November i6, 1899] 



NATURE 



65 



Other Sections. 



In the Physiological Section Prof. Rudolf Cohn (Konigsberg) 

 described a new series of his investigations of the nature of the 

 base obtained by the action of hydrochloric acid on albumen. 



He obtained a body possessing the formula (CeH,.,N).2, and 

 isomeric with and similar to leucinimide, and probably possess- 

 ing the constitution of dioxydibutyldiethylendiamine. The ease 

 of the formation of such bodies may explain the occurrence of 

 certain bases, such as spermine in the animal organism. 



In the Section for Hygiene and Bacteriology an important 

 discussion was inaugurated by Dr. Czaplewski on the method 

 of using formaldehyde (formal, formaline) as a disinfectant. 



A remarkable paper was contributed to this section by Dr. 

 Weyl (Berlin) on the sterilisation of water by means of ozone. 

 Water to be sterilised is pumped to the top of a tower and 

 allowed to flow slowly over stones, meeting as it falls a current 

 of air charged with ozone. 



In one experiment with Spree water containing 80,000- 

 90,000 micro organisms per cc, 3000 litres of water were 

 obtained in an hour, containing less than 100 organisms per cc. 



This process appears to be also effectual in purifying peat and 

 bog water, the solution of the iron salts of humic acid being 

 decomposed and oxidised, and the brown colour disappearing in 

 consequence. 



The method can be advantageously used in connection with 

 filter-beds, by which the floating organic matter is removed from 

 the water before it is treated with ozonised air. 



The cost of sterilising an average river water works out at 

 \d. to \d. per 1000 litres ; no ozone remains in solution. 



In the Physical Section an intere.«ting paper was read by Dr. 

 Carl Linde, on the industrial uses of liquid air. 



Prof. Adami's discourse, in the same section, was remarkable 

 for demonstrating the possibility of constructing dynamos and 

 galvanometers at the cost of a few pence, and the power of 

 performing electrical experiments with the simplest materials. 

 It is impossible in an abstract to give any idea of the charm of 

 Prof. Adami's manipulations. 



Prof. C. Kahlbaum's (Basle) experiments on the distillation 

 of metals showed that most metals can be distilled in vacuo, 

 vessels of glass or porcelain being used. Very remarkable is 

 the fact that alloys can be fractionated by this method ; in one 

 experiment the copper was quantitatively separated from the 

 nickel in a German coin, the nickel remaining in the flask as a 

 silvery regulus, and the copper crystallising in the receiver ; such 

 newly-distilled metals resist to a greater degree the action of 

 atmospheric oxygen. 



Prof. Ostwald's paper on periodic changes in the rate of re- 

 action was received with some scepticism, and produced a 

 lively discussion. It appeared that pieces of a certain block of 

 metallic chromium, 5 kilograms in weight, and prepared by 

 Dr. Goldschmidt, showed a remarkable property. 



When such pieces were placed in dilute hydrochloric acid, the 

 numbers of the bubbles of hydrogen evolved in equal times, and 

 measured in a capillary tube, exhibited a constant variation ; 

 thus in equal periods of time two, four, six and eight bubbles 

 appeared respectively, and then the series recommenced with 

 two bubbles. This truly remarkable phenomenon was confirmed 

 by observations reaching over many months. 



Unfortunately, this was the only specimen of metallic 

 chromium which could be obuined possessing this curious 

 property. 



All the scientific sections were invited to a meeting in the 

 Kailnsaal, where Prof. Chun explained ihe exhibition of the 

 results of the German Deep Sea Exjjedition. 



These results confirmed in many cases the results obtained on 

 the Challenger expedition, especially as to the existence of life 

 at the greatest depth of the Antarctic Ocean. 



When the explorers landed at Kerguelen they were immedi- 

 ately surrounded by great flocks of birds, showing no fear, and 

 perching on the shoulder or pecking at the boots of the aston- 

 ished members of the expedition. 



Some of the fish found at depths of 3000 metres, to which 

 depth naturally but little light penetrates, resembled those found 

 ill the Lias, representing a period when the atmosphere of the 

 earth was dense, and charged with carbon ; these fish were in 

 some cases provided with special means of collecting light, 

 being in possession of enormous eyes occupying nearly the 

 whole side of the head, or supplied with telescopic organs ; in 

 other cases they carried their light with them on their heads, in 

 a somewhat similar fashion to the glow-worm. 



