NA TURE 



[November iS, is,,; 



hydrogen alone disappeared at 280', owing to its reacting with 

 the acid. In the case where phos]Dhorus pentoxide was ])resent, 

 the rate of combination was of the same order ot magnitude as 

 when the mixture was heated alone. The conclusion is drawn 

 that there is no equilibrium corresponding to the vapour pres- 

 sure of the water produced, but that the reaction, although very- 

 slow, is unlimited. — On an explanation applicable to the 

 phenomena of Faraday and of Zeeman, by M. Henri Becquerel. 

 Starting from the hypothesis that in a magnetic field the ether 

 possesses a vortex-movement of given period, 0, the conclusion 

 is drawn that in the Zeeman phenomenon the variation of the 

 wave-length ought to be proportional to the square of the wave- 

 length. The value of the reciprocal of Q is calculated both from 

 the Zeeman and Faraday effects, the numbers for air showing a 

 good agreement in the two cases.— Study of the oysters of Cette, 

 from the point of view of pathogenic micro-organisms, by MM. 

 Ad. Sabatier, A. Ducamp, and J. M. Petit. No pathogenic 

 organisms could be found in oysters after exposure for some 

 time to water containing sewage. Even when cultures of the 

 typhoid and Coli communis bacilli were injected into living 

 oysters, no trace of either could be detected after four days in sea 

 water. The authors conclude from these experiments that there is 

 no ground for considering oysters as one of the causes of typhoid 

 fever. — The Perpetual Secretary announced to the Academy the 



loss sustained by science by the death of M. Scheering. — Ob- 

 servations on the Perrine comet ^October 1897) made at the 



■Observatory of Alj^iers, by MM Rambaud and Sy. — On the 

 general theory of functions of real variables, by M. R. Baire. — 



-On the potential of the double layer, by M. A. Liapounoff. — On 

 the mechanism of rotatory magnetic polarisation, by M. Andre 

 Broca. — On the variation of energy in isothermal transforma- 

 tions ; electric energy, by M. H. Pellat. —The dissemination of 

 the X rays, by M. Abel Buguet. By the use of protecting leaden 

 screens, in cases where a long exposure is required, a much 



• clearer photograph is obtained. — On the molecular volumes and 

 •densities of gases in general at all temperatures and mean 

 ipressures, by M. A. Leduc. — Table of the elements, arranged 

 with the atomic weights in multiple proportions, by M. H. 

 Wilde.- — On some new lines in the spectra of oxygen and of 

 thallium, by M. H. Wilde. —On the action of nitric acid upon 

 tin, by M. R. Engel. — Estimation of phenylhydrazine, by M. H. 

 Causse. The method proposed is based upon the reduction by 

 the phenylhydrazine of arsenic to arsenious acid, and the iodo- 

 metric estimation of the latter. — New combinations of phenyl- 

 hydrazine with mineral salts, by M. J. Moitessier. The salts 

 described are compounds of phenylhydrazine with the chlorides 



. and sulphates of nickel and cobalt, and cobalt bromide. They 

 contain more phenylhydrazine than the series previously 

 described. — Biological preparation of levulose from mannite, by 

 MM Camille Vincent and Delachanal. The ferment of sorbose, 



■ developing in a solution containing mannite, oxidises the latter 

 to levulose. — On some halogen derivatives of methyl-phenyl 



^ketone, by M. A. Collet. The preparation and properties of 

 C6H4Cl.CO.CHgCl [1:4], QH.Br.CO.CHjCi [i 14], 

 <:6H4Cl.CO.CH2Br [i 14], and CgH^Br.CO.CHjBr [1:4] 

 •are described. — On caroubinose and a^-mannose, by 

 M. Alberda van Ekenstein. The sugar described as 

 new by M. J- Effront (August 2, 1897), obtained from the 

 grains of Ceratonia siliqiia, is identical with d mannose. 

 — Vegetation with and without argon, by M. Th. Schloesing, 

 jun. No difference could be observed in the growth of the 

 plants in the two cases, and no measurable amount of argon was 

 absorbed. — On Strongylosis observed at the Agricultural School 

 at Grignon, by M. Ch. Julien. — On the production of gum in 

 the Sterculiaceae, by M. Louis Mangin. — On the periods of 

 development of the black rot in the south-east of France, by M. 

 Joseph Perraud. — On the diseases of the bulbs of Crocus sativus, 

 L. , by M. E. Roze. — Researches on the formation of oil 

 reserves in seeds and fruits, tjy M. C. Gerber. — On the absorp- 

 tion of carbon monoxide by the blood of a living mammal, by 

 M. N. Grehant. The experiments showed that for air contain- 

 ing I /6000th of its volume of carbon monoxide or less, the 

 volume absorbed by too c.c. of blood was proportional to the 

 time. For stronger mixtures ("ooi) a limit appeared to be 

 reached after about three hours. — On the histological modifica- 

 tions of nerve cells in a state of tatigue, by M. Ch. A. Pugnat. 

 Fatigue in the nerve cells is accompanied by a diminution in 

 volume of the cellular body and the nucleus, and by the dis- 

 appearance of the chromatic substance of the protoplasm. — In- 

 termediate forms in cartilaginous tissue, by M. Joannes Chatin. 



NO. 1464, VOL. 57] 



DIARY OF SOCIETIES. 



