96 



NA TURE 



[November 24, 1904 



thermometer remains the best instrument for high tempera- 

 tures. — Researches on dielectric solids : V. Cremieu and 

 L. Malcles. In the course of his researches on electric 

 convection, Cremieu observed some anomalies of electrical 

 influence through solid dielectrics. The authors have com- 

 menced a systematic study of these phenomena, and give 

 an account in the present paper of the apparatus used, re- 

 serving the results for a future communication. — On the 

 conductivity of gases from a flame : Paul Langrevin and 

 Eugene Bloch. The coefficient of re-combination of the 

 ions from a flame has been measured, and found to be equal 

 to about 07. This value is less than one, as the theory 

 requires, and is much greater than in the case of the 

 Rontgen rays. — On the absorption of hydrogen by rhodium : 

 L. Quennessen. Contrary to the statement given in the 

 text-books, the absorptive power of rhodium for hydrogen 

 is nil. Rhodium is not analogous with palladium in this 

 respect. — The action of boric acid on the alkaline peroxides 

 and the formation of perborates : George F. Jaubert. Bv 

 the action of boric acid upon sodium peroxide a perborate 

 of sodium is formed, the analysis of which leads to the 

 composition Na,B,0,,ioH,0. On re-crystallising this a 

 substance possessing more o.xygen, NaB0,,4H,0, is formed, 

 and this is very stable at the ordinary temperature, although 

 decomposed rapidly at ioo° C. The latter substance, treated 

 with 50 per cent, sulphuric acid, gives after filtration 

 through guncotton a solution of hydrogen peroxide of a 

 strength of 150 to 200 volumes. — On thioformic acid : \'. 

 Augrer. The author has shown in a previous paper that 

 the substance regarded by Wohler and Limpricht as thio- 

 formic acid is in reality trithioformaldehyde. The method 

 which was found to give the best yield of sodium thio- 

 formate was the interaction of sodium hydrogen sulphide 

 with phenyl formate. The latter substance was incidentally 

 obtained in the pure state for the first time, and details of 

 its preparation are given. — The synthesis of ;3/8-dimethv!- 

 adipic acid : G. Blanc. — On a new sugar from the berries 

 of the mountain ash : Gabriel Bertrand. The sugar is 

 isomeric with, but distinct from, sorbite and mannite, and 

 is provisionally named sorbierite. Its physical properties 

 are given, and its composition as a hexahydric alcohol 

 determined by the production of a hexacetate. — The de- 

 velopment of the organic material in seeds during their 

 ripening : G. Andre. — On the detection of cotton seed oil 

 in olive oil : E. Milliau. The test proposed is a modifi- 

 cation of the reduction test with silver nitrate. — Anhydro- 

 biosis and tropisms : Georges Bohn. — On the growth of 

 man and of living beings in general : Charles Henry and 

 Louis Bastien. — The evolution of the weight and organic 

 material of the leaf during necrobiosis in white light : L. 

 Beulayerue. — On heterogeneity in the Stichodactyline 

 group : Armand Krempf. — The comparative influence of 

 some organic compounds of phosphorus on the nutrition and 

 development of animals : A. Dessrez and A. Zaki. — On the 

 inoculation of cancer : M. Mayet. — On the bleaching of 

 flour by electricity : M. Balland. The treatment of flour 

 by electrified air has a bleaching action, and produces 

 chemical changes corresponding to the effect of age. 



DIARY OF SOCIETIES. 



THURSDAY, No 



VIBER 24 



RoVAL Society, at 4.30. — On the Refractive Indices of the Elements: 

 C. Culhbertson.— The Flow of Water through Pipes. E.\periments on 

 Stream-line Motion and the Measurement of Critical Velocity : Drs. H. T. 

 Barnes and E. G. Cokcr.— On Galvanic Cells produced by the Action of 

 Light. Preliminary Communication : Dr. M. Wilderman. — ^_Some Physical 

 Characters of the Sodium Borates, with a New and Rapid Method for 

 the Determination of Melting Points : C. H. Burgess and A. Holt, jun. 

 — On the Convergence of Infinite Series of Analytic Functions; H. A. 

 Webb. 



Institution op Electrical Engineers, at 8. — Hydrodynamical and 

 Electromagnetic Investigations regarding the Magnetic-Flux Distribu- 

 tion in Toothed-Core Armatures: Prof. H. S. Hele-Shaw, F.R.S., 

 Dr. Alfred Hay, and P. H. Powell. 



FRIDAY, November 35. 

 Physical Society, at 5. — The Measurement of Small Differences of 

 Phase : Dr. W. E. Sumpner.— On the Curvature-method of Teaching 

 Geometrical Optics: Dr. C. V. Drysdale.—(i) Exhibition of Specimens of 

 Crystals showing the Phenomenon of Luminous Rings ; (2) On a Rapid 

 Method of Approximate Harmonic Analysis : Prof. Silvanus P. 

