!8o 



NATURE 



[April 29, 1920 



almost identical, on the average 20 cm. per sec, the 

 highest speed being measured when the oxygen was 

 21 per cent, as in air. The same speed was found for 

 the "lower-limit" mixture of all the other paraffin 

 vapours up to pentane when mixed with air. 



The "lower-limit" speed of carbon monoxide is also 

 the same, but with hydrogen and air the speed at the 

 lower limit is much slower (10 cm. per sec), probably 

 on account of the small size of the flame, which does 

 not nearly fill the tube, though it travels to the end. 



Mr. Payman next measured the speed of the uniform 

 rate of the hydrocarbons from methane to pentane 

 (when added in different proportions to air) along the 

 same horizontal glass tube. The fastest uniform rate 

 for methane was given by the mixture containing 

 952 per cent, of methane, viz. 66-6 cm. /sec For 

 propane, butane, and pentane the fastest rate was in 

 each case between 82 cm. and 83 cm. per sec. 



Then, by mixing together mixtures of the several 

 paraffins which had the same speed, it was shown 

 that all the mixtures had the same speed except just 

 near the maximum or the extinction point, and this 

 gives us a simple means of calculating the values for 

 anv combination of paraffins in air. 



In a third paper the speeds of the uniform move- 

 ment in mixtures of carbon monoxide and air are 

 recorded. The rate increased as the amount of water- 

 vapour rose, e.g. when a mixture in equal volumes 

 was saturated with steam at 10° C. The rate 

 was 60 cm. /sec, and when saturated at 17° C. 

 79 cm. /sec The mixture in equal volumes also 

 gave the quickest speed at constant temperature, 

 although the percentage for complete combustion is 

 onlv 295 per cent. The uniform speeds for different 

 mixtures of carbon monoxide with hydrogen and with 

 methane were also determined and compared with the 

 calculated speeds. 



In the concluding paper Mr. Pavman describes his 

 experiments on the uniform rate of flame in mixtures 

 of methane and of hydrogen with atmospheres richer 

 in oxygen than ordinary air. When methane is mixed 

 with pure oxygen the mixture which gives the fastest 

 initial rate is the theoretical mixture for complete 

 combustion with 33 per cent, of methane to 66 per 

 cent, of oxvgen ; whereas in the propagation of the 

 explosion-wave the fastest mixture is that in which 

 the gases are in equal volumes. Although the uniform 

 movement of flame in the mixture containing 33 per 

 cenf. of methane is faster than that in a mixture con- 

 taining more methane, the author's photographs show 

 that the explosion-wave is more quickly set up in the 

 latter. The abrupt phvsical chantfe in the mode of 

 propagation seems to be accompanied by an abrupt 

 change in the chemical reaction. 



These papers form an interesting contribution to our 

 knowledge of the propagation of flame by "con- 

 duction." 



University and Educational Intelligence. 



Edinburgh. — His Majesty the King has graciously 

 consented to lay the foundation-stone of the University 

 buildings on the new site of 115 acres at Craigmillar 

 on the occasion of the Royal visit to Edinburgh in 

 July next. 



Acting on the recommendation of a special com- 

 mittee tecently appointed to consider the question of 

 the German chair, the University Court has resolved 

 that no person be appointed professor of German who 

 is not of British nationality and British parentage, 

 and that, in view of the special circumstances of the 

 case, no appointment to the chair be made at present, 

 but that the present lecturer be retained. 



Dr. O. L. Malcolm Smith has been appointed as 



NO. 2635, VOL. 105] 



whole-time assistant in clinical medicine, and Mr. 

 John Anderson as lecturer in logic and metaphysics. 



Dr. Robert Kidston has presented to the geological 

 department a collection of Mesozoic fossil plants. The 

 forestry department has received from the Director of 

 the Royal Scottish Museum, on loan, a collection of 

 forestry exhibits, and from the Forest Research 

 Officer of the Federated Malay States and the Chief 

 Conservator of Forests, Dominion of Canada, prepared 

 samples of commercial woods peculiar to these 

 cduntries. 



Prof. H. J. W. Hetherington, of the University 

 College of South Wales, Cardiff, has been appointed 

 to the principalship of Exeter University College in 

 succession to Mr. A. W. Clayden, resigned. 



Notice is given by the Royal College of Physicians 

 of London that the next examination for the Charles 

 Murchison scholarship in clinical medicine will be held 

 on Monday, June 14, and following days. The scholar- 

 ship is of the value of twenty guineas, and tenable 

 for one year. Intending candidates must send their 

 names and other specified particulars by June i to the 

 Registrar of the College, Pall Mall East, S.W.i. 



.^T the request of the Ministry of Labour, and with 

 the co-operation of the Rubber Growers' Association, 

 a six months' course of training in the appropriate 

 sciences has been arranged at Birkbeck College to 

 enable ex-Service men to obtain the requisite know- 

 ledge to fit them for positions on the great rubber and 

 tea plantations. The course includes training in 

 chemistry, botany, geology, entomology, and simple 

 mechanics, with some knowledge of the care of 

 machinery and book-keeping. 



The League of Nations Union is organising a 

 summer school, to be held at Kempsey School, near 

 Worcester, from Saturday, July 31, to Saturday, 

 August 7. The school is open to both men and 

 women. Applications for admission, which will be 

 considered in the order in which they are received, 

 must reach the League of Nations Union, 22 Buck- 

 ingham Gate, S.W.I, by June 15. The main object 

 of the summer school is to train those likely to make 

 efficient leaders of study circles. 



The London County Council will shortly proceed to 

 the appointment of the principals of its first group 

 of twenty-two compulsory day continuation schools to 

 be established under the Education Act, 1918. These 

 appointments will be the first of their kind in London, 

 and will be of more than ordinary interest. The type 

 of pupil to be dealt with is one that hitherto has, for 

 the most part, failed to take advantage of educational 

 facilities after leaving the elementary schools. The 

 Act makes great demands on the commercial and 

 industrial world, and it will devolve on the principals 

 of these schools to cultivate close relations with busi- 

 ness men and employers, and to secure their cordial 

 co-operation. The success of this great new experi- 

 ment in national education depends in considerable 

 rheasure on the sympathy and assistance of the busi- 

 ness worldi The position of principal will require of 

 its holder administrative ability, good scholastic attain- 

 ments, and marked personality. The outside-school 

 activities will have to be fostered in every way, so 

 that, with shorter hours of labour, the increased 

 leisure mav be utilised to the fullest profit, not only 

 of the individuals, biit also of the community. The 

 work should make a strong appeal to those interested 

 in the social welfare side of education. Advertise- 

 ments inviting applications for these positions are now 

 appearing in the public Press, and forms of applica- 



