1 68 



NATURE 



[June i8, 1903 



when a stationary state was attained. — Hypothesis on the 

 nature of radio-active bodies, by M. Fillipo Re. An 

 •extension of the nebular theory to the formation of atoms. 

 It follows from the hypothe'sis that radio-active bodies 

 •should possess a high atomic weight, and should give out 

 energy owing to the contraction of their atoms. — Dissocia- 

 tion curves, by M. A. Bouzat. From an examination of 

 thirty-five experimental results the following law is de- 

 duced : — in a group of univariant systems in which a solid 

 body gives rise by dissociation to another solid body and 

 a gas, the ratio of the temperatures corresponding to a 

 given dissociation pressure in any two systems of the group 

 is constant, whatever the pressure may be. The law has 

 been verified for a range of temperature from 238° to 1065° 

 •(absolute), and of pressures from 300mm. to 1600mm. — 

 O'l the action of arsenic on copper, by M. Albert Granger. 

 When copper is heated with arsenic in an inert gas at 

 440° for a sufficient length of time, a definite crystallised 

 copper arsenide is produced, having the composition 

 ■CU5AS2. Phosphorus gives a corresponding compound. — 

 On the qualitative and quantitative analysis of osmiridium 

 alloys, by MM. Leidie and Quennessen. The alloy is 

 attacked by fused caustic soda and sodium peroxide, the 

 osmium and ruthenium separated in the form of the volatile 

 peroxides, and the iridium as the double nitrite of 

 iridium and sodium. — On the nutrition of plants deprived 

 of their cotyledons, by M. G. Andre. The assimilation of 

 organic material is lessened by the removal of the coty- 

 ledons, but the ratio of phosphoric acid to nitrogen is 

 practically unaffected. — On the mechanism of the 

 saccharification of the mannanes of corrozo by the seminase 

 of lucerne, by MM. Ed. Bourquelot and H. Herissey. 

 The extract from Phytelephas macrocarpa contains a soluble 

 ferment the hydrolysing action of which is complementary 

 to that of seminase. — Research on indoxyl in certain patho- 

 logical urines, by M. Julius Gnezda. — The mechanism of 

 the emission of larvae in the female of the European 

 lobster, by MM. Fabre-Domerg:ue and E. Bi^trix. — On 

 the iron ore of Troitsk, by MM. L. Duparc and L. Mrazec. 

 — Castration in man, and the modifications which result 

 from it, by M. Eug. Pittard. — On the kinematography of 

 barometric movements, by M. P. Garrigou-Lasrang^e. 

 A series of charts of isobars, mapped out for equal intervals 

 of time, has been studied by means of the kinematograph. 

 The examination of the American charts has clearly shown 

 that, in spite of their apparent complication in detail, there 

 are in i eality but two general movements of the atmo- 

 sphere. These two movements have the effect of alternately 

 opening and closing the two routes followed by American 

 depressions. A study of European charts leads to similar 

 conclusions, although the regularity is less marked than 

 in America. — On the conflagration of balloons during land- 

 ing, by M. de Fonvielle. The disaster of the Pannewitz 

 was probably caused by the electrification of the balloon 

 giving rise to a spark. 



GOTTINGEN, 



Royal Society of Sciences.— The Nachrichten (physico- 

 mathematical section), part ii. for 1903, contains the 

 following memoirs communicated to the Society : — 



February 21. — E. Riecke : Contributions to the theory 

 of atmospheric electricity, iii., on the mass of the ions 

 contained in the air. 



F. Krijgrer : The theory of polarisation-capacity. 



March 7. — W. Nernst : The determination of molecular 

 weights at very high temperatures. 



F. Bernstein : On the associated domains (Hilbert's 

 Klassenkorper) of an algebraical domain {Zahlkorper). 



E. Riecke : Contributions to the theory of atmospheric 

 electricity, iv., on the " adsorption " of ions at the earth's 

 surface. 



DIARY OF SOCIETIES. 



THURSDAY, June 18. 

 ■'j'' ?T°^\^'^"i'' , at 4.30. -(i) Surface Flow in Crystalline Solids 

 under Mechanical Disturbance: (■2) The Effects of Heat and of 

 Solvents on Thm Films of Metal : G. Beilby.-The Forces Acting on 

 a Charged Electric Condenser Moving through Space : Prof. Trouton, 

 KK.S., and H. R. Noble.-On the Discharge of Electricity from 

 Hot Platinum : Dr. H. A. Wilson.— The Bionomics of Convoluta 

 Koscoffensis, with Special Reference to its Green Cells : Dr. F. W. 

