15 
is cut into the record in an up and down direction, whereas with 
the latter the vibrations are made from side to side. 
The defects still to be found seem to be (1) the scraping sound. 
This is probably due partly to the scraping sound which is made 
by the cutter when recording, the vibrations of which are probably 
recorded together with those of the principal sounds. Another 
defect (2) is the undue enforcement of the high partials of a note, 
causing an inclination to a nasal quality and to an increased 
harshness. This seems to be due to the sensitiveness of the 
diaphragm to tones of high frequency and to a modification of the 
sounds in passing through the horn of the instrument. The auxeto- 
phone is an instrument in which the diaphragm is replaced by a 
finely adjusted valve in the form of a grid. Through this valve 
air is driven by an air-pump worked with an electric motor. The 
degree of opening of the valve is controlled by a needle travelling 
in the groove of the record, much as with the gramophone. The 
vibratory movements thus imparted to the valve generate the 
sounds, which are sufficiently powerful to fill a large concert hall. 
The accuracy of the reproduction is at least as great as with the 
gramophone. 
Among the scientific uses to which the phonograph and gramo- 
phone have been put has been the careful analysis of the sound 
waves recorded. Prof. Scripture, of Yale University, has made 
drawings of the vibrations recorded by speech and music, and 
some of his results were shown on the screen. It was shown that 
many consonants are not recorded, especially the sibilants s, z, 
and th, and the explosives b, p, t, d, and k. It was shown after- 
wards, when the instruments were played, that these consonants 
are seldom if ever to be heard. A short history of these instruments 
concluded the lecture, after which a selection of records was played 
in illustration of the various points of the lecture. 
On Friday, February 5th, the Annual General Meeting was 
held under the chairmanship of Mr. P. E. Vizard, Vice-President. 
The Report of the Council and Statement of Accounts were read 
and adopted. The President, Vice-Presidents, and other Officers 
and Council were elected. 
The meeting was resolved into an ordinary meeting, Dr. F. 
Womack, M.B., B.Sc., presiding. 
Professor Harold A. Wilson, M.A., D.Sc., F.R.S., gave a 
lecture on ‘* Modern Views on Matter,” illustrated with experi- 
ments. It was customary, the lecturer said, for unknown things 
