40 



NATURE 



[March 14, 19 18 



the leaf of Iris germanica. The epidermal cells of the 

 leaf of this Iris form an exceptionally favourable object 

 for the cytological study of plasmolysis. The effects 

 produced toy solutions of sugar and of common salt of 

 various concentrations are detailed. ^ — H. Colin : The 

 genesis of inulin in plants. Studies on inulin forma- 

 tion and migration in chicory, dahlia, and Jerusalem 

 artichoke.— J. Gautrelet and K. Le Moignic : Contribu- 

 tion to the physiological study of the antityphoid vac- 

 cines in aqueous solution. An experimental study on 

 the dog of the changes in the tolood-pressure caused by 

 the injection of various typhoid and paratyphoid vac- 

 cines. — MM. Tuffier and Desmarrea : Studies on the 

 cicatrisation of wounds. 



BOOKS RECEIVED. 



Originality : A Popular Study of the Creative Mind. 

 By T. S. Knowlson. Pp. xvi + 304. (London: T. W. 

 Laurie, Ltd.) 155. net. 



The Spleen and Anaemia. By Prof. R. M. Pearce; 

 with the assistance of Dr. E. B. Krumtohaar and Prof. 

 C. H. Frazier. Pp. x + 419. (Philadelphia and Lon- 

 don : J. B. Lippincott Co.) 215. net. 



Principles and Practice of Milk Hygiene. By Prof. 

 L. A. Klein. Pp. x + 329. (Philadelphia and London : 

 J. B. Lippincott Co.) 125. 6d. net. 



Annual Reports on the Progress of Chemistry for 

 1917. Issued by the Chemical Society. Vol. xiv. 

 Pp. ix + 264. (Ix)ndon : Gurney and Jackson.) 4s. 6d. 

 net. 



Lectures on the Principles of Symmetry and its 

 Application in all Natural Sciences. By Prof. F. M. 

 Jaeger. Pp. xii + 333. (Amsterdam :" Elsevier " Pub- 

 lishing- Co.) 



M'athematics for Engineers. Part i., including 

 Elementary and Higher Algebra., Mensuration and 

 Graphs, and Plane Trigonometry. By W. N. Rose. 

 Pp. xiv+510. (London : Chaprnan and Hall, Ltd.) 

 Ss. 6d. net. 



British Birds. Written and illustrated by A. Thor- 

 burn. Supplementary Part. Pp. 11. (Longmans and 

 Co.) 6s. net. 



DIARY OF SOCIETIES. 



_ ^ THURSDAY, March 14. 



Royal Society, at 4.30.— An Expansion of the Point-Potential: A. W. 

 Conway.— The Lunar and Solar Diurnal Variations of Water Level in a 

 Well at Kew Observatory, Richmond : E. G. Bilham. 



Royal Society of Arts, at 4.30— English Commerce with India, 1608- 

 1658 : Wilham Foster. 



In-stitute of Metals, at 4.— The Relationship between Hardness and 

 Constitution in the Copper-rich Aluminium-Copper Alloys : J. Neill 

 (.reenwood.— Aluminium-Bronze Die Casting : H. Whittaker and 

 H R.x.--On Gnin Size: Dr. G. H. Gulliver.-I.ead-Tin-Antimony 

 Aloys: Owen W. Ellis.— An Investiaation on Unsound Castings of 

 .\dmiralty Brot.ze (88 : 10 : 2) : Cause and Remedy : Prof. H. C. H. 

 Carpenter and Mis-s C. F. Elam. 



Mathematical Society at s-— The Representation of a Number as the 

 Sum of any N.imh^r of Squares : G. H. Hardy.— A Problem in the Theory 

 of Numbers : G. N. Watson. 



^^,'^^!: Society (Imperial College of Science and Technology), at 8.— 

 Ihe Detection of Ghosts in Prisms : T. Smith. 



FRIDAY, March 15. 



Institution of Mechanical Engineers, at 6.— Employment of Women 

 in Munition Factories : Miss O. E. Monkhouse and Ben. H. Morgan. 



^ SATURDAY, March 16. 



ROVAL Institution, at 3.— Problems in Atomic Structure: Sir T T 



Thomson. •' ■' 



MONDAY, March 18. 



Royal Geographical Society, at 5.— The Possibility of Aerial Re- 

 connaissance in the Himalaya : Dr. A. M. Kellas. 



Aristotelian Society, at 8.— Realism and Politics : J. W. Scott. 

 TUESDAY, March 19. 



Royal Institution, at 3.— The Climatic Adaptation of Black and White 

 Men : Dr. Leonard Hill. 



Royal Statistical Society, at 5.15.— The Bases of Local Taxation in 

 England : E. J. Harper. 



/Zoological Society, at 5.30. 



Institution of Civil Engineers, at '^.^o.— Further Discussion : Modern 

 Developments in Gasworks Construction and Prartice : A. Meade.— 

 Paper: The Derwent Valley Waterworks : E. Sandeman. 



