[44 



NA TURE 



[December 12, 1895 



thought that the precaution of never separating the terminals of 

 the electrical machine further than by a small fraction of the 

 distance between the coats of the generator would ensure the 

 absence of discharge between the coats ; and in the conditions 

 adopted, Meissner observed that when discharge took place by the 

 passage of a spark between the terminals, there was a temporary 

 increase of pressure ; the effect being most marked in the case 

 of CO2, and least marked in H. In Miss Martin's repetition of 

 the experiments, the generator was put in a dark box, provision 

 being made to let the gauge and the space between the coats of 

 the generator be seen. It was then established that in no case 

 could any deflection of the gauge be seen, except when lumin- 

 osity could be detected in the generator. It was further observed 

 that when the discharge passed through COj a permanent con- 

 traction was produced. The experiments have been repeated by 

 Prof. Thomson, and he finds that if wet COj is used, the effect 

 is more marked ; but if carefully dried COj is used, no contrac- 

 tion is produced. 



Paris. 

 Academy of Sciences, December 2. — M. A. Cornu in the 

 chair. — On the extension of the ideas of Galois to the theory of 

 differential equations, by M. Emile Picard. — Remark on a 

 memoir, by M. Jaumann, entitled, "Longitudinal Light." A 

 note by M. H. Poincare. The author derives equations, from 

 those found by M. Jaumann, which indicate properties for 

 cathode rays not agreeing with facts, and hence considers that 

 modifications are needed in the hypotheses put forward in the 

 memoir. — On the presence of sodium in aluminium prepared by 

 electrolysis, by M. Henri Moissan. It is shown that electrolytic 

 aluminium contains in general from o"i to 0*3 per cent, of 

 sodium, and that the presence of this impurity renders the metal 

 easily attacked by water. Aluminium should always be used 

 alone and pure, as it readily forms electric couples with every 

 other metal, and is then easily attacked by water. — On the origin 

 of argon and of helium in gases disengaged by certain sul- 

 phurous waters, by MM. L. Troost and L. Ouvrard. It is shown 

 that, though argon is generally present in waters, helium is only 

 found in certain mineral waters, and does not proliably owe its 

 origin to the atmosphere, but to the rocks through which 

 the waters have percolated. M. Bouchard added some re- 

 marks on the therapeutic value of helium and argon, and sup- 

 ported the view that these gases have no action on the economy, 

 but admitted that the metals present in helium containing minerals 

 might have medical action when present in minimal amounts. — 

 Structure of the mesenteric ganglia of the pig, by M. L. Ranvier. 

 — Observations on Perrine's comet (16 November, 1895) made 

 with the great equatorial at Bordeaux Observatory by MM. G. 

 Rayet and L. Picart. Note by M. G. Rayet.— M. Ch. V. 

 Zenger, in a note entitled " Studies in molecular physics," sets 

 forth a very simple relation between the density and specific 

 heat of chemical elements, and indicates a new view of the 

 genesis of the elements. — Observations of Swift's comet (1895, 

 August 20) made with the great telescope, and of Perrine's 

 comet (1895, November 16) made with the o'25m. equatorial at 

 Toulouse Observatory, by M. Rossard. — Note on the construc- 

 tion of the calendar, by M. A. Auric. — On Lame's equation, 

 by M. G. Floquet. — On the extension of Cauchy's method to 

 systems of equations to the derived partials of any order what- 

 ever, by M. J. Beudon. — On the functions of two real variables 

 and on the motion of an arbitrary function, by M. Emile Borel. 

 — On orthogonal systems, by M. Paul Adam. — On a new deter- 

 mination of the ratio between the electrostatic and electro- 

 magnetic units, by M. D. Hurmuzescu. The value found gives 



V = 3 "0005 X 10^'' to 3 '0020 X iqI". 

 — Relation between the intensity of light and the chemical de- 

 composition which it produces ; experiments with mixtures of 

 ferric chloride and oxalic acid, by M. Georges Lemoine. The 

 chemical decomposition of a mixture of ferric chloride and oxalic 

 acid is proportional to the luminous intensity. — On the presence 

 of argon and helium in a natural source of nitrogen, by M. Ch. 

 Moureu. — Experimental determination of the agglutinating 

 power of oils, by M. Louis Campredon. — On a chromium 

 amalgam and some properties of metallic chromium, by M. J. 

 Feree. — On a method of synthesis of complex amides, by M. 

 Albert Colson. — New examples of the superposition of optical 

 effects of asymmetric carbon atoms, by MM. Ph. A. Guye and 

 Ch. Goudet.— On a zoological exploration of Corsica, by M. 

 Louis Roule. — On the anatomy and systematic position of com- 

 pound Ascidians of the genus Sigillina, Sav. , by M. Maurice 

 Caullery. — On the accumulation of sugar in beetroots, by M. L. 



NO. 1363, VOL. 53] 



Maquenne. — The pliocene and quaternary glaciers of Auvergne, 

 by M. Marcellin Boule. — On the geology and " tectonique" of 

 the Central Caucasus, by M. E. Fournier. — On two new forms 

 of quartz, by M. P. Termier. — On the effects of the tropical 

 revolutions of the sun and of the moon on the barometric pres- 

 sure, by M. P. Garrigou-Lagrange. 



BOOKS, PAMPHLETS, and SERIALS RECEIVED. 



