March ii, 1920] 



NATURE 



59 



Paris. 

 Academy of Sciences, February ib.— M. Henri 

 1 )<'slandrcs in the chair. — G. Humbert : The positive 

 jiiadratic forms of Hermite in an imaginary quadratic 

 >>dy. — iM. Hadamard : Certain solutions of a func- 

 iiinal differential equation. — Ci. Bigourdan : Co- 

 idinates, instruments, and work of the Observatory 

 i)f the Collt^ge de France. — A. Rateau : The greatest 

 range and maximum realisable velocities of aero- 

 planes. — M. Ciamician was elected a foreign asso- 

 iate in succession to the late Sir William Ramsay, 

 lul M. L. Bianchi a correspondant for the section 

 .1 geometry in succession to M. Volterra, elected 

 foreign associate. — G. Cerf : Remarks on a generalisa- 

 lion of PfafT's problem. — B. de Fontviolant : Calcula- 

 tion of circular bridges. ^ — D. Pompieu : A condition 

 rquivalent to monogeneity and the demonstration of 

 ilie fundamental theorem of Cauchy. — J. Boccardi : 

 A diurnal variation of latitude. — A. Guillet and M. 

 Aubert : An absolute bispherical electrometer. The 

 numerical calculation of its characteristics. — S. 

 Procopiu : Diffraction grating spectra in the case 

 where the incident light is oblique with respect to 

 the principal plane of the lines. — A. Perard : A method 

 for the comparison and measurement in absolute 

 value of standards with plane ends bv an interference 

 method.— Ch. Boulin and L. J. Simoii : The action of 

 water on dimethylsulphate. — F. Canac : The deter- 

 mination of the parameters of a crystal by the X-ravs. 

 M. Zeil : The ascending movements of the earth's 

 (rust and the evolution of JFossil remains. — G. Denizot : 

 'i"h(^ existence of two peneplains in the Paris basin. — 

 V. Guerin and Ch. Lormand : The action of chlorine 

 and various vapours upon plants. After one or two 

 hours' exposure to an atmosphere containing i/jzooo 

 i>f chlorine, bromoacetone, and other poison gases, 

 most plants resist ; they lose their leaves, but new 

 ones appear, and the plants finish their normal 

 growth. — H. Coupin : The production of chlorophvU 

 l)v plants exposed to a discontinuous lii?ht. — J. Amar : 

 The index of respiratory endurance. This is defined 

 IS the ratio of the volume of air entering the lungs at 

 ' ach inspiration to the body-weight. — H. V. Vallois : 

 [■".volution of the muscle svstem of the eoisome in 

 vertebrates. — L. Mercier : Variation of Cnrnf)hiuw 

 volutator according to its place of origin. — E. Chatton : 

 The existence in Radiolaria of parasitic Periclinians 

 considered as forms of reproduction of their hosts. 



Books Received. 



The Story of Milk. By J. D. Frederiksen. Pp. 

 XX +188. (New York: The Macmillan Co.; London: 

 Macmillan and Co., Ltd.) gs. net. 



The Handbook of Cyprus. Eighth issue. Edited 

 by H. C. Luke and D. J. Jardine. Pp. xii + 300. 

 (London: Macmillan and Co., Ltd.) izs. net. 



A First-Year Physics for Junior Technical Schools. 

 \W G. W. Farmer. Pp. x+183. (London: Long- 

 mans and Co.) 45. 6d. 



Practical Hardy Fruit Culture. By R. Steward. 

 Pp. 216. (London : The Swarthmore Press, Ltd.) 



. net. 



A First Book of School Celebrations. By Dr. F. H. 

 Ilavwood. Pp. 167. (London: P. S. King and Son, 

 Ltd.) 55. 



The Chemical Age. June-December, 19 19. Pp. 

 xi + 75o. (London: Benn Bros., Ltd.) 15.?. 



Mauka Polska Jej Pstrzebv, Organizaeja i Rozw6j. 

 Tom i. Pp. xvi + 558. (Warszawa.) Cena M.P. 15. 



The Elementary DifTerential Geometry of Plane 

 <"urves. By R. H. Fowler. Pp. vii+105. (Cam- 

 ridge : At the University Press.) 6.v. net. 



NO. 2628, VOL. 105] 



The Foundations of Einstein's Theory of Gravita- 

 tion. By E. Freundlich. Authorised English transla- 

 tion by H. L. Brose. Preface by A. Einstein. Intro- 

 duction by Prof. H. H. Turner. Pp. xvi + 6i. (Cam- 

 bridge: At the University Press.) 5«;. net. 



Through Deserts and Oases of Central Asia. By 

 Miss Ella Sykes and Brig. -Gen. Sir Percy Sykes. 

 Pp. xii + 340. (London: Macmillan and Co., Ltd.) 

 21S. net. 



The Origin and Development of the Compositae. 

 By Dr. J. Small. Pp. xi+334 + 6 plates. (London : 

 W. Wesley and Son.) 15.V. net. 



.\ Text-book on Machine Drawing for Electrical 

 Engineers. By E. Blythe. Pp. vii + 8i. (C'amhridgr : 

 .\t the University Press.) 20.V. net. 



La Molecule "Chimique. By Prof. R. Lt>j)i(au. 

 Pp. iii + 286. (Paris : F. .Mean.) 3.50 francs. 



L'Unitd de la .Science. By ProL M. L. du S.ihlon. 

