48 



NATURE 



[May 14, 1903 



chloride possessing the function of a ferment, by M. G. 

 Oustavson. A study of the action of the intermediate 

 compounds formed in the Friedel and Crafts reaction. — On 

 the action of phosphorous acid on erythrite, by M. P. Carr6. 

 Phosphorous acid acts towards erythrite as a less energetic 

 dehydrating agent than phosphoric acid. Prolonged action 

 gives a neutral phosphite of erythran, and this is immedi- 

 ately decomposed by water, the acid ester being formed.— 

 Contribution to the study of organic acids, by MM. 

 (Echsner de Coninck and Raynaud. An examination of 

 the relative stability of the lower members of the fatty acids 

 towards hot concentrated sulphuric acid. — On the heat of 

 formation of some barium compounds, by M. Quntz. 

 Starting with metallic barium containing about 985 per 

 cent, of the metal, the thermal changes associated with its 

 solution in water and dilute hydrochloric acid have been 

 determined, and the heat of oxidation of barium deduced. — 

 On the chlorides of chlorocinnamylidene and bromocinnamyl- 

 idene, by MM. Ernest Charon and Edgar DuKOujon. 

 — The transformations of diphenylcarbonic esters and mono- 

 salicylic esters, by M. R. Fosse. — On a new diiodophenol, 

 by M. P. Brenans. A description of the mode of prepar- 

 ation, properties, and chief derivatives of the diiodophenol 

 (OH) : I : 1,1 : 3 : 4. — On some new bases derived from the 

 pentoses, by M. E. Roux. The new bases, arabinamine 

 and xylamine, are prepared by the reduction of the oximes 

 of arabinose and xylose. — The action of alkalis on glycerol. 

 The application of the reaction to the estimation of glycerol, 

 by M. A. Buisine. On heating potash lime with glycerol 

 three different reactions may take place according to the 

 temperature. At 320° the products are potassium acetate, 

 potassium carbonate, water and hydrogen, and a method 

 suitable for the estimation of small quantities of glycerol 

 can be based on the measurement of the hydrogen. — On the 

 existence of arsenic in the e.^% of the fowl, by M. Gab. 

 Bertrand. All parts of the &^^ were found to contain 

 appreciable amounts of arsenic. These results confirm the 

 existence and probable function of arsenic in all living cells. 

 — The influence of the radium rays on fertilised eggs, and 

 on the first stages of development, by M. Georges Bohn. 

 — On the formation of melanic pigment in the tumours of 

 the horse, by M. C. Gessard. The abnormal production 

 of black pigment in the healthy or morbid tissues of man 

 is rare, but is very common in the horse. The chromogenic 

 substance is tyrosine, the oxidation of which by tyrosinase 

 which is present gives the colouring matter. — The law of 

 action of trypsin on gelatin, by MM. Victor Henry and 

 Larguier des Banceis. The action was followed by the 

 changes produced in the electrical conductivity. — On the 

 increase in weight in white mice, by Mdlle. M. Stephan- 

 owska. — On a' new secreting apparatus in the Coniferae, 

 by M. G. Chauveaud. — The development and anatomical 

 structure of the seminal tegument in the Gentianaceae, by 

 M. Paul Guerin. — A respiratory hygrometer, by M. Pierre 

 Lesagre. A modified form of dew-point hygrometer. It 

 has been found that the pressure of the water vapour in 

 expired air does not correspond to the saturation pressure, 

 and varies with state of the man. — The germination of the 

 spores of truffles, the culture and characters of the myce- 

 lium, by M. Louis Matruchot. — Oh the' echinitic fauna of 

 the Gulf of Suez, by M. R. Fourtau. — On the closed basins 

 of the Swiss Alps, by MM. Maurice Lug^eon, Maurice 

 Ricklin, and F. Perriraz. 



UIARY OF SOCIETIES. 



THURSDAY, May 14. 



Royal Society, at 4.30— The Combination of Hydrogen .ind Chlorine 

 under the Influence of Light : P. V. Bevan.— On the Photo-Electric 

 Discharge from Metallic Surfaces in Different Gases : Dr. W. 

 Mansergh Varley.— The Elasmometer, a new Interferential Form of 

 Elasticity Apparatus: A. E. Tutton, F.R.S.— Meteorological Obser- 

 vations by the Use of Kites off the West Coast of Scotland, 1002 : Dr 

 W. N. Shaw, F.R S., and W. H. Dines —On the Radiation of Helium 

 and Mercury in a Magnetic Field : Prof. A. Gray, F.R.S., and Dr. W. 

 Stewart; with R. A. Houston and D. B. McQuistan.— A New Class of 

 Organo-Tin Compounds containing Halogens : Prof W. J. Pope 

 F.R S., and S. J. Peachey.— The Xanthophyll Group of Yellow Colour- 

 ing Matters : C. A. Schunck. 



