November ii, 1920] 



NATURE 



36. 



of formation of a collection of stars in an indefinite 

 homogeneous nebula. — L. and E. Bloch : The spark 

 spectra of some elements in the extreme ultra-violet. 

 Details of the spark spectra of antimony, arsenic, 

 bismuth, and tin between the limits 1850 and 1400 

 Angstrom units. — G. Bmhat : The specific Heat of 

 saturated vapours at low temperatures. Reply to 

 some criticisms of M. Aries. — P. Vaillant : The exist- 

 ence of intermediate states in the phosphorescence of 

 calcium sulphide deduced from its conductivity. — P. 

 Thiodoridis : The thermal variation of the coefficient 

 of majjnotisation in anhydrous sulphates, and the 

 theory of the magneton. The results of magnetic 

 measurements on the sulphates of manganese, cobalt, 

 and iron at varying temperatures are given. These 

 are in general agreement with the magneton theory. — 

 A. Dauvllller : A new theory of photographic pheno- 

 mena. In a recent communication the author 

 developed a new theory of the chemical action of 

 cathode, fi, X, 7, and ultra-violet rays. The produc- 

 tion of photographic images is considered from the 

 same point of view. — L. DDbrenll : Determination of 

 the number of independent constituents of a system 

 of bodies.— R. Fotse : The micro-chemical qualitative 

 analysis of_ cyanic acid. The method is based on 

 the crystallisation of silver cyanate from hot water. 

 .After examining the forms of the crystals, thev ni;iv 

 be used for several colour reactions.— p. W. Stuart- 

 Menteath : The tectonic of the Pyrenees.— G. F. 

 Dollfui ; The geological probabilities of discovering 

 petroleum in France. K summary of the trial borings 

 made in various parts of France for coal, potash, 

 and oil. The outlook is generally unfavour- 

 able except in the vallcv of the SaAne.— P. N4(?rl« : 

 Considerations on the Glacial period. In an earlier 

 comrnuniratiot) the author was led to attribute 

 the invasion by ire and its retreat to epirogenic 

 movernents. Further direct evidence of these move- 

 ments is now given.— .A. Lepapc : The radio-active 

 analy.sis of the thermal springs of Bagn6res-de- 

 I-uchon. .Some of the springs are rich in radium emana. 

 tions. figures of 26-<;, 316. and 41s millimicrocuries 

 of emanation per litre of water being recorded. — H. 

 RicAac : The orientation of branches of plants in 

 space.— L. Embcrf(er : Cvtological studies of the 

 ••exual organs of ferns.— M. and Mme. G. Vllledleu : 

 The non-foxirity of copoer for moulds in general and 

 for mildew In particular. Copper in the form of 

 ronper-ammonio-citrate doe« not interfere with the 

 ?rowfh of the soores of Penicillium or mildew. — 

 M. Mcolle and E. Wiari : Tho effects and constitu- 

 tion of the antigens. — .A. LomUre and J. ChevrotJer : 

 A simple and inoffensive method of avoiding ana- 

 phylactic shock. Starting with the hypothesis that 

 anaphylactic shock is due to the formation of a solid 

 precipitate In the blf)od plasma, experiments have 

 been m.ide in vitro on mixtures of sera capable of 

 giving flocculent precipitates. Various reagents were 

 added to these tubes with the view of discovering a 

 substance capable of preventing the flocculation. Of 

 the large number of reagents tested very few were 

 found to possess the required property, and of chese 

 •indium hyposulphite was the most suitable. Experi- 

 ments on animals showed that this substance was 

 capable of preventing anaphylactic shock, and it was 

 further proved that sodium hyposulphite did not ap- 

 pear to destroy, or even to attenuate, antitoxic sera. — 

 G. Bcrtrand ,ind R. Vladeico ; The distribution of 

 zinc in the horse. Twenty-three organs of the horse 

 have^ been examined for zinc, the quantities found 

 varying from 122 to <)8 milligrams per 100 grams of 

 dried _ material. Zinc was found in every organ 

 examined, and the proportion varied not only from one 

 ■ 'Can to another, but also In the same organ or tissue I 



NO. 2663, VOL. loC] ' 



in different individuals. — A. Nimec and V. K4» : The 

 favourable influence of selenium on some moulds 

 arising from the cheese industry. — J. L. Dantan : 

 The development of the Antipat'hella.^ — M. Delphy : 

 The reproduction of Enchytraeoides enchytraeoides 

 and CUtellio arenarius.- — V. Galippe : Researches on 

 the presence of living organisms in cretacean, ferru- 

 ginous, pyritic, and siliceous fossils. — A. Paillot : 

 Immunity in insects. 



Books Received. 



Proceedings of the .Aristotelian Society. New 

 Series. Vol. xx. Containing the Papers read before 

 the Society during the Forty-first Session, 1919-20. 