 Thompson. — Exhibition of Apparatus by Prof. Dalby, Mr. Darling, 

 Dr. Drysdale, and Prof. Thompson. 



NO. 1830, VOL. 71] 



SATURDAY, Novem 



Essex Field Club (at Esse: 



Report British Association : 



Settlement at Skill's Hill, B; 



Easl Anglia : John Spiller. 



useum, Stratford), at 6.30. — Delegate's 

 W. Rudler. — Notes on Supposed Lake 

 :ree : F. W. Reader.— Coast Erosion in 



Society of Arts 



(Cantor Lecture 

 Institute of Actuaries, at 5.— I 



Mr. Henry Cockburn. 



MONDAY, November 2C. 



.—Musical Wind Inslrumenls : David J. Blaikley 

 gural Address by the President, 



\1ber : 



Zoological Soc 

 History of the 

 from Easl Afric 



at 8.30. — Some Observatior 

 ; Capt. Richard Crawshay.- 



TUESDA Y, NovE 



on the Field Natural 

 >n some Nudibrancbs 

 les Eliot, K.C.M.G.— 

 Lydekker, F.R.S.— On Old Pictures of Giraffes J 

 and Zebras: R Lydekker, F.R S.— On the Morphology and Cla.ssifica- I 

 tion of the Asellota Group of Crustaceans, with Descriptions of the { 

 Genus Stenet-ium and its Species: Dr. H. J. Hansen —On the Lactrta 

 def-ressa of Camerano : G. A. Boulenger, F.R.S. 

 Institution op Civil Engineers, at i.— Discussion : Distribution of 

 Electrical Energy : J. F. C. Snell. 



IVEDATESDAY, November 30. 



Society of Arts, at 3.— The British Canals Problem : Arthur Lee. 

 THURSDAY, December i. 



Royal Society, at 4.30. — Probable Papers; — The Ascent o Water in 

 Trees : Dr. A. J. E«.-irt.— On the Presence of Tyrosinases in the Skins of 

 some Pigmented Vertebrates. Preliminary Note : Miss F. M. Durham. 

 —On Chemical Combination and Toxic Action as Exemplified in Hemo- 

 lytic Sen: Prnf. R. MuirandC. H. Browning.— Histological Studies on 1 

 Cerebral Loc-ilisation. Part 11 : Dr. A W. Campbell. 



Chemical Society, at 8.— The Nitrites of the Alkali Metals and Metals 

 of the Alkaline Earths, and their Decomposition by Heat : P. C. Ray. 



Animals and Plants : 



Rontgen Socii 

 LiNNEAN Society, at 

 Prof. Sidney H. Vines 



FRIDAY, December 2. 

 Abronautical Society, at 8.— The Aeronautical Exhibits at the 

 St, Louis Exhibition : the President. Major B. Baden-Powell.— Kites, 

 Kite-flying anU Aeroplanes : W. H. Dines —The Work of the Inter- 

 national Aeronautical Commission : Dr. M. H. Hergesell. — Captive 

 Balloon Photography : Griffith Brewer. 



CONTENTS. PAGE 



Naturdenkmaler 73 



Principles of Fuel Combustion. By J. S. S. B. . 74 



School Mathematics 75 



Our Book Shelf :— 



Schneider: " Ilandbuch der Laubholzkunde.'' — Prof 



Percy Groom 76 



Bell: "The Cancer Problem in a Nutshell. "—R. T. H. 76 



•' Photography on Tour " . . . . 76 



Austin: " 'The Story without an End " 76 



Letters to the Editor ;— 



On the Origin of Flagellate Monads and of Fungus- 

 germs from Minute Masses of Zoogloea. — {Illustrated.) 

 --Dr. H. Charlton Bastian, F.R.S. .. . .77 



The Temperature of Meteorites. — H. E. Wimperis . 81 

 Mount Everest: the Story of a Controversy. — Douglas 



W. Freshfield 82 



Observations of the Leonid Meteors of 1904. — W. H. 



Milligan 83 



TheDiscoveryof Argon.— Prof G. H. Darwin, F.R.S. 83 



Blue-stained Flints.— Dr. F. J. Allen 83 



Inheritance of Acquired Characteristics. — D. E. 



Hutchins S3 



Dr. Koenig's Method of Colour Photography .... S3 



The New Whale Fisheries. (Illustrated.) By D. W. T. S4 



Notes 85 



Our Astronomical Column: — 



Encke's Comet (1904 (6) 89 



Observations of Perseids 89 



Heights of Meteors 89 



The Photographic Spectrum of Jupiter 89 



Science and the State. By Sir William Abney, 



K.C.B., F.R.S 90 



The Ben Bulben District. (Illustrated.) 91 



Coast Erosion and Protection 92 



The November Meteors of 1904. By W. F. Denning 93 



University and Educational Intelligence 94 



Societies and Academies 94 



Diary of Societies 96 



