36o 



NA TURE 



August i i, 1904 



The effect of the introduction of the phase-constant c is 

 discussed in detail, and the advance of the waves through 

 the pre-established electrostatic field is illustrated by a 

 number of figures. For example, Fig. i here shows the 

 lines of electric force after an interval of (0-51) of a period 

 from the beginning of the vibrations, the fine continuous 

 circle representing the front of the waves. Fig. 2 shows 



the transverse electric force at distances between 10 and 13 

 wave-lengths from the doublet at the end of 13 periods. 

 Outside the front of the waves, when this front has travelled 

 so far, the electric force is extremely small. Hence the 

 inarked discontinuity of the figure at r=i-^\. 



June 16. — " The Absorption and Thermal Evolution of 

 Gases Occluded in Charcoal at Low Temperatures." By 

 James Dewar, M.A., D.Sc, LL.D., F.R.S. 



" The Direct Separation of the most Volatile Gases from 

 Air without Liquefaction." By James Dewar, M..'\., 

 n.Sc, LL.l)., F.R.S. 



F.\K1S. 



Academy of Sciences, Augu.-t i. — M. Mascart in ihe 

 chair. — The general organisation of solar researches. 

 The continuous registration of the variable elements 

 of the sun : H. Deslandres. The author summarises 

 the actual position at the present time of researches 

 un the sun, systematically carried out, and suggests 

 further organisation of the work. — The synthesis of 

 several alcohols in the cyclohexane series : Paul Sabatier 

 and Alph. Mailhe. Starting with cydohe.-tane, which 

 can be readily prepared in quantity by the method 

 previously described, this is converted into the monochloro- 

 derivative, and this made to react with magnesium. By 

 acting upon this magnesium compound with various alde- 

 hydes and ketones, and decomposing the resulting product 

 with water, several new alcohols have been isolated. — The 

 characteristics of anachoropteridian leaf traces : C. Eg. 

 Bertrand and F. Cornaille. — Observations of the sun 

 made at the Lyons Observatory with the Briinner lO cm. 

 equatorial during the first quarter of 1904: J. Guillaume. 

 The results are given in three tables showing the number of 

 spots, their distribution in latitude, and the distribution of 

 the faculiE in latitude. — Oji the zeros of integral functions : 

 Pierre Boutroux. — On the indirect measurement of the real 

 velocity of aerial vessels ; Paul Renard. The absolute 

 velocit^■ of an airship, U, is the resulumt of the velocitv 

 of the wind, \', and the real speed, W. .\ new method of 

 estimating the latter is given. — On the theory of helices 

 capable of supporting a weight : Edgar Taffoureau. — On 

 the coefficient of rectilinear diameters: E. Mathias. — xn 

 the index of refraction of solutions : C. Cheneveau. .\ 

 reply- to the criticisms of Edmond \'an Aubel on a former 

 paper of the author. — On the mercury thermal ammeter : 



NO 1815. VOL. 70] 



C. Camichel. The method employed consists in heating 

 for one minute, by a continuous current, a mercury resist- 

 ance placed in the inside of the bulb of a mercury therrno- 

 meter, the latter radiating to a surrounding vessel main- 

 tained at the melting point of ice. The apparatus described 

 gave a displacement of i4S-3' divisions with a current of 

 1-588 amperes. Under these conditions, an increase in the 

 intensity of the current of 001 ampere produced a rise of 

 two divisions on the scale. — The action of ammonia upon 

 boron bromide and on phosphorus trichloride : A. Joannis. 

 The action of ammonia upon boron bromide depends upon 

 the temperature, an amide being obtained at —78° C, the 

 imide at —10° C. Phosphorus trichloride at -78° C. gives 

 a mixed amido-imide, possibly NH=P — NH,. — The estim- 

 ation of bismuth by electrolysis : A. Hollard and L. 

 Bertiaux. Details are given of a method for separating 

 small quantities of bismuth electrolytically in the presence 

 of considerable quantities of copper or lead. Test experi- 

 ments show the degree of accuracy obtainable. — On the 

 existence of three kinds of phagocytic cells in normal Amphi- 

 poda : L. Bruntz. — On the urns of Siputiciilus iindus : 

 F. Ladreyt. These are not phagocytes nor parasites, but 

 are detached from the body of the animal. — On a hemo- 

 gregarian of Psammodromits algirus : H. Soulie. — On the 

 structure of the crystalline medium : G. Friedel. — On the 

 Callovian layers of the Morocco frontier : Louis Gentil 

 and Paul Lemoine. — On the eruptive rocks described by 

 the Niger-Bt'nou^-Tchad mission ; Henry Hubert. — New 

 observations on the alteration of level of the Mediterranean : 

 Ph. Negris. From a study of an ancient bridge at Leucade 

 the author concludes that the level of the Mediterranean 

 is at present about 3 metres higher than it was at the time 

 of the Romans, or about 2000 years ago. — Researches on 

 animal lactase : H. Bierry and M. Gmo-Salazar. 



CONTENTS. PAGE 



Natural History of the Maldives and Laccadives. 



ByR. L 



John Parkinson's "Paradisus." By B. D. J. 

 Modern Electric Practice. By Mautice Solomon 



Pioneer Irrigation 



Our Book Shelf :— 



Werner: " Lehrbuch der Stereochemie" 



"The Fauna of British India, including Ceylon 



and Burma " 



Treadwell : "Analytical Chemistry."— J. B. C. . . 



" Arnold's Home and Abroad Readers " 



Letters to the Editor :- 



Chemical Action Produced by Radium. — Sir William 

 Ramsay, K.C.B., F.R.S., and W. Ternent 



Cooke 



Atomic Structure in the Light of Secondary Spectra. — 



P. G. Nutting 



The Flowering of Ihe Baniijoo. — A. Tingle ; Prof. 



J. B. Farmer, F.R.S 



The Organisition of Zoologists. — Prof. Sydney J. 



Hickson, F.R.S. 



The British Science Guild .... 



New Regulations of the Board of Education . . 



Physical Deterioration ... 



The Essential Australian. (IllKstrated.^. By Ernest 



Crawley . 



The Wireless Telegraphy Bill By M. S 



Notes 



Our Astronomical Column : — 



Ephemeris for Encke's Coniel . 



The Revision of the Cape Photographic Durchmuster- 



"ng 



Determination of Latitude and iis Variations .... 



The Standardisation of Rowland's Wave-lengths . . 

 Saturn's Ninth Satellite .... .... 



Distribution of Successes and of Natural Ability 

 among the Kinsfolk of Fellows of the Royal 

 Society. ( U'lOi Duii;:ain ) By Dr Francis Gallon, 



P-R-S ^ 354 



The Health Congress at Glasgow 357 



Indian Irrigation and its Relation to Famines . . . 358 

 University and Educational intelligence .... 359 



Societies and Academies. (ll'iHi Diagrams.) .... 359 



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