312 



NA TURE 



[July 26, 1883 



duration depends, by M. A. Gaillot. — On the longitudinal im- 

 pact of a prismatic rod fixed at one end and acted on at the other, 

 by M. J. Boussinesq. — Remarks on the calculus of a definite 

 integral, by M. R. Radau. — On surfaces of the third order, by 

 M. C. Le Paige. — On a new theorem of dynamic electricity, by 

 M. L. Thevenin. — On the currents of emersion and the move- 

 ment of a metal in a liquid and currents of emersion, by M. 

 Krouchkoll. — A new pile made of oxide of copper, described by 

 MM. F. de Lalande and G. Chaperon. — On the density of 

 liquid oxygen, by M. S. Wroblewski. — The salts of protoxide 

 of gold, by M. Ad. Carnot. — On the alcoholate of barytum, by 

 M. de Forcrand. — The action of aldehyde on propylglycol, by 

 M. Arnaud de Gram int. — Researches on the extraction of cin- 

 imine, by M. Arnaud. — On a new glycerine, "Mesitplenic 

 Glycerine," C,H 3 (CH s .OH)„ by M. A. Colson.— On coal as a 

 heat-generator and on the conversion of its azote into ammonia, 

 by M. Scheurer-Kestner. — A contribution to the history of the 

 development of the heart (four illustrations), by M. Vulpi in. — 

 A comparative study of echinoderms : on the organisation of 

 crinoids, by M. Edm. Perrier. — On the structure and texture of 

 the spleen in the common eel, by M. C. Phisalix. — Physiological 

 researches on the secretion of the Morren glands in the 

 earthworm, by M. Ch. Robinet. — Researches on the structure of 

 the breathing apparatus in cephalopods, by M. P. Gorod. — 

 Changes and migrations of plant-lice. Complete biological 

 evolution "f the Tttraneura ulmi, by M. J. Lichtenstein. — On 

 the colouring function of the Drosera rotundifolia, by M. P. 

 Duchartre. — On the physiological part played by the undula- 

 tions of the lateral walls of the epidermis, by M. J. Vesque. — 

 Cloudiness at Bourges, with meteorological tables of observa- 

 tions from 1S67 to 1SS1, by M. Herve Mangon. — On the culture 

 of quinquinas in Bolivia, and on some other agricultural pro- 

 ducts of that country, by M. Sace. 

 Berlin 

 Physiological Society, July 13. — Dr. Martius spoke on 

 the nature of the heart's systole, more particularly as to whether 

 it was a simple or a tetanic contraction of the heart's muscle. 

 For some time many experiments have been made on this 

 subject with the neuromuscular apparatus, but no secondary 

 tetanus having been produced by the application of this physio- 

 logical electroscope, it was concluded that the systole was no 

 tetanic but a merely simple contraction. It was, however soon 

 observed that other contractions, unquestionably tetanic, such as 

 the voluntary tetanus, the strychnine tetanus, &c, generated no 

 secondary tetanus, or at all events not in every case. The ab- 

 sence of secondary tetanus in the case of the heart's systole was 

 therefore no conclusive proof of the simple nature of this con- 

 traction. Dr. Martius accordingly sought a more decisive 

 means of settling the question, through the aid, namely, of 

 the capillary electrometer, having first, however, made sure of 

 the capability of the instrument he employed to follow with 

 ease and certainty undulations of current of much greater 

 frequency than occur in the case of the natural tetanus and 

 reaching as high as forty per second. The capillary electro- 

 meter having then, by means of two needles thrust into a 

 normal rabbit's heart in situ, been circularly closed, it was 

 found that each systole responded by a merely simple displace- 

 ment of the meniscus. The systole was consequently deter- 

 mined to be no tetanic but a purely simple contraction. Dr. 

 Martius further de-cribed the following method towards an exact 

 enumeration of very frequent vibrations of the capillary electro- 

 meter, which to the eye present merely the vanishing rim of 

 the quicksilver cup. Let one fasten to the lever of a chrono- 

 metric electromagnetic tuning-fork, instead of the pencil, a 

 square piece of paper performing a known high number of 

 movements per second. The square piece of paper will 

 then appear to stand still and to have a gray border on 

 its upper and under side. Let one next place this gray 

 border between the ocular of the microscope and the meniscus 

 of the capillary electrometer. Does the meniscus mal 

 as many movements per second as the square piece of 

 paper, the quicksilver cup will appear to stand still, 

 however, the number of movements not tally, the difference 

 between the two will then be apparent and easily counted, and 

 of movements on the part of the paper bein ' known, 

 the actual number of the movements of the quicksilver 

 determined. — Prof. Kronecker gave a report on the experiments 

 made by Dr. fastrebow as to the mode, rhythmus, and ini 

 tionof the movements of the vagina of rabbits. — These communi- 

 cations were at the close illustrated by demonstrations. 



