144 



NATURE 



[December 8, 1892 



depression of the zero, brought into prominence by heating to 

 100°, may he greatly reduced by keeping the thermometers for 

 several days immersed in a liquid boiling at 400° or 500°. — On 

 the fusion of carbonate oflime, by M. A. Joannis. — Action of 

 antimony on hydroc iloric acid, by MM. A. Ditte and K. 

 Metzner. — On the zincates of the alkaline earths, by M. G. 

 Bertrand. — On anhydrous and crystallized fluorides of iron, by 

 M. C. Poulenc. — Preparation of metallic chromium by electrolysis, 

 by M. Em. Placet. An aqueous solution of chrome alum, to 

 which is added an alkalme sulphate and a small quantity 

 of sulphuric or other acid, is electrolyzed. Pure chromium 

 is deposited at the negative pole. It is very hard, 

 and of a fine bluish-white colour. It resists atmospheric 

 influences, and is not attacl^ed by concentrated sulphuric 

 acid, by nitric acid, or by concentrated potash solution. 

 Articles made of brass, copper, or iron may he coa'ed with 

 chromium, thus giving them a metallic lustre resembling oxidized 

 silver. Large quantities of the metal can be prepared without 

 difficulty. — On the preparation of hydrobromic acid, by M. E. 

 Leger. — Reply to M. Friedel's observations on the rotatory 

 power of the diamine salts, by M. Alb. Colson. — Point of 

 fusion of solvents as the inferior limit of solubilities, by M. A. 

 Etard. — Action of the chlorides of dibasic acids on cyanacetic 

 sodium ether; succinodicyanacetic ether, by M. Th. Muller. — 

 On the functions of hydurilic acid ; piepara'ion of potassium 

 hydurilales, by M. C. Matignon. — Researches on the colours of 

 some insects, by M. A. B. Griffiths. — Microbicidal action of 

 carbonic acid in milk, by M. CI. Nourry and C. Michel. — On a 

 nervous ganglion of the feet of Phalangium opilio, by M. 

 Gaubert. — Myxosporidia of the bile duct of the Fishes; new 

 species, by M. P. Theiohan. — On the modifications of absorp- 

 tion and transpiration which occur in plants under the influence 

 of frost, by M. A. Prunet. The rapid dessication of the young 

 shoots of frozen plants is due to the substitution of an intense 

 evaporation for the normal function of transpiration, and to an 

 almost complete suspension of absorptive function-;. —Aicidi- 

 conium, a new genus of Uredinei, by M. Paul Vuillemin. — On 

 the clasification and the parallelisms of the miocene system, by 

 M. Ch. Deperet. — On the existence of microgranulite and 

 orthophyre in the primary formations of the French Alps, by 

 M. P. Termier. — On the mineralogical modifications of the 

 calcareous strata in the inferior Jurassic of Ariege due to Iher- 

 zolite, and their bearing on the history of this eruptive rock, 

 by M. A. Lacroix. — On the geographical distribution, the 

 origin, and the age of the ophites and Iherzolites of Ariege, by 

 M. de Lacvivier. — Geological observations on the Creux de 

 Souci (Puy-de-D6me), by M. Paul Gautier. 



Beklin. 



Physiological Society, October 28. — Prof du Bois Rey- 

 mond. President, in the chair. — ^Prof. Gad spoke on the respira- 

 tory centre on the basis of experiments made in his laboratory 

 by Herr Marenescu. According to these, the centre for the 

 co-ordination of the respiratory muscles lies in the formatio 

 reticularis grisea and alba below the hypoglossal centre, on 

 each side of the hypoglossal tract, whereas in the apex of the 

 calamus scriptorius there is an inhibitory centre (nocud vital) 

 whose stimulation may cause death. It further appeared from 

 these experiments that the respiratory centre is not confined to 

 a limited area, but is diffuse and quite distinct fro-n Flouren's 

 " noeud vital." 



November 11.— Prof, du Bois Reymond, President, in the 

 chair. — Dr. Ad. Loewy had investigated the influence on re- 

 spiration of the upper tracts leading from the cerebrum to the 

 respiratory centre, an influence which is specially marked after 

 section of the vagi. He found that these tracts do not simply 

 hand on to the centre impulses received from the periphery up 

 the trigeminal nerve, but that they automatically maintain the 

 rhythm of the centre after the vagi have ceased to function. 

 Dr. Rene du Bois Reymond spoke on the sensation of warmth 

 which ensues on immersing the hand in a vessel of carbon 

 dioxide. Sulphurous acid, bromine vapour, nitrogen peroxide, 

 ammonia and hydrochloric acid gas produce the same effect. 

 The intensity of the sensation varies with the different gases. 

 Thus carbon dioxide produces the same sensation as air warmed 

 to 20°, while that of nitrogen peroxide is as of air at 30' and 

 that of ammonia and hydrochloric acid ga-; as of air above 40°. 

 The phenomena do not as yet admit of a physical explanation, 

 but must be regarded rather as resulting from a chemical stimula- 

 tion of the sensory nerves for heat perception. The President 



NO. 1206, VOL. 47I 



exhibited a torpedo recently born in Berlin, in which he har* 

 detected an active electric organ immediately after birth, by 

 means of a nerve-muscle preparation and a galvanometer. 

