92 



NATURE 



{Nov. 28, 1878 



Bert. He recommends putting patients in an apparatus with 

 the pressure raised to two atmospheres, and making them breathe 

 a mixture of 50 per cent, protoxide of nitrogen and 50 per cent, 

 air ; thus long anaesthesia is had, while the normal quantity of 

 oxygen is kept up in theblood. — Observations on M. Levy's memoir 

 on a universal law relating to the dilatation of bodies, by M. Massieu. 

 — On the transformation of linear forms of prime numbers into 

 quadratic forms, by M. Oltramare. — Artificial crystallisation of 

 orthose, by M. Meunier. The author obtained this (which 

 MM. Fouque and Levy are now seeking to effect) some years 

 ago, by devitrification of the vitreous masses called retinites. — 

 New process for application of galvanoplasty to conservation of 

 nervous centres, by M. Ore. A hardened brain is dipped in fused 

 gutta percha, and the gutta percha, on hardening, is divided and 

 separated, forming a mould ; this is lined with black lead and put 

 in a nickelising bath ; thus a hollow piece is had faithfully repro- 

 ducing the brain. — Resistance of some wild types of American 

 vines to phylloxera, by M. Millardet. — On the reduction of 

 certain differential equations of the first order to linear form 

 with reference to derivatives of the unknown function, by M. 

 Halphen. — On the form of integrals of differential equations in 

 the neighboiurhood of certain critical points, by M. Picard. — On 

 the theory of machines of the Gramme order, by M. Breguet. 

 To obtain the best possible effect from a system formed by a 

 movable circuit rotating in a magnetic field (l) if the motion is 

 caused by a current of foreign source, the diameter of the 

 points of contact should be displaced in the direction opposite to 

 the rotation, and through a greater angle the greater the in- 

 tensity of the current and the weaker the magnetic field ; (2) if 

 the motion has to generate a continuous current in the appa- 

 ratus the same diameter should be displaced in the direction of 

 the rotation. — Chemical researches on tungstates of earthy and 

 metallic sesquioxides, by M. Lefort. — Analysis of different 

 metallic fragments from the Peruvian burying-places of Ancon, 

 near Lima, by M. Terrell. This reveals the presence of brass 

 in these tombs belonging to the sixteenth century. — Synthesis of 

 uric derivatives of the alloxane series, by M. Grimaux. — On 

 some causes of inversion of cane sugar, and on the consecutive 

 alterations of the glucoses formed, by M. Durin. The causes 

 referred to ai-e heat, water, and time (without pre-existent 

 glucose), the phenomenon being purely chemical. — On the hatch- 

 ing of bees, by M. Girard. — Specific determination of fossil or 

 ancient bones of Bovides, by M. Sanson. The bones of Bovides 

 found in beds before the present geological epoch belong to the 

 groups of bisons and bulls : the first, all to one species, now 

 living {B. americanus), the second to four living species (speci- 

 fied). — On the presence of alcoholic ferment in air, by M. 

 Miquel. Sterilised must exposed among the vineyards of 

 the south of France always ferments in a few days ; this is 

 attributed to conveyance of wine-yeast by insects. He shows 

 that the air really transports yeast. In the Montsouris Park, 

 Paris, not a single case of spontaneous alcoholic fermentation 

 was met with. — Organisation of Hydrocrosis arsenicus, Bret., by 

 M. Marchand. 



November 18. — M. Fizeau in the chair. — The following papers 

 were read: — Meridian observations of small plants at the Green- 

 wich and Paris Observatories, during the third quarter of 1878, 

 communicated by M. Mouchez.— On afresh discovery of Silurian 

 terestrial plants in the slaty schists of Angers, by M. Crie ; note 

 by M. de Saporta. This is the frond of a fern resembling most 

 nearly Cardiopteris polyrnorpha, Goepp., which characterises the 

 carboniferous limestone of Silesia ; but it has also special fea- 

 tures. (A figure is given. ) — Means of measuring the manometric 

 value of the pressm-e of the blood in man, by M. Marey. This 

 consists in producing on a part of the body surface a known 

 counter-pressure with water, capable of overcoming the blood- 

 pressure in the vessels. The simple immersion of a finger in a 

 suitable apparatus suffices ; it has shown that in some adynamic 

 fevers the blood pressure may fall to 3 ctm., while in interstitial 

 nephritis it may rise above 20 ctm. — New remarks on M. Levy's 

 communication, on a universal law relating to dilatation of 

 bodies, by Prof. Boltzmann.— Observations on MM. Gruey 

 and Hirn's notes regarding a g>Toscopic apparatus, by M. 

 Sire.— On an alterating g>Toscopic tourniquet, by M. Gruey. 

 — On a new system of electric lamp, by M. Werdermann. 