Vienna 



Imperial Academy of Sciences, May 4. — R. Maly 

 and R. Andreasch, studies on caffeine and theobromine (fifth 

 paper). — A. F. Reibenschuh, on mefhyl-biguamdine and its 

 compnunds. — F. Emich, on ethyl-biguanidine and its com- 

 pounds ; contributions to a knowledge of biguanidine. — W. 

 Biedermann, on the excitability of the spinal cord. — T. Gerst, 

 on the method of determining the orbit from three complete 

 observations. — St. Wolyncervicz, on the determination of the 

 orbit of the Isabella planet (210). — S. Wroblewski and K. 

 Olszewski, on the liquefaction of nitrogen and carbon monoxide. 

 — M. Neumayer, on climatic zones during Jurassic and Cre- 

 taceous epochs. — T. F. Wolf >auer, on the chemical composition 

 of the water of the Danube near Vienna in the year 1878. — E. 

 von FleischI, on the distribution of the fibres of the optic nerve 

 over the cones of the human retina. 



May 10. — C. von Ettingshausen, contribution to knowledge of 

 Tertiary flora of Sumatra. — Dr. Steir, to the morphology and 

 systematics of culmian and carbon flora. — F. Anton, definitive 

 determination of the orbit and ephemeris of the Bertha planet 

 (154). — Zd. Skraup and A. Cobenzl, on two chinoline base , 

 naphthochinolines, formed of naphthylamines. 



May 25. — A. Adam Riewicz, on the theory of brain-pressure 

 and on the pathology of brain-compression. — A. Delbovier, 

 report on prophylaxis and therapeutics of typhus. — T. Kacbler 

 and F. V. Spitzer, on the formation of isomeric camphor bibro 

 mides. — G. Niederist, on Reichenbach's picamar. 



May 30. — Anniversary meeting. — The meeting was opened 

 by the substitute of the Curator, Herr v>n Schmerling. — An 

 address was given by Prof. Zeissberg, of the Historical Clas, of 

 the Academy, on the youth of Archduke Charles. — The reports 

 of the past year were read by the General Secretary, Prof. 

 Siegel, and the Secretary of the Mathematical Class, Prof. 

 Stefan. Then the obituary notes on the members deo 

 during the past year were read by the secretaries. — In the 

 Mathematical Class Prof. Senhofer (Innsbruck) was elected 

 member, E. Mojsisowics (Vienna), corresponding member. Prof. 

 Richard Owen (London), W. F. Weber (Gottingen) were 

 elected honorary members, Julius Schmidt (Athens), Hermann 

 von Abich (St. Petersburg), Prof. Ferdinand Zirkel (Leipsic), 

 foreign correspondents. — The Baumgartner prize was awarded 

 to Carl Exner for his paper on the scintillation of stars, and the 

 Lieben prize to V. R. Ebner (Gratz), for his experiments on the 

 causes of anisotropism of organic substances. 



CONTENTS Page 



Zoology at the Fisheries Exhibition, 1 289 



Precautions against Cholera 291 



The Life of Edward Henry Palmer. By Prof. W. 



Robertson Smith 292 



Ants and their Ways. By Alfred R. Wallace . 293 

 Letters to the Editor : — 



The Matter of Space.— Prof. A. S. Herschel ( With 



Diagram") 294 



On Lord Rayleigh's Dark Plane.— Prof. Oliver J. 



Lodge ( With Diagram) 297 



Antihehos.— Dr. Henry MacCormac 299 



Disease of Potatoes. — Worthington G. Smith . . 299 



"Waking Impressions." — Mrs. E. Hubbard . . 299 



A Remarkable Form of Cloud. — B. J. Hopkins. . 299 



Triple Rainbow. — R. P. Greg 300 



A Remarkable Meteor.— B. G. Jenkins .... 300 

 The Function of the Sound-Post in the Violin — R. 



Howson 3°° 



Sand.— J. G. Waller 3°° 



On Mounting and Photographing Microscopic 



Objects (With Diagrams} ■•• • 3°° 



On the Old Calendars of the Icelanders. By Herr 



Geelmuyden 3°3 



The Orfe. a Fish Recently Acclimatised in England 304 



Snow and Ice Flora. By Mrs. Mary P. Merrifield 304 



Notes 3°5 



Our Astronomical Column : — 



The Ellipticity of Uranus 3°8 



Physical Notes 3°8 



Geographical Notes 3°9 



Scientific Serials 3 10 



Societies and Academies 3*° 



