New-York tribune., 1874-03-30
PROCEEDINGS OF SCIENTIFIC SOCI-
ETIES.

NEw-YoRK IYCRUM OF NATURAL History Feb.
e-CHEmCAL SECHoN.-PrOf. A. K. Leeds conmu-
ncated the results of an investigation undertaken
with the view of determining the sensitiveness of
Alizarin as a Test for Acids and Alkalies. Among
other instances of its surprising deIicacy, 1t was
stated that solution containing the one two-hun-
dred- -thousandth part of alizarn readily revealed
the presence of the one loDtb part Of potash
1t was proposed to employ it qlantitatiYely to de-
termiue the relative acidity and basicity Of salts,
md IN certain cases the amount of dissertation also
70 substitute il for itmus in medical and chemical
practice.
Mr. William Falk read paper on AdipOcere, CIV
ing the views IN regard TO this substance enter
tanned by different writers, some REGARDING it as
simply the stearin and palmlt.ae of the body, re-
naming in place when tne other tissues have been
largely removed by decomposition, and Others hold
ing it to be an ammonia soap, resulting r1m the
union of the fat acids with ammonia evolved from
the decay of the body. In his view, both theories
nav have truth; the fact being that the substance
called adipOGere varies much IN composition, aud
that probably il is often only resduary 10 While at
other times il is "a true ammonlacal so;4p.
Prof. Henry WuTtz, ia an article ON the Water
Supply of the New-JeTsey Towns and Sewage Pollu-
tiop gave a summary of the most important results
contained III his Second Chemical and Sanitary Re
port to the Joint Commission OF the jersey CITY
Board of Public Works and the Newark Aqueduct
Board. very large amount Of important matter
was contained IN this paper, concerning Tue pOiIu-
tiou liable to the PaSsalc River, from the
sewage of Newark and Paterson, and the necessity
of seeking some puTer of supply tor the great
New-Jersey towns. Prof. Wqrtz recommends as
the result of many analyses and upon many grounds,
the choice of Lake HOpatcong and the Rockaway
River for this purpose, and the conversion of the
Morris Canal, with the HOpatcong and Pompton
feeders into aqueduct
Prof Leeds read note on the Dissertation of
Certain Compounds at very low Temperatures" de
scrbng the apparatus method, and results OF eXper
iments ON several ammoniac salts the chloride sui
phate acetate, and oxalatel, whereby constant
tendency to dssocatlon was shown 10 exist at ein-
peratures varying from 81 to % e. and III the case
of the oxalate as low as u L. Ihe reagent used
for detecting the slightest beginnings OF such dsso-
clatiOn was the very sensltye aIzarln test, above
described.
SALEM, Mass. ESSEX INSTITUTE: March 10
President Wheatland IN the chair. Mr.. George NJ.
White presented communication on the Art OF
Engraving. Mr.. Putnam read by title paper from
Nj j. A. Allen on the Mammals of portions of Kan
sas, Colorado, Wyoming, and Utah. The President
called attention to the proposed Memorial to Agassz.
and trusted that the members of the Institute would
feel inclined to aid the movement. Vice President
Putnam stated the Importance OF keeping the
Museum at Cambridge up TO the level at which
AgassiZ bad left it, and alluded to the great debt
the Essex Institute, in common with other scientific
societies owed TO Agassiz. The matter referred
% the Committee on Natural History
NEw-YoRK AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF MINING En-
GISEERs: Feb. 8.-A paper was read by Mr.. Locke
OIL the Bruckner Roasting Furnace, which was COM
mended by Prof Raymond as comparing favorably
with the Stetefelt furnace, having the advantage
over il in lbs adaptabty to varying supply Of ORE
a. well as to the size of the mill. The furnace re-
f,rred 10 is in use in many mills in Colorado and
New-Mexico for the purpose Of roasting and chlor-
idzing silver ores, and with highly satisfactory
suits paper was read by Prof. Blake upon Hy-
drauc Forging practiced at the Imperial State
Railway Works at Vienna.
BALTIMORE: MARYLAND ACADEMY OF SCIENCES:
March l6-Prof. Uhler in the chair report of the
Committee the subject OF Fish In Maryland
Waters was presented by DR.. Dalrymple, in which
they announce that they have taken the liberty Of
recommending Mr. L. b. Ferguson and Mr.. Oliver
n. Bryan as Commissioners of Fisheries for the
State. under the law for the protection and cu
bvation of fish in the State. communication was
made by Prof Austen upon the subject Of +" Roman
and Arabic Notations."
PHILADELPHIA: PENNSYLVANIA HISTORICAL so
cIEIY: March IA payer read upon certain
relics of Mary Stuart some of which exhibited
20 the Society. The death Of Mr. Edward Armstrong
was announced, with suitable resolutions. Sey-
era specimens of interest were presented illustra
tive of the early history of Pennsylvania. Among
them was a root OF the elm tree under which the
treaty was made by Penn with the Indians in 1852.
CINCINNATI, o.: SOCIETY OF NATURAL HIsTORY:
March 3Prof N. s. Shaler. State Geologist Of Ken
saekL read pspey % the Lie and Character Of