40 



NATURE 



[March 8, 191; 



with thin sheets of iron covering the ocean areas, then 

 the distribution of magnetism on this globe reproduces 

 terrestrial magnetism. — L. Bordas : Biological and ana- 

 tomical observations on some Cetononae. — H. Vinceat : 

 The prophylaxy of the infection of wounds received at 

 the front. Comparative study of some antiseptic 

 agents. Trials have been made of sodium fluoride, 

 sodium formate, zinc chloride, calcium hypochlorite, 

 boric acid, borax, copper sulphate, ferrous sulphate, 

 potassium permanganate, and, as an accessory, iodo- 

 form. The iodoform, borax, and boric acid were ap- 

 plied in powder; the remainder also in powdered form, 

 i>ut diluted with qo per cent, of inert powder. Iodo- 

 form, ferrous sulphate, boric acid, borax, potassium 

 permanganate, formate of soc'a, and zinc chloride 

 proved to have insufficient bactericidal power. Sul- 

 phate of copper and sodium fluoride have strong anti- 

 septic properties, but are tco toxic. A mixture of cal- 

 •cium hypochlorite (lo parts) and dry powdered boric 

 acid (90 oarts) is finally recommended for first-aid treat- 

 ment. It possesses the necessary bactericidal power, 

 gives no pain, and is haemostatic on account of the 

 -calcium chloride it contains. Details of the results ob- 

 tained by the use of this powder will be given later.^ — 

 T^. Rompant : The preservation of eggs. 



BOOKS RECEIVED. 



Year-Book of the Scientific and Learned Societies 

 •of Great Britain and Ireland. Thirty-third annual 

 issue. Pp. vi-l-336. (London : C. GrifFin and Co., 

 Ltd.) 75. 6d. net. 



Minor Surgery and Bandaging (Heath-Pollard) for 

 the Use of House Surgeons, Dressers, and Junior 

 Practitioners. By Dr. H. M. Davies. Sixteenth edi- 

 tion. Pp. x-l-476. (London : J. and A. Churchill.) 

 Ss. 6d. net. 



Community : A Sociological Studv. Bv Dr. A. M. 

 Maciver. Pp. xv + 437. (London : Macmillan and Co., 

 Ltd.) 125. net. 



. Fundamental Conceptions of Modern Mathematics. 

 Variables and Quantities, with a Discussion of the 

 General Conception of Functional Relation. By R. P. 

 Richardson and E. H. Landis. Pp. xv + 216. 

 (Chicago and London : The Open Court Publishing 

 Co.) 1.25 dollars net. 



DIARY OF SOCIETIES. 



THURSDAY, March 8. 

 ■Royal Society, at 4.30.— Some Eff-cts of Growth-promoting Substances 



(Auximoiips) on the G'owth of I.emna minor in Culture Solutions :' W. B. 



Bottomlev. — Some Effects of Growth-promoting Substances 'Auximones) 



on the Soil Organisms concerned in the Nitrogen Cycle : Florence A. 



Mocker idge. 

 Royal Ivstitution, at 3.— Sponges ; a Study in Evolutionary Biology : 



Prof. A. Dendy. 

 Institution of Electrical Engineers, at 8.— Voltage Regulation of 



Rotary Converters : G. A. Juhlin. 



FRIDAY, March 9. 



Royal Institution, at 5.30.— The Treatment of Wounds in War: Sir 

 Almroth Wright. 



Malacological Society, at 7.— The Genitalia of Neanthinula aculenta: 

 Dr. A. E. Poycott.-(i) The Radula of the Genus Cominella ; (2) A 

 Colony of Purpura lapillus, with Operculum Malformed or Absent ; 

 (3) Note on the Adventures of the Genus named Lucena ; (4) Note on the 

 Da Costa Platesadapted for Rackett's Edition of Pulteney's Catalogues : 

 B. B. Woodwird. 



Royal Astronomical Society, at 5.— Orcnltations Observed at Eltham, 

 iqi5 : M. E. J.'Gheury. — Sun-spot Observations made at Rostow-on-Don : 

 G. D., T.scherny.— (i) The Viscosity of the Earth. III. ; (2) Two Applica- 

 tions of Jacobi's _ Integral : The Moulton-Gylden Theory of the 

 Gegenschein, and Orbital Motion in a Pesisting Medium : H. Jeffrevs. 

 —The Number of Stars of Different Maenitudes ih th*^ H-vderabad 

 A_strographic Catalogue, Zone— 17° : R. J. Pocock.— ' he Surface Currents 

 of Jupiter dnrine the Apparition of 1916-17 : G. Bolton.— Preliminary 

 Values of the Variations of Latitude at Greenwich for 1916 Royal 

 Observatory, Greenwich.— (i) Differential Star Corrections ; (2) W reless 

 Time Signals ; Some Suggested Improvements : W. E. Cooke- 

 Frederick de Hou-man'sf^atalogue of Southern Stars, and the Origin of 

 the Southern Constellations: E. B. KnohcX.—Probab/e Paper: The 

 Opportunities. Afforded bv the Eclipse nf 1919,. May 28, for Verifying 

 Einstein's Theory of Gravitation : Sir F. W. Dyson. 



