August 2, 1894] 



NA TURE 



COD 



, When the mica sheet was split in two, approximately equal 



i discharge-; were obtained from the original condenser and the 



; condensers formed with each of the parts, thus exhibiting the 



I analogy with a magnet when broken into parts. — On the mag- 



I netisalion of iron cylinders, by O. Grotrian. The parts of an 



iron cylinder not too short in comparison with its diameter, 



magnetised by a homogeneous field in the direction of the axis, 



i are very differently magnetised when saturation has not been 



reached, the outside parts being much more strongly magnetised 



J than the axial ones. 



SOCIETIES AND ACADEMIES. 



London. 



Chemical Society, June 2j. — Dr. H. E. Armstrong, Pre- 

 sident, in the chair. — The following papers were read : A 

 specimen of early .Scottish iron, by Miss M. D. Dougal. — The 

 interaction of sulphide with sulphate and oxide of lead, by J. B. 

 Hannay. The two equations— PliS + PbS04 = aPb + aSO, and 

 PbS + 2PbO = 3Pb-l-SOo — given by Percy, to represent" the 

 reactions occurring in lead smelting, are insufficient. A much 

 more complex reaction occurs, since metallic lead when formed 

 attacks the remaining sulphate, producing litharge, which in 

 turn reacts with the sulphide ; further, some of the sul; hide is 

 removed by solution in the metallic lead, whilst some is volati- 

 lised as the compound PbS.SOj.— The mineral waters of 

 Cheltenham, by T. E. Thorpe. — The oxidation of tartaric acid 

 in presence of iron, by H. J. H. Fenton. Tartaric acid is 

 oxidised by certain agents in presence of a trace of ferrous salt 

 with formation of a new crystalline dibasic acid, C4HJO,;, 

 2H.,0 ; It is a powerful reducing agent, and forms crystalline 

 ■ alts. — The supposed relation between the solubility of a gas 

 nnd the viscosity of its solvent, by T. E. Thorpe and J. W. 

 1 Iger. From the results of their own experiments on the 

 isity of solutions of gases, the authors are led to modify the 

 inclusions of Winkler respecting the relation between solu- 

 bility and viscosity. — The specific character of the fermentative 

 functions of yeast cells, by A. J. brown. Pasteur's view of the 

 ^e of the exhibition of the fermentation functions of yeast 

 Is is that it is a starvation phenomenon brought about by 

 . of free oxygen during the life of the cells in a fermentable 

 :id. The fermentative power was measured by Pasteur as 

 ratio of yeast to sugar ; the author finds, however, that 

 re is no direct constancy of proportion between the weight 

 1 yeast formed and of sugar fermented. Pasteur's experiments 

 nre consequently insufficient, and his theory unproven. — Obser- 

 vations on the influence of temperature on the optical activity 

 irganic liquids, by P. Frankland and J. MacGregor. The 

 hors have measured the rotatory powers of methylic and 

 ci hylic salts of active glyceric and diacetylglyceric acids at 

 various temperatures ; the percentage increase in rotation as 

 the temperature rises is greater for the methylic than for the 

 ethylic salts. — The maximum molecular deviation in the series 

 of the ethereal salts of active diacetylglyceric acid, by P. 

 Frankland and J. MacGregor. — The preparation of sulphonic 

 derivatives of camphor, by F. S. Kipping and W. J. Pope. 

 The sulphonic chlorides and bromides of camphor and its 

 halogen derivatives are best prepared by treating the ammonium 

 salts of the corresponding sulphonic acids with phosphoric 

 chloride. — Dextro-rotatory camphorsulphonic chloride, by 

 F. S. Kipping and W. J. Pope. — On the combination of 

 chlorine with carbon monoxide under the influence of light ; 

 preliminary notice, by G. Dyson and A. Harden. There 

 IS a well-marked period of photochemical induction in the 

 amount of chemical action occurring when light acts on a 

 moist mixture of equal volumes 01 carbon monoxide and 

 chlorine. — Solution and pseudo-solution, part ii., by S. E. 

 hinder and H. Picton. — Solution and pseudo-solution, pan 

 iii., by H. I'iclon and S. E. Linder. The continuation of 

 previous work on solutions is described in these two papers. 



Paris. 



Academy of Sciences, July 23. — M. Lcewy in the chair. 

