58B 



NATURE 



\Oct. lo, 1889 



In another paper the same workers show that hydrogen and 

 chlorine do not explode when dry, unless exposed to very 

 intense light. 



Dr. A. P. Laurie gave some results of his researches on 

 artists' colours. He is comparing the recipes given in the 

 manuscripts of the old masters with those in modern use. 



A new ferment was described on Tuesday, in a paper by Prof. 

 P. F, Frankland, Miss Grace F. Frankland, and Mr. J. J. Fox. 

 From the products of its activity, ethyl alcohol and acetic acid, it is 

 termed Bacillus ethacetictis. It will cause a solution of mannite 

 to ferment, while dulcite is unaffected by it. 



In his paper on the Constitution of the Aromatic Nucleus, Mr. 

 S. A. Sworn gavepreference to the octahedral formulaofThomsen. 

 A further development of Thomsen's formula, he believes, affords 

 a full explanation of the laws of para- and meta-substitution. 



Dr. Isaac Ashe read a paper entitled "Dimidium : an Attempt 

 to represent the Chemical Elements by Physical Forms." He put 

 .forward the view that the primordial basis is to be found in an 

 •element having half the combining weight of hydrogen. This 

 hypothetical element is named dimidium. The relations of 

 attraction and repulsion under the influence of polar force 

 •suggest a linear form for such a body. A series of vortex-rings, 

 superposed one on the other, would yield a form elongated in 

 one direction and limited in the other two. Having shown 

 that the primordial element may have a bar-like form of definite 

 length, the author proceeds to construct models of the different 

 •elements, conforming in each case to the combining weight, 

 -valency, crystalline form, &c. 



SOCIETIES AND ACADEMIES. 



Paris. 



. Academy of Sciences, September 30. — M. Des Cloizeaux, 

 President, in the chair. — Presentation of the fourth sheet 

 of the Bulletin of the International Committee for preparation 

 of a map of the heavens ; meeting of Committee at Paris 

 ■Observatory, by M. E. Mouchez. Five other Observatories 

 (Vienna, Catania, Mexico, Manilla, and the Vatican) have been 

 added to the original sixteen. Each Observatory will have to take 

 about 700 photographs in the zone alloted to it, and it is hoped 

 to finish the work in three or four years. A central office 

 for utilizing the results will be necessary. — Addition to the 

 theory of thin weirs extending throughout the breadth of the bed 

 of a water-course ; cilculation of variations in the contraction of 

 the outflowing sheet at its lower face, by M. J. Boussinesq. — 

 On the last communication of Halphen to the Academy, by 

 ]M. F. Brioschi. — On the denomination of the industrial unit of 

 work, by M. H. Resal. He advocates the unit of 100 kilo- 

 grammetres, to be called the qtiintalinetre. — On the application 

 of high temperatures in observing the spectrum of hydrogen, 

 by MM. L. Thomas and Ch. Trepied. The electric arc is 

 found a sure and comparatively easy way of making hydrogen 

 sufficiently luninous for spectroscopic observation, even with 

 large dispersions ; (four jets of the gas were made to converge 

 conically towards an axis coinciding with that of the carbons). — 

 On concatenation {enchainement) of the atomic weights of the 

 elements, by M. Delauney. He shows that the atomic weights 

 may be joined together by addition in each case of the square 

 root of a whole number, which is variable, but always harmonic 

 (not containing any other prime factors than i, 2, 3, and 5). — 

 Combinations of cupric oxide with amylaceous matters, sugars, 

 and mannites ; new reagents for proximate analysis, by M. 

 Ch.-Er. Guignet. Solutions of cellulose, also dry starch, or 

 inuline, give well-defined combinations with oxide of copper, when 

 put in contact with its solution in ammonia. Some sugars (pure 

 glucose from honey, galactose, &c. ) quickly precipitate copper 

 a nmonio-sulphate (but not the oxide) ; and while inverted 

 sugar does not precipitate the sulphate, a previous addition of 

 glucose produces a deposit of the glucosic combination (which does 

 not retain ammonia). Mannite and dulcite, &c., yield at once 

 blue precipitates in an ammoniacal sulphate of copper solution, 

 which reagent is useful with decoctions of vegetable matters, as 

 most substances in these are not precipitated by it. — On the 

 number and calibre of nerve-fibres in the common oculomotor 

 nerve, in the new-born and in the adult cat, by M. H. Schiller. 

 The number does not increase during life (or increases very 

 little) ; average 2942 in the kitten, 3035 in the cat. The calibre 

 is increased six or eight times. — On the preceding investigation, 



by M. Aug. Forel. Various researches point to the stability of 

 the nervous elements during life, and this he regards as very 

 important for explanation of the phenomena of memory. — On 

 the vitality of trichinae, by M. Paul Gibier. He submitted small 

 pieces of fresh pork with numerous trichinae (which were much 

 more lively when brought out of their cysts into a water- 

 heated vessel than those of the salt meat) to a temperature of 

 20° to 25° below zero, for about two hours, and found the 

 animals, on reheating, as lively as before. — The innervation of 

 the osphradium of mollusks, by M. Paul Pelseneer. Like the 

 other sensorial organs of mollusks, the osphradium proves to be 

 innervated by the cerebral ganglion.— On the Spongelioniorpha 

 Saportai, a new Parisian species, by M, S. Menier. 