 Oamble and F. W. Keeble.— New Investigations into the Reduction 



NO. 1755, VOL. 6Z'\ 



Phenomena of Animals and Plants ; Preliminary Communication : 

 Prof. J. B. Farmer, F.R.S., and /. E. S. Moore.— The Action of Choline, 

 Neurine, Muscarine and Betaine on Isolated Nerve, and on the 

 Excised Heart : Dr. A. D. Waller, F.R.S., and Miss S. C. M. Sowton.— 

 The Physiological Action of Betaine Extracted from Raw Beet Sugar : 

 Dr. A. D. Waller, F.R.S., and Dr. R. H. Aders Plimmer.-On the 

 Physiological Action of the Poison of the Hydrophidae ; Part II. Action 

 on the Circulatory, Respiratory and Nervous Systems : Dr. L. Rogers. 

 — The Spectra of Neon, Krypton and Xenon : E. C. C. Baly. — And other 

 Papers. 

 LiNNBAN Society, at 8. — Descriptions of New Chinese Plants : S. T. 

 Dunn. — On the Life-history of a New Indian Species of Monophlebus : 

 E. P. Stebbing. — On the Anatomy of Leaves of British Grasses: L. 

 Lewton-Brain. — Scottish Freshwater Plankton. 



i^Jf/Z)^K, JUNE19. 

 Royal Institution, at q.— Radium : Prof. Pierre Curie (in French). 

 MONDAY, June 22. 



Royal Geographical Society, at 8.30. — Explorations in Bolivia: Dr. 

 Evans. 



WEDNESDAY, June 24. 



Geological Society, at 8.— On a Transported Mass of Ampthill Clay in 

 the Boulder-clay at Biggleswade : Henry Home. — The Rhsetic and 

 Lower Lias of Sedbury Cliff, near Chepstow : L. Richardson. — Notes on 

 the Lowest Beds of the Lower Lias at Sedbury Cliff: A. Vaughan. 



THURSDAY, June 25. 

 University College Mathematical Society, at 5.30. — Some Present 

 Aims and Prospects of Mathematical Research : E. T. Whittaker. 



FRIDAY, June 26. 



Physical Society, at 5. (University of London, South Kensington). — 

 (i) Electrical Effects of Light upon Green Leaves ; (2) Blaze-Currents, 

 {a) of a Vegetable Tissue, ifi) of an Animal Tissue ; (3) Quantitative 

 Estimation of Chloroform Vapour in Air by («) Oil Absorption, (b) Densi- 

 metry: Dr. Waller. — The Temperature Limits of Nerve-Action in Cold- 

 blooded and in Warm-blooded Animals : Dr. Alcock.— (i) On the Move- 

 ment of Unionised Bodies in Solution in an Electric Field ; (2> On the 

 Passage of Nervous Impulses through the Central Nervous System : Dr. 

 Hardy. 



CONTENTS. PAGE 



A Scheme of Vital Faculty. By Sir Oliver Lodge, 



F.R.S 145 



School Geometry Reform 147 



Ship's Magnetism, By C. C 148 



Our Book Shelf:— 



" Encyclopaedia Biblica, a Critical Dictionary of 

 the Literary, Political and Religious History, 

 the Archaeology, Geography and Natural History 



of the Bible."— T. G. B 148 



Westell : " Country Rambles : a Field Naturalist's 



and Country Lover's Note Book for a Year " . .149 

 Holleman : "Text-book of Organic Chemistry." — 



F. M. P 149 



Ingham: "Education in Accordance with Natural 

 Law. Suggestions for the Consideration of Parents, 

 Teachers, and Social Reformers." — A. T. S. ^ . . 150 

 Letters to the Editor :— 



Psychophysical Interaction. — Sir Oliver Lodge, 

 F.R.S. ; Edward P. Culverwell ; A. Bowman . 150 



Musical Sands. — Cecil Carus-Wilson 152 



The Study of Bacterial Toxins. By Dr. Allan Mac- 



fadyen . 152 



Scientific Kite Flying. (///z«/ra/"^^.) By W, H. Dines 154 



A National Diploma in Agriculture 155 



The International Congress for Applied Chemistry. 



By Dr. H, Borns 156 



Notes 158 



Our Astronomical Column : — 



Connection between Sun-spots and Atmospheric 



Temperature 162 



The Crossley Reflector of the Lick Observatory. 



{Illustrated.) 162 



The Relationships between Arc and Spark Spectra . 163 

 Radio-active Processes. By Prof. E. Rutherford, 



F.R.S 163 



Some Unsolved Problems in Engineering. By W. 



H. Maw 163 



The South African Association 165 



University and Educational Intelligence 166 



Societies and Academies 168 



Diary of Societies 168 



