obtained, which proved to contain undecomposed isoamyl alcohol and hydrocarbons of the CH2n series. We were unable to confirm the statement of Balard9 that small quantities of isoamyl ether are formed by the action of sulphuric acid upon isoamyl alcohol. Methyl and Ethyl Alcohols. The authority for the statement that mixed ethers can be obtained by the process of continuous etherification rests upon two experi ments of Williamson.10 It seemed desirable to test the applicability of this process to the formation of mixed ethers anew, especially as Guthrie11 was unable to repeat one of Williamson's experiments. We chose for an experiment a mixture of methyl and ethyl alcohols, containing 1 mol. of CH,OH to 1 mol. of C2H2OH. This mixture was treated in the usual manner at 140°, and the utmost care observed in condensing the products. A colorless distillate, free from sulphurous anhydride, was obtained, and at the same time a gas, which we were unable to condense, escaped from the apparatus. This gas possessed a strong ethereal odor, and was doubtless methyl ether, which boils at -23°. The distillate resolved itself upon fractionation into three portions, one boiling from 10°-15°, the second from 30°-40°, and a third portion consisting of undecomposed alcohols. We obtained from the portion boiling lowest a considerable quantity of a liquid boiling between 10° and 13°, possessing a strong ethereal odor, and corresponding in every respect with the methyl-ethyl ether prepared by Williamson12 from sodium alcoholate and methyl iodide, and also by Würtz13, by the action of a mixture of methyl iodide and ethyl iodide upon silver oxide. The portion of the distillate boiling between 30° and 40° consisted mainly of ethyl ether. The yield of the mixed ether was very good. The three possible ethers appear to be formed simultaneously, but the mixed ether is formed in much the largest proportion. Ethyl and Propyl Alcohols. A mixture of equivalent parts of these alcohols was next treated in the usual manner. A colorless liquid was obtained, which resolved itself upon fractionation into ethyl ether, a mixture of ethyl and propyl alcohols, and a portion boiling between 60°-80°. Ann. d. Chem. et Phys. v. 3, 12, 294. 10 Ann. d. Chem. v. 81, 77. 11 Ann. d. Chem. v. 105, 37. 12Aun. d. Chem. v. 81, 77. 13 Ann, Ch. Phys. v. 3, 46, 222. The portion boiling between 60° and 80° was washed with water, distilled from quick-lime, and finally treated with an excess of sodium to remove any alcohols present, and rectified. The liquid then boiled between 66° and 68°, and possessed an ethereal odor, and gave the following results upon analysis: 0.2286 gram of substance furnished 0.5620 gram of CO2 and 0.2827 gram of H2O. The analysis leaves no doubt that the substance is the ethylpropyl ether which was first prepared by Chancel14 by the action of ethyl iodide upon propyl alcohol and caustic potash. Ethyl and Isobutyl Alcohols. Equivalent parts of these alcohols were subjected to the usual treatment. Sulphurous anhydride was freely evolved, and a yellow distillate with a very disagreeable odor obtained. The distillate consisted almost entirely of undecomposed alcohols and no ether could be obtained from it. The mixture behaved exactly as did the isobutyl alcohol alone. Methyl and Isoamyl Alcohols. Methylisoamyl ether was prepared by Williamson15 by the continuous etherification of a mixture of these alcohols. We repeated his experiments, following his directions with the utmost exactness. Sulphurous anhydride was evolved in large quantities. In the distillate obtained we found undecomposed alcohols and products similar to those obtained from isoamyl alcohol alone under like conditions, but were unable to detect the presence of methylisoamyl ether. We made repeated attempts at 135° and 140°, but the distillate in every case consisted almost entirely of the alcohols which had distilled undecomposed as soon as the sulphuric acid had been all reduced. An attempt by Guthrie16 to obtain ethylisoamyl ether by continuous etherification, in the manner described by Williamson, gave similar results, and Guthrie was unable to obtain the ether by this method. As our experiments show that etherification does not take place to any extent, certainly in the 14Zeit. f. Chem. 1869, 367. 15 Ann. d. Chem. v. 81, 77. 