248 



NATURE 



[July 4, 1901 



in a group of rhombohedral minerals, including hamlinite, 

 AIPO4.SrHPO4.AMOH),;; florencite, AlP04.CeP04.AMOH)6 ; 

 beudantite, Fe"'P64.PbSOj.Fe„(OH)„ ; svanbergite, 



AlPOj.SrSOj.AyOHle; 



alunite, AlS0jKSO4.Al„(OH)6 ; and jarosite, 



Fe"'S04KS04.Fe.,(OH),i. 



Similar relations are also shown by the isomorphous pairs, 

 monazite, CePOa, and crocoite, PbCr04 ; fergusonite, YNbOj, 

 and scheelite, CaWOj ; herderite, CaFBePOj. and caracolite, 

 NaCl.PbSOi (?) ; pharmacolite, CaHP04.2H,A and gypsum, 

 CaS04.2H,p. 



Paris. 

 Academy of Sciences, June 24. — M. Fouaue in the 

 chair. — Chemical equilibria. Reactions of two bases added 

 simultaneously to phosphoric acid, by M. Berthelot. The author 

 has studied the distribution of the bases between the precipitate 

 and solution obtained when sodium hydroxide and calcium (or 

 barium) hydroxide are added to a solution of phosphoric acid. 

 A considerable proportion of the sodium is in every case found 

 to be contained in the precipitate. — On acetylometaUic radicles, 

 by M. Berthelot. The composition of the metallic derivatives 

 of acetylene recently described by I\I. Chavastelon is shown to be 

 capable of being represented in accordance with the views 

 formerly expressed by the author as to the presence of acetylo- 

 metaUic radicles in such compounds. — Synthesis of a colouring 

 matter derived from diphenylenephenylmethane, by MM. A. 

 Haller and A. Guyot. Crystal violet is converted by a series 

 of reactions into the leucobase hexamethyltriamidophenylfluorene 

 which, when oxidised with lead peroxide, yields fluorene blue, 

 Co.-,H2j,N.,Cl + 2iH.,0. This colouring matter has a bluer tint 

 than crystal violet, but does not differ essentially from the 

 latter as regards its tinctorial properties. — A simple and trust- 

 worthy apparatus, capable of easy and rapid application, for 

 facilitating existence and worli in irrespirable atmospheres 

 contaminated with deleterious gases, by MM. A. Chauveau 

 and J. Tissot. The essential feature of the apparatus is an 

 arrangement for the separation of the currents o( inspired and 

 expired air. — On globular lightning, by M. J. VioUe. An in- 

 stance of globular lightning was observed towards the end of 

 a storm on June 9 last. — Action of an oxide or a metallic 

 hydroxide on solutions of the salts of other metals : mixed 

 basic salts, by M. Paul Sabatier. Observations on a recent 

 paper by M. Recoura. — Third series of observations of 

 the new star in Perseus, by M. H. Deslandres (see p. 

 240). — On the continuous deformation of surfaces, by M. D. 

 Th. Egorov. Remarks on a recent communication by M. 

 Tzitzeica. — Theory of linear groups in an arbitrary region of 

 rationality, by M. L. E. Dickson. — On the integration of the 

 equation ^iw-ju-zy = o, by M. S. Zaremba. — Chemical reactions 

 in dissolved or gaseous systems. Vapour tension ; Avogadro's 

 hypothesis, by Si. Ponsot. A continuation of previous papers 

 on the subject, which is treated mathematically. — Capillary 

 constants of organic liquids, by MM. Ph. A. Guye and A. Baud. 

 The results described show that oximes and urethanes resemble 

 alcohols, acids, ketones, &c. , in being polymerised in the liquid 

 state. The group of urethanes is remarkable in that the degree 

 of polymerisation increases with the molecular weight. — On the 

 preparation of phosphorous oxide, liy M. A. Besson. Fresh 

 experiments are cited in proof of the existence of the oxide P„0, 

 previously described by the author. — On the action of solar 

 radiations on silver chloride in presence of hydrogen, by M. 

 Jouniaux. When sealed tubes containing silver chloride and 

 hydrogen are exposed to sunlight, metallic silver is formed, and, 

 under favourable conditions, the whole of the hydrogen is 

 eventually converted into hydrogen chloride. — Action of mercuric 

 oxide on aqueous solutions of metallic salts, by M. A. Mailhe. 

