I20 



NATURE 



[March 24, 1910 



solution of arsenic can be obtained by the electrolysis of 

 an alkaline solution with arsenic for the anode, or by the 

 electro-reduction of an alkaline solution of arsenious acid. 

 The properties of the solutions thus obtained are described 

 in detail. — J. B. Senderens : The catalysis of the 

 aromatic acids. A study of various catalytic substances 

 shows that only thoria, zirconia, and green oxide of 

 uranium are of practical use in this reaction, and of these 

 thoria has the preference. More than thirty aromatic 

 mixed ketones have been obtained by the application of 

 this reaction. — F. Couturier : The stability of the /S-keto- 

 aldehydes. — G. Darzens : A new method of synthesis of 

 unsaturated ketones. Stannic chloride can replace 

 aluminium chloride with advantage in reactions between 

 acetyl chloride and hydrobenzenes. The experiments de- 

 scribed have a bearing on the theory of the Friedel and 

 Crafts reaction. — G. Malfltano and Mile. A. Moschkoff : 

 The coagulation of starch material by freezing. — L. 

 Ravaz : Researches on the specific reciprocal influence of 

 the subject on the graft in the vine. — G. Andr6 : The 

 development of a bulbous plant : variations in the weight 

 of nitrogen and the mineral matters. — M. Bidler- 

 Chatelan : The estimation of assimilable potash in soils. 

 It is concluded that the amount of potash extracted by a 

 solution of carbon dioxide in water gives results that are 

 best comparable with the actual culture experiments. — 

 J. Tissot : The experimental study of intra-organic com- 

 bustions in animals breathing air progressively deprived 

 of oxygen, and the natural methods of defence of the 

 organism against anoxyhaemia. — F. Maignon : The in- 

 fluence of the genital glands on glycogen production. — M. 

 Ranjard : Contribution to the study of audition and its 

 development by the vibrations of the vowel siren. — 

 H. Dominici) G. Petit, and A. Jaboin : The persistent 

 radio-activity of the organism resulting from the intra- 

 venous injection of an insoluble salt of radium, and on its 

 applications. One milligram of radium sulphate was in- 

 jected into a horse, and the distribution of the radio- 

 activity studied. The effects could be traced for more 

 than six months after the date of the injection. — Mile. 

 Cernovodeanu and Victor Henri : The action of the 

 ultra-violet rays on micro-organisms and on different cells. 

 Microchemical . study. The ultra-violet rays produce 

 chemical and physical transformations in protoplasm which 

 modify completely all the colour reactions. This action of 

 the rays is quite different from that of heat, hydrogen 

 peroxide, or ordinary fixing agents. — ^J. Nageotte : The 

 activity of the m3'eline sheath in nerves separated from 

 the organism. — H. E. Sauvagre : The Andersh ganglion 

 in the horned Phrynosome. — P. Hachet-Souplet : The 

 education of animals by man as a means of psychological 

 research. — L. Bordas : General considerations on the 

 Malpighi tubes of the larvae of Lepidoptera. — Paul 

 de Beauchamp : The existence and conditions of 

 parthenogenesis in Dinophilus. — A. Rodet and M. 

 Lagrriffoui : The serotherapy of typhoid fever. Clinical 

 results. In the greater proportion of the cases cited the 

 disease has been arrested at the twelfth day or later. If 

 the serum is administered at the eleventh day, at the 

 latest, it appears to exert a beneficial influence on the 

 course of the disease. — A. Trillat and M. Sauton : The 

 influence of vitiated atmospheres on the vitality of 

 microbes. — P. and N. Bonnet : The existence of the Trias 

 and Mesojurassic in the neighbourhood of Djoulfa, 

 southern Transcaucasia. — Const. A. Ktenas and Ph. 

 N^srris : The presence of layers containing EUipsactinia 

 in the Vardusa mountains and in i^tolia, in Greece.- — 

 Albert Michel Levy : The pechstein strata in the Esterel. 

 — Albert Nodon : Researches on terrestrial magnetism. — 

 Henryk Arctowski : Some anomalies in the distribution 

 of atmospheric pressure in the United States. 



FORTHCOMING CONGRESSES. 



May 16-21. — International Congress of Americfmists. Buenos Ayres. 

 General Secretary: Dr. Lehmann-Nitsche, Calle Viamonte 430, Buenos 

 Ayres, Argentine Republic. 



May 14-22. — International Botanical Congress. Brussels. General 

 Secretary; Dr. E. de Wildeman, JarHin botanique, Bruxelles. 



