JANUARY 10, 1907] 
NATURE 263 
namely, the dihydrate.—Contributions to the study of the 
calcium phosphates, ii., the action of ammonia gas on 
the calcium hydrogen orthophosphates: H. Bassett, jun. 
—Relation between chemical constitution and physiological 
action in the tropeines: H. A. D. Jowett and I. L. 
Pyman. The authors conclude that Ladenburg’s general- 
isation, which asserts that mydriatic tropeines must 
possess a benzene nucleus and a fatty hydroxyl in the side 
chain, cannot be mantained, since it does not hold good 
in the cases of terebyltropeine or the lactone of o-carboxy- 
phenylglyceryltropeing.—Some derivatives of salicylic acid : 
H. A. D. Jowett and F. L. Pyman. Descriptions of 
cinnamoylsalicylic acid, its methyl and ethyl esters, and 
quinine salt, and also 3: 5-dichloroacetylsalicylic acid, are 
given.—The addition of bromine to cinnamic acid and its 
esters. Preliminary notice: J. J. Sudborough and J. 
Thomas. An account of experiments made to determine 
the velocity of formation of the bromides of this acid and 
certain of its derivatives is given—The optical and 
magneto-optical influence of ethenoid linkings attached to 
contiguous ‘carbon atoms: J. W. Brahl. It has been 
shown by Sir W. H. Perkin that limonene, dipentene, and 
A®:()-p-menthadiene exhibit a remarkable difference in 
magnetic rotation, the values of the last being much 
higher than those of the two former. The author showed 
that this is due to the presence of two double linkings 
in the position —C : C.C : C— in the molecule of A*:*(°)-p- 
menthadiene.—A difficulty in the theory of valency of 
W. Barlow and W. J. Pope: D. L. Chapman. It is 
shown that the two propositions regarding the assemblages 
of spheres made by Messrs. Barlow and Pope imply that 
a sphere of any size can replace any other without any 
resort to re-marshalling being necessary, and therefore 
cannot be used in their present unqualified form to demon- 
strate that valency is a simple volume relation.—The more 
exact determination of the densities of crystals: Earl of 
Berkeley. A conical pyknometer with thermometer 
stopper and graduated side-tube is used, and the evapor- 
ation of the liquid is relied on to bring the level in the 
capillary side-tube within the graduations. The liquid 
used is carbon tetrachloride.—A relation between the 
volumes of the atoms of certain compounds at the melting 
points and their valencies. Interpretation by means of the 
Barlow-Pope theory: G: Le Bas. The molecular volumes 
of complex paraffins and alcohols can be calculated very 
exactly by means of the formulze 
M. V. of C,Hon+.= (6-+2)S =62S + 28, 
and 
M. V. of C,H 4,;0H = (62 +4)S =65 + 4S, 
where S is a constant which has an average value of 
2-970, and is called the unitstere—The action of acid 
chlorides on thioureas: A. E. Dixon and J. Hawthorne. 
—3-Hydroxyphthalic and 3-methoxyphthalic acids and their 
derivatives: W. H.. Bentley, Miss R. Robinson, and 
C. Weizmann.—4-Hydroxyphthalic and 4-methoxyphthalic 
acids: W. H. Bentley and C. Weizmann.—Derivatives 
of naphthacenequinone: W. H. Bentley, A. Friedl, 
F. Thomas, and C. Weizmann.—Dithioxanthoxalanil 
(preliminary note): S. Ruhemann. 
Paris. 
Academy of Sciences, December 31. 1906.—M. H. 
Poincaré in the chair—M. H. Becquerel was elected vice- 
president for the year 1907.—Self-recording apparatus for 
the solar atmosphere: H. Deslandres. After giving an 
account of the essential conditions of the problem, the 
author discusses ir. detail the various methods possible, 
mentioning those already applied in different observatories. 
It is pointed out that the more modern patterns differ both 
in movements and dimensions from the older forms. Five 
diagrams accompany the paper.—The observations of 
nebulae made at the Paris Observatory: G. Bigourdan. 
