April 13, 1876] 



NA TURE 



477 



I 



that continuous electrophoroi furnisb, when carefully examined, 

 a clear proof that induced electricity does not possess any tension. 

 In fact, in the case of these machines, as in that of fractional 

 machines, the conducting spikes of the prime conductor possess 

 the two opposite electricities co-existent on the same points ; this 

 is easily shown by means of a very small proof-plane.^ 



Thirteenth Experiment. — It is shown, by means of Geissler's 

 tubes submitted to the electrical influence, that induced elec- 

 tricity of the first kind has no tension.^ 



Fourteenth Expirimefit. — Here it is observed that the proof- 

 plane, whether submitted or not to electrical induction, always 

 receives by contact a charge greater than that which is free on 

 the element which it has touched. Then the coibent, always 

 indispensable in the construction of the proof-plane, receives, by 

 infiltration, a certain quantity of electricity, besides that obtained 

 by communication with the metalUc part. This infiltration or 

 absorption varies not only with the nature of the coibent, but 

 also with its quantity, within certain limits. This communica- 

 tion ^ contains other observations on electrical induction, and it 

 is concluded that on the extremity of the induced body nearest 

 to the inductor, the two opposite electricities coexist, and that 

 consequently induced electricity of the first kind has no tension. 

 It is also concluded that the homonym of the inductor is always 

 found on whatever point of the induced body this may be, and 

 that the homonym indicated is the only one to be dissipated, 

 because it alone is the only one endowed with tension. 



Fifteenth Experiment. — In this is explained Nicholson's dupli- 

 cator, which is satisfactory, since it is based on the want of 

 tension in induced electricity of the first kind.* 



Sixteenth Expeiimint. — In this is shown how we may shield 

 from curvilinear induction the electroscope which hangs from the 

 extremity of the induced body nearest to the inductor. From 

 this experiment it is concluded that the divergence of the straws 

 is due principally to curvilinear induction, and that induced elec- 

 tricity of the first kind does rot possess tension." 



Siventecnth Expiriment. — In this is analysed a little known 

 electrostatic phenomenon ; and from this analysis it follows that 

 induced electricity of the first kind has no tension. ® 



Eighteenth Expttimeiit. — It is shown mathematically that 

 electric induction does not traverse conducting masses. It is 

 afterwards observed that first the Florentine academicians 

 and then Faraday admitted this truth. It is also observed that 

 if we admit that induced electricity of the first kind possesses no 

 tension, we arrive at the conclusion given below by means of 

 experiment." 



Conclusion. — Upon an insulated conductor submitted to the 

 electric influence — i. Induced electricity of the first kind does 

 not possess tension. 2. It is found in greater quantity at the 

 extremity of the induced body nearest to the inductor, and 

 diminishes always as it approaches the other extremity. 3. In- 

 duced electricity of the second kind, i.e., the homonym of the 

 inductor, is found on every point of the induced body, not 

 excepting the extremity nearest to the inductor ; it continually 

 increases in proportion as it approaches nearer to the other 

 extremity, and is always free. 



SCIENTIFIC SERIALS 



Mittd — A Quarterly Rivuw of Psychology and Philosophy. 

 Edited by George Croom Robertson, M.A., Professor of Philo- 

 sophy of Mind and Logic, in University College, London. Jan. 

 1 876. — Rivue Philosophiqtte de la France et de I 'Etranger. Dirigee 

 par Th. Ribot. Premiere Annee. Janvier 1876 : Paris. — The 

 growing importance of psychology has been asserted by the 

 simultaneous appearance of a French and an English review, 

 especially devoted to its interest. In scope and char.icter the 

 two publications are identical. One aim of the projectors of Ji/ind 

 seems to be to obtain a decision of the question : Is psychology a 

 science ? ' ' Nothing less, in fact, is aimed at in the pubhcation 

 of Mind." The first number opens with a lecture on "The 

 Comparative Psychology of Man," read before the Anthropo- 

 logical Institute, by Mr. Herbert Spencer. It is one mass of 

 valuable suggestions, and every reader will follow with interest 

 the di\-isions and sub-divisions under which Mr. Spencer re- 

 commends that the subject should be studied. — Next follows 



' "Comptes Rendus," t. 67, p. 843 (Oct. 26, ic6S). 

 ^ Ibid., t. 69, p. 730 (Sept. 27, 1869). 

 3 Ibid., t. 74, p. 860 (March 25, 1872). 

 * Ibid., t 75, p. 257 (July 29, 1872). 