Royal Institution, at 5.— Proteid-Digestion in Plants : Prof. Sidney H. 

 Vines, F.R.S 



Mathematical Society, at 5.30.— Generational Relations Defining an 

 Abstract Simple Group of Order 32736: W. H. Bussoy.— Points in 

 the Theory of Continuous Groups : Dr. H. F. Baker.— On Fermat's 

 Numbers : Lieut. -Col. Cunningham and Messrs Western and Cullen. 



Society of Arts, at 4.30. — The Province of Assam : Sir James Charles 

 Lyall, K.C.S.I. 



Institution of Electrical Engineers, at 8. — Applications of Elec- 

 tricity in Engineering and Shipbuilding Works: A. D. Williamson. — 

 Electric Driving in Machine Shops : A. B. Chatwood. 



FRIDAY, May 15 

 Royal Institution, at 9 —The Origin of Seed-Bearing Plants: D. H. 

 Scott, F.R.S. 



MONDAY, May 18. 

 Society of Arts, at 8.— Mechanical Road Carriages: W. Worby 

 Beaumont. 



TUBS DA K, May 19. 



Royal Institution, at 5.— The Astronomical Influence of the Tides: 

 Prof. G. H. Darwin, F.R.S. 



Royal Statistical Society, at 5.— The Growth and Direction of our 

 Foreign Trade in Coal during the Last Half Century : D. A. Thomas, 

 M.P. 



WEDNESDAY, May 20. 



Chemical Society, at 5.30.— Isomeric Partially Racemic Salts containing 

 Quinquevalent Nitrogen, Part xi. Derivatives of ^/AMethylhydrind- 

 amine and (//-«<^tf-Methylhydrindamine. Isomeric Salts of the Type 

 NR1R2H3 : G. Tattersall and F. S. Kipping. — The Conditions of Decom- 

 position of Ammonium Nitrite: V. H. Veley. — Note' on the Action of 

 Methylamine on Chromic Chloride : W. R. Lang and E. H. Jolliffe.— 

 The Action of Liquefied Ammonia on Chromium Chloride : W. R. Lang 

 and C. M. Carson. — Cholesterol. A Preliminary Note : R. H. Pickard 

 and J. Yates. 



Royal Microscopical Society, at 8.— Exhibition of Pond Life. 



Royal Meteorological Society, at 4.30.— The Relation of the Rain- 

 fall to the Depth of Water in a Well : Charles P. Hooker.— 1 he Frost of 

 April, 1903 : William Marriott. 



THURSDAY, May 21. 



Royal Institution, at 5.— Proteid-Digestion in Plants: Prof. S. H. 

 Yines, F.R.S. 



FRIDA Y, May 22. 



RovAL Institution, at 9.- Dictionaries: Dr. J. A. H. Murray. 



PAGE 



• 25 

 . 29 



• 29 



31 



NO. 1750, VOL. 68] 



CONTENTS. 



The University and the Modern State. Ill 



Geology for Agricultural Students 



Applied Mechanics. By R. G. B 



Our Book Shelf:— 



Armsby : "The Principles of Animal Nutrition, with 



Special Reference to the Nutrition of Farm Animals" 



Cooke and Dibdin : " Cheimical Technology." Vol. iv. 



— M. S . 



Goldstein : " Die empiristische Geschichtsauflfassung 

 David Humes, mit Berticksichtigung moderner 

 methodologischer und erkenntnistheoretischer 



Probleme."— G. S. B 



Willis: "Arithmetic." Parti 



Letters to the Editor : — 



Action of Live Things in Mechanics. — Sir Oliver 



Lodge, F.R.S 



The Glorification of Energy. — Prof. George M. 



Minchin, F.R.S. ... 31 



Psychophysical Interaction. — W. McDougall ; Sir 

 Oliver Lodge, F.R.S.; Prof. A.M. Worth- 



ington, F.R.S 32 



Mendel's Principles of Heredity in Mice. — W. 

 Bateson, F.R.S.; Prof. W. F. R. Weldon, 



F.R.S 33 



International Meteorological Committee 34 



Maori Art. {Illustrated.) By Prof. A. C. Haddon, 



FRS 35 



The London Education Bill 36 



Notes 38 



Our Astronomical Column :— 



Comet 1903 b 42 



A Remarkable Algol Variable 42 



New Value for the Solar Parallax ... 42 



Instructions to Observers of the Sun 43 



Stonyhurst College Observatory Report for 1902 ... 43 

 Opening of the Johnston Laboratories for Medical 

 Research in the University College, Liverpool . 43 



The Iron and Steel Institute . . 44 



University and Educational Intelligence 45 



Scientific Serial 46 



Societies and Academies 46 



Diary of Societies 48 



