48o 



NATURE 



[March i6, 1905 



melting- point, electrical resistance, and breaking load are 

 given. — The action of potassium permanganate on salts of 

 hydroxylamine : L. J. Simon. A study of the oxidation 

 of the nitrate, phosphate, and arsenate of hydroxylamine. — 

 On quadrivalent oxygen : E. K. Blaise. The author has 

 succeeded in obtaining a zinc compound, 



(C,HJ,.0.(l).Zn.(I).0.(C,H,)„ 

 crystallising in fine prisms, and corresponding in com- 

 position to the magnesium compound previously described. 

 The bearing of this compound on the theory of quad- 

 rivalent oxygen is discussed. — On the decomposition of 

 orthonitrobenzyl alcohol under the inlluence of aqueous 

 and alcoholic soda : P. Carre. — On the comparative as- 

 similability of ammonia salts, amines, amides, and nitriles : 

 L. Lutz. Experiments with Aspergillus and Penicillium 

 show that of all nitrogenous compounds amides are the 

 most easily assimilated ; ammonia salts come next, then 

 amines and nitriles. — The distribution of estragol and 

 terpene compounds between the various parts of an annual 

 plant : Eug. Charabot and G. Laioue. — On the so-called 

 physicochemical analysis of arable earth : H. Lagratu. 

 .'V description of a graphical mode of representing the 

 analysis into three proximate constituents of an arable 

 earth. — On some facts relating to the development of the 

 kidney in Elasmobranchs : I. Borcea. A detailed study, 

 illustrated with four diagrams, of the development 

 of the renal system of Acaiitliias vulgaris. — On a 

 form of scales peculiar to the Pandalidn^ : H. Coutiere. 

 — On some anomalous forms of amitosis in the epithelium 

 of mammals : M. Pacaut. — On some diseases of the 

 tobacco plant : Georges Delacroix. — .\n experimental study 

 of the conditions which determine the penetration of the 

 vapours of chloroform into the blood during chloroformic 

 ansesthesia, and on the influence of the variations of the 

 pulmonary ventilation on this penetration : J. Tissot. It 

 is shown that, contrary to the view generally accepted, 

 during anaesthesia with mixtures containing between 7 and 

 12 per cent, of chloroform there is no possibility of es- 

 tablishing an equilibrium between the blood and the 

 mixture, since this equilibrium would correspond to' a fatal 

 dose of chloroform. The variable equilibrium which is 

 actually produced depends largely on the pulmonary ven- 

 tilation. — On the secreting power of the kidnev : Hrnri 

 Lamy and .Andre Mayer. — The spectroscopic study of 

 oxvha'inoglobin : M. Piettre and A. Vila. — The action of 

 ammoniacal salts on the nitrifualion of sodium nitrite bv 

 the nitric ferment ; E. Boullangrer and L. Massol. — On 

 the distemper of dogs : H. Carre. — On a geological section 

 of the High Atlas in the region of (ilaoui, Morocco: Paul 

 Lemoine. — Examination of the fossils brought from the 

 ^'unnan by the Lantenois expedition ; H. Mansuy. The 

 study of these fossils confirms the analogies previously 

 recognised between the primary and secondary fauna of the 

 Indo-Chinese region and the synchronic fauna of India and 

 Central .Asia. — The Bishop's circle of Mt. Pel^e, Mar- 

 tinique : F. A. Forel. 



DIARY OF SOCIETIES. 



THURSDAY. March 16. 



RovAL Society, at 4.30.— A New Radio-active Element, which evolves 

 Thorium Emanation. Preliminary Communication: Dr. O. Hahn,— A 

 Determination of the Amounts 1 f Neon and Helium in Atmospheric Air: 

 Sir William Ramsay, K.C.B., F.R.S.— A Prelimin.iry Note UDon the 

 Question of the Nutrition of the Early H mbryo : E. Emrys-Robcrts — 

 On the Absence or Marked Diminution of Free Hydrochloric Acid in the 

 Oaslric Contents, in Malignant Disease of Organs other than the 

 Stomach : Prof. B Moore (with W. Alexander, R. E. Kelly, and H. K. 

 Koaf ).— On the Occurrence of certain Ciliated Infusoria within the Eggs 

 of a Rotifer, considered from the Point of View of Heferogenesis ; Dr. H. 

 C. Bastian, F.R.S.— On the Dimorphism of the English Species of 

 Kummulite,, and the Size of the Megal -sphere in Relation to that of 

 the Microspheric and Megalospheric 1 ests in this Genus: J. J. Lister, 

 F.R.S.— Observations on the Brains of Man and Animals with Trypano- 

 some Infection. Preliminary Note: Dr. K. W. Mott, F.R.S. 



Royal Institution, at 5.— Recent Astronomical Progress: Prof. H. H. 

 Turner, F.R S. 



Society of Arts, at 4-30.— Manlpur and its Tribes: T. C. Hodson. 



LiNNEAN Society, at 8.— Contributions to the Flora of Liberia: Dr. 

 OttoStapf.-.Pj-/<//.r//o«i; Penguins and othtr Biids from the Falkland 

 Islands, and Scratched Rocks from a Rockhopper's Rookery : R. Val- 



FRIDA r, March 17. 

