72 



NATURE 



[May 1 6, 1889 



the study of the compounds formed by the action of the 

 niagnesium and lithium molybdates on the solutions of tar- 

 taric acid, by M. D. Gernez. The present series of experiments 

 are analogous to those already described in previous communica- 

 tions, demonstrating the great increase experienced by the 

 rotatory force of certain active compounds when their solutions 

 are placed in contact with various substances without proper 

 action on polarized light. Here M. Gernez studies more parti- 

 cularly the action of the neutral magnesium molybdate on solu- 

 tions of tartaric acid, and the action of the neutral lithium 

 molybdate on the same solutions. Combining these with 

 the results already obtained, he is now able to formulate the 

 following general conclusion : The simplest combinations which 

 are produced in aqueous solution between tartaric acid and the 

 neutral molybdates and tungstates hitherto studied, and which 

 correspond to a maximum rotatory power, are formed by the 

 union of the acid with the salt molecule for molecule. — On the 

 atomic weight of ruthenium, by M. A. Joly. In a previous com- 

 munication {Comptis rendus, cvii. p. 994) the author announced 

 that the analysisof compounds of nitric oxide with rutheno-chlor- 

 ides led to a reduction of about two units in the atomic weight of 

 ruthenium (I04-I03'5) as determined by the latest researches of 

 Glaus. He now finds this view confirmed by his own studies, 

 and provisionally fixes the atomic weight of this element at 

 loi •4. In its preliminary transformation into compounds contain • 

 ing nitric oxide the ruthenium was completely freed ftom osmium, 

 the atomic weight of which, according to Seubert's last determina- 

 tions, is nearly double (191), and this would explain the consider- 

 able reduction in the atomic weight of the ruthenium itself — On 

 a-oxycinchonine, by MM. E. Jungfleisch and E. Leger. A de- 

 tailed description is given of the preparation, properties, salts, 

 and various derivatives of this substance, the formula of which is 

 CggHgjNjOj. — On the alcoholic fermentation of the juice of 

 the sugar-cane, by M. V. Marcano. The object of these studies 

 has been to determine the agent of the alcoholic fermentation, 

 as well as the nature of the products accompanying the alcohol 

 yielded by the juice of the sugar-cane. — Action of zinc 

 chloride on isobutylic alcohol in the presence of hydrochloric 

 acid, by MM. H. Malbot and L. Gentil. The points here 

 chiefly studied are the part played by the isobutyl chloride, and 

 the properties of the polybutylenes. — On an artificial silk, by 

 M. de Chardonnet. The author has prepared from a pure 

 cellulose octonitrate a silk -like fabric of great elasticity and soft- 

 ness, more lustrous than the silk of cocoons, and capable of being 

 dyed by the ordinary processes. Specimens will be shown at 

 the Universal Exhibition. — M. Daubree paid a tribute to the 

 memory of ihe late M. Lory, Corresponding Member of the 

 Section for Mineralogy, who died at Grenoble on May 3. 



Berlin. 



Physical Society, April 5. — Prof, von Helmholtz, President, 

 in the chair. — Prof. Rosenthal, of Erlangen, described his 

 calorimeter and the experiments he had made with it on the heat- 

 production of the animal body. (See report of the Physiological 

 Society in Nature of April 25, p. 624. ) He then showed a small 

 experiment on making flames non-luminous. This result can be 

 obtained either by means of a strong current of air or by con- 

 siderable cooling. The speaker, however, produced the same 

 effect in the following way. A small gas-flame is made to burn 

 brightly inside a cylindrical chimney ; it becomes non-luminous 

 as soon as a platinum crucible is placed on the chimney so a-; to 

 incompletely close the upper end of the cylinder. Prof 

 Rosenthal believes that in this case the current of air through 

 the chimney is very considerably slowed, hence the gas issuing 

 fiom the burner becomes disseminated throughout the whole 

 mass of air, and as a result of this, the temperature being low, 

 t burns without giving any light. Several other explanations of 

 I he phenomenon were suggested by the members present at the 

 meeting. — Dr. Frohlich made a further communication in 

 connection with his older, resultless experiments on the objective | 

 <lemonstration of the vibrations of a telephone-disk, in order to 

 describe his new method by which positive results had beea 

 obtained. In his earlier experiments he employed manometric \ 

 flames, and endeavoured to photograph their movements with the i 

 help of a rotating mirror; now, however, he attaches a small 

 mirror to the iron plate of the telephone, and from this the light 

 of an electric lamp is reflected on to a polygonal rotating mirror, 

 irom which it falls upon a screen. The vibrations of the plate 

 wtre thus made visible on the screen, and since each sidi of the 

 polygonal mirror cast its own image, when the mirror was 

 rotated the curves were seen moving over the screen. The more 



rapidly the mirror was rotated the slower did the curves move 

 over the screen, and when the rotation was as rapid as the 

 vibration of the plate, the curves became stationary and could 

 thus be exactly observed and drawn. These luminous curves 

 could also be photographed. The speaker had employed this 

 method in a series of researches on certain electrical phenomena 

 which might influence the efficiency of the telephone. Thus the 

 action of alternating currents, of self-induction, of the rise and 

 fall of the current en making and breaking, of the introduction 

 of electro-magnets, and of other conditions, were studied by 

 means of the altered mode of vibration of the telephone plate. 

