NA TURE 



[June 30, 1904 



• — On the general theory of fundamental functions : \V. 

 SteklolT. — On the theory of spherical functions : Niels 

 NielBon, — On the exceptional case of M. Picard and multi- 

 form functions : G. Remoundos. — On the construction of 

 aerostats : Ch. Renard. — On the refractive powers of dis- 

 solved substances : approximate laws : C. Cheneveau. 

 Generalisations of the experiments made by the author and 

 by Dijken. It is shown that there is a constant ratio 

 between the molecular refractive power of substances in 

 solution and the square root of the molecular weight. — On 

 the spectrum of calcium fluoride in the electric arc : Ch. 

 Fabry. Most salts introduced into the electric arc give 

 only the spectrum of the corresponding metal, but this is 

 not the case with the fluorides of calcium, barium, and 

 strontium. In this case, besides the spectrum of the metal, 

 there is a brilliant band spectrum, which probably arises 

 from the undecomposed fluoride. All the bands can be re- 

 piesented by equations of the form N=B — Am", in which 

 N is the frequency, A and B constants, and m an integer. — 

 The direct study of the transport of ultramicroscopic 

 particles by the current : A. Cotton and H. Mouton. The 

 riotion of minute particles of colloidal silver has been studied 

 under the microscope. Under the influence of an alter- 

 nating current the particles are set in vibration, the period 

 of which corresponds to the frequency of the alternating 

 current. — The action of a magnetic field upon the n- and 

 /I, -rays : Jean Becquerel. The action of the n- and n^-x&y?, 

 upon feebly phosphorescent calcium sulphide is not pro- 

 duced when the bundle of rays passes through a magnetic 

 field normal to the lines of force, but the action is trans- 

 mitted without alteration parallel to the field. — An attempt 

 at a photographic method for studying the action of the 

 n-rays upon phosphorescence : E. Rothe. Owing to the 

 difficulties experienced by many experimenters in obtaining 

 definite results with a phosphorescent screen, it is obviously 

 preferable to use an objective method if possible. An 

 account is given of a photographic method. — Influence of 

 the colour of luminous sources on their sensibility to the 

 ii-rays : C. Gutton. The sensibility of phosphorescent sub- 

 stances varies greatly with their colour. Calcium sulphide 

 with violet phosphorescence is the most sensitive ; the 

 sulphides of the alkaline earths and sulphide of zinc, which 

 possess a green phosphorescence, are less sensitive, and with 

 sulphides possessing an orange phosphorescence no effect 

 has been observed with the )?-rays. — Remarks on a note 

 of P. Villard on the magnetokathodic rays : H. Pellat. — 

 On the electrostatic deviation of the magnetokathodic rays ; 

 Ch. Fortin, — The continuous registration of gaseous 

 ionisation and of radio-activity by methods of loss of charge : 

 Charles Nordmann, An electroscope is connected to the 

 poles of a high voltage battery through a high resistance. 

 Under the influence of the ionised gas the electroscope tends 

 to lose a certain quantity per second, and this is balanced 

 against the quantity coming in through the resistance from 

 the battery. It is shown that the apparatus can be arranged 

 to give the number of ions in the gas studied by a single 

 reading. — On the properties of recently prepared gases : 

 Eugene Bloch. — New researches on the cementation of 

 ordinary and special steels : L^on Guillet. — On the produc- 

 tion of isomorphous mixtures of lime and lithia : P. 

 Lebeau. K mixture of the carbonates of lime and lithium 

 decomposed by heat in a vacuum leaves a well crystallised 

 residue of the mixed oxides, the composition of which 

 depends on the temperature and duration of heating. The 

 formation of mixed crystals of lime and lithia renders prob- 

 able a cubic form for the latter substance. — The electrolytic 

 reparation of nickel and zinc : MM. Hollard and Bertiaux. 

 In the presence of ammonium nitrate the nickel only is 

 deposited. Experimental data are given showing that the 

 separation is complete. — The alloys of magnesium with 

 aluminium and antimony : Hector Pecheux. — The form- 

 ation of dimethylisopropylcarbinol in the reduction of 

 acetone: G. Deniges. In addition to isopropyl alcohol and 

 pinacone, the usual reduction products obtained from 

 acetone by reduction with sodium, the author has been able 

 to isolate the above tertiary alcohol. The yield is small. — 

 Syntheses in the pentamethylene series ; the diamylene 

 of pentane-diol : i : 5-diiodo- and dibromopentane : J. 