NO. 2471, VOL. 99] 



Physical Society, at s-— lo Measure the Pressure in a High Vacuum by 

 Means of Logarithmic Decrement : Dr. P. E. Shaw. — (i) A Diffraction 

 Colour Box ; (2) [demonstration of Interference Effects with a Thorp' 

 Grating : A. W. Cl.iyden. . 



SATURDAY, March 10. 

 Royal Institution, at 3. — Imperial Eugenics; Saving the Soldier: Dr. 

 C. W. Saleeby. 



MONDAY, March 12.' 

 Royal Society or Arts, at 4.30. — Memorials and Monuments : L. 

 Weaver. 



TUESDAY, March 13. 

 RovAL Institution, at 3.— Geological War Problems : Prof. J. W 



Gregory. 

 Royal Anthropological Institute, at 2 (Joint Meeting with the 

 Prehistoric Society of East Anglia). — Presidential Address: Dr. A. E. 

 Peake. — Plateau Deposits and Implements: R. A. Smith. — The Position 

 of Prehistoric Research in England; J. Rei<i Moir. At s.30.^Some 

 Prehistoric Questions : I he President. — The Menhirs of Madagascar : 

 A. L. Lewis. 



WEDNESDAY, M\v.CH n. 

 RovAL Society of Arts, at 4.30. — 'Ihe Supply of Fertilisers during the 



War : Dr. J. A. Voelcker. 

 Geological Society, at 5.30. 



THURSDAY, March 15. 



RoVAL Society, at 4. 30. — Pi-obahlc Patters : The Initial Wave Resistance 

 of a Moving Surface Pressure : Pmf. T. H. Hrtvelock. — Experiments with 

 Mercury Jets, (i) The Relation between the Jet- length and the Velocity 

 of I- fflux ; (2) A Comparison witii Jets of Other Liquids : Prof. S. W. J. 

 Smith and H. Moss. — The Mode of Approach to Zero of the Coefficients 

 of a Fourier Series: Prof. W. H. Young — The Dissipation of Energy in 

 the Tides in Connection with the Acceleration of the Moon's Mean 

 Motion : R. O. Street. 



Royal Institution, at 3. — Sponges: a Study in Evolutionary Biology : 

 Prof. A. Dendy. 



Royal Society of Arts, at 4.30— 1 he In'lustrial and Economic Develop- 

 ment of Indian Forest Products : R. S. Pearson. 



FRIDAY, March 16. 

 Royal Institution, at 5.30. — Scientific Forestry for the. United King- 

 dom : Sir J. Stirling Maxwell. 

 Institution of Mechanical Engineers, at 6. — Heat Treatment of Large 

 Forgings : Sir W. Beardmore, Bart. — He.it Treatment of Steel Forgings : 

 H. H. Ashdown. 



SATURDAY, March 17. 

 Royal Institution, at 3. — Imperial Eugenics : Saving the Future : Dr. 

 C. VV. Saleeby. 



CONTENTS. PAG> 



Mental Organisation. ByJ. A. T. . .... 21 



Books on Analytical Chemistry. ByJ. B. C. . . . 21 



Garden and Field 22 



Our Bookshelf 23 



Letters to the Editor: — 



The Horizontal Temperature Gradient and the Increase 

 of Wind with Height. {With Diagram.)—^ . H. 

 Dines, F.R.S. .24 



Ten Per Cent. Agar-agar Jelly.— Dr. E. H. Hankin 24 



National Service. — C. Welbjrne Piper 25 



The Classification of Helium Stars. By Prof. A. 



Fowler, F.R.S. 25 



The Potato Supply. By F. K. 27 



Prof. Gaston Darboux, For. Mem. R.S. By Sir 



Joseph Larmor, M. P., F.R.S 28 



Notes 29 



Our Astronomical Column :— 



Effect of Haze on Sohr RotationjMeasures 32 



The Ninth Satellite of Jupiter ....... 33 



Germany's Effjrt to Obtam Nitrogenous Com- 

 pounds. By E. H. II 



Subsidence Resulting from Mining. By H. L. . , 33 



Further Studies in Plant Genetics 34 



The Organisation and Development of Chemical 



Industry and Research. By Prof. J. A. Wilkinson 34 



University and Educational Intelligence 38 



Societies and Academies 38 



Books Received ..... 40 



Diary of Societies ... ..... ..... 40 



Editorial and Publishing Offices : 



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ST. MARTIN'S STREET, LONPON, W.C. 



Advertisements and business letters to be addressed to the 

 Publishers. 



Editorial Communications to the Editor. 

 Telegraphic Address : Phusis, London. 

 Tdephcne ' Number : Gerrard ^830. 



