244 



NATURE 



\yuly 13, 1876 



Victoria (Philosophical) Institute, July 3. — A paper on 

 the unseen universe, was read by the Rev. Dr. Irons. 



Berlin 

 German Chemical Society, June 12. — A. W. Hofmann, 

 president, in the chair. — F. Sonnenschein spoke on two active 

 principles of gelsonia sempervirens ; one called gelsinic acid by 

 Wormsley proved to be sesculine ; the other, a strong but 

 amorphous base, of which no compound seems to crystallise 

 excepting perhaps the platinum-salt, acts like strychnine and 

 digitaline and gives a red colour with sulphate of sesquioxide of 

 cerium. — A. Miiller reported on the ground water of Genne- 

 villiers, the irrigation-ground of Paris, his analyses yielding less 

 favourable results than those published in the reports of the 

 Paris Commission. The President remarked upon the difficulty 

 of drawing conclusions from isolated analyses, a continuation of 

 systematical researches being absolutely necessary for the pur- 

 pose. — C. J. Austen described a new dibromo-dinitro-benzol 

 fusing at 99°. With ammonia it yields' monobromo-dinltraniline. 

 With aniline a corresponding compound originates, which yields 

 a nitro-product capable of uniting with alkalies. — Emil Fischer 

 and Otto Fischer have made new researches on the di-azo com- 

 pounds of rosaniline, of leukaniline and of hydrocyano-rosaniline. 

 The di-azoleukaniline yielded, with sodium, a hydrocarbon, 

 ^20^18 (corresponding to leukaniline, C2»Hj5[NH2]3) fusing at 

 58°, distilling above 300°, and yielding, with chromic acid, a 

 ketone, CaoHigO. — Emil Fischer has combined phenyl-hydrazine, 

 CfiHgNgHg, with CS2, forming (CaH5N2H3)2CS2. This body 

 dissolves in potash, and from the solution sulphuric acid precipi- 

 tates an acid, phenyl-sulpho-carbazinic acid, CgHgNjHaCS.SH, 

 while one molecule of phenyl-hydrazine is split off. This acid 

 is easily decomposed by heat, yielding hard and colourless 

 prisms (C6H5N2H2)j,CS, diphenyl-sulphocarbazid ; alkali changes 

 it into a black colouring matter, isomeric with the above and 

 soluble in alkali with a red colour. Phenyl-hydrazine and bro- 

 mide of ethyl yield a new crystalline substance, 



CeHjN^H^lQHj) (CaH^Br), 

 bromide of phenyl-diethyl-hydrazonium. With oil of bitler 

 almonds phenyl-hydrazine forms crystals of the composition 

 CeHj.NgH.CH.CgHg. Isocyanate of ethyl and phenyl-hydra- 

 zine form a urea of the co.nposition CgHgNgH^ - CO - NHC2H5. 

 With acetic anhydride and with oxalic ether, phenylhydrazine 

 yields products in which one atom of hydrogen is replaced by 

 acid radicals. At last the higher homologue, toluyl-hydrazine, 

 has been prepared, C7H7N2H3 in the manner formerly de- 

 scribed for preparing phenylhydrazine. — II. Vohl claims priority 

 for a test for sulphur in organic compounds lately described by 

 Weith. — B. W. Gerland described several sulphates of tetroxyde 

 of vanadium as well as metavanadic acid. — H. Griinzweig and 

 R. Hofmann defended the existence of crystallised ultramarine 

 against some doubts lately expressed by Biichner. — H. Landolt 

 published elaborate researches on the specific deviation of the 

 plane of polarisation of solutions, from which he concludes that 

 indifferent solvents affect the values observed very considerably, 

 so that concentrated solutions only can furnish results of any 

 approach to exactness. — E. A. Grete described a volumetric 

 method of determining sulphuret of carbon, xanthogenic acid, 

 alkalies, and copper, depending on the formation of insoluble 

 xanthogenate of copper. —V. Meyer and F. Spitzer have trans- 

 formed the product of the action of PCI5 on camphor ; CioHjgCl 

 into crystallised ethyl-terpene, C^oHig — CjHg. 



Paris 



Academy of Sciences, June 26. — Vice-Admiral Paris in the 

 chair. — The following papers were read : — Geometric points and 

 envelope curves satisfying the conditions of constant product of 

 two variable segments ; generalisation of some theorems ex- 

 pressed in radii vectors, by M. Chasles. — Note on the develop- 

 ment of COS. m X and sin. m x, according to powers of sin. x, 

 by M. Yvon Villarceau. — On the maximum of possible repulsive 

 force of the solar rays, by M. Him. Taking (from experiment) 

 o '293833 cal. to represent the heating per square metre on the 

 earth's surface, the two pressures o'ooo4i57 gr. and o 0008314 gr. 

