48 



NA TURE 



[May 8, 1890 



calculated the magnitude of the differences of potential which 

 establishes itself between the two electrolytes. Applying the 

 formula to a special case, and calculating the difference of 

 potential from the observed rate of flow of the ions and their 

 known electrical charge, he showed that the values thus obtained 

 correspond very closely with those obtained by direct measure- 

 ment of the difference of potential. 



Physiological Society, April 25. — Prof, du Bois-Reymond, 

 President, in the chair. — Dr. Heymans spoke on meduUated and 

 non-medullated nerves. The medullary sheath of the former is 

 characterized by the myelin formations which it yields under the 

 action of water and the dark coloration with osmic acid. This 

 last reaction is common to lecithin, protagon, and cholesterin, all 

 of which are found in the medulla. When, however, lecithin 

 has been treated with osmic acid it can no longer be extracted 

 from the nerve, whereas protagon and cholesterin maybe extracted 

 by alcohol at 70° C. By taking advantage of this difference in 

 their behaviour it becomes possible to test the statement that 

 lecithin occurs in the neurokeratinous network of the medullary 

 sheath, while protagon and cholesterin are present in the meshes 

 of the network. Experiment does not support the above state- 

 ment. The speaker had further used the reaction with osmic 

 acid (2 per cent, solution) to investigate the occurrence of non- 

 medullated nerves in certain places in which their presence is a 

 subject of dispute. He found them in the sympathetic and 

 olfactory nerves of the pike, but in much smaller numbers in the 

 former than is usually stated to be the case. In many of the 

 sympathetic fibres he observed a sheath composed of proto- 

 plasm which stained brown with osmic acid. He finally discussed 

 fully the transition of medullated cerebrospinal nerves into the 

 non-medullated processes of the ganglia. — Dr. Cowl spoke on 

 methods of recording the variations of blood-pressure in an 

 artery. He criticized the various forms of apparatus in use, and 

 pointed out the errors arising from the use of elastic connections 

 i;o frequently employed, as a result of which it is impossible to 

 register the exact moment at which the pressure is zero. He 

 had constructed an apparatus in which this source of error is 

 avoided, and which admits of extremely delicate adjustment. 

 He finally exhibited curves to demonstrate the advantages of the 

 newer instrument. 



Brussels. 



Academy of Sciences, March i, 1890. — The following 

 were the papers communicated : — Experiments made by Count 

 Espiennes at Scy (Ciney), on the circulation of air during calm 

 nights from the surface of broken ground, by M. Y. Folic. — On 

 certain inversions of temperature, and on the frost of September 

 16, 1887, at. Spa, by M. G. Dewalque. In this and the pre- 

 ceding paper it is shown that cold strata of air lie in valleys, and 

 many cases are given of places situated on elevated plateaus 

 where the minimum temperature is habitually higher than that 

 at places of less altitude lying in valleys. — Gustavus Adolphus 

 Him, Associate of the Academy, born at IvOgelbach (Colmar), 

 August 21, 1815, died at the same place, January 14, 1890. An 

 account of his life and work is given by M. F. Folic. — Another 

 obituary notice by M. F. Folic, on C. H. Buys- Ballot, born at 

 Kloetingen, October 10, 1817, died at Utrecht, February 3, 

 1890. — On phillipsite crystals from sediments found in the 

 centre of the Pacific Ocean, byM. A. F. Renard. In a previous 

 note (February 1890) the physical characteristics and the com- 

 position of zeolite crystals from deposits in the Pacific were 

 indicated ; the author now shows the conditions under which the 

 phillipsite and mineral matters which accompany it are found. — 

 Determination of the variations in the coefficient and diffusion 

 with temperature for liquids other than water, by M. P. De 

 Heen. The liquids investigated are xylene, benzine, ethyl 

 alcohol, amyl alcohol, amyl benzoate, and carbon bisulphide, at 

 temperatures of 10°, 30°, 50°, 70°, and 90°. — On the nature of the 

 polarizing matter of the beetroot in alcohol ; rotatory power of 

 pectous matters, by MM. L. Chevron and A. Droische. It is 

 found pectine and its derivatives exercise an energetic action on 

 polarized light ; the rotatory power of these matters is three or 

 four times greater than that of saccharose sugar.— Some proper- 

 ties of conies, by M. C. Servais. — On the centre of curvature of 

 lines described during the displacement of a plane figure in its 

 own plane, by the same author. — Solanidine from potato 

 sprouts ; preparation and properties, by M. A. Jorissen. — On 

 semi-invariant functions, by Jacques Deruyts. 



