1 68 



NA TURE 



[June 14, 1883 



morphia being always combined with the sulphuric acid. — Prof. 

 Tait gave some results of direct observations of the effect of 

 pressure on the maximum density-point of water. The experi- 

 ments were a modification of the well-known Hope experiment. 

 A glass vessel of water with a self-registering thermometer at 

 the bottom and a mass of ice at the top was placed inside the 

 water (at 50° F.) of the large hydraulic pre.-s. Under a pressure 

 of 3 tons weight per square inch, the thermometer fell to 33° 

 F., whereas at the ordinary atmospheric pressure, but under 

 otherwise similar circumstances, the temperature registered never 

 fell below 41" F. 



Paris 



Academy of Sciences, May 21. — M. E. Blanchard, presi- 

 dent, in the chair. — Observations of the small planets made 

 with the large meridian of the Paris observatory during the first 

 quarter of the year 18S3, communicated by M. Lcewy. — On the 

 critical point of soluble gases, by J. Jamin. The critical point 

 is defined to be the temperature at which a liquid and its satu- 

 rated vapour have the same density. At and beyond this point 

 the fluid and vapour become fused in one, and all latent heat 

 disappears. — Extract from a memoir on the composition of com- 

 bustible mineral substances, by M. Boussingault. The propor- 

 tions are given of the carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen 

 contained in the sub-itances analysed — the bitumen of the Chinese 

 fire-pits and Dead Sea, the Egyptian asphalt, fossil resins, and 

 the anthracites and other coals of South America and France. A 

 method is proposed for eliminating the hydrogen, oxygen, and 

 other impurities from graphite, and thus reducing it, like the 

 diamond, to pure carbon. — The scientific expedition of the 

 Ta 'isman to the Atlantic Ocean, by M. Alphinse Milne-Edwards. 

 The Talisman sailed from Rochefort on June I, and will visit 

 the Canaries, Cape Verd Islands, Azores, and intermediate 

 waters. — On the discussion recently raised by the Commission 

 of the Turin Veterinary School, touching the state of the blood 

 of a sheep subjected to carbonic vaccination when examined 

 within a few hours of death and the day after death, by M. 

 Pa teur. — Note by Admiral Paris accompanying the presentation 

 of his work 0.1 the "Naval Museum in the Louvre." — A new 

 method of synthesis for the alkylnitrous acids, by G. Chancel. 

 — On the part respectively played by oxygen and heat in 

 attenuating the carbonic virus by the method of M. Pasteur, 

 by M. A. Chauveau. — On the treatment of the water used 

 in wool-washing, by MM. Delattre. This water yields 

 4'5o per 100 of a very dry potassium, or a total of 270,000 

 kilograms, valued at 4300/., on the 6,000,000 kilograms of wool 

 annually washed in France. But from this must be deducted 

 1000/. for the cost of treatment. — On the algebraic functions of 

 Fuchs, by M. H. Poincare. — On the theory of Euler's integrals, 

 by M. Bourguet. — On the resistance of the atmosphere in very 

 slow oscillatory movements, by M. J. B. Bailie. — On the deforma- 

 tion of polarised electrodes, by M. Gouy. — On the electro- 

 dynamic interference of alternant currents, by M. A. Oberbeck. 

 — On the sesquisulphuret of phosphorus, by M. Isambert. — On 

 some double salts of lead, by M. G. Andre. — On the solubility 

 of strychnine in acids, by MM. Hanriot and Blarez. — On a 

 saccharine substance extracted from the lungs and phlegm of 

 consumptive patients, by M. A. G. Pouchet. — On a deposit of 

 quaternary mammals in the neighbourhood of Argenteuil (Seine- 

 et-Oise), by M. Stan. Meunier. Here the author recently dis- 

 covered remains of the elephant, Rhinoceros tichorhinits, cave 

 hyaena, horse, reindeer, and a member of the ox family, appa- 

 rently Bison priscus. — Vegetation of the vine at Caleves, near 

 Nyon, Switzerland, by M. Eugene Risler. 



June 4. — M. Blanchard in the chair. — The following papers 

 were read : — On the possibility of increasing in a great measure 

 the precision of the observations of the eclipses of Jupiter's 

 satellites, by A. Cornu. — On the solubility of sulphide of copper 

 in alkaline sulphomolybdates, by M. Debray. — On the solution 

 of certain problems of cosmography by means of graphic table-, 

 by MM. Lalanne and Ed. Collignon. — M. A. Caligny presented to 

 the Academy his work entitled : "Theoretical and Experimental 

 Re-earches concerning the Oscillations of Water, and the Hy- 

 draulic Machines with Oscillating Liquid Columns." — On recent 

 scientific results obtained regarding the etiology of and preventa- 

 tives from cholera, by A. Fauvel. — Researches on typhoid fever 

 in Paris during the period October 19, 1882, to May 15 a. a, by 

 M. de Pietra-Santa. — On an apparatus for obtaining low tem- 

 peratures which can be graduated at pleasure, by P. Gibier. — - 

 On the hyposulphides of phosphorus, by M. Isambert. — On the 

 sesquisulphide of phosphorus, by G. Lemoine. —Reply to M. le 



Goarant de Tromelin regarding the electric log, by M. Fleuriais. 

