The actual composition of vermilion is 100 parts of mercury to 16 of sulphur, when both these ingredients are in a perfectly pure state; the excess of 5⅓ lb. of sulphur added by the Chinese is probably volatilised and lost in the process of sublimation, or, as the sulphur used is generally not quite pure, a part may go for foreign matter contained in the sulphur; the balance being probably the _raison d’être_ of the blue lambent flame seen playing over the apertures in the luting during the sublimation process. For a people having, like the Chinese, no acquaintance with even the first rudiments of chemistry, the proportion of ingredients taken--56¼ catties to 13 catties, or say 75 lb. to 17⅓ lb.--shows wonderfully accurate powers of observation and a knowledge of combining proportions only to be gained by much experience and a long extended series of careful observations highly creditable to the manufacturers. The entire process is one of the most ingenious and interesting to be seen in any part of the world.--(T. I. B.) Another and briefer account of the Chinese vermilion manufacture is given by H. Maccallum, in the Proceedings of the Pharmaceutical Society. He says there are three vermilion works in Hong Kong, the method of manufacture being exactly the same in each. The largest works consume about 6000 bottles of mercury annually, and it was in this one that the following operations were witnessed:-- First Step.--A large, very thin iron pan, containing a weighed quantity, about 14 lb., of sulphur, is placed over a slow fire, and two-thirds of a bottle of mercury added; as soon as the sulphur begins to melt, the mixture is vigorously stirred with an iron stirrer until it assumes a black pulverulent appearance with some melted sulphur floating on the surface; it is then removed from the fire and the remainder of the bottle of mercury is added, the whole being well stirred. A little water is now poured over the mass, which rapidly cools it; the pan is immediately emptied, when it is again ready for the next batch. The whole operation does not last more than ten minutes. The resulting black powder is not a definite sulphide, as uncombined mercury can be seen throughout the whole mass; besides, the quantity of sulphur used is much in excess of the amount required to form mercuric sulphide.