 Hamonet. — The condensation of phenols and aromatic 

 amines with benzylidene-aniline : Charles Mayer. — On the 



NO. 1809, VOL. 70] 



normal presence of formaldehyde in products of combustion 

 and in smoke : \. Trillat. A small amount of form- 

 aldehyde is always formed in all combustions, even of 

 hydrocarbons. The author regards this as a confirmation 

 of the results of A. Levy and Henriet on the presence 

 of traces of formaldehyde in atmospheric air. — Addition 

 compounds of rosaniline salts ; their dissociation, thermo- 

 chemistry, and constitution : Jules Schmidlin. — Researches 

 on the azo colouring matters derived from 2 : 2-dinaphthol : 

 Emm. Pozzi-Escot. — On the existence of an oxidising- 

 reducing diastase in plants, and the conditions of its action ; 

 J. E. AbeloMS. — On the classification of the Anthozoa : 

 Louis Roule. — Parallel adaptation of the host and parasite 

 under the same conditions of existence in certain Lepido- 

 ptera and their parasitic Diptera : J. Kunckel d'Herculais. 

 — On the early state in some palms : C. L. Gatin. — On the 

 geology of the neighbourhood of Barcelona, Spain : Jaime 

 Almera and Jules Bergeron. — The Coal-measures in the 

 north of -Africa : Ed. Bureau. — The molecular weight of 

 glycogen : Madame Z. Gatin-Gruzewska. The lowering 

 of the melting point observed by Sabanejew for glycogen 

 was due to the presence of impurities, since determinations 

 on the purified substance give a scarcely appreciable lower- 

 ing. The molecular weight of glycogen from these deter- 

 minations cannot be lower than 140,000. — Studies on the 

 action of maltase. Constancy of the ferment : influence of 

 the products of the reaction : Mdlle. Ch. Philoche. — 

 Contribution to the study of the formation and elimination 

 of urea in man : H. Labbe and M. Morchoisne. — On the 

 action of blood rendered hepatotoxic by intraperitoneal in- 

 jections of the nucleoproteids of the liver : H. Bierry and 

 Andr^ Mayer. — On the progressive ripening of cheese : 

 M. Lindet and Louis Ammann, — Oceanography of the 

 region of the Azores : M. Thoulet. 



CONTENTS. PAGE 



Mathematical Books 193 



Recent Entomological Works. By W. F. K. ... 194 



Darwinism and the State. By F. W. H 195 



Chemistry of the Sugars. By E, F. A 196 



Our Book Shelf :— 



Waggett : " Religion and Science : Some Suggestions 

 for the Study of the Relations Between Them." — 



F. A. D 197 



"The Thompson-Vates and Johnston Laboratories 



Report."— Prof. R. T. Hewlett 197 



Guillet : " LTndustrie de la Soude" 197 



Deller : " Telephoto-Work " 197 



Dowsett : " Buy English Acres " • . . 197 



Letters to the Editor -.^ 



Variation of Atmospheric Absorption. — Prof. S. P. 



Langley, For. M.R.S 198 



Use of Radium in Section Cutting. — Prof. Henry H. 



Dixon 198 



The Blondlot ?;-Rays.— John Butler Burke ... 198 

 Aboriginal American Basketry. {Illustrated.) By 



A. C. H 199 



The Mining Statistics of the World. By B. H. B. . 199 



Notes 200 



Our Astronomical Column : — • 



Astronomical Occurrences in July 205 



Smithsonian Institution 1900 Eclipse Results .... 205 



The Orbit of the Companion to Sirius 205 



Observations of Jupiter during 1903 205 



Observations of the Satellites of Saturn 205 



The German Royal Naval Observatory 205 



An Interestint; Meteor Trail 205 



The Royal Society Conversazione 205 



Some Ancient Mammal Portraits. (Illustrated.) By 



R. Lydekker, F.R.S 207 



The Action of Radium Emanations on Diamond. 



liy Sir William Crookes, F.R.S 209 



The Markings and Rotation Period of Mercury . . 210 

 On the Dimensions of Deep-Sea Waves, and their 

 Relation to Meteorological and Geographical 



Conditions. By Dr. Vaughan Cornish 210 



Geology in Norway 211 



University and Educational Intelligence 212 



Societies and Academies . 2n 



