5/6 



NA TURE 



[April 16, 1903 



Blanc shows a simple oscillation, maximum about 3—4 p.m., 

 minimum about 3 a.m. — On magnetic dichroism of liquids, 

 by M. Georges M est in. Solutions of bichromate of 

 potassium in turpentine and in carbon disulphide have the 

 property of absorbing to unequal extents the rays parallel 

 to, and perpendicular to, the magnetic field. This result is 

 exhibited by the whole extent of the spectrum. — On the 

 colour of mercuric iodide at different temperatures, by 

 M. D. Gernez. The author has been able to keep yellow 

 mercuric iodide unchanged for years in a vacuum. If the 

 yellow crystals be cooled down from above 126 C. to about 

 — 192 C, they become almost white, while the red crystals 

 at this temperature become orange-yellow. — On derivatives of 

 plumbic acid, by M. Alb. Colson. Lead tetracetate may 

 be obtained by the action of chlorine on a solution of lead 

 -acetate in acetic acid. — On the preparation of the crystal- 

 line sulphides of zinc and cadmium, by M. Georges Viard. 

 If the vapours of zinc or cadmium chlorides, diluted with 

 -carbon dioxide, be passed over the sulphides of various 

 metals, e.g. SnS, crystalline ZnS or CdS is formed. — On 

 the action of alkaline earth bases on salts of the pyrogallol 

 sulphonic acids, by M. Marcel Delage. If a solution of 

 Ba(OH) 2 be added to one of barium, strontium, or calcium 

 pyrogallol sulphonate, coloured bodies of complex constitu- 

 tion are formed. — On organic heats of combustion, by M. P. 

 Lemoult. The theoretical and calculated values for the 

 sixty cases given are very concordant. — On nitrated cellu- 

 lose, by M. L£o Vignon. The product obtained gave 

 analytical results agreeing very well with an oxycellulose 

 trinitrate. — Association of bacteria with Ascobolus, by M. 

 Molliard. — Action of calcium oxalate in the nutrition of 

 plants, by M. Amar. The crystals of calcium oxalate be- 

 come less numerous as the distance from the vein of the leaf 

 increases; they are probably a product of excretion. — On the 

 localisation of assculin and of tannin in the chestnut tree, by 

 M. A. Gons. The reaction made use of to detect aesculin is 

 the blood-red colour produced by the consecutive action of 

 concentrated nitric acid and ammonia. — On new fossil fungi 

 and alga? of the coal period, by M. B. Renault. — On the 

 Lycopodinacea? of the Trias in Lorraine, by M. P. Fliche. — 

 On nephrotoxins, by M. H. Bierry. If the bruised kidney 

 of a dog be introduced into the blood of a rabbit, the blood 

 becomes powerfully toxic, and produces strong albuminuria 

 when injected into a dog. Nucleo-albumins derived from 

 the kidneys produced the same effects. — On the speed of 

 flow of subterranean waters, by MM. E. Fournier and 

 A. Magrnin. 



DIARY OF SOCIETIES. 



THURSDAY, April 16. 



Mathematical Society, at 5. 30. —Exhibition of the Logo-Locarithmic 

 Slide-rule : C. S. Jackson. -On the Deduction of Schlfmilch's Series 

 from a Fourier Series, and its Development into a Definite Integral: 

 R. F. Gwyiher. — On those Functions which are Defined by Definite 

 Integrals with not more than Two Singularities : E. T. Whit taker. — 

 Note on Exact Solutions nf the Problem of the Bending of an Elastic 

 Plate under Pressure : Prof. A. E. H. Love —Relations between Pnints 

 (in a Plane) having Conjugate Complex Coord mutes : Prof. A. Lodge. 



Linnean Society, at 8.— On s^me Points in Connection with the Ordinary 

 Development of Vaucheria Resting Spores : Dr. H. Charlton Hastian, 

 F.R.S.— The Labial and Maxillary Palpi in Diptera : W. Wesche".— 

 On Freshwater Rhizopodsand iheir Classification : Prof. G.S. West. 



FRIDAY, April 17 

 Epidemiological Society, at 8.30— The Seasonal Incidence of Typhoid 



Fever and Summer Diarrhcea : Dr. J. T. C. Nash. 

 SATURDAY, April 18 

 Geologists* Association. — Excursion in Conjunction with the 



Geological Section of the Croydon Natural History Soci ty. Directors ; 



N. F. Robarts and W. Whitaker, F.R S. Members meet at New Cross 



Station (L. B- & S. C. R., down platform), at 3.21 p.m. Object : To see 



the Reopening of the Cutting S. of the Station, showing the Junction of 



the London Clay with the Beds below. 



MONDA Y April 20. 

 Victoria Institute, ai 4.30— The C eol. glcal Conditions of ihe West 



Indian Volcanoes: Prof. J. W. Spencer. — On Volcanic Action, with 



Special Reference to the Recent Eruptions in the West Indian Islands : 



Prof. J. Logan Lobley. 



TUESDAY, April 21. 

 Royal Institution, at 5.— The Blood and some of its Problems : Prof. 



Allan Macfadyen. 

