9 6 



NATURE 



[November 27, 1902 



Barillet. — On the time constant characteristic of the disappear- 

 ance of the radio-activity induced by radium in a closed space, 

 by M. P. Curie. — On atmospheric hydrogen, by M. A. Leduc. 

 Confirmation of the view recently expressed by Lord Rayleigh 

 that the actual amount of hydrogen free in the atmosphere is 

 only about one-sixth to one-eighth that given by M. Gautier. — 

 On the oxalomolybdites, by M. Bailhache. — Some remarks on 

 musculamine, a base derived from muscles, by M. S. Posternak. 

 The base recently described by MM Etard and Vila, and which 

 they isolated from the products of hydrolysis of the muscle of 

 veal, appears from its properties and analysis to be identical 

 with cadaverine, pentamethylenediamine, and hence is not a 

 triamine as supposed by MM. Etard and Vila. It would, how- 

 ever appear to be the first example of the direct formation of 

 cadaverine by the hydrolysis of an albuminoid by means of 

 acids. — On the variation in the reserve hydrocarbons in the 

 stem and root of ligneous plants, by M. Leclerc du Sablon. — 

 Landolphia Pierrei considered as a source of caoutchouc, by M. 

 Henri Hua. — The influence of organic materials on the develop- 

 ment and anatomical stiucture of some phanerogams, by M. 

 Jules Laurent. The author has shown in previous publications 

 that certain organic materials, such as glucose, saccharose and 

 inert sugar, form excellent food substances for green plants. 

 These results are now extended to glycerol and humic acid. — 

 The analogy between the Carpathians and the Alps, by M. 

 Maurice Lugeon.— The electrolysis of metallic salts in the 

 tissues, by M. Andre Poey. — An apparatus for determining the 

 duration of luminous impressions on the retina, by M. Maurice 

 Dupont. The apparatus described has been applied to the 

 determination of the duration of the persistence of images on 

 the retina, under normal conditions and in pathological cases. — 

 The production of sleep and of general anaesthesia by electric 

 currents, by M. S. Leduc. The production of sleep and of 

 general anaesthesia in animals by means of electric currents has 

 been described in a previous paper, but the method gave rise to 

 some pain at the commencement ; by introducing into the 

 circuit a rheostat without self-induction, and taking from three 

 to five minutes to attain the full intensity of the current, these 

 inconveniences can be removed. — The reproduction of an 

 unlimited number of phonograms in wax for phonographic 

 museums, by M. L. Azoulay. — The production of fixed colours 

 on all kinds of leather by the use of salts of molybdenum 

 combined with tanning materials, by M. Emm. Pozzi-Escot. 



DIARY OF SOCIETIES. 



THURSDAY, November 27. 



Royal Society, at 4.30.— Experiments on the Effect of Mineral Starva- 

 tion on the Parasitism of the Uredine Fungus Puccinia dispersa on 

 Species of Bromus : Prof. H. M. Ward, F.R.S. — Note upon Descending 

 Intrinsic Spinal Tracts in the Mammalian Cord : Prof. C. S. Sherrington, 

 F.R.S., and Dr. E. E. Laslett.— The Inter-relationship of Variola and 

 Vaccinia: Dr. S. Monckton Copeman.— The Colour-Physiology of Higher 

 Crustacea ; F. Keeble and Dr. F. W. Gamble. 



Institution of Electrical Engineers, at 8.— On Electrons : Sir 

 Oliver Lodge, F.R.S. 



FRIDA V, November 28. 

 Physical Society, at 5.— A Slide-Rule for Powers of Numbers : Prof. J. 

 Perry, F.R.S. —A Lecture Experiment to determine the Value of the 

 Mechanical Equivalent of Heat: Prof. Callendar, F.R.S.— A Portable 

 Capillary Electrometer : S. W. J. Smith. 



MONDAY, December i 



Society of Chemical Industry, at 8.— The Influence of Impurities on 

 the Specific Gravity of Sulphuric Acid : Arthur Marshall. — The Inter- 

 action of Sulphurous and Nitrous Acids as affecting various Absorbents 

 employed in Testing the Gases escaping from Vitriol Chambers : 

 R. Forbes Carpenter and J. E. Linder. — Note on the Determination of 

 the Strength of Sulphuric Acid : Arthur Marshall. 



Victoria Institute, at 4.30.— The Babylonian Story of the Creation : 

 Dr. T. G. Pinches. 



Society of Arts, at 8.— The Future of Coal Gas and Allied Illuminants: 

 Prof. Vivian B. Lewes. 



TUESDA Y, December 2. 



Institution of Civil Engineers, at 8.— High-Speed Electrical Generat- 

 ing Plant : T. H- Minshall. 



Zoological Societv. at 8.30.— Features of Animal Life in Southern 

 Mexico: Dr. Hans Gadow, F.R.S.— On the Variation of the Elk : Dr. 

 Einar Lonnberg.— On the Crustacea collected during the " Skeat Expedi- 

 tion " to the Malay Peninsula. Part II. : W. F. Lanchester. 



WEDNESDAY, December 3. 

 Society of Arts, at 8.— Some Aspects of Photographic Development: 



Alfred Watkins. 

 Entomological Society, at 8. 

 Society of Public Analysts, at 8. 

