240 



NATURE 



'[July 7, 1892 



scribed as pregnant. Dr. Dendy brought forward evidence 

 proving conclusively that in the eggs investigated by him 

 development had gone on normally outside of the body for a 

 period exceeding eight months, one of them at the close of this 

 time containing a perfect young form with even the pigment 

 developed. Since the publication of his first paper, but not 

 prior to this, Mr. Fletcher had shown that the New South 

 Wales Peripatus leuckartii was undoubtedly viviparous ; and Dr. 

 Dendy suggested that if, as seems most probable, the Victorian 

 species is oviparous, then his original idea of its being a distinct 

 species from the New South Wales form may probably be 

 correct. 



Paris. 

 Academy of Sciences, June 27. — On the local disturb- 

 ances produced underneath a heavy load uniformly distributed 

 along a straight line perpendicular to the two edges, on the 

 upper surface of a rectangular beam of indefinite length laid 

 down on a horizontal surface, or on two transverse supports 

 equidistant from the load, by M. J. Boussinesq. — Contribution 

 to the study of the function of camphoric acid, by M. A. Haller. 

 — On the presence and the nature of the phylacogenic substance 

 in theordinary'liquid c\!\\\vz.'C\ox\%oi Bacillus anthracis, by M. Ar- 

 loing. The liquid was carefully siphoned off from a large culti- 

 vation of the bacillus which had been allowed to stand for a 

 considerable time. The usual porcelain filters were not em- 

 ployed, as they are apt to intercept most of the prophylactic 

 substances. A liquid perfectly free from the anthrax bacillus 

 having thus been obtained, two solutions in glycerine were 

 prepared, the one containing the substances soluble in alcohol, 

 the other those precipitated by alcohol. Of six lambs, two 

 received subcutaneous injections of the former, two of the latter 

 solution, and the rest of neither. Eight days afterwards all six 

 were inoculated with a very virulent dose of the bacillus. The 

 only survivors were those inoculated with the matter soluble in 

 alcohol, thus proving that the prophylactic substance belongs to 

 this group. — On the determination of the angle of polarization of 

 Venus, by M. J. J. Landerer. By almost daily observations, 

 extending from April 29 to June 8, the angle of polarization of 

 Venus was found to vary between 45°M7 and 27°'5i, using an 

 instrument of 135 mm. aperture, to which a Cornu photo-polari- 

 meter was adapted. The author concludes that the light from 

 the crescent of Venus is not polarized, and hence that almost 

 the entire visible surface of the planet is constituted by 

 a thick layer of clouds. At the poles, however, permanent 

 spots are observable, which are due to part of the solid surface 

 protruding beyond the cloudy mass. — On the variations in 

 temperature of water suddenly compressed to 500 atmospheres 

 between 0° and 10°, by M. Paul Galopin. An account of the 

 first of a series of experiments to be made in M. Raoul Pictet's 

 laboratory to determine the heat produced by the adiabatic com- 

 pression of a large number of liquids between — 200° and 

 -F 200°, under sudden variations of pressure amounting to looo 

 atmospheres. The apparatus consists of a steel cylinder pro- 

 vided with a thermometer i m. long, capable of measuring 

 o°oi. Pressure is applied by means of a Cailletet pump, and 

 the whole apparatus is immersed in a large calorimeter with 

 quadruple envelopes. The results obtained, which vary from 

 o°-20 at o°"4 to o°59 at 10°, show that the increase of pressure 

 lowers the temperature of maximum density of water for that 

 particular pressure, and that under high pressures it corresponds 

 nearly to the freezing-point. — Measurement of the dielectric con- 

 stant by electro-magnetic oscillations, by M. A. Perot. This 

 measurement is based on the law formulated by Blondlot, 

 according to which the period of the resonators is proportional 

 to the square root of their capacities. The value obtained for 

 essence of terebenthine was 2-25, that for ice between 60 

 and 71, in, confirmation of previous results. — On the conductivity 

 of a gas inclosed between a cold metal and an incandescent 

 body, by M. Edouard Branly, — On the physiological effects of 

 alternating currents with sinusoidal variations : process of 

 administering them in electro-therapeutics, byM. A. d'Arsonval. 

