4o8 



NA TURE 



[August 23, 1883 



complete, and a good staff of professors has been obtained. 

 That literature will not be neglected is evident from the fact that 

 the Principal of the College, Prof. Peterson, has for his subjects 

 Latin and Greek. We have also received the Calendar of the 

 Mason Science College, Birmingham, a thick volume which 

 shows the institution to be in excellent working order. The 

 Calendar of University College, Liverpool, is much more modest, 

 though its staff of professors and lecturers is pretty compre- 

 hensive. 



SCIENTIFIC SERIALS 



Alii of the li. Accademia dei Lined, May 6. — Report on Veri 

 and Parana's "Geological Studies of the Fossil Shells of Terni 

 and Kieti," by MM. Taramelli and Capellini. — Report on Dr. 

 Lucchetti's " Crystallographic Notes," by MM. Koerner and 

 Spezia. — A memoir (in French) on the invariants and covariants 

 of a function transformed by a quadratic substitution, by W. 

 Spottiswoode — On the nature of the expansions of gas produced 

 by the electric spark, by Sig. Villari. — Distribution of matter 

 acting on the surface of an ellipsoid in order to procure in the 

 interior of such a body a given action constant in furce and direc- 

 tion, by Sig. Glaser. — On the relations existing between the 

 refrangent power and chemical constitution of organic combina- 

 tions, by MM. Beinheiiner and Nasini. — On a hypergeonietrieal 

 differential equation, by Sig. Besso. — Some theorems relative to 

 the binary forms of any power, and their application to the study 

 of the multiple roots of equations of the sixth degree, by Sig. 

 Maisano. — On some derivatives of berberine, by M. Bernheimer. 

 — On the distortion of perspective observed in the telescope, by 

 Sig. Govi. — Meteorological observations at the Royal Obser- 

 vatory of the Campidoglio during the month of April. 



May 20. — Note on Ugo Balzaui's " Farly Chroniclers of 

 Europe," by S. Tommasini. — On the commentators on Martianus 

 Capella, by Sig. Narducci. — On the theoretic value of the co- 

 efficient of tension, of the atomic specific heat of aeriform bodies, 

 and of the dyuamic equivalent of caloric, by Sig. Violi. — Account 

 of the recent archaeological discoveries in Ventimiglia, Gussola, 

 Casalmaggiore, Norcia, Tarentum, and other parts of Italy, by 

 Sig. Fiorelli. 



SOCIETIES AND ACADEMIES 



Paris 



Academy of Sciences, August 13. — M. Blanchard, presi- 

 dent, in the chair. — On Kekule's /8-butylglycol CH 3 — CH . — 

 OH — CH, — CH,. OH, obtained as an accessory product of the 

 hydrogenation of aldehyde, by M. Ad. Wurtz. — On the laws of 

 reflection as applied to the displacements of elastic bodies of 

 definite form acted on by external forces, by M. X. Kretz. — A 

 comparison of the hypotheses of magnetic fluids and molecular 

 current-, by M. P. Le Cordier. — Experimental researches on the 

 action of a liquid introduced by a special process into the tissues 

 of the vine for the purpose of destroying phylloxera (continued), 

 by M. P. Lafitte. — [vote on a composition employed by Mr. 

 Hatch of San Jose, California, for the destruction of phylloxera, 

 by M. J. Caire. The constituent of this compound are equal 

 weights of sulphuret of carbon, potash, oxide of iron, and 

 sulphur, mixed with eight times the same amount of mercury. — 

 On copper as a preventative and curative of cholera, by M. V. 

 Burg. After a study of thirty years the author concludes that 

 copper absorbed in various ways into the system acts as an almost 

 perfect prophylactic, the exceptions not being more numerous 

 than in the case of vaccination as a preventative of small-pox. 

 Amongst other precautions he recommends the external appli- 

 cation of copper under the metallic form of armatures, plates, 

 or even ordinary coins ; the burning of dichloride of copper in 

 alcoholic lamps ; wine mixed with the natural mineral water of 

 Saint-Christau ; and the use of vegetables rendered green by 

 sulphate of copper. The question of the treatment of cholera 

 patients by copper is reserved for a future communication. — In 

 connection with this subject, M. P. Davin recalls a memoir ad- 

 dressed by him to the Academy in July, 1873, on the bronze dust 

 used in gilding as a specific against cholera. — Observations relative 

 to a previous communication of M. A. Gaillot on the changes 

 produced in the length of the Julian year, by Mr. E. J. Stone of 

 the Radcliffe Observatory, Oxford. — On the determination of 

 the right ascensions of circumpolar stars, by MM. Ch. 

