I have always held that to boil gelatine is to spoil it, and, even when emulsification is made with a few grains to the ounce and cooled down before adding the bulk, the damage is done to the smaller quantity, so that when mixed it contaminates the whole mass; moreover, it is impossible to set and wash the gelatine without the aid of ice. I have lately made several batches (with the thermometer at 92° in the shade, and the washing water at 78°) as follows: Hard gelatine...............,...... ½ ounce. Water.............................. 2 ounces. Alcohol............................ 2 " Bromide ammonia....................150 grains. Liquor ammonia, 880................ 60 drops. When all is thoroughly dissolved and of about 120° temperature, add, stirring all the time, Nitrate silver..................... 60 grains, Water.............................. ¾ ounce. Alcohol............................ ¾ " Then again add, Nitrate silver.....................140 grains. Water.............................. 1 ounce. Alcohol............................ 1 " Both solutions being warmed to about 120°. My object is adding the silver in two quantities will be obvious to many--viz., when the first portion of silver is mixed, nitrate of ammonia is liberated (which is a powerful restrainer), and the bulk of the solution being increased, the remainder of the silver may be added in a much more concentrated state. The alcohol, both in the gelatine and silver solutions, plays a most important part: (1) It prevents decomposition of the gelatine. (2) It allows the gelatine to be precipitated with a much smaller quantity of alcohol (say about 10 ounces). After letting the emulsion stand for a few minutes to ripen, I pour in slowly about eight ounces of alcohol, stirring all the time, and keeping the emulsion warm; the emulsion will adhere to the stirring-rod and the bottom of the vessel in a soft mass, and all that is now required is to pour away the alcohol, allow the emulsion to cool, tear it into small pieces, wash in several changes of cold water, make up the quantity to ten ounces, and strain; it is then ready for coating. By this formula I have no difficulties whatever; my plates set in about five minutes, and their quality is such that, "unless a better method is devised," I intend to adopt it in all weathers. One word more as to the alcohol. It will prevent the decomposition of gelatine when boiling goes on, or when in the presence of foreign salts; no flocculent deposit is noticed in the alcohol after the emulsion has been precipitated.--_Photographic News_. * * * * * THE DISTILLATION AND RECTIFICATION OF ALCOHOLS BY THE RATIONAL USE OF LOW TEMPERATURES. By RAOUL PICTET.