 Pp. iii+284. (Paris : F. .Mean.) 3.50 fram >. 



The Examination of Materials by X-rays. Pp. ii + 

 64. "(London : Faraday Society.) 13s. 6d. 



The Physiology of Vision : With Special Reference 

 to Colour Blindness. Bv Dr. F. W. Edridge-Green. 

 Pp. xii + 280. (London : G. Bell and .Sons, Ltd.) i2.'v. 

 net. 



Diary of Societies. 



THURSDAY, March ii. 



RovAi. Institution of Great Britain, at 3.— Lt.-Col. E. Gold : 

 The Upper Air : (ii) Results and th'-ir Interpre'ation. 



Institute, or MKTAi.s(at Institution of Mechanical Engineers) (Annual' 

 General Meeting), at 4. — Eng. Vice-Admiral Sir George Goodwin : 

 Inaugural Address. 



RoVAL SociEiv, at 4.30.— W. G. Duffield, T. H. nurnham, .-»nd 

 A. A. Davis ; The Pressure upon the Po)es of Metallic Arcs, 

 including Alloys and Composite .\i-cs. — J. H Vincent: Further 

 Experiments on ths Variation of Wave-length of the Oscillations Gen- 

 etated by an Ionic Valve Due to Changes in Filament Current. — H. A. 

 Daynes: (i) The Theory of the Katharometer ; (2) The Process of 

 Diffusion through a Rubber Membrane. 



London Mathematical Society, at 5. — G. S. I.e Beau : A Property of 

 Polynomials whose Roots are Real. — B. M. Sen : Double Surfaces. 



RoVAL C01.1.EGE ok Phystcians, at 5.— Dr. J. L. Hirley : The Pr nciples 

 of Medical Scence as applied to Military Aviation (Goulstonian Lecture). 



Royal Institute of Public Health, at s —Dr. H. M. Berry : 

 X-rays in the Diagnosis of luberciilosis. 



Royal Society of Med'cne (Occasional Lecrure), at 5. — Sir Jagadis 

 Bose : Plant and Animal Response (with Demonstrations of Growth by 

 the Magnetic Crc-scograph>. 



Child-Study Societv (at Royal Sanitary Institute), at 6.— Dr. M. Jane 

 Reaney : The Educational Needs of .Adolescence. 



Institution of Electrical ENGiNEERs(at Institution of Civil Engineers),, 

 at 6.— W. H. Patchell : Operating a By-product Produrer-gas Plant for 

 Power and Heating.— S. H. Fowles : Production of Power (rom Blast- 

 furnace Gas. 



Oil and Colour Chemists' Association (at 2 Furniv'al Street), at 7.— 

 J. B. Shaw : Various Points in the Manufaciuie of Lake and Pigment 

 Colours. . „. 



Optical Society, at 7.30.— A. C. W. Aldis : Portable Electric Signalling 

 Lamps. o ■ \ 



Institution of Automobile Engineers (Graduate Section), at 8. — 

 C. A. Chappell : Magnetos. 



Institute of Metals (at Institution of Mechanical F.ngmeers) (Annual 

 General Meeting), at '.—Dr. G. D. Bengough, R. M. Jones, and Kutb 

 Pirret : Fifth Report 10 the Corrosion Research Committee.— R. Seligman 

 and P. Williams : The Action on Aluminium of Hard industrial Waters. 



Royal Socikiy of Medicine (Neurology Section), at 8.3a — Prof. 

 J. S. B. S'opford : ReNults of End-to-end Suiure of PeripI.eral Nerves. 



Society of Antiquaries, at 8.30. 



FRIDAY, March 12. 



Institute of Metals (at Institution of Mechanical Engineers) (Annual 

 General Meeting), at 10.30.— J. Neil MacLean : The Art of Casting in 

 High Tensil: Hrass.— H. Moore and S. Beckinsale : The Rnnoval of 

 Internal Stress in 70: ya Brass bv Low-temperature Annealing. — Dr. 

 W. RosenHain, J. L. Haughton, .nnd Kathleen Bin;ham Zinc Alloys 

 with Aluminium and Copper.— Dr. W. Rosenhain: A Model for Reprrsent- 

 ine the Constitution of I ernary Alloys— A. C. Vivian : Tin- Phosphorus 

 Alloys.— W. C. Hothersall and E. L. Khead : Some Notes on the EfTect 

 of Hydrogen on Copper. 



Institute OF Metals (at Institution of Mechanical Engineers) (Annual 

 Gener.il Meeting), at 2 30. — W. E. Alkins : The Effect of Prouressive 

 Drawing upon some Physical Properties of Commercially Pure Copper. 

 — F. Johnson ; The Inlluen e of Cold Rolling on the Physical Properties 

 of Copper.— J. L. Hauuhton : The Study of Thermal Electromotive 

 Force as an .Aid to the Investigation oi the Constitution of Alloy Systems. 

 — H. H. Hayes: The Polishing and Etching of Zinc for Micro-examuia- 

 tion.— W. E. Hughes: Idiomorphic Crystals of Electro-deposited Copper. 



Royal Astronomical Society, at 5.— N. Liapin : Some Remarkable 

 Properties of Diurnal Motion.— H. C. Plummer : The Nature of Short- 

 perijd Variables.— L. Becker : (i) Capture Orbits; (2) The Capture Hypo- 



