May 14, 1914| 
number of points of ramification.—Louis Roy : Quasi- 
waves in three dimensions.—L. Dunoyer and R. W. 
Wood: Correction to our note entitled photometry of 
the superficial resonance of sodium vapour under the 
stimulation of the D lines. A correction of an error 
of calculation in the determination of the width of 
the resonance lines—F. Charron; A hydrodynamical 
arrangement for the magnification and registration of 
radio-telegraphic signals. | The telephonic receiver is 
modified so that the vibrations are concentrated on the 
orifice of a vertical capillary tube. A stream of gas 
is flowing out of the capillary tube with a velocity 
just below that of turbulent flow. Sounds in the tele- 
phone produce disturbances in the flow of the gas 
through the jet, and these can be utilised to form a 
record without using a Morse receiver.—H. Bourget, 
H. Buisson, and Ch. Fabry: Interferential measure- 
ments of the radial velocities and wave-lengths in the 
nebula of Orion. The mean radial velocity of the 
nebula is + 15-8 kilometres a second with respect to the 
sun, that is, the distance between the sun and the 
nebula is increasing at that rate. The wave-lengths 
of the characteristic double ultra-violet line had been 
determined and found to be 3726.100 and 3728.838. 
These lines are not emitted by any known element.— 
B. Fessenkoff: The law of reflection of light by matt 
surfaces.—J. Minguin and R. Bloc: The influence of 
solvents on the optical activity of the camphoric esters. 
The optical activity of the allo-acids is the same in 
alcoholic, benzene, or toluene solutions: the ortho- 
acids give higher rotations in benzene or toluene than 
in alcohol.—Marcel Delépine: Lithium chloro-iridate 
and chloro-iridite.—Jacques Bardet: The extraction of 
germanium from Vichy water. Germanium had been 
previously detected spectroscopically in Vichy water, 
and an attempt was made to isolate germanium com- 
pounds from this source. The starting point was the 
mixture of insoluble carbonates deposited on heating 
the water, and 0-06 gram of germanium oxide was 
prepared from 100 kilograms of deposit, representing 
about 250,000 litres of mineral water. The method 
of separation is given in detail—M, Vasticar: The 
apparatus of support of the internal acoustic region. 
—Michel Cohendy and Eugéne Wollman : Experiments 
on life without micro-organisms. Aseptic growth of 
guinea-pigs. These experiments prove that it is pos- 
sible to raise guinea-pigs under strictly aseptic condi- 
tions, development and utilisation of food being in no 
way prejudiced by the absence of micro-organisms.— 
Louis Cruveilhier ; Treatment of blennorrhagia by the 
method of sensitised virus vaccines.—Auguste Lumiére 
and Jean Chevrotier: Some new considerations con- 
cerning the culture of gonococci.—P. Macquaire: The 
amylolytic diastase of the pancreas.—L. Cayeux: 
Eastern prolongation of the ferruginous formation of 
the May (Calvados) synclinal. 
Care Town. 
Royal Society of South Africa, April 15.—Mr. S. S. 
Hough in the chair.—T. Muir: (1) Note on a theorem 
of Ph. Gilbert, regarding the differentiation of a 
special Jacobian. (2) Note on Rosanes’s functions, 
resembling Jacobians.—R. T. A. Innes: The triple 
stellar system ¢ Virginis and % 1757. These two 
stars, although a considerable distance apart, consti- 
tute a system as they are moving through space with 
almost identical velocities and directions.—G. A. H. 
Bediord: A curious mosquito.—A. L. du Toit: The 
porosity of the rocks of the Karroo system. Deter- 
minations are given of the porosity of more than 
ninety rocks, the majority being from borehole cores. 
