March i, 1894] 



NA TURE 



427 



30/' 



(2) astigmatism is corrected very thoroughly ; (3) spherical 



aberration, with a convenient aperture [-- = —- to -^- 



reduced to the minimum value of a second of arc ; (4) the cur- 

 vature of the field is absolutely corrected.— On the temperature 

 of the higherregions of the atmosphere, by MM. Gustave Her- 

 mite and Georges Besancon. A reply to a criticism of a recent 

 communication. — On the minimum electromotive force necessary 

 for electrolysis to take place, by M. IVIax Le Blanc. The 

 author claims priority over M. Nourrisson, and quotes some of 

 his results from \\\&'Zeitschrift physik. Clicm. 1891, p. 299 — 

 Observations on the preceding note : the limits of electrolysis, 

 by M. Berthelot. A memoir by the author published in 1882 

 ("Sur les limites de I'c'lectrolyse," An)i. Chim. Phys. [5], 27, 

 p. 88) carries the whole subject further than the papers by MM. 

 Le Blanc and Nourrisson. — On the fusibility of isomorphous 

 mixtures of some double carbonites, by M. H. Le Chalelier. 

 A study of mixtures of sodium and potassium carbonates with 

 calcium, strontium, and barium carbonates in such proportions 

 that the alkaline carbonate and the alkaline-earthy carbonate 

 are in equivalent quantities. Lithium carbonate behaves simi- 

 larly to the alkaline-earthy carbonates. — On theallotropic trans- 

 formation of iron under the influence of heat, by M. Georges 

 Charpy. Conclusions are drawn from the experimental evidence 

 quoted, indicating that the transformation is more rapid at 

 more raised temperatures, but appreciable time is required, and 

 hence duration of healing as well as temperature should be 

 regarded in metallurgical operations. — Constitution of orcin, by 

 M. de Forcrand. A thermal study ; the results indicate that the 

 phenolic hydroxyl groups occupy the meta position with regard 

 to each other; the first has a slightly higher, the second the 

 same thermal value as ordinary phenol. — On the ethylphenols, 

 by MM. A. Behal and E. Choay. — On the multirotation of 

 sugars, by M. P. Th. MuUer. The reaction producing the 

 multirotation of sugars is of the first order ; it proceeds in 

 accordance with the law of the active masses. A constant at 

 any given temperature measures the progress of the reaction. 

 The speed of transformation is markedly greater for the pen- 

 toses than for the other sugars. — On the reciprocal affinities of 

 the Myxosporidise, by M. P. Thelohan. — Researches on the 

 structure of Mucorini, by MM. P. A. Dangeard and Maurice 

 Leger, — On the role of Plantago alpina in mountain pastures, 

 by M. E. Guinier. 



Berlin. 



Physiological Society, January 26. — Prof, du Bois Rey- 

 mond. President, in the chair. — Dr. Dembo, of St, Petersburg, 

 spoke on the physiological value of the various modes of 

 slaughtering animals, and came to the conclusion that the most 

 humane method consists in cutting the large blood-vessels of 

 the neck. When this is done, unconsciousness sets in within a 

 few seconds of the operation, while the movements made are 

 merely symptoms of the cerebral anaemia. Further, the flesh of 

 animals bled to death keeps best. — Dr. von Noorden gave an 

 account of part of the experiments he has carried on in conjunc- 

 tion with Prof. Zuntz, on the action of quinine on the meta- 

 bolism of man. With a constant diet extending over a long 

 period, and after nitrogenous equilibrium was established, daily 

 increasing doses of quinine were administered, with the result 

 that during the time it was given, and for a day afterwards, the 

 output of nitrogen was markedly lessened, but later on rose 

 again to its initial value. Phosphorus showed the same falling 

 oft as did the nitrogen, whereas uric acid was only lessened in 

 the period subsequent to the administration of quinine. Under 

 the action of the drug the leucocytes diminished in number, but 

 increased again later on. Careful investigation of the respira- 

 tory interchange showed a very slight but distinctly increased 

 consumption of oxygen, probably to be explained entirely by the 

 considerably increased ventilation of the lungs while the drug 

 was being taken ; this fell again subsequently to its normal mag- 

 nitude. Dr. Ullmann, owing to the lateness of the hour, was 

 only able to state his view that the red blood-corpuscles of man 

 are spherical ; he will give the basis for this view at a subsequent 

 meeting. 



February 9. — Prof, du Bois Reymond, President, in the 

 chair. — Prof. Zuntz had made experiments with a Petten- 

 kofer respiration apparatus at Gottingen, on the respiration by' 

 the skin and intestine of the horse. He first of all found that' 

 the total output of carbon dioxide in twenty-four hours was 

 4200 grm. Excluding that from the lungs, the remainder due toj 



NO. 1270, VOL. 49] 



the skin and intestine amounted together to 145 grm., and an 

 additional 22 grm., from volatile hydrocarbons. The latter 

 can only be methane, and hence come from the intestine. Now 

 since the gases of the intestine have a constant composition as 

 regards methane^ carbon dioxide and hydrogen, it became at 

 once possible to calculate how much carbon dioxide comes from 

 the skin, and how much from the intestine. 