 — On glass-blowing by means of mechanically-compressed air, by 

 M. Appert. — On the observations of Broaks-Swift comet (a 1883) 

 made at Paris Observatory, by G. Bigourdan. — On the develop- 

 ment of the perturbating function, by B. Baillaud. — On the 

 uniform functions of two analytical points which are left in- 

 variable by an infinity of rational transformations, by M. Appell. 

 — On uniform functions, by J. Farkas. — On a correction of the 

 stereotyped formula in the preface of Callet, by M. Em. Barbier. — ■ 

 Practical rules for substituting certain closed curves for a given 

 arc, by H. Leaute. — On passive mechanical power, interior re- 

 sistance, and other points relating to electro-magnetism, by G. 

 Cabanellas. — On the freezing point of acid solutions, by F. M. 

 Raouft.— Comparison of the evaporation of fresh water and sea 

 water at different degrees of concentration ; consequences relating 

 to a sea in the interior of Algeria, by M. Dieulafait. — Notes on 

 the preceding communication, by M. Jamin. — Thermical studies 

 on the solution of hydrofluoric acid in water, by M. Guntz. — On the 

 transformation of glycol into glycolic acid, by M. de Forcrand. 

 — Researches on the production of crystallised borates in 

 the wet way, by A. Ditte. — On the reaction of sulphide 

 of lead upon metallic chlorides, by A. Levallois. — On the 

 burning of gypsum, by H. le Chatelier. — On an acid result- 

 ing from the oxidation of strychnia, by M. Hanriot. — On 

 the life capacity of the monstrous embryos of chickens, by M. 

 Dareste. — On the artificial production of the inversion of the 

 viscera or " heterotaxy " in chicken embryos, by MM. Hermann 

 Fol and St. Warynski. — Observations on blastogenesis and 

 alternating generation in Salpa and Pyrosoma, by L. Joliet. — 

 On the localisation of virus in wounds and on the mode of its 

 dissemination in the organism, by G. Colin. — Experimental re- 

 searches on the lesion of the spinal marrow, determined by the 

 hemisection of that organ, by E. A. Hnmen. — On the mechanical 

 organisation of the pollen-grain, by J. Vesque. — Note on the 

 life and work of Prof, da Costa Simoides of Coimbra, by 

 Eduardo Abren. — On a method of utilising sewage water, by 

 MM. Delattre and Pinot. 



CONTENTS Page 



The Eclipse Observations 145 



The Ferns of India. By J. G.Baker 146 



Our Book Shelf:— 



Martens' "Die Weich- und Schaltiere gemeinfasslich 



Dargestellt."— Dr. J. Gwyn Jeffreys, F.R.S. . . 14S 

 Fenton's "Notes on Qualitative Analysis, Concise 



and Explanatory " 148 



Ripper's "Practical Chemistry" 148 



Letters to the Editor : — 



The Matter of Space. — Prof. Charles Morris . . 148 

 On the Morphology of the Pitcher of "Cephalotus 



follicularis."— Prof. W. C. Williamson, F.R.S. 150 

 A Large Meteor.— Rev. S. J. Perry, F.R.S, ; 



T. P. Barkas 150 



Intelligence in Animals. — Cosmopolitan ; Nellie 



Maclagan 150 



Eastern Asia at the Fisheries Exhibition .... 150 

 Note on the Influence of High Temperature on the 

 Electrical Resistance of the Human Body. By 



W. H. Stone, M.B., F.R.C.P 15! 



The Amber Flora. By J. Starkie Gardner . . . . 152 



The Story of a Boulder 153 



Report of the Paris Observatory for the Year 1882 . 154 



Notes 155 



Our Astronomical Column : — 



Cometary Refraction 158 



Kepler's Nova of 1604 158 



The Binary Star, 7 Corona; Australis 158 



The Saturnian Satellite, Mimas 158 



Geographical Notes 159 



The Cause of Evident Magnetism in Iron, Steel, 

 and other Magnetic Metals. By Prof. D. E. 



Hughes, F.R.S 159 



Meters for Power and Electricity. By C. Vernon 



'Boys (Willi Diagrams) 162 



The Permian System in Russia 165 



University and Educational Intelligence .... 166 



Scientific Serials 166 



Societies and Academies 166 