 The law indicated by the results of the experiments is that the 

 intensity of the motor or the sensory reaction is proportional to 

 the variation of potential at the point excited. Although oscil- 

 lations of great frequency seem to have but faint physiological 

 effects, a careful analysis shows that the absorption of 

 oxygen and the elimination of carbonic acid in the 

 lungs is greatly augmented. — On aluminium, by M. Balland. 



NO. 1184, VOL. 46] 



A series of experiments to prove that aluminium is well-suited for 

 domestic utensils, being not more attacked by air, water, wine, 

 coffee, milk, butter, &c., than other metals used for such 

 purposes. — Action of chlorine on the alcohols of the fatty series, 

 hy M. A. Brochet. — On asboline (pyrocatechine and homo- 

 pyrocatechine), by MM. Behal and Desvignes. — On the vege- 

 table cholesterines, by M. Gerard. — Researches on the adultera- 

 tion of the essence of sandalwood, by M. E. Mesnard. — On 

 two specimens of the waters of the Arctic seas, by M. J. Thoulet. 

 — New remarks on "pcecilogony," by M. Alfred Giard. — On 

 a sporozoarian parasite of the muscles of the Decapod Crustaceans, 

 by MM. F. Henneguy and P. Thelohan. — The first phases in 

 the development of certain nematoid worms, by M. Leon 

 Jammes. — A contribution to the history of ambergris, by M. S. 

 Jourdain. — On the brunissure, a disease! of the vine caused by 

 the PlasmodiopJiora Vitis, by MM. P. Viala and C. Sauvageau. 

 — On the secretion of oxygen in the natatory vessel of the fishes, 

 by M. Chr. Bohr, — Physiological action of mountain climates, 

 by M. Viault. The effects of a high elevation, though power- 

 fully beneficent for dyspeptics, neurasthenics, and tuberculous 

 patients, must be long continued to be permanent. The effects 

 are due to an increase in the number of blood corpuscles and in 

 the respiratory power of the blood. — Permanent abolition of the 

 chromogenic function of the Bacillus pyocyaneus, by MM. 

 Charrin and Phisalix. 



CONTENTS. PAGE 



A System of Mineralogy. By J. W.J 217 



Modern Infinitesimal Calculus, By Prof. A. G. 



Greenhill, F.R.S 218 



Alterations of Personality. By C. LI, M 219 



Our Book Shelf:— 



Hull: "Volcanoes: Past and Present " 220 



" Encyclopedic scientifique des Aide-memoire." — G. 221 



" Chambers's Encyclopaedia " 221 



Bottone : " A Guide to Electric Lighting " 221 



Letters to the Editor :— 



" The Grammar of Science."— C. G. K 221 



On the Line Spectra of the Elements. — Dr. G. John- 

 stone Stoney, F.R.S 222 



Range of the Sanderling in Winter.— Prof. Alfred 



Newton, F.R.S 222 



Immunity of the African Negro from Yellow Fever.— 



Your Reviewer 222 



A Solar Halo.— J. Edmund Clark 222 



The Electric Current. {With Diagram.)— Edward 



Hamilton 223 



Are the Solpugidse Poisonous ?— Henry Bernard . 223 

 Death from Paraffin, and Members of Parliament. — 



Humanity 223 



On the Causes of the Deformation of the Earth's 

 Crust. {Illustrated.) By Prof. E, Reyer .... -224 



Notes 227 



Our Astronomical Column:— 



The Red Spot on Jupiter 229 



A Mean Time Sun-dial 230 



Comet Swift (1892 March 6) 230 



Stars' Proper Motions 230 



Geographical Notes 230 



Metallic Carbonyls, By Ludwig Mond, F.R.S. . , 230 



North-Western District of British Guiana .... 234 



Scientific Serials 235 



Societies and Academies 236 



