NA TURE 



[May 5, 



and habit with rhamnose, with which the other physical 

 constants and chemical properties also agreed. The 

 other product of hydrolysis was a resin, the further 

 study of which is deferred. — Chlorinating action of ferric 

 chloride in the aromatic series, by M. V. Thomas. By the 

 action of ferric chloride upon boiling benzene, monochlor- 

 benzene is readily obtained. This again, submitted to the 

 action of more ferric chloride, gives a mixture of dichlorbenzenes. 

 The reaction can be pushed as far as the hexachloride. Toluene 

 behaves similarly, the suV)stitution being always in the ring and 

 not in the side chain. — On the dialkyl phosphoric ethers, by 

 M. J. Cavalier. — On the acid phosphoglycerates, by MM. 

 Adrian and Trillat. —On the saccharification of starch by malt, 

 by M. Henri Pottevin. The experiments given show that the 

 transformation of starch into maltose is the result of two distinct 

 operations, dextrine being always an intermediate product. The 

 •differences observed between the various dextrines are differ- 

 •ences in physipal state only. — Hepatic pigments in the Verte- 

 brates, by MM. A. Dastre and N, Floresco. — On the ferments 

 causing the diseases of wines, by M. J. Laborde. — On some 

 points of external morphology of the Aphroditm, by M. G. 

 Darboux. — On the nitrogenous nutrition of phanerogamous 

 plants by the aid of amines, salts of ammonium compounds, 

 and alkaloids, by M. L. Lutz. The amines can be assimilated 

 ■directly without previous conversion into ammoniacal salts or 

 nitrates. Amines of low molecular weight are more easily 

 taken up by the plant. — Influence of some poisons on the 

 antitoxic power of the blood, by MM. C. J. Salomonsen and 

 Th. Madsen. — Remarks on a paper of M. Daniel Berthelot, 

 «ntitled " On the rigorous determination of the molecular 

 weights of gases," by M. G. Marqfoy. 



DIARY OF SOCIETIES. 



THURSDAY, May 5. 



R.OVAL Society, at 4.30. — Observations on the Action of Anaesthetics on 

 Vegetable and Animal Protoplasm : Dr. Waller, F.R.S., and Prof. 

 Farmer.— On certain Structures formed in the Drying of a Fluid with 

 Particles in Suspension : Miss C. A. Raisin. — On Photographic Evidence 

 of the Objective Reality of Combination Tones : R. W. Forsyth and R. 

 J. Sowter. —The Relations between the Hybrid and Parent Forms of 

 Echinoid Larvae : H. M. Vernon. 



LiNNEAN Society, at 8. — On some Spitsbergen Collembola: Sir John 

 Lubbock, Bart.. M.P., F.R.S.— On the Structure and Development of 

 Soranthera: Miss Ethel Barton. — The Species, the Sex, and the Indi- 

 vidual : J. T. Cunningham. 



■Chemical Society, at 8.— The Reactions of the Carbohydrates with 

 Hydrogen Peroxide : C. F. Cross, E. J. Bevan, and Claud Smith.— The 

 Properties and Relationships of Dihydroxytartaric Acid, Part IL: H. J. 

 H. Fenton. — The Affinity Constants of certain Hydroxy-acids : S. 

 Skinner.— Molecular Weights in Solution of Permanganates, Per- 

 chlorates, and Periodates : J. Murray Crofts. 



Institution of Electrical Engineers (Society of Arts), at 8.— The 



Prevention of Interruptions to Electricity Supply : Leonard Andrews. 



FRIDA y, May 6. 



•Royal Institution, at 9.— Living Crystals : Edward A. Minchin. 



•Geologists' Association, at 8. — Notes on Skye : Horace B. Woodward, 

 F.R.S. — Observations in Lapland : Aubrey Strahan. 

 SA TURD A y, May 7. 



■Geologists' Association. — Excursion to Hillmorton and Rugby. 

 Director : Beeby Thompson. 



MONO A y, May 9. 

 •Society of Arts, at 8.— Electric Traction : Prof. Carus Wilson. 

 K.OYAL Geographical Society, at 8.30.— Journey across Tibet from West 

 ■to East : Captain M. S. Wellby. 



TUESDAY, May 10. 

 Anthropological Institute, at 8.30. 



Rontgen Society, at 8.— Notes on the Description of a New Induction 

 Coi\m Electrical Review, February 4, 1898: A. Apps. — Some Notes on 

 Coni:act Breakers : Dr. J. Macintyre. 

 Royal Victoria Hall, at 8.30.— A Simple Experiment and its Explana- 

 tion : Prof. McLeod. 



WEDNESDAY, May ii. 

 Society of Arts, at 8.— Water Gas and its Applications : Vivian B. 

 Lewes. 



THURSDAY, May 12. 

 Royal Society, at ^.-io.— Probable Papers: The Electrical Response of 

 Nerve to a Single Stimulus investigated with the Capillary Electrometer. 

 Preliminary Communication: Prof. Gotch, F.R.S., and G. J. Burch. — 

 A Study of the Phyto-PIankton of the Atlantic: G. Murray, F.R.S., 

 And V. H. Blackman. — Effects of Prolonged Heating on the Magnetic 

 Properties of Iron : S. R. Roget —On the Connection of Algebraic 

 Functions with Automorphic Functions : E. T. Whittaker. 

 Royal Institution, at 3.— Heat : Lord Rayleigh. 



