?6S 



NA TURE 



[August 8, 1901 



accounted for by one of the hydroxyl groups being in the ortho 

 position to a carbonyl group. 



The reactions of lotusin are best represented by the formula : 



Ci,H,,0,o— CH— O, 

 I 

 CN 



/\/\. 



OH 



OH CO 



which is that of a lotoflavin ether of maltose-cyanhydrin. 



This formula satisfactorily accounts for the partial hydrolysis 

 of the glucoside by alkalis giving lotusinic acid and ammonia, 

 and for the decomposition of the substance by acids giving 

 lotoflavin and maltose-carboxylic acid which is immediately 

 decomposed into dextrose and hcptogluconic acid. It also 

 accounts for the hydrolysis of lotusin, by acids, into lotoflavin 

 and maltose, which is further changed to dextrose. 



In order to definitely localise the position of the cyanogen 

 group in lotusin, the behaviour of several cyanhydrins of known 

 constitution have been examined with reference to the question 

 as to whether they would furnish hydrocyanic acid when acted 

 on by dilute hydrochloric acid. It was found that mandelic 

 nitrile, iKvulose cyanhydrin and pentacetyl gluconitrile, in which 

 the cyanogen group is known to occupy a position similar to that 

 .assumed for it in the formula suggested for lotusin, are, like 

 lotusin, easily decomposed by dilute hydrochloric acid forming 

 prussic acid and the corresponding aldehyde or ketone. 



The authors wish again to express their obligations to Mr. 

 Ernest A. Floyer, of Cairo, Member of the Egyptian Institute, 

 who has spared neither trouble nor expense in collecting in 

 Egypt, and despatching to this country, the material required for 

 this investigation. 



Takis. 



Academy of Sciences, July 29. — M. Fouque in the 

 chair. — On the cooling power of a gaseous or liquid current, 

 by M. J. Boussinesq. — On the variation in luminosity of 

 the planet Eros ; duration of the period, by M. Ch. Andre. 

 As the mean result of a series of measurements carried out 

 by three independent observers at the observatory of Lyon?, 

 the period between two consecutive minima is found to be 5h. 

 i6m. 1 5 'as. It was found that the observations of the minima 

 could be more accurately made than those of the maxima. 

 — On surfaces susceptible of a continuous deformation with con- 

 servation of a conjugated system, by M. A. Demoulin. — On the 

 analytical integrals of differential equations of the first order and 

 of any degree in the neighbourhood of certain singular values, 

 by M. Henri Dulac. — On the infinitely small deformation of an 

 elastic body submitted to known forces, by MM. Eugene and 

 Francois Cosserat. — On the vibrations of liquid films of deter- 

 minate forms, by MM. Cheneveau and G. Cartaud. An 

 experimental study by a photographic method of the wave 

 figures produced on the surface of liquids contained in vessels 

 of different forms. — On the radio-activity of radium salts, by 

 MM. P. Curie and A. Debierne. A study of the conditions 

 under which a radio-active salt can impart active properties to 

 water. A solution of a radium salt exposed in an open vessel 

 steadily loses its active properties, the rate of loss being propor- 

 tional to the surface exposed to the air. But if this solution is 

 kept in a sealed tube it gradually acquires its original activity. 

 — A geographical demonstration of the terrestrial origin of the 

 polar aurora, by M. Henri Stassano. All the facts cited are 

 in accord with the theory of De la Rive. — On the con- 

 tinuity of the spectra due to soHds and to incan- 

 descent liquids, by M. L. Decombe. — On the electrocapillary 

 action of molecules not dissociated into ions, by M. 