Amsterdam. 

 Royal Academy of Sciences, April 25. — Prof, van de 

 Sande Bakhuysen in the chair. — M. T. Forster read a paper on 

 the influence of smoking on tuberculous matter. He had formerly 

 shown that tuberculous matter does not cease to be infectious 

 after salting. Experiments subsequently made in his laboratory 

 prove that salting and smoking do not kill the bacteria of tuber- 

 culosis. Not only tuberculous matter, but meat from tuberculous 

 cattle is very infectious. — Prof, van de Sande Bakhuysen com- 

 municated an abstract of a paper published by him on an instru- 

 ment for the determination of the absolute pe.'sonal error in 

 astronomical transit-observations. 



BOOKS, PAMPHLETS, and SERIALS RECEIVED, 



Light, Heat, and Sound: C. H. Draper (Blackie). — Le<;^ns sur I'Elec- 

 tricite, tome i. : E. Gerard (Paris, Gauthier-Villars). — A Hand-book of 

 Descriptive and Practical Astronomy, vol. 2, 4th edition : G. F. Chambers 

 (Oxford, Clarendon Press). — Official Year-Book of the Scientific and Learned 

 Societies of Great Britain and Ireland (Griffin).) — Electrical Influence 

 Machines : J. Ciray (Whittaker). — Electric Transmission of Energy, 2nd edi- 

 tion : G. Kapp (Whittaker). — Zoologische Ergebnisse einer reise in Nieder- 

 landisch Ost-Indien, Erstes Heft: Dr. Max Weber (Leiden, Brill).— Me- 

 moirs of the Geological Survey of India — Palaeontologia Indica ; ser. xlii., 

 Salt Range Fossils ; vol. iv. Part r, Geological Results : W. Waagen (Triib- 

 ner).— The Criminal : H. Ellis (W. Scott).— Notes on the Pearl and Chank 

 Fisheries and Marine Fauna of the Gulf of Manaar : E. Thurston (Madras). 

 — Food Adulterations : A. J. Wedderburn (Washington;. — The Beginnings 

 of American Nationality : A. W. Small (Baltimore).— Journal of the Royal 

 Statistical Society, March (Stanford). — Trait^ Encyc. de Photographie, 15 

 April (Paris, Gauthier-Villars). — Journal of the Anthropological Institute, 

 vol. xix. No. 3 (Triibner). — Brain, Part 49 (Macmillan). — Mass. Institute of 

 Technology, Boston, Annual Cat., 1889-90 (Camb., Mass.). — Journal of the 

 Royal Microscopical Society, April (Williams and Norgate). — Bulletin of 

 the American Geological Society, vol. 21, Supplement 89, vol. 22, No._ i 

 (New York). — Missjuri Agricultural College Experiment Station Bulletin, 

 Nos, 6 and 9 (Columbia, Miss.). 



CONTENTS. PAGE 



Chemical Technology. By Prof. T. E. Thorpe, 



F.R.S • 25 



The Selkirk Range. By T. G. B 26 



The Anatomy of the Frog. By H. G 27 



Our Book Shelf:— 



" Syllabus of Elementary Dynamics."— G. A. B. . . 28 

 Eimer and Cunningham : "Organic Evolution, as the 

 Result of the Inheritance of Acquired Characters 



according to the Laws of Organic Growth 28 



Letters to the Editor : — 



Bison not Aurochs.— Prof. Alfred Newton, F.R.S. 28 

 Unstable Adjustments as affected by Isolation.— John 



T. Gulick 28 



Coral Reefs, Fossil and Recent.— Dr. R. von 



Lendenfeld 29 



Slugs and Thorns. -T. D. A. Cockerell 31 



Comets of Short Period. By Richard A. Gregory . 31 



The Journal of Morphology. By G. B. H 32 



Notes 34 



Our Astronomical Column : — 



Objects for the Spectroscope.— A. Fowler 37 



Structure of the Corona 37 



Brooks's Comet [a 1890) 38 



Discovery of Minor Planets 38 



The Institution of Mechanical Engineers 38 



The Scientific Investigations of the Fishery Board 



for Scotland. By G. C. B 39 



The Fixation of Free Nitrogen. By N. H. J. M. . . 41 



University and Educational Intelligence ,42 



Scientific Serials 43 



Societies and Academies 43 



Books, Pamphlets, and Serials Received 48 



