324 



NATURE 



{Aug. lo, 1876 



product of rational factors of the form previously given {x -a), 

 X and a being prime factors of the equation, the event is a simple 

 event incapable of further resolution ; but occasionally the equa- 

 tions to events may be expressed by rational factors, although not 

 of this form. In this case they admit of an easy analysis into 

 other events of which they are the aggregates. Take, for 

 example, the equation 



ax" + 2a<o — 2ax + aw^, 

 which may be written thu?, 



a (X - I) (X" - «) + a (co - I) (x - w) = O, 

 whence 



« (x-i) (x-w) = O, 



a(w- l) (x-o)) = O, 



the constituents being 



«X^ + «w = ox + a«x» 

 oju>x + o« = ao)^ + 0X1 



Again, the following event is the action of chlorosulphuric acid- 

 upon water : — 



a9{2^2 + 2af = a9|* + 2ax. 



This equation is of the form 



a {ee + e^^ - 2) (x - 0, 

 whence 



a{flrx-i){x-|) + «(e|'-i)(x-a 

 the constituents being 



aOf'X^ + a| = ae^^x + «X. 

 oOl^x + «? = aH* + «X. 

 The analysis of these two phenomena here indicated has actually 

 been effected by experiment. 



Section V. — In this section the doctrine of Chemical Con- 

 gruity is discussed, two chemical functions being said to be 

 congruous to one another in reference to a special substitution if 

 they assume the same value when that substitution is respectively 

 effected in them. 



Further, a method is] given for the Development of Chemical 

 Functions, and for the complete theoretical analysis of any 

 chemical event whatsoever — the theoretical analysis of a chemical 

 event occurring by any number of specified substitutions, namely, 



of a for X, b for jj', c for 2, being here said to be effected 



when all the different chemical events occurring in any way what- 

 ever by these substitutions are enumerated, the aggregate of 

 which constitutes the event in question. 



Paris 

 Academy of Sciences, July 31.— Vice- Admiral Paris in the 

 chair. — The following papers were read : — On the carpellary 

 theory according to the Loasete (first part : Mentzelia), by M . 

 Trecul. — Oscillations of temperature of half May, half June, and 

 half July, 1876 ; non-synchronic parallelism of the barometric 

 pressure and the temperature, by M. Sainte-Claire Deville. A 

 minimum of temperature on the loth, nth, and 12th respec- 

 tively; and maxima, on either hand, about the 7th and the i6th. — 

 Filth note on electrical transmissions through the ground, by M. 

 du Moncel. The conductivity of hard stones, as also, doubtless, 

 that of the ground, with regard to plates buried in it, is far from 

 being uniform throughout their mass. The metals used as 

 electrodes with his silex may be ranked thus as to electro- 

 motive force, each being electro-negative to those which 

 follow — platina, copper, brass, iron, tin, lead, zinc. — Re- 

 searches on the development of the chestnut, by M. Baillon. 

 These throw some light on the disputed point of development of 

 the cupule in the acorn. — On the disease called diarrhoea of 

 Cochin China, by M. Normand. It has wrought great havoc 

 among the troops there. It is caused by a parasitical worm in 

 the tissues of the intestine. Milk has been the best remedy 

 hitherto. — On the general theory of regulators, by M. Wischne- 

 gradski. — On globular lightning, by M. Plante. He describes 

 a case of it at Paris, July 24. He thinks it due to spherical 

 aggregation of air and steam through suction and rarefaction by 

 the electric fluid, and condensation of positive electricity in this 

 envelope of rarefied matter. — Radiometer with vanes formed of 

 a metal and of unblackened mica, by MM. Alvergniat Freres. 

 On heating and exhausting to a certain point, it became very 

 little sensitive to light ; would only turn with sunlight ; but it 

 had great sensibility to obscure heat. — Observations on vines 

 having galls in large quantities, by M. Laliman. — New confirma- 

 tion of phylloxerian migrations, by M. Lichtenstein. — Nebulas 

 discovered and observedat Marseilles Observatory, by M. Stephan,' 



