Marcu 12, 1914] 
NATURE 51 
radio-activity of coal. Fire-damp from Anzin has been 
previously shown by the authors to contain 0-04 per 
cent. of helium, and as the amount of crude gas 
evolved a day is estimated at 30,000 cubic metres, this 
corresponds to 12 cubic metres of helium a day. The 
amounts of radium and thorium in the ash of the coal 
have been determined, in this and other coals yielding 
fire-damp containing helium, and do not correspond to 
such large proportions of helium. The larger part of 
the gas is not derived from the radio-active material 
of the coal, and must be regarded as fossil helium.— 
André Blondel: The effect and production of the higher 
harmonics in the transport of electrical energy at high 
potentials.—P. Sabatier and A. Mailhe: The ester 
oxides of carvacrol. A study of the direct dehydration 
of carvacrol by the action of thorium oxide upon the 
vapour at temperatures between 400° and 500° C.—M. 
Gambier: Algebraic curves of constant torsion, real 
and not unicursal.—F. Jager: The application of the 
method of Fredholm to the tides of a basin limited by 
vertical walls.—E. Mazurkiewicz and W. Sierpinski: An 
ensemble superposable with each ofits two parts.—A. 
Pchéborski: A generalisation of a problem of Tchébi- 
scheff and of Zolotareff.—C. Gutton: The specific in- 
ductive capacity of liquids. According to Voigt’s 
hypothesis, the force which acts on an electron de- 
viated from its equilibrium position in an electric field 
should not be exactly proportional to the deviation, 
and hence the specific inductive capacity ought to 
depend on the intensity of the field. In measurements 
made with toluene the deviations observed in the 
specific inductive capacity were of the same order as 
the experimental error. A slight diminution with  in- 
crease of field was noticed with bromonapththalene, 
4-72 to 4-69.—Maurice de Broglie: The spectra of the 
Rontgen rays. Rays emitted by antikathodes_ of 
copper, iron and gold.—J. de Kowalski: An explosive 
luminous phenomenon in _ rarefied nitrogen. The 
author confirms the observations of Strutt that 
nitrogen free from the smallest trace of oxygen is 
transformed into active nitrogen in a discharge in 
electrodeless tubes. A curious explosive phenomenon 
is described which is attributed to a temporary com- 
bination between the active nitrogen and traces of 
mercury vapour unavoidably present to form mercury 
nitride, the latter decomposing spontaneously.—H. 
Labrouste: A molecular transformation of thin layers 
on water.—F. Baud, F. Ducelliez, and L. Gay: A calori- 
metric study of the system water-monomethylamine. 
—H. Gault: A new method of preparation of tricarb- 
allylic acid. Oxalocitric lactone cannot be distilled 
under reduced pressure without decomposition. The 
liquid obtained by distillation is not, as was supposed 
by Wislicenus and Beckh, the unchanged lactone, 
but proves to be ethyl aafy-propane-tetracarboxylate. 
With dilute mineral acids a quantitative yield of 
crystalline tricarballylic acid is obtained.—Enrique 
Hauser: A new method for the detection and deter- 
mination of gaseous hydrocarbons dissolved in mineral 
waters. After adding potash to the water it is shaken 
with air and the latter analysed.—M. Piettre and A. 
Vila: Observations on fibrinogen and the oxalated 
plasma.—W. Kopaczewski: The influence of acids on 
the activity of dialysed maltase. The observed effects 
cannot be explained exclusively by the concentration 
of the acid ions.—Mlle. Jeanne Weill: The amount of 
fatty acids and cholesterol in the tissues of. cold- 
blooded animals.—Paul Fallot: The tectonic of the 
sierra of Majorca.—Emile Belot: An attempt at a 
physical theory of the formation of the oceans and 
primitive continents.—F. Malméjac: The importance 
of the estimation of chlorides for the control and 
evaluation of drinking water.—A. Boutaric: The 
thermal state of the atmosphere. 
NO. 2315, VOL. 93] 
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DIARY OF SOCIETIES. 
THURSDAY, Marcu 12. 
Rovat Society, at 4.30.—Note on a Functional Equation Employed by 
Sir George Stokes : Sir James Stirling. —The Mercury Green Line A=5461 
as Resolved by Glass and Quartz Lummer Plates and on its Zeeman 
Components: Prof. J. C. McLellan and A. R. MclLeod.—The Electrical 
Condition of a Gold Surface During the Absorption of Gases and their 
Catalytic Combustion: H. Hartley.—The Diffusion of Electrous through a 
Slit: J. H. Mackie.—The Rate of Solution of Hydrogen by Palladium : 
Dr. A. Holt.—The Dispersion of a Light Pulse by a Prism: Dr. R. A. 
Houston. 
