334 



NA TURE 



[August i, 1901 



constantly found in America in graves and elsewhere. These are 

 popularly called " plummets." The so-called "plummets " form 

 the subject of an illustrated paper by Charles Peabody, who 

 enumerates the numerous uses to which these stones have been 

 supposed to be put. Of these supposititious uses that as true 

 plummets is the most unlikely ; probably most were sinkers used 

 in fishing and some were weights used in weaving, while others 

 were probably used for various purposes. The indefatigable 

 travellers. Dr. H. M. Hiller and Dr. W. H. Furness, 3rd, 

 give an illustrated paper on the Veddahs of Ceylon, but 

 there is nothing particularly new in their observations. The 

 games of the Ogalala Indians are fully described by Mr. Louis 

 L. Meeker ; these Amerinds are a branch of the Sioux, and 

 the specimens he collected further enrich the unique collection 

 of toys and games that Mr. Culin has been the means of garner- 

 ing in the Museum under his care. 



Among the series of useful French handbooks published under 

 the title of Scientia, there are few that will prove of greater 

 interest to mathematicians and physicists than M. J. Hada- 

 mard's volume of 102 pages on Taylor's series and its extension. 

 The general problem of Taylor's series consists in the deter- 

 mination of an analytical function by the solution of the follow- 

 ing problems: (l) calculation of the function at any point 

 whatever ; (2) determination of the singular points. M. Hada- 

 mard considers that the solution of the first problem is to be 

 found in Mittag LefHer's theorem, but that of the second is at 

 present in a much less advanced stage. In the bibliography, 

 the author gives a list of more than a hundred books and papers 

 dealing with the properties of analytic functions, the convergence 

 of series and other questions arising out of the general problem. 



In the Psydwhgical Jieview (viii. 2), Prof G. T. W. 

 Patrick studies the questions, " Why do men swear? When 

 they swear, why do they use the words which they do?" From 

 a classification of the various forms of profane expression used 

 by men at different periods of history, and an examination of 

 their connection with religious words, the writer concludes that 

 profanity is not to be regarded as primarily an expression of 

 emotion, but is only to be understood by the genetic method, 

 the point of departure being the growl of anger in the lower 

 animal, which is a serviceable form of reaction in cases of 

 combat. It belongs, therefore, to a primitive form of vocal- 

 isation, and hence is ancient and deep-seated, being one of 

 several forms of speech preceding articulate language by an 

 indefinite period of time. By a process of selection it chooses 

 at all times those forms of phonation or those articulate words 

 which are best adapted to terrify or shock the opponent. 

 Although originally useful in combat, the occasion of profanity 

 at the present time may be any analogous situation in which 

 our well-being is threatened, as in helpless distress or dis- 

 appointment. If, then, the oath is a form of instinctive reaction 

 and even a purifying agent, why is it considered to have an 

 immoral quality ? Prof. Patrick thinks for two reasons : first, 

 because advancing civilisation bids us evermore inhibit and re- 

 press ; and, secondly, because of the unfortunate but inevitable 

 connection between profanity and the sacred names of religion. 



An account of the new eruptive cone on Vesuvius, which 

 commenced to form in September, 1900, up till April last, is 

 given by Prof E. Semmola in the Rendkonto of the Naples 

 Academy (vii. 4). The cone is — or rather was at that time — 

 about forty metres high, but difficult of ascent owing to its 

 steepness and the thick coating of sand on its walls. The in- 

 ternal cavity was irregularly elliptic and was divided along its 

 major axis into two parts. In that part lying towards the north- 

 east a crater had been formed whose depth aid not appear to 

 exceed twenty-five metres ; at its bottom was the eruptive aperture 

 emitting a copious column of vapour and gas. In the smaller 



NO. 1657, VOL. 64] 



portion was a crateriform dyke, full of cracks, and with the walls 

 smoking in places, this being separated from the crater pre- 

 viously mentioned by a kind of wall rising half-way up and 

 terminating in the floor of the crater. The internal walls of 

 the crater were carpeted with sublimates, in which various 

 shades of red and yellow predominated. The vapour made its e.xit 

 in globular clouds, which in calm weather spread out into a fine 

 tree-shape some hundred metres high. The gaseous products 

 reddened litmus paper, and here and there sulphurous anhydride 

 was noticeable ; the ground at the top of the cone felt hot, and 

 the temperature at a depth of 50 cm. was about 50° C. 

 Reflected light was not seen at night, and Prof Semmola hence 

 concludes that the source of activity was at a considerable 

 depth. The general character of the phenomena, and in par- 

 ticular the entire absence of explosions or ashes or projected 

 bodies, points to the activity of Vesuvius being considerable, 

 but the channels of activity being altogether free from any ob- 

 structions such as would cause violent action to take place. 



Mr. Ravenshaw"s paper on the electrical transmission of 

 power in coal mines, and Mr. Walker's on electrical miners' 

 safety lamps, which appear in the last number of ihe Jouri:al ai 

 the Institution of Electrical Engineers, contain, with the joint 

 discussion on the two papers, a great deal of valuable informa- 

 tion on this comparatively recent application of electricity. The 

 number of purposes to which electricity can be applied, either 

 to supply an existing want or to replace some less satisfactory 

 method, is continually increasing, and as each new problem is 

 attacked special difficulties present themselves. This is very 

 apparent in this instance, where the dangers peculiar to coal- 

 mining make it essential for the electrician to design special 

 machinery to meet the case. Mr. Walker's paper is very in- 

 structive as showing how many difficulties have to be overcome 

 before a lamp can be obtained to compete at all successfully 

 with the existing miner's lamp, although at first sight the electric 

 lamp would seem to be so preeminently the best one to use. 

 Thus, apart from questions of cost and weight, the very safety of 

 the electrical lamp is in itself a drawback, since it does not indi- 

 cate, as does an oil lamp, the presence of dangerous gases. 

 There can be little doubt, however, that the difficulties have only 

 to be fully realised to be successfully overcome, and in the course 

 of time the use of electricity is likely to become general in coal- 

 mines, for which in essential respects it is so peculiarly suitable. 



A FEW more details concerning the adoption of the " Parsons 

 steam turbine " as a source of propulsion in the mercantile 

 marine are now available. The vessel named \.\i& King Edward, 

 the main dimensions of which have been given in a previous 

 number, has been launched and (says Engineering of July 5) 

 has so far quite realised the expectations of her owners. The 

 trials were run on the Firth of Clyde, where, on a mean of runs 

 " over the Skelmorlie mile," the speed of 20'48 knots was 

 obtained. The mean revolutions were registered at 740 per 

 minute, boiler pressure 150 lbs. per sq. inch, a vacuum of 26^ 

 inches, and a stokehole pressure (forced draught) equivalent to 

 one inch of water. Among the advantages of the Parsons 

 steam turbine over the ordinary reciprocating engines the 

 following are mentioned: — (i) The weight of the propelling 

 machinery is 66 tons, being, it is stated, roughly half the weight 

 for an engine (of the same power) employed in a paddle 

 steamer of the same type. (2) On account of the lightness of the 

 turbine machinery, very graceful lines have been introduced into 

 the " model " of the hull, both fore and aft, which otherwise 

 could not have been used. (3) The small amount of room taken 

 up by the turbine machinery. All the machinery is placed belovv 

 the " main" deck, giving the space above otherwise occupied 

 with engines to additional passenger accommodation. (4) The 

 total absence of noise from the turbines when running. In fact 

 it is stated that it is not possible to tell whether they are running 