16 Ann. d. Chem. v. 105, 37. case of ethyl alcohol, below 105°, and as isoamyl alcohol decomposed sulphuric acid with the evolution of sulphurous anhydride at that temperature, it is evident that the ordinary process of continuous etherification can only be applied to the formation of the simple and mixed ethers from the simplest alcohols, and it is not probable that it can be used satisfactorily for the etherification of alcohols containing more than three atoms of carbon. ANTHRACENE FROM WATER-GAS TAR. By ARTHUR H. ELLIOTT, School of Mines, Columbia College, New York, N. Y. [ABSTRACT.] THIS paper treats of the determination of anthracene in various samples of water-gas tar as obtained from gas-works using this socalled water-gas process. The tar is obtained in that part of the process where the mixture of carbonic oxide and hydrogen containing the vapor of petroleum naphtha is passed through red hot retorts, and the members of the paraffine series of hydrocarbons become, under the influence of the heat, converted into a mixture of ethylene, acetylene and members of the aromatic series. ON THE CHEMISTRY OF FISH. By Prof. W. O. ATWATER, Wesleyan University, Middletown, Conn. [ABSTRACT.] THIS paper gives a brief account of the progress of an investigation of the chemical composition and nutritive values of American food-fishes and invertebrates, which is being conducted in the laboratory of Wesleyan University under the auspices of the Smithsonian Institution and the United States Fish Commission, and of which brief accounts were presented at the Boston and Cincinnati meetings of the Association. In its present status the investigation includes: 1. Chemical analyses of: 2. Experiments upon the digestibility of the flesh of fish. 3. of fish. Studies of the chemical constitution of the muscular tissues A PRELIMINARY REPORT ON THE COMPOSITION OF THE COALS OF KANSAS. By Prof. E. H. S. BAILEY, State University, Lawrence, Kansas. [ABSTRACT.] THE coal measures that underlie the eastern portion of Kansas are more extensively worked than ever before. The inclination of the strata towards the N. W. carries the beds deeper from the surface as we advance in this direction. Veins 34 ft. in thickness are found in the extreme S. E. while those worked in the Osage region are often only 15 in. thick. Without giving details as to the occurrence of the coals, an examination of the composition of samples from the principal localities has given the following results : Name. Cher- Pitts- Ft. Osage Burlin- Scran- Leaven- Warren Elk worth. Co., Mo. Co. Pa. If the moisture and impurities are eliminated and the per cent of heat-producing constituents only is considered, calculating the per cent, and dividing C by volume and combustible matter gives the lower line of figures. This gives a better opportunity to compare the different coals. It will be noticed that the S. E. coals, viz., Cherokee, Pittsburg, and Ft. Scott, properly belong to one class, while those occurring in later strata, as Osage Co., etc., belong to another. The latter contain more volume and combustible matter in proportion to fixed carbon as would be expected of later coals and those more closely related to true lignites. FERMENTATION WITHOUT COMBINED NITROGEN. SPRINGER, Cincinnati, Ohio. [ABSTRACT.] By Dr. ALFRED BEFORE entering into detail concerning the results attained in my experiments in this direction, I wish to make a few remarks on the great liability to error, to which the experimentalist is exposed at every step owing to the extreme minuteness of the ferments in question. A good objective with a high eye-piece shows the ferments as colorless rods, of an inch in length and about in width, very difficult to distinguish from the fluid in which they are immersed. Again unless many are under the field of vision, it is almost impossible to determine whether they possess motion independent of the Brownian movement. Although there may be thousands present in one drop of fluid, yet their mass is infinitely small compared to it, therefore an analysis of the fluid can be but a poor criterion of their composition. About two years ago, while experimenting with infusions of the roots of plants in water, I discovered a ferment which possessed the power of dissociating the nitrates of the soil. I noticed a copious evolution of nitric oxide proceed from roots rich in nitrates. It immediately struck me, that this arose from the action of small organisms which covered the roots of plants. Starting out with this idea, I made separate infusions of the roots, stems and leaves of tobacco, dividing each set into four parts. Fermentation was excited in the first by the addition of small quantities of yeast, in the second by urine, in the third by the so-called spontaneous method, and in the last by the newly discovered ferment. Not only were the nitrates originally present completely dissociated, but also considerable quantities of freshly added nitrates underwent the same process. All the infusions contained amongst other ferments one special kind, noticeable by its extreme activity. In appearance it closely resembles the butyric ferment, being composed of small cylindrical rods rounded at the extremities, generally isolated, or, when joined, two by two, acting as one body. They move rapidly with a wriggling motion and often bend their bodies until they form a perfect circle. While continuing my researches on the functions of this ferment, it occurred to me that owing to their ejecting the nitrogen they might possibly make use of only a very limited supply thereof. In |