 are necessarily the greatest possible ior a perfectly absorbing 

 and a perfectly reflecting surface ; on any hypothesis attributing 

 phenomena of light and heat to movements of ponderable 

 matter. If, then, a radiometric or other experiment give, for 

 solar repulsion, a value superior to those now specified, we must 

 conclude against a direct impulsion by light, and the idea of 

 mass, density, &c,, in light, Now Mr. Crookes has estimated 



the apparent repulsion at 1 gr. per sq. metre, or more than a 

 thousand times superior to the above maximum for reflecting 

 bodies. — New experimental considerations on Mr. Crookes's 

 radiometer, by M. Ledieu. This refers chiefly to experiments 

 by M. Berlin, who has a paper on the subject in the June 

 number of Annales de Chimie et de Physique. — Properties common 

 to canals, rivers, and water-pipes with uniform regime (first part), 

 by M. Boileau. — M. de Saporta was elected correspondent 

 for the Section of Botany, in room of the late M. Thuret ; 

 MM. Godron and Duval Jouve were the other candidates — 

 Report on a memoir of M. Felix Lucas, entitled " Calorific 

 Vibrations of Homogeneous Bodies." The chief object proposed 

 is to deduce from thermodynamics the principles of conductivity 

 of heat in homogeneous bodies, enunciated by Fourier, consi- 

 dering heat as the result of molecular vibrations. — Exposition 

 of a new method for resolution of numerical equations of 

 all degrees (third part), by M. Lalanne. — On a differential 

 radiometer, by M. de Fonvielle. — Process for the minu- 

 facture of soda from wrack by endosmotic steeping in lye, 

 by M. Herland. — On the catastrophe of Grand Sable (dis- 

 trict of Salazie), Isle of Reunion, by M. Vinson. The 

 renewal of subterranean commotions in May points to volcanic 

 action as the cause of the catastrophe. — Elements and epheme- 

 rides of planet 153, Atala, by M. Bossert. — On linear differential 

 equations of the second order, by M. Fuchs. — On the contact of 

 surfaces of an implex with an algebraic surface, by M. Fouret. — 

 On some experiments made with Crookes's balance, by M. Salet. 

 — On some derivatives of normal pyrotartaric acid, by M. 

 Reboul. — Volumetric determination of formic acid, by MM. 

 Portes and Ruyssen. — On the arragonite observed on the surface 

 of a meteorite, by Mr. J. Lawrence Smith. It was in the form 

 of white incrustation, on meteoric masses found in the desert of 

 Mexico. The matter seems to have been incrusted on the iron 

 after fall of the latter. The mass lay in a valley between high 

 mountains of calcareous formation, and would often be washed 

 and covered with water during heavy rains. — On the combina- 

 tions of carbons found in meteorites, by Mr. J. Lawrence Smith. 

 — On the employment of chloride of calcium in the watering of 

 streets, promenades, and public gardens, by M. Houzeau. At 

 Rouen, this waste product of the manufactories of pyroligneous 

 acid has been utilised in the way referred to, and with the best 

 results. It impregnates the soil with hygrometric matter which 

 makes durable for a week the moisture imparted. It is healthy, 

 always containing a good deal of chloride of iron and tarry 

 matters ; and compared with water, it realises an economy of 

 about thirty per cent. Further, it improves streets and roads 

 by covering them with a sort of patina or hard superficial crust, 

 resisting both desiccation and disaggregation. — Study on the 

 formation and growth of some galls, by M. Prillieux. — Experi- 

 mental researches on the action of aniline, introduced into the 

 blood, and into the stomach, by MM. Feltz and Ritter. This 

 inquiry was suggested by an analysis of wines sold at Nancy, 

 which showed that fuchsine is largely employed to heighten the 

 colour of wine, and to mark the addition of water. Its injurious 

 action is shown on man and on dogs. — Researches on CyJ>ressus 

 pyramidalis, by M. Hartsen. — Process of registration and repro- 

 duction of colours, of forms, and of movemeats, by M. Cros. 



CONTENTS Page 



The UNivERiiTV OF Manchester, 1 225 



Galileo and the Roman Court. By Sedley Taylor 226 



Margary's Journals and Letters 229 



Our Book Shelf : — 



Evans's " Through Bosnia and the Herzegdvina " 230 



Letters to the Editor : — 



Firths, Dales, and Lakes, Valleys and Canons. — J. C 230 



The Loan Scientific Collection at South Kensington. — William 



Gee 231 



Evolution of Oxygen by. " Vallisneria Spiralis." — Walter J. 



Stanton 231 



Stamns of Kalmia.— C. G. O'Brien 231 



Optical Pheaomenon. — J«seph John Murphy 231 



The Cuckoo. — Henry St. John Joyner 231 



Our Astronomical Column :— 



Short's Observation of a supposed Satellite of Venus 231 



7 Argus 232 



The Norwegian-Atlantic Expedition 232 



The Kinematics of Machinery, H. (With Illustrations) ... 233 

 . Perigenesis v. Pangenesis— Haeckel's New Theory of Heredity. 



By Prof. E. Ray Lankester, F.R8 235 



Dinner to the "Challenger" Staff 238 



Photographic Processes. By Capt. Abnev, R.E., F.R.S. ... 239 



Notes ^4i 



Societies AND AcADBMiBS 243 



