i68 



NATURE 



[June i6, 1892 



on that of the protuberances than that of the sun-spots.— On a 

 property common to three groups of two polygons, inscribed, 

 circumscribed, or conjugate to one conic, by M. Paul Serret. — 

 On discontinuous groups of non-linear substitutions with one 

 variable, by M. Paul Painleve. — On the acceleration of mortality 

 in France, by M. Delauney. From a calculation based upon 

 certain tables published by the Bureau des Longitudes, it 

 appears that the death-rate is accelerated during the ages ranging 

 from 16 to 32 and 54 to 82, while it is retarded between I and 

 16, 32 and 54, and after 82. This gives the numbers 16, 32, 54, 

 and 82, which may be regarded as natural epochs of human life. 

 They may be derived from the equation 3^:" - 5^ -f 4, by sub- 

 stituting for a- the values 3, 4, 5, and 6. The equation represents 

 a parabola. — Optical method of determining the conductivity of 

 metallic bars, by M. Alphonse Berget. This is based upon an 

 application of interference fringes or Newton's rings produced 

 at the ends of two bars to be compared, by means of which the 

 ratio of their elongations is found. Applicable to bars of rare 

 metals. — On the propagation of heat within crystallized sub- 

 stances, by M. Ed. Jannettaz. — On a new determination of the 

 ratio z" between the electro-magnetic and the electrostatic C.G.S. 

 units, by M. H. Abraham. Obtained by measuring the same 

 capacity — of a plane condenser with guard ring — in both 

 systems. The value obtained for v was 299*2 x 10^. — 

 On the basic nitrates of zinc, by M. J. Riban. — On the 

 permolybdates, by M. E. Pechard. — On a reproduction 

 of leucite, by M. A. Duboin. — Contributions to the study of 

 mineral waters : preservation of these waters, by M. P. Par- 

 mentier. — On the fixation of iodine by starch, by M. Gaston 

 Rouvier. — Mechanical determination of the boiling-points of 

 alcohols and acids, by M. G. Hinrichs.— Preparation and heat 

 of formation of monosodic resorcin and hydroquinone, by M. 

 de Forcrand. — Thermal study of the dibasic organic acids : 

 methyl-malonic and methyl-succinic acids ; influence of 

 isomerism, by M. G. Massol. — On an oxidation product of 

 starch, by M. P. Petit. — Organo-metallic combinations of the 

 aromatic acetones, by MM. E. Louise and Perrier. — On the 

 chlorine derivatives of the isobutylamines, by M. A. Berg. — 

 Researches on the ptomaines in some infectious diseases, by M. 

 A. B. Griffiths.- — On the dioptase of the French Congo, by M, 

 E. Lacroix. — Researches on the filtration of water by the 

 Mollusca, and applications to ostreiculture and oceanography, 

 by M. H. Viallanes. — On a parasite of the locusts, by M. L. 

 Trabut.— Tuberculous vaccination of dogs, by MM. Hericourt 

 and Ch. Richet. The effect was tried of vaccinating some 

 dogs with aviary tuberculosis, which proved a perfect prophy- 

 lactic to human tuberculosis, the injection of which proved fatal 

 to those not so vaccinated, the rest being unaffected, 



Berlin. 

 Physiological Society, May 13. — Prof. Munk, President, 

 in the chair. — Prof. Loewy gave an account of experiments on 

 respiration under reduced atmospheric pressure, carried out in a 

 confined space which admitted of very rapid reductions of 

 pressure (to half an atmosphere) with constant composition of 

 the inclosed air. The amount of reduction which was borne 

 without ill effects differed in the case of the three persons on whom 

 the experiments were made, in accordance with the magnitude of 

 their respiratory activities : the greater the latter, the greater 

 ■was the reduced pressure which could be withstood. For any 

 one person it appeared that a greater reduction could be borne 

 while fasting or during work than after a meal or during repose. 

 Both oxygen and carbon dioxide were found to do away with 

 the discomfort resulting from over rarefaction of the air. 

 Slightly reduced pressure had no effect on respiratory inter- 

 change, while if the reduction was considerable, more carbon 

 dioxide was expired, notwithstanding the diminished supply of 

 oxygen. The reduced pressure of the latter gas was found to 

 act on the respiratory mechanism in such a way as to lead to 

 deeper, and hence compensatory, respiratory movements. — Dr. 

 Wertheim spoke on the blood-vessels of the avian eye in both 

 the embryonic and fully developed state, illustrating his remarks 

 by injected specimens of embryonic eyes. 



