermediates employed for dyeing furs and is also the most toxic. The so-called Bandrowski's base is not a fast final product; it is easily reduced, and then re-forms p-phenylenediamine, and so may be an indirect cause of irritation. It also appears to be associated with some partly oxidised p-phenylenediamine, which can be detected chemically.—J. H. Coste: A nomogram for use in gas analysis. By the use of this nomogram the necessary corrections of temperature can be made over a reasonable range of temperature, with sufficient accuracy for many purposes.—P. S. Arup: The composition of Irish winter butter. Analyses are given of 580 undoubtedly genuine samples of butter obtained from creameries and agricultural schools in the Irish Free State during the winters of 1927–28 and 1928–29. In the former period 50 samples showed Reichert-Meissl values below 24; in the latter period 88 samples. In places where calving was not confined to one season of the year (as is generally the case in Ireland), and also where the conditions of feeding and shelter were superior, Reichert-Meissl figures below 26 were not obtained.—W. R. Schoeller and H. W. Webb: Investigations into the analytical chemistry of tantalum, niobium, and their mineral associates. (16) Observations on tartaric hydrolysis. (17) The quan. titative precipitation of the earth acids and certain other oxides from tartrate solutions. Precipitation of tantalic, niobic, and tungstic acids from tartrate solution by hydrochloric or nitric acid, though specific, is never quite quantitative. Only titanium and zirconium interfere to a certain extent with the normal course of the reaction. The earth acids and their mineral associates are classed into analytical groups according to their precipitability from tartrate solution.