June.— International Congress of Mining, Metallurgy, Applied Mechanics 

 and Practical Geologv. Diisseldorf. General Secretaries : Dr. Schrodter 

 and Mr. Lowenstein, Jacobi-strasse 3/5, Diisseldorf, Germany. 



July 27-- i. — International Congress on the Admini>tralive Sriences. 

 Brussels. Secretary of British Committee: Mr. G. Montague Harris, 

 Caxton House, Westminster. 



August 1-6. — International Congress of Entomology. Brussels. Chaii 

 man of Local Committee for Great Britain : Dr. G. B. Longstaflf, Highland: 

 Putney Heath, S.W. 



August 1-7. — French Association for the Advancement of Scienc< 

 Toulouse. President : Prof. Gariel. Address of Secretary : 28 ru 

 Serpente, Paris. 



August. — International Congress of Photography. Brussels. Corr( 

 spondent for United Kingdom : Mr. Chapman Jones, 11 Eaton Ris< 

 Ealing, W. 



August. — International Congress of School Hygiene. Paiis. Secretary 

 M. Dufestel, 10 Boulevard Magenta, Paris. 



Au(;ust 15-20. — International Zoological Congress. Graz (Austria 

 President : Prof. Ludwig von Graff. Address for inquiries : Prasidiui 

 desVIII. Internationalen Zoologen-Kongresses, Universilatsplatz 2, Grs 

 (Osterreich). 



August iS-26. — International Geological Congress. Stockholm. Generi 

 Secretary: Prof. J. G. Andersson, Stockholm 3. 



August 31 to September 7. — British Association. Sheffield. President 

 Prof. T. G. Bonney, F. K.S. Address for inquiries : General Secretarie 

 Burlington House, W. 



September 6-8. — International Congress of Radiology and Electricit; 

 Brussels. General Secretary : Dr. J. Daniel, i rue de la Pr<;v6te, Brussel 

 Correspondents for United Kingdom : Prof. Rutherford and Dr. W 

 Makower, University of Manchester, and Dr. W. Deane Butcher, Holyroo( 

 Ealing, W. 



September 18-24. — German Association of Naturalists and Physician 

 Konigsberg. Secretaries : Prof. Lichtheim and Prof. F. Meyer, Drumn 

 str. 25-29, KSnigsberg. 



September 27-30. — International Physiological Congress. Vienn; 

 President : Prof. S. Exner. General Secretary for United Kingdom 

 Prof. E. B. Starling, University College, London, W.C. 



October 6-12. — Congres International du Froid. Vienna. Correspoi 

 dent for United Kingdom : Mr. R. M. Leonard, 3 Oxford Court, Cannc 

 Street, E.G. 



CONTENTS. PAG 



Music, By Prof. John G. M'Kendrick, F.R.S . . . 9 



Hygiene of the Nervous System 9 



Mycological Works 9 



Elementary Chemistry. By J. B. C g 



Our Book Shelf:— 



Naccari : " La Vita di Michele Faraday " S 



Mobius : " Botanisch-Mikroskopischer Praktikum fiir 



Anfanger" 9 



Letters to the Editor :— 



Fertilising Effect of Soil Sterilisation.— Dr. Bernard 



Dyer 9 



Certain Reactions of Albino Hair. — Igerna B. J. 



SoUas f 



Nitrogen-fixing Bacteria and Non-leguminous Plants. 



—Prof. W. B. Bottomley < 



A Sample of Spurious Correlation. — Alex. B. 

 MacDowall; Dr. Gilbert T. Walker, F.R.S. . | 

 Some Scientific Centres. No. XV.— The Mount ] 

 Wilson Solar Observatory of the Carnegie Institution of 

 Washington. {Illustrated.) By Prof. H. H. Turner, 



F.R.S 



The British Science Guild 



The Proposed Scottish National Antarctic Expe- 



dition of igii l> 



Prof. J. Campbell Brown. By F. G. D i- 



Notes I 



Our Astronomical Column : — 



The Solar Eclipse of 1912 April 17 I 



The Comets (1910a and Halley's). {Illustrated.). . I 



Ephemeiis for Eros, 1910 1 



Prof. Doberck's Double-star Observations i 



Daniel's Comet, 19095 I 



The National Physical Laboratory in 1909 .... I 



Institution of Naval Architects I 



An Instructive Earth Model. {Illustrated.) By 



B. C. W 1 



The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement 



of Teaching I 



Boston Meeting of the American Association . . I 



University and Educational Intelligence 1 



Societies and Academies ' 



Forthcoming Congresses . .• J 



NO. 2108, VOL. 83] 