THURSDAY, tio\'E.j.\)iKi<.i?,. 



kovAi. SociBTV, at 4.30. — Account of a Comparison of Magnetic Instru- 

 ments at Kew Observatory : C. Chree, F.R.S. — Note on the Influence ot 

 very Low Temperatures on the Germinntive Power of Seeds : H. ']'. 

 Brown, F.R.S., and F. Kscombe. — On the Structure and Affiniiies of 

 Fossil Plants from the Palaeozo'c Rocks. II. On Srencerites, a New 

 Genus of Lycopodiaceous Cones from the Coal Measures, founded on the 

 Lfpiiiodeniiron Sfienceri oi'WWWtim'-.on : D. H. Scott, F.R.S. — The Hi-to- 

 logy of the Cell-wall, with special refeience to the Mode of Connecion of 

 Cells: W. G.irdiner, F.R.S. — Mathematical Coniributions to the Theory 

 of Evolution. IV. On the Probable Errors of Frequency Constants, ai.d 

 on the Influence of Random Selection on Variation and Correlation : 

 Prof. K Pearson, F.R.S., and L. N. G. Filon — On the Geometric.-d 

 Treatment of the ' Normal Curve" of Statistics, with especial reference 

 to Correlation, and to the Theory of Error : W. F. Sheppard. 



LiNNEAN Society, at 8. — On Pontolwlbos luanaarensis : Prof. A. Dendy. 

 — On Haddonia, a New Genus of Foraminifera : F. Chapman. 



Chemical Society, at 8. — On the Decomposition of Camphoric Acid by 

 Fusion with Potash or Soda : Dr. A. W. Crossley and W. H. Perkin, 

 jun., F.R.S. — Experiments on the Synthesis of Camphoric Acid : W. H. 

 Bentley and W. H. Perkin,jun., F.R.S.— The Action of Magnesium on 

 Cupric .Sulphate Solution : Dr. Fr.ank Clowes and R. M.Caven. — Proper- 

 ties and Relationships of Di-hydroxyt.artaric Acid: H. J.Horstman Fenion. 



Camera Club, at 8 15. — Seismograms and Telegrams : Prof. Milne, F.R.S. 

 MON PA y, November 22. 



Camera Club, at 8.15 — Electric Waves, illustrated by Telegraphy with- 

 out Wire.s . A. Campbell. 



Til ESDA Y, November 23. 



Institution of Civil Engineers, at 8.— Central Station Electric Coal 

 Mining Plant in Pennsylvania : W. S. Gresley. 



Royal Photographic Society, at 8. — Photographs of the Optical Projec- 

 tions in Space produced by the Aeri.al Graphoscope ; Probable Projection 

 of Lightning Flashe:--, illustrated by Experunents and Photographs : Eric 

 Stuart Bruce. 



Anthropological Institute, at 8.30. 



Leigh Browne Trust and the Humanitarian League (St. Martin's 

 Town Hall, W.C.), at 8. — The Germ Theory and its Fallacies : Dr. 

 Campbell Black. 



WEDNESDA Y, November 24. 



Society of Arts, at 8. — Progress of Metallurgy and Metal Mining in 

 America during the l.-ist Half-Century : Prof. James Douglas. 

 THURSDAy, November 25. 



Royal Society, at 4.30. 



Institution OF Electrical Engineers, at 8.— Accumulator Traction on 

 R.ails and Ordinary Roads : L. Epstein. (Continuation of Discussion.) 



Camera Club, at 8.15.— Photographic Action Writ Large: a Kurvey- 

 linear Conversation on Corn : Prof. Armstrong, F.R.S. 



CONTENTS. PAGE 



The Mathematics used in Connection with Physics. 



By W. E. A 49 



The Electrical Phenomena of Nerve. By J. B. S. . 50 



Notes of a Naturalist and Antiquary 51 



Our Book Shelf:— 



Leumann : "Notes on Micro-organisms Pathogenic to 



Man" ■ 52 



Canney : " The Winter Meteorology of Egypt and its 



Influence on Disease " 52 



Minet : " Les Fours P^lectriques et leurs Applications " 53 

 " Bibliography of X-Ray Literature and Research 



(1896-1897)". 53 



Wiilfing : " Die Meteoriten in Sammlungen und ihre 

 Literatur, nebst einem Versuch den Tauschwert der 



Meteoriten zu bestimmen" 53 



Letters to the Editor: — 



Rediscovery of the Tile-fish {Lopholatilus). — Dr. A. 



Gunther, F.R.S 53 



The Exploration of the Air by Means of Kites. — A. 



Lawrence Rotch 53 



Lord Rayleigh's Proof of Van 't Hoff 's Osmotic 



Theorem. {Wilk Diagram.)— ¥. G. Donnan . . 53 

 The Law of Divisibility.— Dr. C. Borgen; Henry T. 



Burgess 54 



Hon. Ralph Abercromby. By R. H. Scott, F.R.S. . 55 

 Rev. Samuel Haughton, M.D, By C. ....... 55 



Notes 56 



Our Astronomical Column : — 



The November Meteors (Leoqids) 61 



Jupiter's Third and Fourth Satellites 61 



Comet Perrine (October 16) 61 



The Variable Star )3 Lyrse 61 



Geologists in Canada. (Illustrated.) 62 



Professor Virchow's Jubilee 66 



The Temperatures of Reptiles, Monotremes, and 

 Marsupials. (With Diagrams.) By A. Sutherland . 67 



University and Educational Intelligence 69 



Scientific Serials 70 



Societies and Academies ... 70 

 Diary of Societies 72 