 The action of freshly precipitated mercuric oxide on the 

 chlorides, nitrates and sulphates of manganese, cadmium, lead 

 and iron is described. With sulphates no reaction occurs, as a 

 a rule, but the chlorides and nitrates are decomposed with the 

 formation of mixed basic salts. — Observations on basic salts 

 containing several metallic oxides, by M. G. Andre. A number 

 of complex salts were described by the author some years before 

 the recent experiments of MM. Mailhe and Recoura. — Action of 

 bases and acids on the salts of amines, by M. Albert Colson. 

 Former experiments on this subject are continued. — On 

 racemic erythritol, by MM. L. Maquenne and Gab. Bertrand, 

 Griner's experiments are confirmed and extended. The four 



NO. 1653, VOL. 64] 



theoretically possible stereoisomeric erythritols are now known. — 

 Action of acid chlorides on aldehydes in presence of zinc chloride, 

 by M. Marcel Descude. The action of acid chlorides on alde- 

 hydes is greatly facilitated by the presence of a trace of zinc 

 chloride. — Nitration of .acetylacetic ethers and their acid deri- 

 vatives, by MM. L. Bouveault and A. Bongert. — On the acidi- 

 metric value of parasulphanilic acid, by M. G. Massol. A 

 thermochemical paper.— On racemism, by Mi\L J. Minguin and 

 E. Gregoire de Bollemont. The properties of a number of 

 racemic camphor derivatives are compared with those of their 

 active constituents. — Synthesis of boronatrocalcite (ulexite), by 

 M. A. de Schulten. The artificial mineral may be obtained by 

 adding calcium chloride to a large excess of cold, saturated 

 borax solution, and leaving the mixture at rest for fifteen to 

 thirty days. — On the commencement of germination and the 

 evolution of sulphur and phosphorus during this period, by 

 M. G. Andre. — Morphology of the digestive apparatus of 

 Dytiscus, by M. L. Bordas. — On the sensibility of higher 

 plants to the useful action of potassium salts, by M. Henri 

 Coupin. The growth of wheat is shown to be favoured by 

 almost infinitesimal quantities of potassium salts. — On the con- 

 stitution of the seed of Hernandia compared with that of 

 Ravensara, by M. Edouard Heckel. — Use of the Oudin resonator 

 for the production of X-rays, by M. R. Demerliac. — On the 

 presence and localisation of iodine in the leucocytes of normal 

 blood, by MM. Stassano and P. Bourcet. The small quantity 

 of iodine contained in normal blood exists exclusively in the 

 leucocytes. — On the production of local an.x'sthesia in dental 

 surgery by means of currents of high frequency and intensity, 

 by MAL L. R. Regnier and G. Didsbury. — On the conservation 

 of mineral waters, by M. F. Parmentier. 



CONTENTS. PAGE 



Scientific Worthies. XXXIIL Sir William Huggins, 

 K.C.B. By Prof. H. Kayser. (JVith Portrait.) . . 225 



England's Neglect of Science. By Prof. George M. 

 Minchin, F.R.S 226 



Grant Duff's Notes from a Diary. By Lord Avebury, 

 F.R.S 22S 



Field Experiments on Wheat. By N. H. J. M. . . 



Earth Current Measurements 



Our Book Shelf:— 



Maeterlinck : " The Life of the Bee."— W. F. K. . 



Kingsley : " West African Studies " 



Sidgwick : " The Use of Words in Reasoning "... 



" Holidays in Eastern Counties" 



Letters to the Editor : — 



A \'ertical Light-beam through the Setting Sun. — 



Prof. A. S. Herschel, F.R.S 



A New Method of using Tuning-forks in Chrono- 

 graphic Measurements. — Rev. F. J. Jervis-Smith, 



F.R.S 



Long-tailed Japanese Fowls. — Frank Finn . . . 

 Decomposition of Copper Oxide. — Philip Harrison 

 The Subjective Lowering of Pitch. — E. C. Sher- 

 wood 



,\ Curious Phenomenon. — Stanley B. Hutt .... 



The Antarctic Expedition 



The Simplon Tunnel. [IlluslrateJ.) 



Notes 



Our Astronomical Column : — 



Sj^ectrum of Nova Persei 



Dark Spot on Jupiter 



The Meteoric Epoch of July and August. By 



W. F. Denning 



The "Edison" Storage Cell. (lUuslraled.) . . . . 



The Biology of Mount Shasta 



The Nadir of Temperature and Allied Problems. 



By Prof. James Dewar, F.R.S 



University and Educational Intelligence. (///;«- 



Iratetl.) 



Scientific Serial 



Societies and Academies 



229 



232 



233 

 233 

 233 

 235 

 236 



240 

 240 



240 

 241 

 242. 



244 

 246 

 246 



