456 



NATURE 



[March io, 



Paris. 



Academy of Sciences, February 29.— M. d'Abbadiein the 

 chair. — On a differential equation relating to the calculation of 

 perturbations, by M. F. Tisserand.— On the storm of June 8, 

 1891, in the Department of Lot-et-Garonne, by M. Faye. The 

 account given in this paper of the circular movements of winds 

 and descending currents supports M. Faye's theory of cyclones. 

 — On the order of appearance of the vessels in the flowers of 

 Taraxacum dens leonis, by M. A. Trecul.— Researches on 

 monohalogen and monocyanogen derivatives of ethyl aceto- 

 acetate, by MM. A. Haller and A. Held.— Influence of the 

 intra-renal tension on the functions of the liver, by M, Felix 

 Guyon. — On the fundamentals of geometry, by M. Sophus 

 Lie. — Remarks on the subject of the last communication 

 by M. Gouy, on the superficial tension of liquid metals, by 

 M. H. Pellat.— On some diffraction experiments, by M. Hur- 

 muzescu.— On the polarization of the atmosphere by the light 

 of the moon, by M. N. Piltschikoff. A series of observations 

 made by means of a polarimeter shows that the proportion of 

 polarized light in the sky at night diminishes in a continuous 

 manner from the time of full moon, when a maximum is at- 

 tained, to new moon, when it reaches zero ; it afterwards 

 increases from new moon to full moon. — On the temper- 

 atures' of certain industrial furnaces, by M. H. le Chatelier. 

 Measurements of certain high temperatures by the method 

 recently communicated to the Academy have led to re- 

 sults not in accord with previous estimations. — Stereo- 

 chemistry and the laws of rotatory power, by M. Ph. A. Guye. 

 A reply to the notes on this subject by M. Colson.— A series of 

 new compounds : chromosulphuric acid and the metallic chromo- 

 sulphates, by M. A. Recoura. (See Note?.)— Researches on 

 the application of the measurement of rotatory power to the de- 

 termination of the combinations formed by aqueous solutions of 

 perseite with the acid molybdates of sodium and ammonium, by 

 M. D. Gernez. — Action of soda and potassium cyanide on 

 chlorodiamylamine, by M. A. Berg.— Metaphenyltoluene, by 

 M. G. Perrier. — On the presence of mannite and sorbite in the 

 fruits of J:he laurel cherry, by MM. Camille Vincent and Dela- 

 chanal. The authors find these two alcohols present in equal 

 proportions in the fruits of the laurel cherry. — The heats of 

 formation of potassium carballylates, by M. G. Massol. The 

 quantities of heat disengaged by the successive combination of 

 three molecules of potash with one molecule of carballylic acid 

 decrease progressively. The mean heat of combination is 

 superior to that of the monobasic acids. These results are the 

 same as those obtained for simple organic bibasic acids. — Note 

 on the density of textiles, by M. de Chardonnet. — The detection 

 of oil of resin in turpentine, by M. Znne.— Comparative nitri- 

 fication of humus and unaltered organic matter, and the influence 

 of the proportion of nitrogen in the humus upon the nitrification, 

 by M. B. Pichard.— On the medical utilization of alternating 

 currents of high potential, by MM. G. Gautier and J. Larat. The 

 authors have reduced an electromotive force of 2000 volts, by means 

 of transformers, to a voltage suitable for medical purposes, and 

 have experimented on several patients to determine the influence 

 of alternating currents on nutrition. — On the composition of 

 haemocyanin, by M. A. E. Griffiths. The results of analyses 

 are represented by the formula CgsyHjggaNjasCu 840258- — Pto- 

 maines in some infectious disorders, by M. A. B. Griffiths. — 

 The Molle, a disease of the Champignons de Couche, by MM. 

 Costantin and Dufour. — Spring and autumn woods, by M. 

 Emile Mer. — On fecundation in cases of polyembryony, by 

 M. G. Chauveaud. — On the action of the nucleole on the tur- 

 gescence of the cell, by M. Ch. Decagny. — On the regimen of 

 subterranean waters in the Upper Sahara of the province of 

 Algiers, between Laghouat and El Golea, by M. Georges 

 Rolland. 



Berlin, 



Physical Society, February 12. — Prof. Kundt, President, 

 in the chair. — Dr. Kalischer showed how, without using 

 Kirchofi's law, the distribution of currents in a system of linear 

 conductors may be calculated in a very simple manner by 

 employing the once much-used but recently neglected principle 

 of the superposition of currents. — Dr. .E. Budde gave an exact 

 definition of "temperature" on the basis of mathematical 

 deductions and of physical considerations. 