Books. — Congres de TAtmosph^re 1804, Compte Rendu (Anvers). — In- 

 troduction to the Study of Fungi : Dr. M. C. Cooke (Black).— Mensura- 

 tion for the Use of Schools, &c.: Rev. A. D. Clarke (Rivington). -^Modern 

 Micniscopy : M. I. Cross and M. J. Cole, 2nd edition (Baillifere). — 

 Practical Inorganic Chemistry : Dr. G. S. Turpin (Macmillan). — The 

 Pterophorina of Britain : J. W. Tutt (Hartlepool, Robson).— Elementary 

 Algebra : J. W. Welsford and C. H. P. Mayo (Longmans).— University 

 College, Nottingham, Calendar 1895-96 (Nottingham, Sands).— Compe n- 

 sacionde Declinaciones Magn6ticas en la Peninsula Iberica : Don R. P. de 

 Figueroa (Madrid).— Lehrbuch der Entwicklungsgeschichte des Menschen 

 undderWirbethiere.Dr. O. Hertwig, Fiinfte Auflage (Jena, Fischer). —Prin- 

 ciples of Metallurgy : A. H. Hiorns (Macmillan). — Macmillan's Geography 

 Readers, Book vii. (Macmillan).— Elements of Geometry : G. C. Edwards 

 (Macmillan).— Essays in Taxation : Prof. E. R. A. Seligman (Macmillan).— 

 Regeneration, a Reply to Max Nordau (Constable).— The Key of the 

 Pacific, the Nicaragua Canal : A. R. Colquhoun (Constable).— Service 

 Chemistry: Prof. V. B. Lewes, and edition (Whittingham).— Physical 

 Measurements: F. C. Weedon (Gill).— Imperial University of Japan, 



Calendar 1894-95 (Tokyo).— Handbuch der Mineralchemie : Dr. C. F. 

 Rammelsberg, Zweites Erganzungsheft zur Zweiten Auflage (Leipzig, 

 Engelmann).— Kurzes Handbuch der Kohlenhydrate : Dr. B. Tollbns, 



Zweiter Band (Berlin, Trewendt). 



Pamphlets.— Ethnography of the Mullet, Inishkea Islands and Porta- 

 cloy, Co. Mayo : Dr. C. R. Browne (Dublin).— On Memory and the Specific 

 Energies of the Nervous System : Prof. E. Hering (Open Court Publishing 

 Company).— Spiritual Truth and Common Sense : B. Hodgson (Birming- 

 ham, Cornish). — On the Localisation of the Foramina at the Base of the 

 Skull : Prof. E. Fawcett (Bristol, Arrowsmith). 



Serials.— Botanische Jahrbnclier. &c., Zweirundzwanzigster Band 

 I, Heft (Leipzig, Engelmann).— Zeitschrift fiir Physkalische Chemie, xviii. 

 Band, 3 Heft (Leipzig, Engelmann).— History of Mankind : F. Ratzel, Part 

 3 (Macmillan). — (geological Magazine, December (Dulau). — Science for All, 

 cheap edition, Part i (Cassell). — Geographical Journal, December (Stan- 

 ford).— Bulletin de 1' Academic Royale des Sciences, &c., de Belgic^ue, 

 Nos. 9 and 10 (Bruxelles).— Bulletin of the American Mathematical 

 Society, November (New York, Macmillan). — Observatory, December 

 (Taylor and Francis).— Companion to ditto. No. 235 (Taylor and Francis).— 

 Strand Magazine, December (Newnes).— Live Stock Journal Almanac, 

 1896 (Vinton). — Science Progress, December (Scientific Press, Ltd.). 



CONTENTS. PAGE 



The History of Mathematics. By G. B. M 121 



The Spiders of Burma. By R. I. P 122 



Colour Vision. By S. P. T 124 



Selborne Illustrated. By O. V. Aplin 126 



Plant Physiology. By H. H. D 127 



Our Book Shelf:— 



Spanton : "Science and Art Drawing: Complete 



Geometrical Course " 128 



Letters to the Editor: — 



The Discovery of the Anti-Toxin of Snake-Poison. — 



Prof. E. Ray Lankester, F.R.S 128 



The Maerjelen Lake.— Dr. C. S. Du Riche Preller 129. 

 The Former Northward Extension of the Antarctic 



Continent.— Frank E. Beddard, F.R.S. . . . . 129. 

 The Feeding Ground of the Herring. — Captain 



Alexander Turbyne 129, 



The Theory of Magnetic Action upon Light. — A. B. 



Basset, F.R.S 130^ 



The Barisal Gun.— Colonel H. S. Olcott 130 



Remarkable Sounds.— C. Fox-Strangways .... 130 

 Flight of Birds across the Moon's Disc. — Robert H. 



West 131 



A Luminous Centipede.— Rose Haig Thomas; 



R. I. Pocock i3n 



The Critical Temperature of Hydrogen. — Dr. 



Ladislas Natanson 131; 



A Meteor Photograph. {Illustrated.) 131 



The Royal City of Zenobia. {Illustrated.) 132 



Notes 133 



Our Astronomical Column: — 



The New Comets 138 



The Great Comet of 1843 • • ^S^ 



Nebulosities around the Pleiades 138 



The First Steps in Serum-Therapy 138 



The Major Premiss in Physical Chemistry. By 



Robt. B. Warder 139 



University and Educational Intelligence 140 



Societies and Academies 141 



Books, Pamphlets, and Serials Received 144. 