5 Ibid., t. 76, p. 169 (Jan. 20, 1873) 



6 Ibid, t. 76, p. 1296 (May a6, 1873). 



7 Ibid., t 78, p. 901 (Maidi 30, i874)> 



under the title " Physiological Psychology in Germany," a rather 

 lengthy account, by Mr. James Sully, of a work by Prof. Wundt 

 of Leipzig. The other leading articles are in their order :— 

 " Consistency and Real Inference," by Mr. John Venn ; in which 

 the comparative merits and defects of the conceptualist and 

 material views of logic are considered. Towards tlie end of the 

 article Mr. Venn refers to what hef calls an irrelevant difficulty 

 which sometimes puzzles the student of Mill. How, asks the 

 student, can Mr. ilill, while professing to be an idealist, lay it 

 down that logic has to do with the facts or things them- 

 selves, rather than with our ideas about them? We do 

 not see that the consistency of Mr. MUl would be very 

 conclusively vindicated even were it the fact that he did not 

 allow his idealism to interfere with his logic more than 

 does an idealistic astronomer allow his metaphysics to affect his 

 astronomy. But does net Mr. Mill faU back on his idealism when 

 in his discussion with Mr. Herbert Spencer as to the number of 

 terms in the syllogism, he maintains that the things named in the 

 premises and conclusion of a syllogism are our sensations or 

 expectations of sensations, while Mr. Spencer holds the things 

 spoken of to be so many separate objective entities ? In an able 

 and interesting paper, Mr. Henry Sidgwick discusses " The 

 Theory of Evolution in its Application to Practice," and finds 

 that when guidance is needed in ethics or politics the doctrine of 

 evolution will not help us. A distinction between '* Philosophy 

 and Science," is next worked out by Mr. Shadworth H. Hodg- 

 son, in which he displays all his remarkable delicacy of thought. 

 He finds the peculiar scope of philosophy to be " ultimate sub- 

 jective analysis of the notions which to science are themselves 

 ultimate." We doubt if Mr. Lewes would admit tliat this is rot 

 included in his conception of philosophy as embodied in the 

 really great work on which he is now engaged. An excellent 

 article on " Philosophy at Oxford, "* is contributed by the Rector 

 of Lincoln College, which it is perhaps net too much to hope may 

 bear some practical fruit. Coming last and occupying the place 

 of the novel in the magazine, is " The Early Life of James Mill, " 

 to be continued, by Prof. Bain. In addition to being of intense 

 interest to all who care for mental science, it has been eagerly 

 read and discussed by many who have read nothing else in 

 Mind. Short Critical Notices and Reports, and neat little 

 Notes by the editor and others, complete the volume. We sin- 

 cerely hope Prof. Robertson will be able to keep the Reziew up 

 to the standard of this first number. To make it a commercial 

 success will not be an easy task, for though philosophy has of late 

 been a marketable commodity, that has been when distributed 

 among many periodicals. 



Of the Revue Philosophique we can say only a very few 

 words. The first number opens with a most interesting aiid 

 suggestive account, by M. Taine, of observations he made on 

 the acquisition of language by a female child. His speculations 

 about words entirely invented by the child and carrying with 

 them natural meanings, as also his reasonings from the child- 

 hood of the individual to that of the race, are ingenious and 

 plausible. He concludes with some excellent remarks on Max 

 Miiller's view that in rational language we find the distinctive 

 chaiacteristic of man. According to M. Taine the use of words, 

 sounds carrying with them a vague general connotation, is, like 

 the use of ornaments and the use of tools, in common with 

 numerous other indications, an evidence that the stage human 

 has been reached. The psychological condition of this supe- 

 riority, he continues, will be found in a greater aptitude for 

 general ideas, and its physiological condition in a larger and 

 finer development of brain. In the second article the doc- 

 trine of final causes is ably discussed by M. P. Janet, from 

 various points of view. He concludes, however, by maintain- 

 ing a form of the doctrine, which, as far as we can see, 

 without being able to serve any practical end, supposes a theory 

 that lies wholly outside the boundaries of science. Mr. Herbert 

 Spencer's lecture on" The Comparative Psychology of Man," of 

 which we have already spoken, comes next. The remainder of 

 the number is taken up with reviews of books. 



The Journal ofilu Chemical Society for February contains the 

 following papers :— On the presence of liquid carbon dioxide in 

 mineral cavities, by W. N. Hartley. The author's researches 

 have been chiefly confined to quartz, evidence of the nature of 

 the enclosed liquid being furnished by the specific gravity of the 

 liquid as compared with water (which was also contained in the 

 cavities), and by observing the critical temperature. The author 

 is of opinion that the fluid-cavities of sapphires and rubies also 

 contain carbon dioxide. — On certain bismuth compounds, by 



