in which four atoms of hydrogen are replaced by one atom of oxygen, and like cellulose forms nitro compounds analogous to nitro glycerine.  It is probable that the presence of this oxycellulose has a marked influence upon the behavior of cotton, especially with dye matters.  The earthy substances in cotton are also of importance.  These are potassium carbonate, chloride, and sulphate, with similar sodium salts, and these vary in different samples of cotton, and possibly influence its properties to some extent.  Then there are oily matters in the young fiber which, upon its ripening, become the waxy matter which Dr. Schunk has investigated.  Resin also is present, and having a high melting point is not removed by the manipulative processes that cotton is subjected to.  When this is in excessive amount, it comes to the surface of the goods after dyeing.

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SYNTHESIS OF STYROLENE.

MM.  Vabet and Vienne, in a recent number of Comptes Rendus, state that by passing a current of acetylene through 200 grammes of benzene containing 50 grammes of aluminum chloride for 30 hours the oily liquid remaining after removal of the unaltered aluminum chloride by washing was found to yield, on fractional distillation, three distinct products.  The first, which came over between 143 deg. and 145 deg., and which amounted to 80 per cent. of the whole, consisted of pure cinnamene or styrolene (C_{6}H_{5}.CH.CH_{2}), which is one of the principal constituents of liquid storax, and was synthetized by M. Berthelot by passing acetylene and benzene vapor through a tube heated to redness.  The second fraction, coming over at 265 deg.-270 deg., consisted of diphenyl ethane ((C_{6}H_{5})_{2} CH.CH_{3}); and the third fraction, boiling at 280 deg.-286 deg., was found to consist entirely of dibenzyl (C_{6}H_{5}.CH_{2}.CH_{2}.C_{6}H_{5}), a solid substance isomeric with diphenyl ethane.  These syntheses afford another instance of the singular action of aluminum chloride in attacking the benzene nucleus.

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NOTES ON SACCHARIN.

By EDWARD D. GRAVILL, F.C.S., F.R.M.S.

Now that a supply of this reputed substitute for sugar has been placed upon the London market, it will doubtless have attracted the attention of many pharmacists, and as information having reference to its characters and properties is as yet somewhat scarce, the following notes may be of interest.

The sample to which these notes refer represents, I believe, a portion of the first supply that has been offered to us as a commercial article, and may therefore be taken to represent the same as it at present occurs in commerce.  I think it desirable to call attention to this fact, because of the wide difference I have seen in other samples obtained, I think, by special request some weeks ago, and which