354 ANNALS NEW YORK ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 



SECTION OF ASTRONOMY, PHYSICS AND CHEMISTRY. 



November 18, 1907. 



Section met at 8: 15 P. M., Vice-President Trowbridge presiding. 



The minutes of the last meeting of the Section were read and approved. 



The following program was then offered: 



D. W. Hering, Waves and Rays in Physics. 



E. F. Kem, Electrolysis of Silico-Fluoride Solutions. 

 R. F. Bbhler, Tool-Steel Making in Styria. 



Summary of Papers. 



Dr. Hering pointed out the extent to which waves or rays have domi- 

 nated in explaining the transmission of a disturbance through space, as 

 many as seven different kinds of waves having been employed, and no less 

 than twenty-one different kinds of rays. The most fruitful generalization 

 was Fourier's analysis of wave motion in his "Theorie Analytique de la 

 Chaleur"; the boldest contention was that of Fresnel in advocating trans- 

 verse vibration to produce waves of light; the most recent and compre- 

 hensive generalization was Maxwell's electromagnetic theory of light. The 

 recent great increase in the number and variety of "rays" has been attended 

 by a great deal of charlatanism. 



Dr. Bohler reviewed the development of Styrian steel trade from pre- 

 historic and Roman times up to our own days. The paper emphasized a 

 number of special features characteristic of Styrian steel which are so many 

 reasons for its superiority: (1) Crucibles used but once, (2) extreme purity 

 of ores, (3) extensive or exclusive use of charcoal, (4) special skill of work- 

 men in hammer- and heat-treatment. 



The works, founded 1446, are now decidedly up-to-date; have pyro- 

 metric control; electric melting and hardening furnaces; latest physical 

 testing methods, metallography. 



As a consequence extensive use of Styrian steel in the five continents, 

 for tools, rifles, shells, etc., also field guns, motor cars. Hundreds of tons 

 of high-speed steel shipped to the United States yearly. 



Dr. Kem first of all took up the preparation of the electrol}i;es, current 

 density, etc., and showed numerous specimens including metallic surfaces 

 of lead, nickel, iron, copper and silver deposited from silico-fluoride and 

 other solutions for comparison. The method on a commercial scale for 



