NEWS ADDRESS TO OUR READERS. ON commencing a new year and a new volume, we may be excused for printing once more a short statement of our aims and objects. The CHEMICAL NEWS was started four years ago, with the purpose of supplying the chemist with the earliest information on the results of laboratory investigations in pure science; the technical chemist with the practical applications of the science to his various occupations; and the medical profession and pharmaceutists with every novelty of interest relating to the materia medica, toxicology, and pharmacy. These are the objects we shall still keep in view, and steadily pursue. All the information of importance we can collect from European and American sources will be regularly supplied; original researches, and articles on matters which may attract particular attention, will be frequently published; reports of the proceedings of such scientific societies as possess especial interest to the chemist will receive the earliest insertion, and works relating to chemistry an early notice. Specifications of all patents in applied chemistry will be reviewed as soon as they are made public. In this way we hope to keep our subscribers au courant with the progress of pure and industrial chemistry all over the world. In like manner we seek to afford the pharmaceutical chemist and druggist every information necessary to assist him in the practical and scientific prosecution of his occupation. Nor are the political interests of the profession altogether overlooked or neglected. The CHEMICAL NEWS is the organ of no society, and is, therefore, free to urge reform wherever it may appear needed, and to encourage every effort to promote the general interest. basis, and has for its sole object the promotion of knowledge. In conclusion, we may add that it is our intention to publish occasional courses of lectures, and popular papers, on different branches of the science; and it is to be hoped that our more recondite readers will look with favour on these attempts to diffuse more generally a knowledge of chemistry, and so, we hope, stimulate a desire for a more profound acquaintance. SCIENTIFIC AND ANALYTICAL Contributions to the History of Thallium, by WILLIAM CROOKES, F.R.S. Oxalate of Thallium.-This salt is readily prepared by boiling together equivalent quantities of carbonate of thallium and oxalic acid, in just sufficient. water to dissolve the product when hot. Upon cooling, oxalate of thallium crystallises out in the form of small prisms, brilliantly white and lustrous. It is not very soluble in water, and is insoluble in alcohol. One hundred parts of boiling water dissolve 9'031 parts of the salt; and the same quantity of water at 60° F. dissolve 1443 parts. One part of the oxalate, therefore, requires 1107 parts of boiling water, and 69.27 parts of cold water to dissolve it. M. Kuhlmann has ascribed to the neutral oxalate of thallium the somewhat improbable formula, CTIO.; but several closely concordant analyses have shown me that this salt has the normal constitution of neutral oxalates. The method adopted for analysis is very simple, and gives remarkably accurate results. A weighed quantity, The present year will be fraught with interest to the which had been dried over sulphuric acid, was gradually chemist and druggist. A national Pharmacopoeia is heated in an air bath to an increasing temperature, the about to appear of more important a character than any trace of hygroscopic moisture was driven off, and the weight being taken from time to time. At 230° F. a which has issued from the College of Physicians. This oxalate then bore a temperature of 400° F. without work will receive our earliest attention. Again, the further change. At 480° F. it began to discolour slightly, rights of chemists and druggists are seriously threatened; but it was found to have lost scarcely any appreciable and it will be necessary for the majority to combine in order to defeat any attempt of the Medical Council towards poured over the crystals; slight heat was evolved, weight. Pure concentrated hydrochloric acid was afterdeprive them of their privileges, as well as to secure the and in a few minutes they were converted into a porous, exemption from serving on juries, which has already been conceded to a section. To promote these objects evaporated off over a water bath, and the residue was spongy mass of chloride. The excess of acid was we shall render every possible aid. heated to 400° F. for ten minutes. More hydrochloric acid was then poured on, and the evaporation and heating were repeated. This was performed until no alteration of weight took place, the final heating being in an air bath at 500° F. As oxalic acid is entirely dissipated by exposure to a temperature of 320° F., the above treatment effectually removes this acid. Many experiments have satisfied me that chloride of thallium will bear a temperature of 500° F. without any loss of weight; at a slight increase of heat the chloride suddenly fuses to a thin brown liquid, white vapours being simultanecusly evolved. The thorough organisation of the trade should be completed as early as possible, and the machinery is fortunately ready by which this can be effected. The United Society of Chemists and Druggists offers the means by which the entire body may operate in concert. We say this in no spirit of opposition to the Pharmaceutical Society. That society voluntarily closed its doors to the majority of the trade some years ago, and now can be in nowise astonished that, at the present crisis, some other organisation should be found necessary. But it must never be forgotten that the occupation of a chemist and druggist has a scientific as well as a commercial aspect; and we are glad to have the opportunity of recommending to our readers an organisation which has for its object "the encouragement of pharmaceutical research." The British Pharmaceutical Conference offers the means by which every one who will interest himself in the improvement of pharmacy can be brought into communication with others similarly disposed, so that may work in concert for the common good. We heartily commend the Conference to the notice of our readers. It has been organised on a thoroughly catholic VOL. IX. No. 213.-JANUARY 2, 1864. Analyses conducted in the above manner gave the following percentages of metal in this salt: 82.298 82.274 82.230 82.206 Mean 82.252 The formula C2TIO, requires 82.186 per cent. The neutral oxalate of thallium has, therefore, the normal composition. It contains no water of crystallisation. |