Twenty- three are described. — Note on dissociation of the vapour 

 of calomel, by M. Debray. Calomel undergoes a commencement 

 of decomposition at 440°. He heated it in a platinum tube, 

 and held in the vapour a U-tube of gilt silver, through which 

 circulated cold water. There was a greyish deposit containing 

 a little mercury so divided in a fine powder of calomel that it 

 could not attack the gold. — On the laws of compressibility and 

 the coefficients of dilatation of some vapours. — Action of 

 hydracids on tellurous acid, by M. Ditte. — On new salts ot bis- 

 muth and their use in testing for potash, by M. Carnot. These 

 are distinguished by their complete solubility in water. They 

 are double hyposulphites of bismuth and of alkalies. — On the 

 isomery of rotatory power in the camphols, by M. de Mont- 

 golfier. — On a case of spontaneous alteration of anhydrous hy- 

 drocyanic acid, and a new case of total transformation of this 

 acid, by M, de Girard. — On the decomposition of cyanide of 

 potassium, cyanide of zinc, and formiate of potash into carbonic 

 acid, air, and pure hydrogen, by MM. Naudin and Montholon. — 

 On two new sulphurised ureas, by MM. de Clermont and Wehrlin. 

 — On the industrial employment of vanadium in manufacture of 

 aniline black, by M. Witz. This proves a simpler and more 

 economical mode of preparation. — On the manufacture of dyna- 

 mite, by M. Sobrero. He recommends moulding the sihceous 

 matter, after moistening with water, into blocks, then drying, 

 then dipping slowly in the liquid. He experimented thus with 

 fossil meal of Santa Fiora and olive oil, and was convinced that 

 dynamite with 75 per cent, of explosive matter could be made 

 by this method ; danger from friction is avoided. — On the agro- 

 nomic map of the Arrondissement of Rethel (Ardennes), by 

 MM. Meugy and Nevoit. — On fermentation of fruits placed in 

 carbonic acid, by MM. Joubert and Chamberland. — Cellulosic 

 fermentation by means of vegetal organs, and probable utilisa- 

 tion of the sugar in the vegetation for the formation of cellulose, 

 by M. Durin. — On the microzymes of germinated barley and 

 sweet almonds as producers of diastase and synaptase {apropos of 

 note by MM. Pasteur and Joubert), by M. Bechamp. — Rectifica- 

 tion in a former note on panificalion in the United States, and 

 the properties of hops as ferment, by M. Sacc. — On the fermen- 

 tation of urine, apropos of a communication of M. Pasteur, by 

 Dr. Bastian. Boiled solution of potash can fertilise sterile urine 

 only when used in a proportion con-esponding to the acidity and 

 quantity of the hquid. The author asks M.Pasteur for direct 

 proof that germs of Bacteria can survive in a liquid as caustic as 

 the solution of potash made in the pharmaceutical proportions, 

 when it is raised even for only a few instants, to 100°. — Observa- 

 tions on opinions attributed by Prof. Bastian to Prof. Tyndall, 

 apropos of the doctrine of spontaneous generation ; extracts from 

 two letters from Prof. Tyndall. He expresses surprise at being 

 cited as guaranteeing the exactness of Dr. Bastian's experiments, 

 and his entire concurrence with M. Pasteur. — On metallic 

 powders in the atmosphere, by M. Phipson. 



CONTENTS Page 



The Moon 305 



HOVKLACQUE ON THE SCIENCE OF LANGUAGE. By Prof. A. H. 



Savce 306 



The German North Sea Commission 307 



Our Book Shelf : — 



Riley's " Eighth Annual Report of the Noxious, Beneficial, and 



other Insects of the State of Missouri " 308 



Lbtteks to the Editor : — 



Optical Experiments.— Prof. F. E. Nipher 308 



Antedated Books. — F.Z S 309 



Protective Mimicry.— Joseph John Murphy ; Wilmot H. T. 



Power 309 



\ Ophiuchi. — William Doberck 309 



The Cuckoo.— Prof. George J. Romanes 309 



The Fermentation of Urine and the Germ Theory. By Dr. H. 



Charlton Bastian, F.R. S 309 



Our Astronomical Column : — 



Reissig's Comet (?) of 1803 311 



Satellites of Saturn 311 



The Museum of National Antiquities of France. By W. de 



Fonvielle 312 



The Basking Shark. By Dr. Ed. Perceval WrightCJ^V^A nius- / : 



traiions) 313 



On the Physical Explanation of the Inequality of the two 

 Semi-diurnal Oscillations of Barometric Pressure. By 



H. F. Blanford (]Vith Illustration) 314 



Carboniferous Land Shells 317 



The Birds of Kerguelen's Land 317 



Mayer's Recent Acoustical Researches - . 318 



Notes ,. 320 



Scientific Serials 323 



SOCIBTIBS AND ACADBMIBS 323 



