460 



NATURE 



[August 8, 191 8 



and measured the variation of ttie obliquity of 

 the ecliptic. The exact position of the observatory is 

 given. — P. Terinier : The eruptive rocks interstratified 

 in the Coal Measures of Littry (Calvados) : the magni- 

 tude, variety, and duration of the volcanic manifesta- 

 tions in the Littry region during the Stephanian 

 period. Two borings for coal have been recently made 

 at Saint-Martin-de-Blagny and at Poter.ie. Although 

 coal was not found, these borings have given valuable 

 information on the constitution of the coal-bearing 

 lavers and on the nature of the volcanic eruptions 

 mixed with the sedimentary deposits.— C. Richet, 

 P. Brodin, and Fr. Saint- Girons : New observations 

 on the effects of intravenous saline transfusions after 

 grave haemorrhage, h. description of experiments on 

 dogs, in continuation of work published in earlier 

 communications. — M. de Sparre : The advantages re- 

 sulting from the use of a contraction at the entrance 

 to reservoirs designed to attenuate hammering in 

 pipes. — E. Aries : The pressures of saturated vapour 

 of octatomic bodies. The formulae developed in earlier 

 papers is applied to the experimental data on methyl 

 formate, ethvl bromide, ethyl chloride, acetic acid, 

 and ethane. Modifications in the values for the critical 

 pressures and temperatures of ethyl chloride are re- 

 quired to bring the experimental and calculated values 

 into agreement.— E. Vessiot : The trigonometrical 

 developments of celestial mechanics. — Ed. Chauvenet 

 and Mile. H. Gueylard : The combinations of acid 

 zirconyl sulphate with some alkaline sulphates. The 

 existence of compounds of ammonium and sodium sul- 

 phate with acid zirconyl sulphate has been proved by 

 thermochemical and crvoscopic measurements. — P. 

 Duret : A new method for the rapid destruction of 

 organic materials. The method is based on the oxida- 

 tion by ammonium persulphate in sulphuric acid solu- 

 tion. The application of the method to the examina- 

 tion of urine for traces of arsenic is given in detail. — 

 G. Nicolas : Anthocyanine and the respiratory gas 

 exchange of leaves, h relation has been proved be- 

 tween the formation of the anthocyanic colouring 

 matter and respiratorv oxidation. — F. Ladreyt : The 

 functional evolution of certain conjunctive elements. — 

 C. Cepede : New means for the prognosis of pul- 

 monarv tuberculosis. The method is based on 

 .\rneth's figure from haematological data. — H. Vincent 

 and G. Stodel : A preventive and curative serum for 

 .<jas gangrene. The serum is obtained bv injecting 

 into the horse multiple bacterial races, including the 

 principal anaerobic species causing gas gangrene. 

 The protective action of the serum on guinea-pigs has 

 been proved, and application to man has also been 

 successful. 



Cambridge University Press.) 



BOOKS RECEIVED. 



National Reconstruction. By J- T. Robinson. 

 Pp. viii+i:;4. (London: Hurst and Blackett, Ltd.) 

 2s. 6d. net. 



A Monograph of the Pheasants. By W. Beebe. In 

 four volumes. Vol. i. Pp. xlix-f 198 4- coloured plates 

 XX + photos 15 + maps 5. (London : Witherbv and 



Co.) T2L lOS. 



An Elementarv Treatise on Curve Tracing. Bv 

 Dr. P. Frost. Fourth edition revised bv Dr. R. J. T. 

 Bell. Pp. xvi + 210. (London: Macmillan and Co., 

 Ltd.) 125. 6d. net. 



Canning and Bottling. By H.. Pixell Goodrich. 

 Pp. x + 70. (London : Longmans and Co.) 2s. net. 



Plant Genetics. By .T. M. and M. C. Coulter. 

 Pp. ix+214. (Chicago, 111. : University of Chicago 

 NO. 2545, VOL. lOl] 



Press ; London 

 1.50 dollars net. 



The Twin Ideals : An Educated Commonwealth. 

 By Dr. J. W. Barrett. Vol. i. Pp. xxxii + 512. 

 Vol, ii. Pp. XX + 504. (London: H. K. Lewis and 

 Co., Ltd.) 2 vols., 25s. net. 



Treatise on Applied Analytical Chemistry. By Prof. 

 V. Villavecchia and others. Translated by T. H. Pope. 

 Vol. ii. Pp. xv+536. (London : J. and A. Churchill.) 

 255. .net. 



Coal and its Scientific Uses, By Prof. W. A. Bone, 

 Pp. XV 4-491. (London : Longmans and Co.) 215. 

 net. 



Elements of the Electromagnetic Theory of Light. 

 By Dr. L, Silberstein, Pp, vii+48, (London : Long- 

 mans and Co,) 35, 6d. net. 



The Stars and How to Identify Them. By E. W. 

 Maunder. Pp. 63. (London : C. H. Kelly.) . 



Common British Beetles and Spiders and How to 

 Identify Them. By S. N. Sedgwick. Pp. 62. 

 (London: C. H. Kellv.) 



CONTENTS." PAGE 



Agriculture in the Western States. By Dr. E, J. 



Russell, O.B.E,, F.R.S 441 



The Internal Ear. ByJ, G, M 442 



Our Bookshelf • • • 443 



Letters to the Editor:— 



Medusoid Bells.— Prof, D'Arcy W, Thompson, 



C.B., F.R.S. 444 



The Encouragement of Invention.— Spender Picker- 

 ing, F.R.S 445 



The Education Bill 44S 



Science and the Civil Service 446 



The Early History of the Solar System. By Dr. 



Harold Jeffreys 447 



Grassland and Food Supplies 449 



Notes 450 



Our Astronomical Column : — 



The Perseid Meteoric Shower 454 



Radial Velocity of $ Canis Majoris 454 



Relativity • 454 



The Suppression of Body-vermin 454 



Marine Biology at Plymouth. By J. J 455 



Science in Horticulture 455 



The Palaeobotany of New Zealand. By A. C. S. . 455 

 Vibrations: Mechanical, Musical, and Electrical. 



(Illustrated.) By Prof. Edwin H. Barton, F.R.S. . 456 



University and Educational Intelligence 459 



Societies and Academies 459 



Books Received 460 



Editorial and Publishing Offices: 



MACMILLAN AND CO., Ltd., 



ST. MARTIN'S STREET, LONDON. W.C.a. 



Advertisements and business letters to be addressed to the 

 Publishers. 



Editorial Communications to the Editor. 

 Telegraphic Address : Phusis, London. 

 Telephone Number : Gerrard 8830. 