BOOKS, PAMPHLETS, and SERIALS RECEIVED, 



On the Causes, Treatment, and Cure of Stammering : A. G. Bernard 

 ('^hurchill). — A Text-book of Physiology, 5th Edition, Part 2: M. Foster 

 (Macmillan).— A Contribution to the Flora of Derbyshire: Rev. W. H. 

 Painter (Bell).— N'tes on the Pinks of Western Europe : F. N. Williams 

 (West).— Watts' Dictionary of Chemistry, vol. ii. : M. M. P. Muir and H. 

 F. Morley (Longmans). — The Microscope in the Brewery and Malthouse: 

 C. G. Matthews and F. E. Lott (Bemrose). — An Epitome of the Synthetic 

 Philosophy : F. H. Collins ; Preface by H. Spencer (Williams and Norgate). 

 — Watts' Manual of Chemistry, vol. i. 2nd edition : W. A. Tilden (Churchill) 

 — Nature Stories, Myths, and Phantasies (Hamilton). — Prodromus of the 

 Zi)ology of Victoria, Decade xviii. : F McCoy (Trubner). — Service Che- 

 mistry : V. B. Lewe< CWhittingham).— Chemical Technology; vol. i. Fuel 

 and its Applications : E. J. Mills and F. J. Rowan (Churchill).— The Cradle 

 of the Aryans: G. H. Kendall (Macmillan). — Mount Vesuvius: J. L. 

 Lobley (Roper and Drowley). — Thermodynamics of the Steam-Engine : C. 

 H. Peab)dy (Macm.llan)— A Manual of Forestry, vol. i. The Utility of 

 Forests and Fundamental Principles of Sylviculture : W. Schlich (Bradbury). 

 — Sixth Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology, 1884-85 : J. W. Powell 

 (Washington). — Hydrostatics for Beginners: F. W. Sanderson (Macmillan). 

 Differential E(iuati)ns: W. W. Johnson (Macmillan). —Manures and their 

 Uses : A. B. Griffiths (Bell).— A Text-book of Physiology ; vol. ii. Special 

 Physi>Iogy: J. G. M'Kendrick (Glasgow, Macleho?e) — Problems of the 

 Future, and Essays : S. Lain? (Chapman and Hall). — Geological Record for 

 1880-84. 'v->l- "• '■ Edited by Topley and Sherb irn (Taylor and Francis). — 

 The Brook and its Banks: Rev. J. G. Wood (Religious Tract Society). — 

 Memoirs and Proceedings of the Manchest-jr Literary and Philosophical 

 Society, 4th series, vol. ii. (Manchester). — Notej Biographiques sur J. C. 

 Houzeau : A. Lancaster (Bru.xelles). — Notes on Indian Insect Pests, vol. i. 

 No. I (Calcutta). — Das Australische Florenelement in Europe ; Dr. C. 

 Ettingshausen (Gray) — Onderhouden Trillingen van Gespannen Draden : 

 H. J. Costing (Helder De Boer). — Records of the Ge.ilogical Survey of 

 New South Wales, vol. i. Part 2 (Sydney, Potter). — Internationales Archiv 

 fiir Ethnographic, Band ii. Heft 4 (Trubner). — Jahrbuch der k k. Geolo- 

 gischen Reichsanstalt, Jahrg. 1889. xxxix. Band, i and 2 Heft (Wien, 

 Holder). — The Photographic Quarterly, No. i (Hazell). — Bulletin of the 

 United States National Museum, No. 37: W. H. Dall (Washington). — Aus 

 dem Archiv der Deutschen Seewarte, xi. Jahrg., 1888 (Hamburg). — Mind, 

 September (Williams and Norgate). —Bulletin of the United S;ates National 

 Museum, No. 35: H. Edwards (Washington). 



CONTENTS. PAGE 



The Scientific Collections at South Kensington . 565 



Darwinism. By Prof. E. Ray Lankester, F.R. S. . . 566 



Galton's African Travels 570 



Our Book Shelf:— 



Dibdin : "Practical Photometry" 572 



Letters to the Editor : — 



The Testing of Colour-Blindness. — Rev. J. F. 



Heyes 572 



Mites.— F. T. Mott 572 



Sailing Flight of Large Birds over Land. —Dr. R. 



Courtenay 573 



A Remarkable Meteor. — Richard Clark 573 



The Method of Quarter Squares. By J. W. L. 



Glaisher, F.R.S 573 



Notes 576 



Astronomical Phenomena for the Week 1889 



October 13-19 578 



The Life-Work of a Chemist. By Sir Henry E. 



Roscoe, M.P., F.R.S 578 



The Physical Papers at the British Association . . 583 



The Chemical Papers at the British Association . . 587 



Societies and Academies S^^fl 



— 1 