 Ei'iDEMioLOGicAL Society, at 8.30. 



Institution of Mechanical Eni.inekfs, at 8.— First Report to the 

 Stenm-Engine Research Committee : Prof. David S. Capper. 



Sub- 



Prof. W. E. Dalby. 



(ssion: Shipbuilding for 

 olgardie Water-Supply : 





, F.R.S. 



NO. 1846, VOL. 71] 



SATURDAV, March 18. 



Royal Institution, at 3.— Electrical Properties of Ra 

 stances : Prof. J. J. Thomson, F.R.S. 



MONDAY, March 20. 



Society of Arts, at 8 —Telephony : H. I.. Webb. 



Victoria Institute, at 4.30, — The Nebular and Planetesimal The 

 of ihe Earth's Origin : Warren Upham. 



TUE.SDA Y, March 2i. 



RoVAL Institution, at 5.— Engineering Proble 



Royal Statistical Society, at 5. 



Zoological Society, at 8.30. 



Institution of Civil Engineers, at 8.— 0;.«j 

 the Navy: Lord Brassey, K.C.B.— /'<iA-'-.- 'Co 

 C. S. R. Palmer. 



WEDNESDAY. March 22. 



Geological Society, at 8.— An Experiment in Mountain-Building. 

 Pait II. ; Lord Avebury, PC, F.R.S.— The RhaMic Rocks of Mon- 

 mouthshire : L. Richardson. 



Society of Dyers and Colourists, at 7.30. — The Dyeing and Finishing 



of Leather for Bookbinding ; with remarks on Preparatory Manufacturing 



Processes: F.W.Colin Robinson.- A Dyeing Drum Door, removable 



and replaceable without stopping the Drum : H. W. Ley. 



THURSDAY, March 23. 



Royal Society, at 4.30. — Bakerian Lecli 



Utilisation of Energy by the Green Leaf: Dr. Horace T. Bn 



Institution of Electrical Engineers, at 8. — Report of Experiments 

 carried out at the National Physical Laboratory : On the Effect of Heat 

 on the Electrical and Mechanical Properties of Dielectrics, and on the 

 Temperature Distribution in the Interior of b'ield Coils : E. H, Rayner. 

 ^Discussum : On Temperature Curves and the Rating of Electrical 

 Machinery : R. Gold'chmidt. 



Royal Institution, at 5. — The Reasonableness of Architecture : Thomas 

 G. lackson. 



FRIDAY. March 24. 



Royal Institution, at 9. — A Pertinacious Current: Sir Oliver Lodge, 

 F.R.S. 



Physical Society, at 5.— Note on the Voltage Ratios of an Inverted 

 Bot.lry Converter: W. C. Clinton.— On the Flux of Light from the 

 Electric Arc with varying Power Supply : G. B. Dyke —The Application 

 of the Cymometer and the Determinarioa 01' the Coefficient of Coupling 

 of Oscillation Transformers: Prof. J. A. Fleming, F.R, S.— Exhibition 

 of Cymometers and other Instruments. 



Institution of Civil Engineers, at S.— The Wanki to Victoria Falls 

 Section ; Victoria Falls Railway : C. T. Gardner.— Design of a Double- 

 Line Plate-Girder Railway-Bridge : H. S. Coppock. 



SATURDAY, March 25. 

 RovAL Institution, at 3. — Electrical Properties of Radio-active Sub- 

 stances : Prof. J. J. Thoiison, F.R.S. 



CONTENTS. PAGE 



Modern Optical Theory 457 



Technical Analysis. By J. B. C 458 



The Zoological Record. By R. L. 459 



Our Book Shelf :— 



Kirby : "A Synonymic Catalogue of Orthoptera. " — 



M. B 459 



Gutlmann: " Percenlage Tables for Elementary 



Analysis." — A. S 460 



Hodges : " How to Photograph with Roll and Cut 



Films" 460 



Nolan: "The Telescope" 460 



Letters to the Editor: — 



The Infection of Laboratories by Radiuin. — A. S. 



Eve . . 460 



Inlernational Atomic Weights. — Dr. F. Mollwo 



Perkin 461 



The Planet Fortuna.— W. T. ; W. E. P. . . 461 

 Costa Rica. (Ilhislrated.) By Colonel George Earl 



Church 461 



Progress in Aerial Navigation. By Prof. G. H. 



Bryan, F.R S 463 



Phaistos and Hagia Tiiada, Crete . 465 



Notes 465 



Our Astronomical Column: — 



.StiucUire of the Corona 469 



Radiant Point of the Bielid Meteors 469 



Biightnessof Encke's Comet 469 



January Fireballs 469 



Rntaiion of Jupiter's Sale'liles I. and II 469 



Orliils of Minor Planets 469 



Effect of Autumnal Rainfall upon Wheat Crops. 



[U'it'i Diagram.) By Dr. 'W. N. Shaw, F.R.S. . 470 



Geological Notes . . 471 



Forthcoming Books of Science 473 



University and Educational Intelligence 475 



Societies and Academies ... 475 



Diary of Societies 480 