Physical Society, February 2.— Prof. Kundt, President, in 

 the chair. — Prof. Goldstein spoke on the kathodic light, dis- 

 tinguishing the five following kinds of radiant rays : — 



(1) The yellow rays of the first zone, which are very strongly 

 developed at the hinder side of the kathode, when there are 

 holes in the latter. These rays are propagated in straight lines, 

 are not affected by magnets, and exhibit no phosphorescence. 



(2) The rays of the second zone, which extend a long way into 

 the space occupied by the kathodic light, may be concentrated 

 by a bent kathode, are propagated in straight lines, are bent 

 out of their course by a magnet, and are phosphorescent when 

 they strike the inner wall of the tube. (3) The rays of the third 

 zone, which are propagated uniformly in all directions, can turn 

 a corner and throw no shadows. (4) A fourth kind of rays 

 which produce inverted images of the electrode, and are arrested 

 by screens. {5) A fifth kind is ordinarily invisible, but gives 

 rise to bright stars where the rays fall on the wall of the tube. 

 All the above five kinds of rays occur mixed in the light of the 

 kathode, and intersect each other. In the " secondary negative 

 light," which is developed when the tube in which the discharge 

 takes place has constrictions on it, and which is seen at the end 

 of the constriction turned towards the anode, Prof. Goldstein 

 had observed two distinct kinds of kathodic light. Further, since 

 the secondary negative li^ht can pass over into the anodic light, 

 the latter must also consist of kathodic rays. When a metallic 

 plate with holes in it is placed in the middle of a vacuum tube, 

 at whose ends the electrodes are inserted, he observed that 

 artificial kathodic rays are produced on that side of the plate 

 which is turned towards the anode. The above phenomena had 

 been observed in air, nitrogen, oxygen, hydrogen, carbon 

 dioxide, and mercury vapour, and were demonstrated at the end 

 of the meeting. 



Meteorological Society, February 13. — Prof. Hellmann, 

 President, in the chair. — Prof, von Bezold spoke on the various 

 modes of discriminating between clouds, as, for instance, by 

 reference to their dimensional appearance, their form, structure, 

 and height, and then proceeded to go very fully into their 

 discrimination as based upon their mode of formation. Clouds 

 are formed either as the result of cooling (resulting from either 

 radiation or contact), or by mixing, or by adiabatic expansion 

 (more strictly speaking, expansion with insufficient heat supply). 

 Condensations resulting from cooling give rise to earth clouds 

 and the various mist clouds which more rarely occur at higher 

 levels. Stratus clouds result from mixing, as also do the over- 

 hanging capsof fohn clouds on mountain tops, the cloud-streamers 

 of cumulus clouds, and more especially the cloud-waves at the 

 junction between two winds which are passing each over the 

 other. Adiabatic expansion gives rise to cumulus clouds. The 

 speaker illustrated his remarks by a series of cloud-photo- 

 graphs and sketches. 



DIARY OF SOCIETIES. 



London. 



THURSDA V, March i. 



RoFAL ScciETV, 314.30. — Preliminary Note on Bi-lateral Degeneration in the 

 Spinal Cord of Monkeys (Macacus sinicu';) following Uni-Iateral Lesion of 

 the Cortex Cerebri : Dr. E. L. Melius — On the Effect of Magnetisation 

 upon the Dimensions of Wires and Rings of Annealed Iron: S. Bidwell, 

 F.R.S.— On the Relations of the Secular Variation af the Magnetic 

 Declination and Inclination at London, Cape of Good Hope, St. Helena, 

 and Ascension Island, as exhibited on the Magnetarium : H. Wilde, 

 F.R.S. — Terrestrial Refraction in the Western Himalayan Mountains: 

 General Walker, F.R.S. — Researches on the Strncture, Organisation, 

 and Classification of the Fossil Reptilia— Part IX., Section i, On the 

 Therosuchia ; Section 2, The Reputed Mannmals from the Karroo Forma- 

 tion of Cape Colony: Section 3, On Diademodjn; Section 5, On the 

 Skeleton in New Cvnodontia from the Kirroo Rocks : Prof. Seeley, 

 F.R.S.— On a Spherical Vortex: Prof. M.J. M. Hill.— On Correlation of 

 certain External Parts of Pala;mon serratus : H. Thompson. 



LiNNE.\>i SociETy, at S. — Algological Note? from Cumbrae —On the Origin 

 of the Filamentous ThalUis of Dumontia filiformis: George Brebner. — 

 Entomostraca and the Surface Film of Water : D. J. Scourfield. 