 Geological Society, at 8.— On some Suffolk Well-Sections : W. Whitaker, 



F.R.S. — The Cellular Magnesian Limestone of Durham: George 



Abbott. 



THURSDAY, December 4. 



Royal Society, at 4.30. — Probable papers :— (1) On the " Blaze-Currents " 

 of the Incubated Hen's Egg ; On the " Blaze-Currents " of the Crystalline 

 Lens: Dr. A. D. Waller, F R.S.— A Contribution to the Question of 

 "Blaze-Currents": Dr. A. Durig. — On the Similarity of the Short 

 Period Variation over Larg- Areas: Sir Norman Lockyer, F.R.S., and 

 Dr. W. J. S. Lockyer. — Isomeric Change in Benzene Derivatives. The 

 Interchange of Halogen and Hydroxyl in Benzenediazonium Hydroxides : 

 Dr. K. Orton. — On the Vibrations and Stability of a Gravitating Planet : 

 J. H.Jeans. 



Linnean Society, at 8. — New and rare Corals from Funafuti : G. C. 

 Bourne. — On the Morphology of the Flowers and Fruits of the Xylosteum 

 Section of Lonicera : E. A. Newell Arber. — Note on Cart-.v Tolomzei, 

 Boott : B. Clarke, F.R-S. — New and old Phalangida; from the Indian 

 Peninsula : C. With. 



Rontgen Society, at 8.30. — An Observation bearing upon the Thera- 

 peutic Action of the Focus Tube : Dr. D. Walsh. — X-Rays in Ophthalmic 

 Work : Stephen Mayou. — Mr. Isenthal will show the Nodon Electric 

 Valve for converting Alternating into Continuous Current. 



Chemical Society, at S. — The Absorption Spectra of Metallic Nitrates. 

 Part II. : W. N. Hartley. — The Specific Heats of Liquids : H. Crompton. 

 — (1) Studies in the Camphane Series. Part X. The Constitution of 

 Enolic Benzoylcamphor ; (2) Note on the Isomeric Benzoyl Derivatives 

 from Isonitrosocamphor : M. O. Forster. — The Constitution of the 

 Products of Nitration of Meta-acetoluidide : J. B. Cohen and H. D. 

 Dakin. 



Aeronautical Society, at 8. — Presidential Address. Recent Aero- 

 nautical Progress : Major B. F. S. Baden-Powell. — The Contributions 

 of Balloon Investigations to Meteorology: Dr. W. N. Shaw, F.R.S. — 

 The Kite Equipment of the Scottish National Antarctic Expedition : John 

 Anderson. 



Institution of Electrical Engineers, ai 8. — Extia Meeting for 

 the Inaugural Address by the President, Mr. J. Swinburne. 

 yR/OA y, December 5. 



Institution of Civil Engineers, at S.— The Erection of Steel Bridges, 

 Sheffield Extension of the London and North-Western Railway : 

 A. Reynolds. 



CONTENTS. page 



Mediaeval Geography 73 



Soil and Sanitation. By Dr. A. C. Houston .... 75 



Steel- Works Analysis 76 



Lectures on Celestial Mechanics. By H. C. P. . . 77 

 Our Book Shelf:— 



Richter : " Lexikon der Kohlenstoff-Verbindungen." 



— J. B. C . . . 7S 



Goldschmidt : " Ueber Harmonie und Complication" 78 

 " Opere Matematiche di Francesco Brioschi." Vol. ii. 



" Opere Matematiche di Eugenio Beltrami." Vol. i. 79 

 Dame and Brooks : " Handbook of the Trees of New 



England " 79 



Palmer: " Lake-Country Rambles " 79 



Beard: "Junior Arithmetic Examination Papers " . . 79 

 Letters to the Editor : — 



Classification of (juartic Curves. — A. B. Basset, 



F.R.S So 



The Conservation of Mass.— D. M. Y. Sommerville 80 

 A Simple Experiment in Diffraction. — Prof. G. H. 



Bryan, F.R.S 80 



The Secular Bending of Marble. — Spencer Picker. 



ing, F.R.S 81 



Summer and Winter. — A. B. M 81 



Personal.— Sir Oliver Lodge, F.R.S 81 



Mathematics in the Cambridge Locals. By Prof. 



John Perry, F.R.S • ... 81 



The Theory of the Gas Mantle. By Maurice 



Solomon 82 



The Explanation of a Remarkable Case of Geo- 

 graphical Distribution among Fishes. By G. A. 



Boulenger, F.R.S 84 



Local Magnetic Focus in Hebrides. (Illustrated.) 



By Sir W. J. L. Wharton, K.C.B., F.R.S 84 



The Needs of King's College, London 85 



Notes. (Illustrated.) 85 



Our Astronomical Column : — 



Astronomical Occurrences in December 90 



Early Observations of Nova Persei 90 



Comet 1902 c (Grigg) 91 



Apparent Deviations from Newton's Law of Gravita- 

 tion . . ■ 9 1 



Total Light of all the Stars 91 



West Indian Volcanic Eruptions. By Prof. J. 



Milne, F.R.S 91 



University and Educational Intelligence 92 



Scientific Serials 93 



Societies and Academies 93 



Diary of Societies 96 



NO. 1726, VOL. 67] 