Mathematical Society, at 8.— On the Numerical value 



rh ■? 

 of I e'' dx : 

 Jo 



-On the Ileflectipn and Transmission of Electric Wa' 



NO. 1488, VOL. 58] 



by a Metallic Grating: Prof. Lamb, F.R.S. — Notes on some Funda- 

 mental Properties of Manifolds : A. E. H. Love, F.R.S. 



Institution of Electrical Engineers (Society of Arts), at 8. 

 FRIDAY, May 13. 



Royal Institution, at 9. — Recent Experiments on certain of the 

 Chemical Elements in Relation to Heat : Prof. W. A. Tilden, F.R.S. 



Royal Astronomical Society, at 8. 



Physical Society, at 5. — Galvanometers, Part II.: Prof. W. E. Ayrton 

 and T. Mather. 



Malacological Society, at 8. 



SA TURD A Y, May 14. 



Geologists' Association (King's Cross, G.N.R.), at 1.20.— Excursion to 

 Ayot and Hatfield. Directors : J. Hopkinson and A. E. Salter. 



BOOKS AND SERIALS RECEIVED. 



Books. — A Student of Nature : R. M. Fergusson (A. Gardner). — Roy.al 

 University of Ireland Calendar, 1898 (Dublin, Thom). — A Course in 

 Mechanical Drawing : J. S. Reid (Chapman). — Quantitative Chemical 

 Analysis by Electrolysis : Drs. A. Classen and W. L6b, translated by W. 

 H. Herrick and B. B. Boltwood (Chapman). — Technical Mycology : Dr. F. 

 Lafar, translated by C. T. C. Salter, Vol. i (Griffin).— Electro-Physiology : 

 Prof. W. Biedermann, translated by F. A. Welby, Vol. 2 (Macmillan).— 

 Text-Book of Physical Chemistry : Prof. C. L. Speyers (Spon). — Methods 

 for the Analysis of Ores. Pig Iron and Steel (Easton, Pa., Chemical 

 Publishing Company) — First Stage Magnetism and Electricity : Dr. R. 

 H. Jude (Clive). — A Northern Highway of the Tsar : A. Trevor-Battye 

 (Constable). — Elementary General Science : A. T. Simmons and L. M. 

 Jones (M.-icmillan). — Journal of the Iron and Steel Institute, Name-Index, 

 Vols. I to L : edited by B. H. Brough (Spon). 



Serials. — National Geographic Magazine, April (Washington). — 

 American Journal of Psychology, Vol. ix. No. 3 (Worcester, Mass.). — Good 

 Words, May (Isbister). — Sunday Magazine, May (Isbister).— Natural 

 Science, May (Dent). — Botanische Jahrbiicher, Vierundzwanzigster Band, 

 v. Heft (Leipzig, Engelmann). — Century Magazine, May (Macmillan). — 

 American Naturalist, March (Boston, Ginn). — Humanitarian, May 

 (Hutchinson). — Proceedings of the University of Durham Philosophical 

 Society, Part i (Newcastle-on-Tyne). — Journal of the Royal Microscopical 

 Society, April (Williams).— Journal of Botany, May (West). — Bulletin of the 

 American Mathematical Society, April (N.Y., M.acmillan). — Contemporary 

 Review, May (Isbister). — Scribner's Magazine, May (Low). — National 

 Review, May (Arnold). — Brain, Part 80, May (M.icmillan).— Fortnightly 

 Review, May (Chapman). — Among British Birds in their Nesting Haunts : 

 O. A. J. Lee. Part xi. (Edinburgh, Douglas).— Knowledge, May (High 

 Holborn). — Zeitschrift fiir Physikalische Chemie, xxv. Band, 4 Heft (Leipzig, 

 Engelmann). 



CONTENTS. PAGE 



Scientific Worthies, XXXI.— Albert von Kolliker. 

 {With Fhofooravure Plate Engraving.) By Prof. W. 



F. R. Weldon, F.R.S i 



Nitro-Explosives. By A. D. 4 



Psychical Research. By Dr. W. Leslie Mackenzie . 5 



British East Africa 6 



Our Book Shelf:— 



Lupton : " Notes on Observations " 7 



Cox : " Prospecting for Minerals" 7 



Dunbar: " The Process of Creation Discovered " . . 8 



Murche : " Domestic Science Readers " 8 



Reid: " A Course in Mechanical Drawing" .... 8 

 Deas: "Flower Favourites, their Legends, Symbolism, 



and Significance " 8 



Letter to the Editor :— 



Rontgen Rays and Ordinary Light. — Prof. J. J. 



Thomson, F.R.S 8 



Sleep, and the Theory of its Cause. By L. H. . . . 8 

 A Proposed Revolution in Nautical Astronomy. By 



H. B. G 10 



A New Physical Research Laboratory at the 



Sorbonne. {Illustrated.) 12 



Photography at the Crystal Palace 14 



Micro-biology as applied to Hygiene 15 



Notes 16 



Our Astronomical Column : — 



Comet Perrine (March 19) 19 



Tempel's Comet (1867 II.) • • • '9 



Kirchhoff's Spectroscope 19 



Jupiter's Red Spot 20 



Petroliferous Sands and Mud Volcanoes in Burma. 



{Illustrated.) By H. B. W 20 



Experiments on the Working of Gas-Engines ... 21 



University and Educational Intelligence 22 



Scientific Serials 22 



Societies and Academies 22 



Diary of Societies 24 



Books and Serials Received 24 