 Royal Statistical Society, at 5.— Agricultural Wages in England 



and Wales during the last Fifty Years : A. Wilson Fox 

 Institution of Civil Engineers, at 8. — The Decay of Metals: James 



T. Milton and William J. Larke. 

 Zoological Society, at 8.30. — On the Geographical Distribution of 



Spiders of the Order Mygalomorphse : R. I. Pocock.— On some Mammals 



NO. 1746, VOL. 67] 



collected by Capt. H. N. Dunn in the Soudan : Oldfield Thomas, 

 F.R.S. — Linneeusand Hunter on Feather tracts : Henry Scherren. 



WEDNESDA Y, April 22. 



Society of Arts, at 8.— Modern Bee Keeping: Walter F. Reid. 



Chemical Society, at 5.30. — The Velocity and Mechanism of the 

 Reaction between Potassium Fenicyanide and Potassium Iodide in 

 Neutral Aqueous Solution : F. G. Donnan and R de Rossignol. — A 

 Microscopic Method of Determining Molecular Weights : G. Barger. — 

 Note on the Spectrum of Pilocarpine Nitrate : W. N. Hartley.— Isomeric 

 Change of Dipropionanilide into Propionyl-/-aminnpropiophenone : 

 F. D. Clrnttaway.— Note on the Formation of the Di- and Hexa- 

 Methylammoniacal Chlorides of Cadmium : W. R. Lang. 

 THURSDAY, April 23. 



Royal Institution, at 5.— Hydrogen : Gaseous, Liquid and Solid: 

 Prof. Dewar, F.R.S. 



Society op Arts, at 4.30.— The Province of Sind : Dr. Herbert M. 

 Bird wood. 



Institution of Electrical Engineers, at 8.— Distribution Losses in 

 Electric Supply Systems: A. D. Constable and E. Fawsseit. — A Study 

 of the Phenomenon of Resonance in Electric Circuits by the Aid of 

 Oscillograms : M. B Field. Ami, if lime, per?nit. — Divided Multiple 

 Switchboards: An Efficient Telephone System for the World's Capitals : 

 W. Aitken. 



FRIDAY, April 24. 



Royai Institution, ai q.- Some Recent Investigations on Electrical 

 Conduction : The Hon. R. J. Strutt. 



Institution of Civil Engineers, at 8. — Bacterial Sewage-Disposal 

 Works, at Ash, Dover: H. S. Watson. 



Physical Society, at 5.— An Electrical Thermostat : H. Darwin.— 

 Dimensional Analysis of Physical Quantities and the Correlation of 

 Units: A F Ravenshear. — Note on the L .■intensions of Physical Quan- 

 tities : R. J. Sowter. 



Institution of Mechanical Engineers, at 8.— Address by the 

 president, J. H. Wicksteed. — The Education of Engineers in America, 

 Germany and Switzerland : Prof. W. E. Dalby. 



CONTENTS. page 



Economic Vegetable Products. By Prof. Henry G. 



Greenish 553 



Diseases of the Respiratory and Circulatory 



Organs . 554 



The Geology of the Isle of Man. By C. A. M. . . . 555 



Memoirs of Physics. By E. E 556 



Our Book Sht-lf : — 



Bbttger : " Grundriss der qualitativen Analyse, vora 



Standpunkte der Lehre von den Ionen." — A. S. . 557 

 Baker: "A Treatise on Reads and Pavements". . 557 

 " International Catalogue of Scientific Literature," 



Vol. v 557 



Hertwig : " Der echte Hausschwamm und andere das 



Bauholz zerstorende Pilze."— R. L 557 



Norman : " How to Work Arithmetic" 55^ 



Panntkoek : " Untersuchungen liber den Lichtwechsel 



Algols."— W. E. R 558 



Robinson : " My Nature Notebook " 55^ 



Letters to the Editor ■— 



Can Dogs Reason ? (Illustrated.)— T>r. Alex. Hill . 558 

 Spherical Aherration of the Eye. — Edwin Edser . . 559 

 The Name Solenopsis. — Prof. T. D. A. Cockerell . 559 

 The Thermal Energy of Radium Salts. — J. W. 



Mellor . 560 



East Siberian Decorative Art. (Illustrated.) By 



Prof. Alfred C Haddon, F.R S 560 



Flora of the Galapagos Islands. By W. Botting 



Hemsley, F.R.S 5 61 



A New Natural History. (Illustrated.) By R. L. . 562 



Notes 563 



Our Astronomical Column : — 



Nova Geminnrum .... 5*>7 



Cooperative Determinations of Velocities in the Line 



of Sight . 56S 



Woll's Rich Nebulous Region in the Constellation 



Lynx . . 568 



The Period and Light-curve of 8 Cephei 56S 



Constitution of a Board of Scientific Advice for the 



Furtherance of Scientific Work in India 568 



Solar Prominence and Spot Circulation, 1S72-1901. 



(Willi Diagrams.) By Dr. William J. S. Lockyer 569 

 The Statolith Theory of Geotropism. By Francis 



Darwin, F.R.S 571 



Entomology at Oxford. By S. J. H 572 



Magnetic Work in Maryland, U.S.A. By C. C . . 572 



Scientific Serial 573 



Societies and Academies 573 



Diary of Societies 576 