 — Artificial reproduction of felspars and of a complex vol- 

 canic rock (pyroxenic labradorite) by the method of igneous 

 fusion, and prolonged maintenance at a temperature near 

 fusion, by MM. Fouque and Levy. — Migration of pucerons 

 of gaHs of lentiscus to the roots of Graminese, by M. Lich- 



tenstein. — M. Oder presented (through M. du Moncel) an 

 electrophone, with which words and notes can be heard 

 5 m. off. On one end of a sort of drum is fixed a dia- 

 phragm of parchment paper, having at the centre six small 

 bars of white iron, fixed circularly, on which act six very small 

 horseshoe electro-magnets connected together and actuated by a 

 carbon microphone. The strong effects are attributed to the 

 smallness of the magnets, giving more rapid magnetisation or 

 demagnetisation. — Intra- Mercurial planets observed during the 

 solar eclipse of July 29. Letter from Mr. Watson. A reply 

 to questions. — On the development of surfaces whose linear 

 element is expressible by a homogeneous function, by M. Levy, 

 — Note on the determination of imaginary roots of algebraic 

 equations, by M. Farkas. — Action of hydracids on sulphate of 

 mercury ; action of sulphuric acid on the haloid salts of this 

 metal, by M. Debray. Sulphate of mercury gently heated in 

 hydrochloric gas absorbs it with liberation of heat, and yields a 

 matter fusible and volatile without decomposition, condensing in 

 fine white needles ; it has the formula HgO,S03 -f HCl. It 

 may be had directly by union of merciu-ic chloride and mono- 

 hydrated sulphuric acid. — Peculiar action of platinum wire on 

 hydrocarbons; modification of the grisoumeter, byJM. Coquillion. 

 Bicarbide of hydrogen mixed with air is more detonant than 

 protocarbide ; palladium gives a less detonation than platinum ; 

 and these two metals can equally biu-n at red-white small quan- 

 tities of gas. Thus platinum may be substituted for palladium 

 where there is no fear of detonations. — On the alkalinity of 

 carbonates and silicates of magnesia, free, mixed, and combined, 

 by M. Pichard. — Action of the cervical sympathetic on the 

 pressure and velocity of the blood, by MM. Dastre and Morat. 

 An unforeseen result is that the initial constriction on stimu- 

 lation of the ner\'e is always followed by a dilatation greater 

 than that which follows section of the nerve. — On the toxical 

 power of the extract of seeds of hemlock, by MM. Boche- 

 fontaine and Mourrut. The commion extract obtained from 

 the whole plant is often almost without action ; not so 

 extract from the dry seeds; it is in them the active prin- 

 ciple specially resides. — On a disease of lettuce (Peronospora 

 ganglii/ormis. Berk.), by M. Cornu. — On the morphology of 

 dicotyledonous stems, by M. Guinier. He applies the graphic 

 method. Inter alia, at heights under 1,400 metres, stems bulge 

 out about the middle ; as you go higher, the swelling disappears, 

 and about 1,700 m. height, it is replaced by a concavity. From 

 the leafy head of trees may be deduced the form of the stem. — 

 Observations on the orography of the chain of the Pyrenees, by 

 . Schrader. 



CONTENTS Pagh 



Ramsay's Manual of British Geology 69 



Floral Diagrams. By Dr. Marci;s M. Hartog 70 



0»R Book Shelf : — 



Kaltbrunner's " Traveller's Manual " 71 



Proctor's " Pleasant Ways in Science." — P. G. T 71 



Letters to the Editor; — 



Receiving Telephones. —Prof. G. Johnstone Stoney, F.R.S. . . 71 

 The Microphone for Military and Tonometric Purposes. — Lieut. 



George S. Clarke, R.E 72 



The Microphone as a Receiver. — James Blyth 72 



Wind Pressure.— W. C. Unwin 72 



Was Homer Colour-blind !— Dr. J. Herschel ; Frank Prod- 

 more 73 



Anthropometry.— Charles Roberts 73 



Divisibility of Electric Light.— F. Jacob 73 



Verification of Pervouchine's Statements regarding the Divisibihty 



of Certain Numbers. — John Bridge 73 



Vulcan and Bode's Law.— B. G. Jenkins 74 



Irish Bog Oak.— W. F. Sinclair 74 



Our AsTitoNO.MiCAL Column : — 



The Total Solar Eclipse of January II, 18S0 74 



Transits of Mercury . • 75 



Btela's Comet and Jupiter in 1794 75 



Biological Notes :— 



Gall-making Insects 75 



Leaf Absorption in Plants 75 



British Newts 75 



Sperm Whales on European Coasts 7^ 



American Jurassic Dinosaurs 7° 



Zoological Station at Trieste 70 



Gkoosaphical Notes -r^ ' ' ' ' 



On some Improved Methods of Producing and Regulating 



the Electric Light. By Mr. Henry Wilde . . . . . • • • 78 

 A Study in Magnetism. By Prof. Silvanus P. Thompson (Wttk 



niustratioTts) ^' ' ' ' ' II 



The Late Mr. G. Dawson Rowley °4 



Notes _ o* 



University and Educational Intelligencb o/ 



Scientific Serials gg 



Societies and Academies 



