2'4 



NA TURE 



[May 4, 1893 



ing any direct curative influence upon the various morbid states 

 of the organism, is capable on subcutaneous injection of 

 curing or decidedly ameliorating a great variety of aflTec- 

 tions, organic or otherwise. This action is due to two 

 kinds of influence. By the one, the nervous system gains in 

 vigour, and becomes capable of improving the dynamical or 

 organic slate of the diseased parts ; by the other, which depends 

 upon the entrance inio the blood of new materials, the liquid 

 contributes to the cure of morbid stales by the formation of new 

 cellules and other anatomical elements. — Observation of the 

 solar eclipse of April i6, 1893, ^' '^^ Lyon Observatory, 

 by M. Ch. Andre. — Observation of the solar eclipse of April 

 16 at the Algiers Observatory, by M. Ch. Trcpied. — Addi- 

 tional note, by M. Spee. — Spectro-photographic method for the 

 study of the solar corona, by M. George Hale. — On the reduc- 

 tion of any differential system to a linear form and integrable 

 completion of the first order, by M. Riquier. — Verification of 

 the steam counter and its application to the measurement of 

 supersaturation and superheating, by M. H. Parenty. — On the 

 tension of saturated waler-vapour, by M. Anioine. — On the 

 m.easurement of large differences of phase in white light, by 

 M. P. Joubin. — On rational systems of expressions in dimen- 

 sions of electric and magnetic quantities, by M. E. Mercadier. 

 — Measurement of the difference of phase of two sinusoidal 

 currents, by M. Desire Korda. — Effect of colouring matters 

 upon aclino-electric phenomena, by M. H. Rigollot. — Study of 

 ferric chloride and ferric oxalate solutions ; distribution of the 

 ferr c oxide between the hydrochloric and the oxalic acid, by 

 M. iGeorges Lemoine. — On some derivatives of licareol, by M. 

 Ph. Barbier. — On the constitution of gallic blue or tannine indigo, 

 byM. P. Cazeneuve. — On the chloramines, by M. A. Berg. — 

 On bromal bornylates, by M. J. Minguin.— Qualitative and 

 quantitative analyses of formaldehyde, by M. A. Trillat. — On 

 dioptase deposits on the French Congo, by M. Alfred Le 

 Chatelier. — On a lirkoniferous felspathic enclosure in the 

 basaltic rocks of the Puy de Montaudou, near Royat, by M. 

 Ferdinand Gonnard. — On a new mineral species discovered in 

 the copper deposits of Boleo (Lower California, Mexico), by 

 M. E. Cumenge. — On the rocks of the porphyritic series in 

 the French Alps, by M. P. Termier. — On the discovery of the 

 Marine carboniferous in the valley of Saint-Amarin (Haute- 

 Alsace), by M. Mathieu Mieg. — Biological conditions of lacus- 

 trine vegetation, by M. Ant. Magnin. — Acclimatisation in 

 France of new Salmonidfe, by M. Dagiiin. 



BOOKS, PAMPHLETS, and SERIALS RECEIVED. 



Books. — Vertebrate Einbryology : Dr. A. Milnes Marshall (Smith, 

 Elder, and Co.) —Chemistry for All: W. J. Harrison and R. J. Bailey 

 (Blackie).— Unites et Etalons : C. E. Guillaume (Paris, Gauthier-Villars).— 

 Princlpes de la Machine a Vapeur ; E. Widmann (Paris, Gauthier-Villars). 

 Smithsonian Institution, Keport of U.S. National Museum, 1890 (Washing- 

 Ion).— The Soil in Relation to Health: H. A. Miers and R. Cros.skey 

 ;Macmillan).— Wm. Kiichen Parker, F.R.S. : T. Jeffery Parker (Mac- 

 millan).— Types of Animal Life: St. G. Mivart (Osgoid).— Advanced 

 Physiography: R. A. Gregory and J. Christie (Hughes). — Gun and 

 Camera in Southern Africa: H. A Bryden (Stanford).— Alembic Club 

 Reprints: No. i, Experiments upon Magnesia Alba, Quicklime, &c. : Dr. 

 J. Black (Edinburgh, Clay). 



Pami'Ulets. — Vererbungsgesetze und ihre Anwendung auf den Men- 

 schen: S. S. Buckman (Leipzig, GCinthers).— City and Guilds of London In- 

 stitute ; Report to the Governors, April (London). — The Steechiological Cure 

 of Consumption, &c. : Dr. J. F. Churchill tStott). 



Serials.- Quarterly Journal of Microscopical Science, April (Churchill). 

 — Bulletin of the New York Mathematical Society, vol. 2, No. 7 (New 

 York). — Ergebnisse der Meteorologischen Beobachtungen, Jahrgang 2 

 (Bremen).- Seismoiogical Society of Japan, vol. 1, 1893 (Yokohama). — 

 Geological Magazine, May (K. Paul).— Natural Science, May (Macmillan). 



DIARY OF SOCIETIES. 



London. 



THURSDAY, Mav 4 



RoVAL Society, at 4.30. — On the Thickness and Electrical Resistance of 

 Thin Liquid Films: Prof. Reinold, F-R.S., and Prof. Riicker, F.R.S.— 

 Organic Oximides ; a Research on their Pharmacology : Dr. H. Pomfret. — 

 On the Alleged Increase of Cancer : Geo. King and X)r. Newsholme.— 

 Further Experimental Note on the Correlation of Action of Antagonistic 

 Muscles : Dr. Sherrington. On the Differential Co-variants of Plane 

 Curves, and the Operators Employed in their Development : R, F. 

 Gwyther. 



LiNNEAN Society, at 8. — Nervous System of Myxine glutinosa : Aifted 

 Sanders.— On Polynesian Plants collected by J. J. Lister; W. B. 

