(2) _Sulphide._--Prof. Phipson, in a paper read before the International Health Congress, at Paris, remarked that for several years efforts had been made to discover some white substance to replace white lead for painting buildings, ships, &c. He himself had devoted several months to this important subject, but without success. There has been found, it is true, in oxide of zinc a substance less poisonous than lead, and serving very well as a white pigment in oil painting; but its production is very expensive, and its mechanical properties as a colour in oil are not pronounced enough to allow it to compete in commerce with white lead. Such is not the case, however, with an invention of Mr. Thomas Griffiths, of Liverpool, who has succeeded in obtaining a very interesting product. This new preparation, which is being manufactured at the present time on a pretty extensive scale, has for its base sulphide of zinc (or an oxysulphide of that metal), the properties of which as an oil colour are of the most remarkable character. It is prepared by precipitating one of the salts of zinc by a soluble sulphide, and washing and drying the precipitate. The latter is then calcined at a red heat, with some precautionary measures, then taken from the furnace, and, while still warm, thrown into cold water. It is afterwards levigated and dried. The result is a white pigment, very fine, and of great beauty. Regarded from a hygienic point of view, Griffiths’ new white is infinitely superior to white lead, as it also is in its practical bearing; it possesses no injurious qualities; its manufacture and use do not affect the health of workmen; its durability in climates of the most diverse kinds is, so to speak, illimitable; it is altered neither by gaseous emanations nor by dampness; and its price is comparatively low. The most remarkable thing about this new white is that it covers as well as white lead, while it withstands the effects of all kinds of weather, so that its use is not only deprived of all danger to health, but it is much more economical than white lead. Prof. Phipson stated to the Congress that he regarded this new chemical preparation as being among the most ingenious and useful products that have been discovered in our time. A later method, introduced by Griffiths and Cawley, consists in making an artificial sulphide of zinc by bringing the vapours of zinc and sulphur into intimate contact.