624 



NATURE 



[April 28, 1898 



variations by means of a wire conducting electricity, by M. 

 Dussaud. An application of the selenium cell. — On the influence 

 of self-induction in the explosion by the electric spark of mix- 

 tures of marsh gas with air, by MM. H. Couriot and J. Meunier. 

 — Influence of temperature upon chemical reactions, by M. 

 Albert Colson. An experimental study of the eff"ect of tempera- 

 ture upon the velocity of absorption of hydrogen sulphide by 

 orthophosphate and pyrophosphate of silver, zinc phosphate, and 

 copper phosphate. — On the ammoniacal bromides of silver, by 

 M. Jarry. By the action of liquid ammonia upon silver bromide 

 the two compounds 2AgBr.3NH3 and AgBr.3NH3 are formed, 

 the dissociation pressures of which were measured. — On the 

 phosphoric ethers, by M. J. Cavalier. Monomethyl- and 

 monoallyl-phosphoric ethers were prepared and their behaviour 

 towards indicators examined. The results were analogous to 

 those given by the corresponding ethyl ether. A table is 

 given showing the heats of neutralisation of the three 

 ethers by various bases. — On the alkaline sulphantimonites, 

 by M. Pouget. The sodium sulphantimonites are formed 

 under conditions analogous to the potassium compounds ; 

 the)' differ from the latter, however, by the facility with 

 which they undergo oxidation to sulphantimoniates. — General 

 reaction of ethylenic hydrocarbons ; corresponding mercuric 

 combinations, by M. G. Deniges. By treatment with acid 

 mercuric sulphate, all ethylenic compounds (except ethylene 

 itself) give yellow compounds of the formula (HgS04.HgO)3R'', 

 where R" represents the hydrocarbon. Compounds of pro- 

 pylene, butylene, and amylene are described. — Heat of form- 

 ation of some quinones of high molecular weight, by M. Amand 

 Valeur. The quinones used were : o-naphthoquinone, ^■ 

 naphthoquinone, anthraquinone, phenanthrenequinone, and 

 retenequinone ; the results are compared with a- and )3-naph- 

 thols, new data for which are given. — Heats of neutralisation 

 of ethylphosphoric acid, by M. G. Belugou. — New synthesis of 

 3'3-di-methyl-i"S-pentanedioic acid, by M. F. E. Blaise. — 

 Spectrum analysis of non-conducting substances by fused salts, 

 by M. A. de Gramont. The finely-powdered mineral is fused 

 with either lithium carbonate, boric acid, or potassium bisul- 

 phate, the first for preference, and the sparks passed through the 

 molten mass. — On the functions of cerebral hypophysis, by 

 M. E. de Cyon. The slightest pressure upon the hypophysis 

 is immediately followed by a sudden variation in the blood 

 pressure, and by a marked decrease in the number of heart beats 

 per minute. — Effects upon man and mice of the inoculation of a 

 pyogenous Tricophyte, by MM. Sabrazes and Brengues. — The 

 parasites of cancer and of sarcoma. Coloration, structure, 

 cycles of reproduction, and dimorphism, by M. F. G. Bosc. — 

 Contribution to the study of direct cellular division ; its anomalies 

 and functional value, by M. Joannes Chatin. — On the Annelids 

 collected by the expeditions of the Travailleur and Talisman, 

 by M. Louis Roule. — On a cavity in the integument serving in 

 the Myrinicina to spread out a secretion product in contact 

 with air, by M. Charles Janet. — Variations, in four phases, of 

 the pressure and of the two mean components of the wind on 

 the meridian of the sun and its orthogonal, by M. A. Poincare. 

 — Influence of the movements of the moon on the oscillations of 

 the atmosphere, by M. P. Garrigou-Lagrange. 



DIARY OF SOCIETIES. 



THURSDA y, April 28. 



Royal Society, at 4.30.-011 the Meteorological Observatories of the 

 Azores: H.S.H. the Prince of Monaco. — A Compensated Interference 

 Dilatometer : A. E. Tutton. — Observations on the Action of Anaesthetics 

 on Vegetable and Animal Protoplasm : Dr. Waller, F.R.S., and Prof. 

 Farmer.— A Calorimeter for the Human Body: Dr. Marcet, F.R.S.— 

 An Experimental Inquiry into the Heat given out by the Human Body : 

 Dr. Marcet, F.R.S., and R. B. Floris. 



Institution of Electrical Engineers, at 8. 

 FRIDA y, April 29. 



RoVAL Institution, at 9.— Magneto-Optic Rot.-»tion and its Explana- 

 tion by a Gyrostatic Medium (with Experimental Illustrations) : Prof. 

 A. Gray, F.R.S. 



Institution of Mechanical Engineers, at 7.30.— Steam Laundry 

 Machinery : Sidney Tebbutt. 



MONO A y. May 2. 



Society of Arts, at 8.— The Electric Locomotive : Prof. Carus Wilson. 



Society of Chemical Industry, at 8.— Self-intensive Refrigeration of 

 Gases, Liquid Air and Oxygen : Dr. W. Hampson. 



Victoria Institute, at 4.30.— British Submerged River Valleys: Prof 

 Hull, F.R.S. ' 



TUESDA F, May 3. 



Society of Arts, at 8.— Senefelder and the Centenary of LithograDhv. 