 — On the photugraiihs of the moon obtained with the great 

 (•««(/(•' equatorial of the Paris Observatory, by M.\I. Loewy and 

 Puiseux. The difticulties met with in taking these lunar photo- 

 graphs are detailed, and an account is given of the methods used 

 in overcoming them. Further, the photographs obtained are 



NO. 1292, VOL. 50] 



discussed and compared with maps and previous photographs.— 

 On a new series of sulphophosphides, the thiohypophosphates, 

 by M. C. Friedel. The iron, aluminium, zinc, copper, lead, 

 silver, mercury, and tin salts are described. The series is 

 viewed as consisting of salts of the general type PoSgM'4. — On 

 two menhirs found in iMeudon wood, by M. Eert'helot. Two 

 previously undescribed sandstone menhirs have their character- 

 istics given in detail. — On the reduction of any differential 

 system whatever to a completely integrable form, by M. Riquier. 

 The conclusions of this memoir are summarised as follows : — - 

 "Being given a differential system involving any number of 

 unknown functions and any number of independent variables, 

 simple eliminations, together with differentiations, allow, in 

 general, of putting them into a completely integrable form, of 

 which the order is nearly always superior to one, and approxi- 

 mates to a linear and completely integrable form of the first 

 order." — On the specific inductive capacity of glass, by M. F. 

 Beaulard. The influence of the lime of charging has been 

 studied by the ballistic method and k calculated for an in- 

 stantaneous charge, the author finds /• = 39. — On the electro- 

 lysis of copper sulphate, by M. .\. Chassy. With a neutral 

 saturated solution of copper sulphate at 100° and a current 

 density of a hundredth of an ampere per square centimetre, 

 a bright red deposit of cuprite in forms derived from 

 the cube and octahedron is obtained. By lowering the tem- 

 perature, diminishing the concentration, or augmenting the 

 current density, varying proportions of metallic copper can be 

 obtained along with the red crystals. In determinations of 

 current by electrolysis of copper sulphate it is necessary, in 

 order to avoid serious error, to acidulate and pass the current 

 through cold dilute solutions. — On manganese steel, by ^L H. 

 Le Chatelier. The anomalous results found previously by the 

 author in studying the electric resistance of (13 per cent.) ferro- 

 manganese are explained by the formation of two allotropic 

 varieties of the metal. The temperature of transformation is 

 740°, that temperature at which soft iron passes from the mag- 

 netic to the nonmagnetic state. — On metaphthalodicyanacetic 

 ether, by M. Locher. — Organo-metallic combinations of borneol, 

 camphor, and monochlor-camphor with aluminium chloride, by 

 M. G. Perier. The compounds having the formulae 



(C,„H,80),AUCl6, (Ci„H„;0).,AUCl6, and (C^HijClOj.AIjCIs 



have been obtained in orystalline condition. They are very 

 unstable in air, and are readily acted on by water with production 

 of the original constituents. — On a new acid, isocampholic acid, 

 by M. Guerbet. — Action of phosphorus pentachloride on tetra- 

 chloroquinone, by M. Et. Harral. — On essence of Pelargonium 

 from Reunion, by MM. Ph. Barbier and L. Bouveault. — On 

 the condensation of formaldehyde with alcohols of the fatty 

 series in presence of hydrochloric acid, by M. C. Favre. — On 

 the existence of hydroxyl in green plants, by M. A. Bach. 

 — On the presence of several distinct kinds of chlorophyll in 

 the same vegetable species, by M. A. Etard. — Researches on 

 the causes of the toxicity of the serum of blood, by M.NL Mairet 

 and Bosc. The authors demonstrate the following conclusions : — 



(1) lilood serum has both toxic and coagulating properties. 



(2) The coagulating properties are destroyed by heat or by the 

 addition of sodium chloride or sulphate. (3) The symptomatic 

 effects produced by intravenous injections of pure serum are 

 mostly due to the toxic properties of the serum, the coagulating 

 effects making themselves felt only near the limit of the toxic 

 action. {4) The alcoholic extract has no toxic or coagulating 

 properties, these being only shown by the precipitate. (5) By 

 partial precipitation with alcohol, the toxic and coagulating 

 substances may be separated. (6) Hoth belong to the albu- 

 menoids. — On the structure of the membrane of Corti, by M^L 

 P. Coyne and Cannieu. — On the metamorphoses of Cecidomyia 

 destructor. Say, and on the puparium or larval envelope beiore 

 its transformation into a chrysalis by NL A. Laboulbene. — -On 

 the origin of "spheres directrices," by M. Leon Guignard. — 

 The radical tubercles of Arachis hypo^ca, L. , by RL Henri 

 Lecomte. — Influence of the disttibution of humidity in the soil 

 on the development of chlorosis of the vine on a calcareous 

 soil, by MM. F. Houdaille and M. Mazade. — On a magDetic 

 perturbation, by M. Moureaux. 



Berlin. 



Physiological Society, June S. — Prof, du Bois Raymond, 



President, in the chair. — Dr. J. Munk gave an account of an 