 Gouy. — On the solubility of mixtures of sulphate of copper and 

 sulphate of soda, by MM. Massol and Maldes. Solutions 

 obtained with a mixture of the sulphates of soda and copper, 

 the two salts being in excess, possess an invariable composition 

 at ordinary temperatures, but if the temperatures are sufficiently 

 high to produce the anhydrous modification of sodium sulphate, 

 the composition of the solution varies with the relative propor- 

 tion of the two salts present. — On the chloride of neo-didymium, 

 by M. Camille Matignon. Details are given of a simple method 

 of preparation of the anhydrous chloride, and also of a new 

 hydrate. — Study of the alloys of aluminium and molybdenum, 

 by M. Leon Guillet. The reduction of molybdic acid by 



NO. 165S, VOL. 64] 



aluminium gives lise to no less than six compounds corresponding 

 to the formulte AljMo, AI3M0, AljMo, AlMo, AlMoj, and a 

 compound very rich in molybdenum, perhaps AlMo.,,. — The 

 crystallisation of cerium oxide, by M. Jean Sterba. The 

 crystallisation of cerium oxide can be effected from sodium 

 chloride, borax and potassium sulphate. It forms cubes or 

 octahedra which are colourless and transparent. — Contribution 

 to the study of cesium, by M. C. Chabrie. A description of 

 the sulphites and hyposulphites of cerium. — On the pyrogallol 

 sulphonic acids, by M. Marcel Delage. — The action of ethyl 

 alcohol upon barium ethylate. The synthesis of normal butyl 

 alcohol, by M. Marcel Guerbet. By heating a strong solution 

 of barium ethylate in ethyl alcohol in a sealed tube at 240° C. , 

 a small quantity of normal butyl alcohol is produced along with 

 ethylene and hydrogen. — On the composition of the albumen of 

 the seed of Phoenix iaiiariensis and on the chemical phenomena 

 which accompany the germination of this seed, by MM. E. 

 Bourquelot and H. Herissey. — On the histological constitution 

 of the retina in congenital absence of the brain, by MM. N. 

 Vaschide and CI. Vurpas. — Cultures and attenuated forms of the 

 cryptogamic diseases of plants, by M. Julien Ray. — On the 

 affinity of the red corpuscles of the blood for acids and alkalis 

 and on the variations of resistance which they impress upon 

 these reagents towards solanine, by M. E. Hedon. — On the 

 nitrogenous nutrition of yeasl, by M. Pierre Thomas. — The 

 influence of lecithin upon the nutritive exchanges, by M. G. 

 Carriere. 



CONTENTS. PAGE 



Greek Philosophy and Modern Culture 345 



Medical and Surgical Experiences in the South 



African War. By W. G. M. 346 



A Catalogue of Palsearctic Lepidoptera. By 



W. F. K 348 



An Epitome of Modern Chemistry. By A. S. . . . 349 

 Our Book Shelf:— 



Prestwich : " Essays, Descriptive and Biographical" 349 



Benedict : " Chemical Lecture Experiments " ... 350 

 Tory and Pitcher : " A Manual of Laboratory 



Physics."— S. S 35° 



Henslovv : " The Story of Wild Flowers " 350 



Letters to the Editor :— 



Hair on the Digits of Man.— Dr. Walter Kidd . . 351 

 Pseudoscopic Vision without a Pseudoscope : a New 



Optical Illusion.— Prof. R. Vy. Wood 351 



Markings on Jupiter.— W. F. Denning . . . . 35' 



Measurements of Solar Radiation. By R. T. G. . 352 

 South America. (UlustraleJ.) By Colonel George 



Earl Church 353 



Zones in the Chalk, By H. B. W 355 



The Origin and Habits of the Bactrian Camel. By 



R. L 355 



Notes 35<> 



Our Astronomical Column : — 



Search Ephemeris lor Encke's Comet 359 



Variation of Eros • 359 



Celestial Objects having Peculiar Spectra 359 



Motion of o Persei in the Line of Sight 359 



Metals as Fuel. (Illustraled.) By Sir W. Roberts- 

 Austen, K.C.B.,F.R.S 360 



Agricultural Experiments 3^4 



University and Educational Intelligence 3^4 



Scientific Serial • • • 3^5 



Societies and Academies 3^5 