 Andre and Gounessiat. — On the critical point of oxygen, by 



M. E. Sarrau. — On the distribution of the caloric liberated or 

 absorbed by oxygen and carbon respectively when combining to 

 form oxide of carbon and carbonic acid, by M. A. Boillot. — 

 On the composition of the asphalt or bitumen of the Dead 

 Sea, by M. B. Delachanal. The presence of sulphur in con- 

 siderable quantities is determined, implying a mineral origin, 

 and distinguishing this bitu nen from all others, which are of 

 organic origin. — On the danger of contagion from the use of 

 cracked stoneware in infectious diseases, by M. E. Peyrusson. 

 It is shown that the germs of cholera, typhoid fever, and similar 

 disorders may be preserved even in the slight fissures on the 

 glazed surface to which all crockery and faience are liable. — 

 Memoir on wheaten flours (part ii.), by M. Ballard. The author 

 shows that variable quantities of gluten may be obtained from 

 ihe same flour, according to the different treatments to which it 

 is subjected — On the origin of individuality in the higher 

 animals, by M. de Lacaze-Duthiers. — On the evaporation of 

 marine and fre-h water in the Rhone delta and at Constantine in 

 Algeria, by M. Dieulafait. — On the means employed to deter- 

 mine by continuous registration the slight movements in the 

 crust of the earth, by M. B. de Chancourtois. — On the cultiva- 

 tion of the date-palm in soils charged with marine salt, by M. A. 

 Richard. The present flourishing condition of the palm-groves 

 at Elche and Alicante, on the south-east coast of Spain, shows 

 that this plant thrives well in land satura'ed with salt water. 



Vienna 



Imperial Academy of Sciences, June 7. — C. von Ettings- 

 hausen, on the Tertiary flora of Borneo. — Z. von Roboz, on 

 Calcituba polymorpha. — G. Tschermak, contribution to classifica- 

 tion of meteorites. — H. von Foullon, on the mineralogical and 

 chemical composition of the meteorite which fell at Alfianello on 

 February 16, 1883. — ]. Kacbler and F. V. Spitzer, on the action 

 of sodium on camphor. — F. W. Dafert, on periodides. — J. 

 Schlesinger, on the causes of inertia and motion of masses. 



CONTENTS Page 



Decentralisation in Science 385 



Essays in Philosophical Criticism. By George J. 



Romanes, F.R.S 386 



Letters to the Editor : — 



Simultaneous Affections of the Barometer. — Prof. 



Balfour Stewart, F.R.S 387 



Dreaming. — A. B. G 388 



Thunderstorms and Aurora;. — E. R. Chadbourn . 388 



" Elevation and Subsidence." — F.Young. . . . 388 



Insects and Flowers. — Alfred O. Walker .... 388 



A Meteor. — A. Trevor Crispin ; Albert J. Mott . 389 

 Animal Intelligence. — F. Welch ; Alfred O. 



Walker 389 



" Birds and Cholera."— E. S. T 389 



Liquid Films and Molecular Magnitudes. By 



Profs. A. W. Reinold and A. W. Rucker (With 389 



Diagrams) 389 



Japanese Learned Societies 393 



Researches on the Deep-Sea Fauna from a Zoo- 

 geographical Point of View. By Dr. Anton 



Stuxberg 394 



Dr. Tromholt's Auroral Observatory at Kautokeino 



( With Illustration) 397 



Aldabra Island Tortoises. By W. Littleton . . . 398 

 The Meteorology of the Arctic and Subarctic 

 Portions of the Atlantic Ocean. By Alexander 



Buchan 398 



Vienna International Electrical Exhibition . . . 399 



Notes 400 



Our Astronomical Column : — ; 



Variable Stars 403 



The Great Red Spot on Jupiter's Disk 403 



The Minor Planet, No. 234 403 



Geographical Notes 403 



The Edison-Hopkinson Dynamo-Electric Machine 405 



Indian Meteorology, 1 405 



University and Educational Intelligence .... 407 



Scientific Serials 408 



Societies and Academies 408 



Erratum. — Vol. xxviii. p. 343, col. 2, line 36 from bottom, 

 for Linn read Linss. 