Physiological Society, February 19.— Prof. Munk, Presi- 

 dent, in the chair.— Dr. Katzenstein has satisfied himself, on 

 the basis of careful anatomical and physiological investigation, 

 that the crico-thyroid muscle is innervated by the inferior 

 laryngeal nerve, a conclusion also arrived at by Prof. Zuntz. 



NO. 1 167, VOL. 45] 



Physical Society, February 26.— Prof. Kundt, President, 

 in the chair. — Prof. Neesen gave an account of measurements 

 of latent heats of evaporation which he had determined 

 by means of a condensation-calorimeter. In these experiments 

 a small quantity of the fluid under investigation was allowed to 

 evaporate in vacuo for one or two minutes while resting on the 

 surface of mercury in such a way as not to be in contact with 

 the walls of the containing vessel. Pure water gave a latent 

 heat of evaporation which corresponded closely with that 

 obtained by Regnault. Dilute solution of sodium chloride (one 

 molecule of the salt per litre of water) gave a result which was 

 nearly the same as for water, but slightly greater. As the per- 

 centage of salt in solution was increased (up to four molecules 

 per litre) the latent heat of evaporation rapidly diminished, A 

 series of alcohols have similarly been examined, but the values 

 for these not yet accurately determined. It was found that in 

 general the latent heat of evaporation is greater during rapid 

 than during slow evaporation. The condensation of the vapours 

 on the walls of the vacuous space was recorded by the move- 

 ment of the calorimeter scale. — Dr. Thiesen spoke on the 

 properties of perfect dioptric systems, as based upon certain 

 mathematical deductions, and on the construction of systems 

 with any given properties. 



BOOKS RECEIVED. 



Our Trees : J. Robinson (Salem, Horton). — An Advanced Class-book oi 

 Modern Geography : W. Hughes and J. F. Williams (Philip). — The New 

 University for London : Prof. K. Pearson (Unwin). —Marriage and Disease : 

 Dr. S. A. K. Strahan (Kegan Paul).— A Study of Influenza, and the Laws 

 of England concerning Infectious Diseases : Dr. R. Sisley (Longmans). — 

 The Naturalist in La Plata: W. H. Hudson (Chapman and Hall).— The 

 Elements of Plane Trigonometry : R. Levett and C. Davison (Macmillan). 

 —The Grammar of Science: Prof. K. Pearson (Scott).— Homilies of 

 Science : Dr. P. Carus (Arnold).— Chemical Calculations : R. L. Whiteley 

 (Longmans). — Thoughts and Reflexions of the late David Tertius (iabriel 

 (Unwin). — Textbook of Psychology: W. James (Macmillan). — Mathe- 

 matical Recreations and Problems : W. W. R. Ball (Macmillan).— Palaeonto- 

 graphical Society, vol. xlv. (London). — Things Japanese, 2nd_ edition : B. 

 H. Chamberlain (Kegan Paul). — Bulletin of the U.S. Geological Survey, 

 Nos. 62,65, 67 to 81 (Washington).— Universal Atlas, Part 12 (Cas.sell).— 

 The Ilford Manual of Photography ; C. H. Bothamley (Ilford). 



CONTENTS. PAGE 



The Science Museum and the Tate Gallery .... 433 

 The Correspondence of Christian Huygens. By A. 



M. Clerke 434 



The Horse. By C. LI. M 436 



Our Book Shelf:— 



Taylor ; " A System of Sight-Singing from the Estab- 

 lished Musical Notation, based on the Principle of 



Tonic Relation" 437 



Keltic: "The Statesman's Year-book for the Year 



1892" 437 



Bothamley: "The Optical Lantern as an Aid in 



Teaching."— W 437 



Letters to the Editor:— 



Heat-Engines and Saline Solutions. — Lord Ray- 



leigh, Sec.R.S 438 



Superheated Steam.— John Gamgee 438 



Poincare's "Thermodynamics." — P. G. T 439 



The Functionof a University,— Prof. W. E. Ayrton, 



F.R.S 439 



Sir R. Ball's "Cause of an Ice Age."— Henry H. 



Howorth, M.P .440 



The University of London.— Prof. W, F. R. Wel- 



don, F.R.S 440 



The Aneroid in Hypsometry.— Herbert Tomlinson, 



F.R.S 440 



Sparrows and Crocuses.— R. McLachlan, F.R.S. . 441 

 A Possible Misunderstanding.— Thomas H. Blakes- 



ley 441 



Hermann Kopp. By Prof. T. E. Thorpe, F.R.S. . 441 



Notes 443 



Our Astronomical Column: — 



Cordova Observatory 446 



Algol 446 



The Sun-spots of February 446 



A New Comet 44^ 



Phosphorous Oxide. {Illustrated.) By A. E. Tutton 446 



University and Educational Intelligence 449 



Scientific Serials 45° 



Societies and Academies 451 



Books Received 45^ 