 1 798-1 898 : Joseph Pennell. & v :i, 



Zoological Society, at 8.30. 



NO. 1487, VOL. 57] 



WEDNESDAY. May 4. 

 Society of Arts, at 8. — The Revival of Hand-loom Weaving : Miss Clive- 



Bayley. 

 Geological Society, at 8. — The Carboniferous Limestone of the Country 



around Llandudno : G. H. Morton.— On the Graptolite-Fanna of the 



Skiddaw Slates : Miss G. L. EUes. 

 Entomological Society, at 8. 



THURSDAY, May 5. 



Royal Society, at 4.30. 



Linnean Society, at 8. — On some Spitsbergen CoUembola: Sir John 

 Lubbock, Bart., M.P., F.R.S.— On the Structure and Development of 

 Soranthera: Miss Ethel Barton. — The Species, the Sex, and the Indi- 

 vidual : J. T. Cunningham. 



Chemical Society, at 8. — The Reactions of the Carbohydrates with 

 Hydrogen Peroxide : C. F. Cross, E. J. Bevan, and Claud Smith.— The 

 Properties and Relationships of Dihydroxy tartaric Acid, Part II.: H. J. 

 H. Fenton. — The Affinity Constants of certain Hydroxy-acids : S. 

 Skinner. — Molecular Weights in Solution of Permanganates, Per- 

 chlorates, and Periodates : J. Murray Crofts. 



FRIDA Y, May 6. 

 Royal Institution, at 9. — Living Crystals : Edward A. Minchin. 

 Geologists' Association, at 8. — Notes on Skye : Horace B. Woodward, 

 F.R.S. — Observations in Lapland : Aubrey Strahan. 



SA TURDA Y, May 7. 

 Geologists' Association. — Excursion to Hillmorton and Rugby. 

 Director : Beeby Thompson. 



BOOKS, PAMPHLET, and SERIALS RECEIVED. 



Books. — Domestic Science Readers : V. T. Murche, Book vii. (Mac 

 millan). — Flower Favourites : L. Deas (Allen). — A Century of Vaccination 

 Dr. W. S. Tebb (Sonnenschein). — Maryland Geological Survey, Vol. i 

 (Baltimore). — Iowa Geological Survey, Vol. vi. (Des Moines). — Mag- 

 netismo e Ipnotismo : Dr. G. Belfiore (Milano, Hoepli). — Mu.seums 

 Association, Report of Proceedings &c., at the Eighth Annual Meeting 

 held in Oxford, July 6 to 9, 1897 : edited by J. Paton (Dulau). — Handbook 

 of Jamaica, 1898 (Stanford). 



Pamphlet. — Das Physikalisch-Chemische Institut der Universitat 

 Leipzig und die Feier seiner Eroffnung am 3 Januar 1898 : Prof. Dr. W. 

 Ostwald (Leipzig, Engelmann). 



Serials. — Journal of Anatomy and Physiology, April (Griffin). — Journal 

 ot the Chemical Society, April (Gurney). — Quarterly Review, April 

 (Murray). — Home University, April 15 (West). — American Journal of 

 Mathematics, Vol. xx. No. 2 (Baltimore). — Journal of the Marine Bio- 

 logical Association of the United Kingdom, April (Dulau). — Himmel und 

 Erde, April (Berlin, Paetel) — Bulletin de I'Acad^mie Royale des Sciences, 

 &c , de Belgique, 1898, No. 3 (Bruxelles). — Wide World Magazine, April 

 (Newnes). " 



CONTENTS. PAGE 



Bacteriolysis of Sewage. By G. S. W 601 



Science and Art of Building 602 



A German Popular Astronomy. By W. E, P. . . 604 

 Our Book Shelf:— 



Preaubert : "La Vie: Mode de Mouvement. " — 



F. A. D 605 



Cordeiro : " The Barometrical Determination of 



Heights" 605 



Randolph: "Laboratory Directions in General 



Biology" 606 



Jones : " The Freezing- Point, Boiling-Point, and 



Conductivity Methods " 606 



Wright : " Philip's Artistic Fruit Studies " .... 606 



Dixon: " Philip's Artistic Animal Studies " .... 606 

 Letter to the Editor : — 



" The Story of Gloucester." — Alex. Wheeler . . . 606 

 Rontgen Rays and Ordinary Light. By Lord 



Rayleigh, F.R.S 607 



The Bakerian Lecture. By Dr. W. J. Russell, 



V.P.R.S 607 



Andree's Balloon Expedition. {Ilhtstrated.) By 



Dr. Hugh Robert Mill 609 



The Beneke Prizes 610 



Notes 611 



Our Astronomical Column: — 



Astronomical Occurrences in May . . 617 



Double and Multiple Southern Stars 617 



Comet Perrine 617 



The Manora Observatory 617 



The Harvard College Observatory 617 



The Nature and Habits of Pliny's Solpuga. {Illus- 

 trated.) By R. I. Pocock 61& 



The Laboulbeniaceae : a New Field of Study 



among Fungi. By R. W. P 620 



The Bolometer. By Prof. S, P. Langley 620- 



University and Educational Intelligence 622 



Societies and Academies 622 



Diary of Societies 624 



Books, Pamphlet, and Serials Received 624 