Physical Society, May 20. — Prof. Lampe, President, in the 

 chair. — Prof. Neesen gave an account of his researches on the 

 motion of loose disks centred on an axis rotating at high 

 speeds. The disks were of varying mass and moment of 

 inertia, and had at one side an excentrically-placed pin, in order 

 that the least weight might be determined which, when applied 



to this pin, stopped the rotation of the disk. The necessary 

 weight, as thus measured, was found to vary with the rotational 

 velocity of the axis and with the mass and moment of inertia 

 of the disk. It varied also according as the axis was dry or 

 smeared with old or new oil, and also with the material of 

 which the disk was made, &c. — Dr. Wien spoke on Maxwell's 

 electro-magnetic theory, and the additions made to it by Poynting, 

 and gave, in conclusion, a hypothetical conception of the nature 

 of magnetism which corresponded to the existing formulae. 



BOOKS, PAMPHLETS, and SERIALS RECEIVED. 



Books. — Notes and Queries on Anthropology, second edition : edited 

 by J. G. Garson and C. H. Read (Anthropological Institute).— The Birds Jof 

 the Sandwich Islands, Part 3 : S. B. Wilson and A. H. Kvans, (Porter).— 

 Irrieation and Water Storage in the Arid Regions ; Letter from the Secretary 

 of War (Washington).— Die Grund^iige der Theorie der Statistik : Prof. H. 

 Westergaard (Jena. Fischer).— Die Bewegung der lebendigen Substanz: M. 

 Verworn (Jena, Fischer).— Ostwald's Klassiker der Exakten Wissenschaften, 

 Nos. I to 30 (Leipzig. Engelmann).— The Threshold of Science, second 

 edition : Dr. C. R. A. Wright (Griffin).— Untersuchungen iiber mikrosko- 

 pische Schiiume und das Protoplasma : O. Bi'itschli (Leipzig. Engelmann). 

 — Die Epiglottis : C. Gegenbaur (Leipzig, Engelmann). — Jethou, or Crusoe 

 Life in the Channel Islands: E. R. Suffling (Jarrold).— Six Botanical Dia- 

 grams (S.P.C.K.). — Essays upon Heredity and Kindred Biological Subjects : 

 Dr. A. Weismann ; edited by E. B. Poulton and A. E. Shipley ; vol. ii. 

 (Oxford, Clarendon Press). 



Pamphlets.— Present Problems in Evolution and Heredity : Prof. H. F. 

 Osborn. — Church and State in Early Maryland ; Dr. G. Petrie (Baltimore). 



Serials. — Journal_ of the Marine Biological Association, vol. ii.. No. 

 3 (Dulau.) —Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society, vol. xxx., 

 No. 137 (Philadelphia). — Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences, 

 Philadelphia, 1892,. Part i. (Philadelphia).— Transactions of the Leicester 

 Literary and Philosophical Society, April (Leicester). — Rendiconto dell' 

 Accademia delle Scienze Fisiche e jNIatematiche, January to March (Napoli). 

 — Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria, vol. iv. (new series), Part i . 

 (Williams and Norgate). 



CONTENTS. PAGE 



Mechanics. By Prof. A. G. Greenhill, F.R.S. . . . 145 



Collections from the Andes. By H. J. Elwes . . . 147 



The History of Epidemics 148 



Our Book Shelf:— 



Hatch: "Mineralogy." — J.W.J 149 



Pratt: " To the Snows of Tibet through China " . . 150 

 Letters to the Editor : — 



Absolute Electrometer for Lecture Purposes. {Illus- 

 trated.)— Vxoi. F. Braun 150 



Saturn's Rings.— Rev. A. Freeman 150 



Aurora.— James Porter 151 



The Atomic Weight of Oxygen. —Robt. Lehfeldt . 151 



The Nitric Organisms.— R. Warington, F.R.S. , 151 



Carnivorous Caterpillars.— R. McLachlan, F.R.S. 151 



The Cuckoo in the East.— F. C. Constable .... 151 



The New London University 151 



Subdivisions in Archaean History. By Prof. James 



D. Dana 152 



Opening of the Liverpool Marine Biological Station 



at Port Erin. {Illustrated.) I55 



The Annual Visitation of the Greenwich Observa- 

 tory 156 



Notes 158 



Our Astronomical Column : — 



The Late New Star in Auriga , 161 



Photographic Measures of the Pleiades 161 



The Planet Mars 162 



Geographical Notes 162 



Naples Academy of Sciences 162 



University and Educational Intelligence 163 



Societies and Academies 163 



Books, Pamphlets, and Serials Received 168 



NO. I 181, VOL. 46] 