It was found with the three-fold division of the Beau- 
fort beds the mean porosity of the Sandstone was 
2-9 per cent. for the lower, 5-2 per cent. for the middle, 
NO. 2324, VOL. 93] 
NATURE 
| 
| 
289 
and 5:5 per cent. for the upper division. The figures 
for the Transvaal phase of the Karroo were much 
higher. The effects of weathering in increasing the 
porosity are discussed and analysed.—J. R. Sutton: 
A note on the temperatures of the air observed at 
Mochudi. The ncete gives a brief account of some 
points of interest in the results of temperature observa- 
tions by Harbor at Mochudi in the Bechuanaland Pro- 
tectorate. The extremes of temperature are con- 
siderable, the greatest range so far observed being 
from 108° F. to 28° F. The mean maximum tempera- 
tures depend upon the sun’s meridian altitude in 
much the same way as they do at Kimberley. The 
annual cold wave of the middle of July is felt at 
Mochudi like it is elsewhere further south. 
BOOKS RECEIVED: 
The Simpler Natural Bases. By Prof. G. Barger. 
Pp. viiit+215. (London: Longmans and Co.) 6s. 
net. 
Department of Marine and Fisheries. Report of 
the Meteorological Service of Canada, Central Office, 
Toronto, for the Year ended December 31, tIg!o. 
Vol. i. Introduction and Parts i.-iii. Pp. xxiii+341. 
Vol. ii. Parts iv—vi. and Appendix. Pp. 342-604. 
(Ottawa: C. H. Parmelee.) 
The Therapeutic Value of the Potato. By H. C. 
Howard. Pp. 31. (London: Bailliére and Co.) 1s. 
net. 
Ernahrungsphysiologisches Praktikum der hédheren 
Pflanzen. By Prof. V. Grafe. Pp. x+494. (Berlin: 
P. Parey.) .17 marks. 
American Mathematical Society. Colloquium Lec- 
tures. Vol. iv. The Madison Colloquium, 1913. i., 
On Invariants and the Theory of Numbers. By L. E. 
Dickson. ii., Topics in the Theory of Functions of 
Several Complex Variables. By W. F. Osgood. Pp. 
vi+230. (New York : American Mathematical Society.) 
Smithsonian Institution. Bureau of American Eth- 
nology. Bulletin 56. Ethnozoology of the Tewa 
Indians. By J. Henderson and J. P. Harrington. 
Pp. x+76. (Washington: Government Printing 
Office.) 
Lehrbuch der vergleichenden  mikroskopischen 
Anatomie der Wirbeltiere. Edited by Prof. A. Oppel. 
Achter Teil. ~ Pp. x4+-168, ” «(fena:- G.” Fischer). 8 
marks. 
The British Academy. Palissy, Bacon, and the Re- 
vival of Natural Science. By Sir T. Clifford Allbutt. 
Pp. 15. (London: Oxford University Press.) 1s. net. 
Bulletin of the Illinois State Laboratory of Natural 
History, Urbana, Ull.,U:S:A. “Vol. x., Article 3: 
Studies on the Enchytroeidce of North America. By 
Dr. P;, (S. S Welchs! > Pp. 232-¢ Platéss | -vitixit, 
(Urbana, Iil.) 
British Museum (Natural History). A Monograph 
of the Genus Sabicea. By H. F. Wernham. Pp. v+ 
82+xii Plates. (London: British Museum.) 6s. 
A Revision of the Ichneumonidz. Based on the 
Collection in the British Museum (Natural History). 
Part iii. By C. Morley. Pp. xi+148. (London: 
British Museum.) 5s. 6d. 
British Museum (Natural History). Report on 
Cetacea stranded on the British Coasts during 1913. 
By Dr. S. BS Harmer. “Pp: zz. (London: British 
Museum.) ts. 6d. 
Elements of Algebra. By G. St. L. Carson and 
Prof. D. E. Smith. Parti. Pp. v+346.. (London: 
Ginn and Co.) 3s. 
Journal of the British Fire Prevention Committee. 
No. ix. (Special subject.) Table G. The Fire 
Resistance of Partitions. Pp. 8+1 Table. (London : 
The British Fire Prevention Committee.) tos. 6d. 