Institution of Pf.trolkum Technologists, at'8.— The Russian Pe 

 eum Industry and its Prospects : D. Ghambashidze. 



Mineralogical Society, at 5.30. — Graphical Operations with Four Inde- 

 pendent Variables: Prof li. S. Federov.— Lattice-like Inclusions in 

 Calcite from North Burgess, Ontario: R. P. D. Graham.— On Linear 

 Rock-diagrams : Dr. J. W. Evans. 



WEDNESDAY. March 20 



Royal Society of Arts, at 4.30.— The Food Situation in Germany : 

 P. Shultlewood. 



Geological Society, at 5.30. 



Institution of Naval Architects, at 11 a.m. — Address by the Presi- 

 dent : The Earl of Durham, K.G.— Standard Cargo Ships : Sir George 

 Carter. — The Most Suitable Sizes and Speeds for General Cargo Steamers : 

 J. Anderson. 



RoVAL Meteorological Society, at s- — The Measurement of Atmo- 

 spheric Pollution : Dr. J. S. Owens. 



THURSDAY, March 21. 



Institution of Electrical Engineers, at 6. — The Mechanic.-il Design 

 and Specification of the Turbo-alternator Rotor : Dr. S. F. Barclay. 



Institijtion ok Mining and Metallurgy, at 5.30. — Annual General 

 Meeting. 



Institution OF Naval Architects, at 11 a.m. — Problems of the Future 

 in the Design and Construction «f Merchant Ships : W. S. Abell.— 

 Reiearch in Marine Engineering : A. E. Seaton. — The Effect of the 

 Longitudinal Motion of a Ship on its Statical Transverse Stability : G. S. 

 Baker and Miss E. M. Keary. — At 3 p.m.— The Iron Carbon Equilibrium, 

 Diagram and its Practical Usefulness : Prof. H. C. H. Carpenter. — Stress 

 Distribution in Holts and Nuts: C. E. Stromeyer. 



Linnean Society, at 5. — The Shoulder-girdle of a Dicynodont Reptile 

 from South Africa : E. S. Good'ich. — Fossil Charasfrom Oligocene Beds: 

 J. Groves. — Malayan Form q{ C/iiorococcum Au»tict>^a (tiacq.), Rabenh. : 

 Miss B. Muriel Bristol. 



FRIDAY, March 22. 



Royal Institution, at 5.30. — Radiation from System of Electrons : Sir 

 J. J. Thomson. 



Institution of Naval Architects, .it 11 a.m. — A Preliminary Survey of 

 the Possibilities of Reinforced Concrete as a Mateiial for Ship Construc- 

 tion : Major M. Denny. — Reinforced Concrete Vessels: W. Pollock. — 

 Design and Construction of a Self-propelled Reinforced Concrete Sea- 



foing Cargo Steamer building in Great Britain : T. G. O. Thurston. — An 

 nvestigation of the Shearing Force and Bending Moment acting on the 

 Structure of a Ship including Dynamic EfTects : A. M. Robb. — At 3 p.m. 

 — .Air Supply to Boiler Rooms : R. W. Allen. 



SATURDAY, March 23. 

 Royal Institution, at 3.— Problems in Atomic Structure : Sir J. J 

 Thomson. 



CONTENTS. PAGE 



Refractory Materials. By J. A. A 21 



A Survey of American Ethnology. By Dr. A. C. 



Haddon, F.R.S 22 



Radiography 22 



Our Bookshelf 23 



Letters to the Editor:— 



Patents and Scientific Research.— Sir Ronald Ross, 



K.C.B , F.R.S. 24 



Whale-meat in War Time.— W. P. Pycraft .... 24 

 The Legend of Alexander and his Flying Machine. 



Ulht^trated.) By Sir G. GreenhiU, F.R.S 25 



Meteorology in Norway 26 



Notes . . 27 



Our Astronomical Column : — 



The New Wolf Planet • 3° 



A Star with a Nuva Spectrum . 31 



The Short-period Variable RZ Cephei 31 



The kamsay Memorial Fund 31 



Aurora and Magnetic Storm of March 7-8 32 



Military Aeronautics ... 32 



The Production of Fuel Oil and Coal-gas ... .32 



Technical Instruction in Switzerland 33 



Gravitation and the Principle of Relativity. IL By 



Prof. A. S. Eddington, F.R.S 34 



University and Educational Intelligence . . . . 36 



Societies and Academies . yj 



Books Received 40 



Diary of Societies 40 



ST. 



Editorial and Puhlishing Offices ; 

 MACMILLAN. AND CO., Ltd., 

 MARTIN'S STREET, LONDON, W.C.2. 



Advertisements and business letters to he addressed to ihe 

 Publishers. 



NO. 2524, VOL. lOl] 



Editorial Conimunications to the Editor. 

 Telegraphic Address : Phusis, London. 

 Telephone Number: Gerrard 8830. 