 Hemsley, F.R.S. 



Chemical Society, at 8. — Ballot for the Election of Fellows.— Hydrates 

 of Potassium, Sodium, and Lithium Hydroxides: S. U. Pickering, 

 F.R.S.— Notes on Marsh's and Renich's Tests for Arsenic; Dr. J. 

 Clark —The Fo mation of Hydrogen Peroxide in Organic I iquids: Dr. 

 A. Richardson. — The Supposed Saponification of Linseed Oil by White 

 Lead: }. B. Hannay and A. E. Leighton.— Notes on the Capillary 

 Separation of Substances in Solution : L. Reed. 



NO. 1227, VOL. 48] 



Institution OF Civil Engineers, at 8, — The First James Forrest Lee' 

 ture— The Interdependence of Abstract Science and Engineering : Dr 

 William Anderson. F.R.S. 



Royal Institution, at 3.— The Atmosphere : Prof. Dewar. F.R.S. 

 FRfDAY. May 5. 



CmemicalSocietv. at 8.— Hofmann Memorial Meeting.— Address by Right 

 Hon. Lord Playfair, F.R.S.; Sir F. A. Abel, F.R.S.; W. H. Perkin, 

 F.R.S. 



Royal Institution, at q.— Fogs, Clouds, and Lightning: Shelford Bid- 

 well, F.R.S. 



SATJTRDAY, May 6. 



Royal Ls-stitution*, at 3.— Johnson and Milton : Dr. Henry Craik, C.B. 

 MONDA Y, May 8. 



Aristotelian Society, at 8— G. F. Stout. 



Koval Institution, at 5.— General Monthly Meeting. 

 rUESDA Y. May 9. 



Institution of Civil Engineers, at 8.— Mining and Ore Treatment at 

 Broken Hill. New South Wales : M. B. Jamieson and John Howell. 

 (Discussion.) 



ANTHROpoLO'iicAL INSTITUTE, at8.3o.— Notc on the Skull of an Abori- 

 ginal Australian : C- Dudley Cooper. (Communicated by Pr if. G. D. 

 Thane.)— On Borneo : C. Ho?e. — ')n the Nativesof Tonga : R. G Leefe. 



Royal Institution, at 3 —Modern Society in China: Prof. R. K. 

 Douglas. 



WEDNESDA Y. May 10. 



Gfological Society, at 8. — On the Felsites and Conglomerates between 

 Bethesda and IJanllyfni. North Wales : Prof J. F. Blake.— The Llan- 

 dovery and Associated Rocks of the Neighbourhood of Corwen : Philip 

 Lake and Theodore T. Groom. 



K^JTOMOLOGicAi. Society, at 7. — Dicranota, a Carnivorous Tipulid Larva: 

 Prof. L. C. Miall, F.R.S-~On a Lepidoplerous Pupa (Microjieryx 

 purpurella) with Functionally Active Mandibles: Dr. T. Algernon 

 Chapman. 



Institution of Civil Engineers, at 8. — The Introduction of Rubble 

 Blocks into Concrete Structures : J. Wilson Steven. 

 THURSDAY, May ii. 



KLvthematical Society, at 8.— On some Formu Ise of Codaizi and Wein 

 earten in Relation to the Application of Surfaces to each other : Prof. 

 Cayley, F.R.S.— On the Expansion of Certain Infinite Products: Prof. 

 L. J. Rogers. 



Institution of Electrical Engineers, at 8. — On the Prevention of 

 Sparking, Compound Dynamos without Series Coils or Magnets; and 

 Self-exc ling Dynamos and Motors without Winding upon Field Magnets : 

 W. B. Sayers. 



Royal Institution, at 3.— The Atmosphere : Prof. Dewar, F.R.S. 

 FRIDAY. May 12. 



Physical Sjciety, at 5.— The Drawing of Curves from their Curvature : 

 C. V. Boys, F.R.S. — The Foundations of Dynamics: Oliver Lodge, 

 F.R.S. 



Royal Astrono.mical Societv. at 8. 



RovAL iNSTiTt/TiON, at Q — Isoperimetrical Problems: Lord J^elvin, 

 Pres.R.S. 



SATURDAY, May 13. 



Royal Botanic Society, at 3.45. 



Roval Institution, at 3. — Johnson and Swift: Dr. Henry Craik, CB. 



contents. page 



An American Text-book of Physics. By Prof. Oliver 



Lodge, F.R.S » 



Babylonian Cosmology 2 



Our Book Shelf:— 



Dickie: " Elements of Physiograpliy " 3 



Powell: " Seventh Annual Report of the Bureau of 

 Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Insti- 

 tution, 1885-86" 3 



Letters to the Editor: — 



A Remarkable Rainfall.— Clement L. Wragge . . 3 

 The Cold Wave at Hongkong, January 1893— its After- 



Effects.— Sydney B. J. Skertchly 3 



The April Meteors.— W. F. Denning 5 



Smithsonian Institution Documents. — Prof. Cleve- 

 land Abbe 6 



The Genesis of Nova Aurigae. By Richard A. 



Gregory . . . .• 6 



The Royal Society Selected Candidates 8 



No es II 



Our Astronomical Column : — 



South Polar Cap of Mars 15 



The Brightness of the Major and Minor Planets ... 15 



Meteor Showers '5 



Astronomy Popularised in America 15 



Optical Tests for Objectives 16 



Photograph of a Bolid '6 



Geographical Notes '6 



The Use of History in Teaching Mathematics. By 



G. Heppel 16 



Fogs and Horticulture. By Prof. F. W. Oliver ... 18 



University and Educational Intelligence 20 



Scientific Serial 20 



Societies and Academies 21 



Books, Pamphlets, and Serials Received 24 



Diary of Societies 24 ^ 



I 