NO. 1568, VOL. 61] 



On Wednesday afternoon and on Saturday no meetings were 

 held, and a large number of excursions were arranged, com- 

 prising visits to the lakes and watering-places near Munich, and 

 excursion to the royal pafeces and to Ratisbon. 



On Thursday a gala- performance of " Lohengrin " was given 

 at the Opera by royal command, for which every member of 

 the Congre-ss received a ticket. 



During the whole week the picture galleries and exhibitions 

 were open to the members at a reduced charge, and oppor- 

 tunities of visiting the breweries, ice- works, &c., were afforded. 



The accommodation of the guests was in the hands of a special 

 committee, who performed their difficult task to the satisfactioa 

 of every one, the prices of the rooms being especially moderate. 



The next meeting of the Society will be held in September 

 1900, at Aachen (Aix-la-Chapelle), and, being easy of access, 

 should attract English men of science. W. T. L. 



BOTANY AT THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION. 



'T'HE President of the Section (Sir George King) delivered an 

 ■*■ address in which he gave a comprehensive sketch of the 

 history of Indian botany. Reports were presented by the com- 

 mittees on assimilation in plants and on fertilisation in the 

 Phaeophyceae. In the former investigations — conducted by 

 Dr. F. F. Blackman (Cambridge) — the experimental work 

 dealt with the sources of the carbon dioxide of leaf assimi- 

 lation, with the respiration of the stem as distinguished from 

 the leaf, with the magnitude of the absorption of carbon 

 dioxide from the soil, and with kindred problems, of which 

 a preliminary account was given by Dr. Blackman at the 

 Bristol meeting. Mr. Lloyd Williams (Bangor) had been 

 engaged during the past year in researches into the cytology and 

 life-history of various members of the Phaeophycece, includ- 

 ing Dictyota dichotoma, Halidrys stliquosa, Hinianthalia lorea, 

 Laminaria saccharina, Alaria esctilenta and several species of 

 Fucacese. 



Mr. Williams contributed a preliminary note on the life- 

 history and cytology of Halidrys siliquosa, in which he dealt 

 with the formation and liberation of the sexual cells, ttie striking^ 

 phenomena accompanying the act of fertilisation, the segment- 

 ation of the spore, together with the cytology of the various 

 processes. In the process of fertilisation the most important 

 points observed were (i) the gyrating, clockwise movement of 

 the antherozoids ; (2) the long time taken to effect fertilisation — 

 30-50 minutes as against 3-10 minutes in Fiicus; (3) the peculiar 

 behaviour of the egg at the moment of fertilisation, its distension 

 and sharp rugged conical projections with beady threads emitted 

 from their apices ; (4) the subsequent restoration of the egg to its 

 normal shape and size. 



In accordance with the usual custom, Friday afternoon was 

 devoted to a semi-popular lecture, which was this year delivered 

 by Mr. Harold Wager, on the sexuality of the fungi. The 

 lecturer gave an interesting and clear account, illustrated by 

 lantern slides, of the phenomena of sexuality in the various 

 groups of fungi. 



An additional value was given to the lecture by the number oi 

 new facts dealt with by Mr. Wager ; these included some new 

 observations on fertilisation in Peronospora Parasitica and 

 Polyphagus Etiglenae. 



Miss Ethel Sargant gave a demonstration of vermiform 

 nuclei in the fertilised embryo-.sac of Lilium Martagon {vide 

 Proc. Roy.Soc, vol. Ixv. p. 163, 1899). 



Mr. J. C. Willis, Director of the Royal Botanic Garden, 

 Peradeniya, Ceylon, gave an account of the research laboratory 

 and of the facilities afforded to botanists conducting investi- 

 gations in the Ceylon Gardens. 



On Saturday, September 16, Mr. G. Dowker, the local 

 secretary of Section K. whose intimate knowledge of the Kent 

 flora made him an admirable leader, conducted a botanical 

 excursion to Sandwich. Those who were present at the 

 meetings of Section K will learn with sincere regret that Mr. 

 Dowker died suddenly on Friday, September 22. The botanists 

 present at Dover had learned in their short acquaintance with 

 Mr. Dowker to appreciate his kindly nature and the keen interest 

 he took in botanical work. 



Thai.i.ophvta. 



Prof. Marshall Ward gave an account of his recent work on 

 Onygena equina^ a horn-destroying fungus {Proc. Roy. Soc. 