 The speaker had further obtained a graphic record of the 

 vibrations of the telephone jilate when vowels and consonants 

 are sung and spoken into it. Many other problems may, 

 by the above method, be brought nearer to their solution. — 

 Dr. Reichel showed a lecture-experiment with a water- 

 hammer. When the bulb in which the fluid is contained is 

 grasped in the warm hand, the fluid is driven over to the other 

 side by means of the vapour which is then formed. When all 

 the fluid has thus passed over, bubbles of vapour finally make 

 their way through the fluid, and at this moment the hand which 

 is grasping the bulb experiences a distinct sensation of cold. 



BOOKS, PAMPHLETS, and SERIALS RECEIVSD. 



Illustrations of Zoology : W. R. Smith and J. S. Norwe]l (Pentland). — 

 South Alrica as a Health Resort, 2nd edition: A. Fuller (Whittingham). — 

 A Dictionary of Explosives: Major J. P. Cundill (Mackey, Chatham). — 

 Three Cruises of the Blake. 2 vols. ; Bulletin of the Museum of Compara- 

 tive Zoology at Harvard College, in Cambridge, vols. xiv. and xv. : A. 

 Agassiz (Cambridge, Mas'.). — hibliography of Meteorology— Part i, Tem- 

 perature: edited by O. L. Fassig (Washington). — Mr. Stranger's Sealed 

 Packet : H. MacCoU (Chatto and Windus).— Travels in the Atlas and 

 .^■oinhern Morocco : J. Thomson (Philip). — A Treatise on 'trigonometry : 

 W. E. Johnson (Macmillan). — Darwinism : A. R. Wal'ace (Macmillan). — 

 Life ot Charles Blacker Vignoles : O. J. Vignoles (Longmans).— Gleanings 

 from Japan: W. G. Dickson (Blackwood) —Celestial Motions, 6th edition : 

 \V. T. Lynn (Stanford). — Our Fancy Pigeons, cheap edition : G. Ure (Stock). 

 — Natural Science E.xamination Papers — Part 1, Inorganic Chemistry : R. 

 E. Steel (Bell). 



CONTENTS. PAGE 



Borneo 49 



Graphics. By Prof. A. G. Gieenhill, F.R.S 50 



The Chemical Analysis of Iron 51 



Our Book Shelf: — 



Fream : "Agricultural Canada : a Record of Progress " 52 

 Marshall and Welsford : " Longmans' School Arith- 

 metic " . . •....• . . ' 52 



Crouch: " Glimpses of Feverland " 53 



Letters to the Editor: — 



The Meteoritic Theory.— Prof. Cleveland Abbe . . 53 

 The Structure and Distribution of Coral Reefs. — Dr. 



H. B. Guppy 53 



" Bambangala." [Illustrated.)— Ht. P. L. Sclater, 



F.R.S 54 



Inclusion of the Foot in the Abdominal Cavity of a 



Duckling.— E. Waymouth Reid 54 



Atmospheric Electricity. — C A. C. Bowlker .... 55 

 Halo of the Moon and Formation of Peculiarly Shaped 



Clouds at Oxford.— Otto V. Darbisnire .... 55 



Spherical Eggs.— Prof. «j. D. Liveing, F.R.S. . . 55 

 Columnar Structure in Ice. — Prof. T. G. Bonney, 



F.R.S 55 



Scarlet Fever and Cow Disease 55 



Skeleton of Phenacodus. {Illustrated.) 57 



The Iron and Steel Institute 58 



Robert Stilling Newall, F.R.S 59 



Notes 60 



Our Astronomical Column : — 



The Residuals of Mercury 63 



Right Ascensions of North Circumpolar Stars .... 63 



Two Remarkable Solar Eruptions 64 



Comet 1889 ^(Barnard, March 31) 64 



Astronomical i'denomena for the Week 1889 



May 19-25 64 



Geographical Notes 64 



The Royal Society Conversazione 65 



Scientific Serials. ^7 



Societies and Academies 6:{ 



Books, Pamphlets, and Serials Received ^z 