 Pp. iv-)-3i4. (London : Williams and Norgate.) 25^. 

 net. 



The Fringe of Immortality. By Mary E. Monteith. 

 Pp. xv-h204. (London: J." Murray.) 6i-. net. 



An Introduction to String Figures. By VV. VV. 

 Rouse Ball. Pp. 38. (Cambridge: W. Heffer and 

 Sons, Ltd.) 2x. 



Ou en Est la M6t(k)rologie. By Prof. A. Berget. 

 Pp. vi-(-303. (Paris : Gauthier-Villars et Cie.) 



The Volatile Oils. By E. Gildemeister and Fr. 

 Hoffmann. Second edition. Authorised translation 

 by E. Kremers. Vol. ii. Pp. xx + 686. (London : 

 Longmans, Green and Co.) 325. net. 



A Course of Modern .Analysis. By Prof. E. T. 

 Whittaker and Prof. G. N. Watson. ' Third edition. 

 Pp. vii-i-608. (Cambridge : At the University Press.) 

 40X. net. 



Electricity and Magnetism : Theoretical and Prac- 

 tical. By Dr. C. E. Ashford. Third edition. Pp. xii-l- 

 303. (London : E. Arnold.) 4s. 6d. 



A Treatise on .Airscrews. By W. E. Park. Pp. xii-H 



308. (London : Chapman and Hall, Ltd.) 215. net. 



First I^essons in Geography. By E. Marsden and 



T. A. Smith. Pp. 185. (London : Macmillan and 



Co., Ltd.) 3s. 6d. 



Diary of Societies. 



THURSDAY, Notiubir U. 

 Rorit 80CICTT, »t 4.30.— Dr. W. O. Ridowood : The Calcification of 

 the Vertebral Centra in Sharka and Raja.— Dr. A. Compton : 

 Studiei in the Mechanism of Eniyme Action. I. R6te of the 

 Reaction of the Medium in Axiag the Optimum Temperature of 

 a Ferment.— C. H. Kcllaway : The Effect of certain Dietary 

 Defloienoiea on the Suprarenal Olandi.— E. J. Collins : The 

 Oenetios of Sex in Funaria hygrometriea. 

 LoiTDOx HtTHtMATiuL SociiTT (at Royal Astronomical Society), 

 at S (Annual General Meetinir).- J. E. Campbell: Einstein's 

 Theory of QraTitation as an Ilrpothesis in Differential Geometry 

 (I'reaidential Addresiil.— H. Bnteman : The Contorraal Trans- 

 formations of a Space of Four nimensions.- P. Bowman : (1) The 

 Differentiation of the Complete Third Elliptic Interral with 

 Respect to the Modulus; (2) Note on the Interiection of • 

 Plane CurTe and its Heaaian at a Multiple Point.— T. 8. 

 Broderiek : Diriehlet Multiplication of Infinite Series.- L. K. 

 Dickson : Arithmetic of Quaternions.— P. J. Heawood : The 

 Classification of Rational Apprntimations.- E. I,. Inoe : Internkl 

 Solutions of Ordinary Linear Differential Equations. — C. Jordan : 

 The Series of Polynomials, erery Partial Snm of which ap- 

 proximates n Values according to' the Method of Least Sqnarei. 

 — H. J. Prieatley : Some Solutions of the Wave Equation. — 

 n. Steinhans ; An Example of a Thoroutrhly Diverjrent OrthofOnaX 

 DeTelopment.— N. Wiener : The Oroup of the Linear Continuum.— 

 O. H. Tounir : The Partial Derirates of a Function of Uuif 

 Variables. 

 RoTAi, CotLROt Of PHTsiriAffa or LowDOM. St 5— Dr. K. 0. Browse t 



Arahinn Medicine after .\Ticenna (FitsPstriek I>ecfureV 

 RoTAL CoLi-Ros Or SiiinioTra or ENaLAitn. at S.— Sir O'Arey Power: 

 Thr Edneation of a Sorgron under Thnmaa Vicary (Thonas 

 Vienrv Liwturel 

 RoTAi. SnriKTT Or Mnicmii. at (.30.— Sir Almmth Wriirht : Medieal 

 Reaeareh. and the oondiiiona that arv Indispensable to the 

 aehie»ement of new knnwledire. 

 Omni, Hocirrr, at 7 SO -Major K O Benriol : The lis* of In- 

 ternal Foensslnr Telescopes for Stadia Sorreylnr — Fir B. J, K. 

 Hnnann: Visaal Fatirue and Rye Strain In the Ue* of Tele- 

 aeof>e. 

 RoTAi goctiTT or Misictira (Neoralorr Bestloa). at til— Dr. B. 

 Read. Dr, J, Collier, and Others : Discussion on Aphasia. 