 This observation was first made in 1831 by Davy, but had not 

 since then been repeated. 



BOOKS, PAMPHLETS, and SERIAL RECEIVED. 



Books. —The Scenery of the Heavens: G. E. Gore. 2nd edition (Sutton). 

 —Johnston s Catechism of Agricultural Chemistry, from the Edition by Sir 

 U A. Cameron, revised and enlarged by C. M Aikman (Blackwood).— Coal 

 Pits and Pitmen: R N. Boyd (Whittaker).— Practical Electric-T.ight 

 hitting: J. C. AUsop (Whittaker).— S..und and Music: Rev. J. A. Zahm 

 (Chicago, McClurg).— Results of Meteorological Observations made in New 

 South Wales, 1880, 1881, 1882, 1883, and 1884 (Sydney, Potter) —Mineral 

 Resources of the United States, 1889-90: D. '1. Day (Washington).— Pro- 

 ceedings of the American Association held at Washington (13.C.) —Meteoro- 

 logical Observations and Results at the U.S. Naval Observatory, 1888 (Wash- 

 'ngtonD-C.).— Magnetic Observations at the U.S. Naval Observatory, 1891 

 (D.C.).— 'I he Building of the British Isles: A. J. Jukes-Browne. 2nd edition 

 (Bell)— Poems in Petroleum: J. C. Grant(t.. W. Allen).— Electric Lighting 

 and Power Distribution. Part i: W. P. May cock (Whittakei).— Oldand New 

 Astronomy : R. A. Proctor, completed by A. C. Ranyard (Longmans).— 

 Painters' Colours, Oils, and Varnishes : G. H. Hurst (Griffin).— Elementary 

 Mechanics of Solids and Fluids: A. L. Sclby (Oxford, Clarendon Press).— 

 The Chemistry of Life and Health: C. W. Kimmins (Methuen).— the 

 Mechanics of Architecture : E. W. 'larn (Lockwood). — Electrical Papers. 

 2 vols. : O. Heaviside (Macmillan). 



Pamphlets.— Notes de Geographic Litterale : J. Girard (Paris). — 

 Physical Geography and Climate of New South Wales : H. C. Russell. 2nd 

 edition (Sydney, Potter). -La Grandissima Macchia Solare del Febbraio, 

 1892 : A. Ricco (Rome).— Fumo di Vulcano : A Ricco (Rome).— Sopra il 

 Periodo Eruttivo dello Stromboli : A. Ricco. G. Mercalli (Rome).— Ueber 

 Heterogene Induktion versucheines Beitrags zur Kenntnis der Reizerschein 

 ungen der Pflanzen : Dr. F. Noll (Leipzig, Engelmann) —Observations on 

 Dew and Frost ; Hon. R. Kussell (Stanford).- The Cry of the Children : A 

 Free Lance (Williams and Norgate). 



Serial.— Insect Life, vol. 5, No. 2 (Washington). 



CONTENTS. PAGE 



The New University Question 121 



In Savage Isles and Settled Lands. By H. O. F. . 122 



Property. By J. B 123 



Leaper's "Outlines of Organic Chemistry" . ... 124 

 Our Book Shelf :— 



Dandy and Lucas: "An Introduction to the Study 

 of Botany, with a Special Chapter on some Austra- 

 lian Natural Orders."— W. B. H 125 



Jones: " A German Science Reader." — W .... 125 



Brightwen : " More about Wild Nature " 125 



Letters to the Editor : — 



Arborescent Frost Patterns. {Illustrated.)— 'Pioi. R. 



Meldola, F.R.S 125 



Ice Crystallites. — Rev. Dr. A. Irving 126 



The Volucellce as Alleged Examples of Variation 

 "almost Unique among Animals." — Edward B. 



Poulton, F.R.S 126 



"A Criticism on Darwin." — Dr. George J. Ro- 

 manes, F.R.S 127 



Animals' Rights.— H. S. Salt ... 127 



Induction and Deduction.— Edward T. Dixon . . 127 



The Present Comets,— T. W. Backhouse 127 



The Afterglow.— Prof. Grenville A. J. Cole ... 127 



Electrical Standards 128 



On the Physiology of Grafting. ByJ. B. F 128 



Notes 129 



Our Astronomical Column:— 



Comet Holmes (November 6, 1892) 132 



A New Comet (Brooks, November 20) 133 



A New Comet 133 



The Channels of Mars 133 



Astronomy and Astrophysics 133 



A New Observatory 133 



Geographical Notes 133 



The Anniversary Dinner of the Royal Society . . . 134 



Azoimide '. 136 



The New Star in the Constellation of Auriga. By 



W. J. Lockyer . • 137 



Hints for Collectors of MoUusks. By William H. 



Dall 140 



Japanese Camphor 142 



University and Educational Intelligence 143 



Scientific Serials 143 



Societies and Academies . 143 



Books, Pamphlets, and Serial Received 144 