—A method of measuring the resistance opposed by metals 
to rapid deformations: P. Vieille and R. Liouville. A 
law connecting the deformations of crushers used in ballistic 
experiments in the two cases—slow deformations, as in 
calibration, and deformation at varying velocities.—A 
butyric lactone’ and unsymmetrical dimethyl-butylene 
NO. 941, VOL. 75 | 
glycol: Louis Henry. Butyrolactone, treated with mag- 
nesium methyl bromide or iodide, gives the glycol 
(CH,),(O0H)—CH,—CH,—CH,.OH, 
in about 50 per cent. yield. The glycol reacts with acetyl 
chloride, giving the chloroacetin 
(CH,),—CCI—CH,—CH,— CH, Ac. 
—The conductibility accompanying the expansion of gases : 
L. Bloch. The electrical effects due to the expansion of 
compressed air and oxygen are comparable, both being due 
to ions of fairly large mobility present in practically equal 
amounts. The effects are very irregular, and the mean 
of a large number of experiments is required to obtain 
trustworthy results.—Remarks on the thermodynamics of 
non-homogeneous mixtures: Emil Bose. The Duhem- 
Margules equation may be deduced in a simple manner 
from. a formula given by Nernst for the thermal effects of 
the mixture of two liquids. The author applies this to 
the case of two non-miscible liquids.—A new manganese 
silicide: G. Gin. The new silicide has been obtained by 
the reduction of rhodonite in the electric furnace. The 
composition corresponds to the constitution Si,Mn,. —Its 
physical and chemical properties are described.—The 
solubility of carbon in manganese sulphide: M. Houdard. 
Carbon dissolves in fused manganese sulphide in quantity 
proportional to the time of heating, the maximum solu- 
bility being 3-2 per cent. The carbon is recovered from 
the ingot-in the form of graphite, it being indifferent 
whether amorphous carbon or diamond is originally added. 
The manganese sulphide is not reduced.—The density of 
gaseous hydrochloric acid; the atomic weight of chlorine : 
Ph. A. Guye and G. Ter-Gazarian. . An outline is given 
of the methods adopted for obtaining the gas in the pure 
state and measuring its density. The mean weight of a 
litre of HCl at o° C., under one atmosphere pressure, lati- 
tude 45°, at the level of the sea is 1-6398 grams. The 
molecular weight of the gas has been calculated by the 
method of reduction to 8° C. of the critical elements. The 
atomic weight of chlorine thus derived is 35-461, agreeing 
well with the figure of Dixon and Edgar (35-463) or the 
value (35-460) deduced from the ratio Ag:Cl for Ag 
(107-89). As the experiments are preliminary, the authors 
do not wish to lay too much stress on the exactitude of 
the coincidence.—The melting points of the homologous 
hydrocarbons of the methane series: D. E. Tsakalotos. 
An empirical formula is given by means of which the 
melting points of the hydrocarbons between C,,H,, and 
C,,H,.. have been calculated. The agreement between the 
figures thus calculated and those actually observed is, with 
one exception, very close, the deviations being less than 
the experimental error—The study of the influence of 
radicals on the character of the complementary valencies 
of oxygen: M. Tehelinzef. An experimental study of the 
thermal changes which take place on the addition of one 
or two molecules of ether to various organomagnesium 
compounds in benzene solution.—The condensation of 
hydrazines with acetylenic nitriles. A general. method for 
the synthesis of the pyrazolonimines: Ch. Moureu and 
I. Lazennec. Hydrazines combine directly with acetylenic 
nitriles, and it is shown that the resulting compound is 
cyclic, most probably a pyrazolonimine. The reaction is 
general, and several examples are given of its application. 
—The transposition of hydrobenzoin; study of the alkyl- 
hydrobenzoins and some trisubstituted aromatic glycols: 
MM. Tiffeneau and Dorlencourt.—The disease causing 
bitterness in wines: A. Trillat. Evidence is given in sup- 
port of the view that the bitterness in wine is due to the 
presence of an aldehyde resin.—The cultural changes 
brought about in tubers of Solanum: Edouard Heckel. 
An account of the effects produced on several wild species 
of Solanum by excessive manuring.—Some attempts at 
grafting in the Solanacee: Ed. Griffon. In the experi- 
ments described grafting has had no specific morphological 
influence on either the graft or the plant.—The production 
of a new variety of maize by traumatism: L. Blaringhem. 
Mutilation constitutes a very powerful means for deter- 
mining sudden variations, both hereditary and progressive, 
in plants.—Researches on the cultivation of asparagus in 
the Auxerrois: Eug. Rousseaux and Ch. Brioux.—The 
existence of lymphoid formations producing blood cor- 
