6o8 



NA TURE 



{Oct. 1 8, 1883 



Note on the coloured fringes in films of uniaxial crystals. 

 their projection in monochromatic light, by A. Bertin. — Optical 

 apparatus for verifying plane surfaces, whether parallel, perpen- 

 dicular, or oblique, by Leon Laurent (with diagrams). — Theorem 

 relative to ramified linear currents, by L. The'venin. — Horizon- 

 tal capillary electrometer, byCh. Claverie. — Sonorous vibrations 

 fids in presence of liquids, by F. Auerbach. — A measure- 

 ment of wave-length in the ultra-red of the solar spectrum, by 

 E. Pringsheim. — Researches on the proportion of carbonic acid 

 in the air, by J. Keiset. — Researches on the proportion of car- 

 bonic acid contained in the air, by A. Miintz and E. Anbin. — 

 On the normal amount of carbonic acid in the air, by M. Dumas. — 

 Experimental researches on the thermal conductivity of minerals 

 and rocks, by J, Thoulet. — Analytical researches on the method 

 of J. Thoulet relative to thermal conductivity, by A. Lagarde.— 

 On the diffusion of an impalpable powder in solid bodies and On 

 pig iron transformed to steel by cementation, by Sydney Mar den. 

 — On the electrolysis of hydrogen peroxide, by M. Berthelot. — 

 Detection of haemoglobin in the blood by optical methods, by 

 E. Branly. — Measurement of the rotation of the plane of polar- 

 isation due to the magnetic influence of the earth, by II. 

 Becquerel. — A new apparatus for determining specific heat:-, by 

 YV. Louguinine. — Reversal of line spectra of metals, by Liveing 

 and Dewar. — Boiling points and vapour tensions of mercury, 

 sulphur, and some complex carbon compounds determined by 

 the hydrogen thermometer, by J. M. Cra r ts. 



Atti of the Royal Academy da Lined, June 3. — Obituary 

 notice of the late Rainardo Dozy, with a complete list of the 

 illustrious savant's writings, by Sig. Amari. — Remarks on 

 Giunti's researches on the influence exercised by some physical 

 agencies on alcoholic fermentation, by Sig. Cossa. — On the 

 rotatory power of the isomerous photosantonic acid C 16 H 20 O 4 , 

 by Sig. Nasini. — Two important results of Hall's electric pheno- 

 menon, by Sig. Bla-erna. — On the spontaneous oxidation of 

 mercury, by S. Damiano Macaluso. — On the equilibrium of 

 elastic and rigid surfaces, by S. Giacinto Morera. — On a new 

 method of anresthesis, obtained by disassociating the motor and 

 sensitive functions of the nervous system, by S. A. Moriggia. 



SOCIETIES AND ACADEMIES 

 Paris 

 Academy of Sciences, October 8. — M. Blanchard, presi- 

 dent, in the chair. — On the force of explosive substances, by 

 M. Berthelot. In reference to the work in two volumes just 

 published by him on this subject (" Sur la Force des Matieres 

 explosives d'apres la Thermo-chimie, Gauthier-Villars, 1S83), 

 the author explains that the theory there advanced is the result 

 of thirteen years' experimental researches reported from time to 

 time in the Comp'cs Retuius of the Academy. The first part is 

 devoted to general notions, and in particular to the development 

 of his theory on the propagation of explosive phenomena and on 

 the explosive wave, the discovery of which throws quite a new 

 light on the whole subject. In the second part are recorded the 

 various experiments and researches made by the author on the 

 electric fixity of nitrogen. In the third part the principles and 

 numerical data thus determined are applied to define in particu- 

 lar the force of detonating gases, nitro-glycerine, nitromannite, 

 dynamite, gun-cotton, picrates, and other powerful explosive 

 substances. The history of the origin of gunpowder and other 

 explosives is consigned to an appendix, and the work is enriched 

 with full analytical tables and alphabetical indexes.— Report on 

 the earthquake felt at Ischia on July 28, 1883, with remarks on 

 the probable causes of seismic disturbances, by M. Daubree. 

 The author rejects Prof. Palmieri's view that the catastrophe was 

 connected with the presence of old quarries and other cavities 

 whose supports gave way and thus caused a sudden subsidence of 

 the ground at Casamicciola. He holds, on the contrary, that it n as 

 due to the volcanic forces, by which the island has often been 

 wasted, and notably in the years 1S28, 1867, and 1881. On the 

 general question ot the nature and cause of these disturbances he 

 holds with Dolomieu that they mast be regarded as suppressed vol- 

 canic eruptions. Gaseous bodies formed in underground cavities, 

 the vapour of water penetrating from the upper crust, subjected 

 to great pressure, sufficiently superheated, and set in motion 

 from time to time by a simple natural process, suffice to account 

 for all the essential phenomena associated with earthquakes. — 

 Reply to a note by M. Thollon on the interpretation of a pheno- 

 menon of 1 he solar spectrum, by M. Faye. The author appeals 

 to data supplied by Secchi and others in support of his views 



-in t the reality of the velocity of 100 to 150 leagues per 

 "ton -I usually assigned by spectroscopists to the movements of 

 the hydrogen in the solar protuberances. — On the measurement 

 of the forces brought into play in the various acts of locomotion 

 (one illustration), by M. Marey. — On the coexistence in a speci- 

 men of guano of effervescent carbonate of ammonium with 

 water and sulphate of potash, by M. E. Chevreul. — On the 

 symmetrical character of the so-called adventive roots in plants, 

 by M. D. Clos. — After the reading of this paper allusion was 

 made by the President to the loss sustained by the Academy in 

 the person of Dr. Oswald Heer, Corresponding Member of the 

 Botanical Section, who died at Lausanne on September 27.- — On 

 the financial a>pect of the great works of irrigation in France 

 and the north of Italy, by M. Ar. Dumont. — Observations on 

 the Pons-Brooks comet and the planets 142, 185, 221, and 234 

 made at the Paris Observatory (equatorial of the V.'e-t T 

 with note on the remarkable variation in brightness of the Pons- 

 Brooks comet, by M. G. Bigourdan. — On a remarkable pecu- 

 liarity presented by the tail of the great southern comet of 18S2, 

 by M. I.. Cruls. — On the approximate evaluation ofintegei 

 M. Stieltjes. — On the induction produced by the variatii 

 intensity of the electric current in a spherical solenoid, by M. 

 Quet. — On the products formed in the fermentation of the 

 sugar-cane due to the properties of the soil, by MM. Dehcrain 

 ami Maquenne. — On the wheats of India, by M. Balland. The 

 specimens of Indian wheaten flour examined by the author 

 revealed the presence of about 3 per cent, of Vicia pc>\ 

 Cicer arietinum, and other leguminous flours.- — On poisoning by 

 the bacilli of the jequirity (one illustration), by MM. Cornil and 

 Berlioz. — On the influence of beet-pulp on the milk of the cow, 

 by MM. Andouird and V. Dezaunay. From their experiments 

 the authors c include that the milk of cows fed on beet-pulp 

 increases in quantity, but deteriorates in quality. — On the 

 geological age of the serpentine rocks and ophiolithic formations 

 of Corsica, by M. Dieulafait. 



CONTENTS Page 



William E. Logan, by Dr. Arch. Geikie, F.R.S. . 5S5 

 Our Book Shelf:— 



Holdsworth's "Sea fisheries of Great Britain and 



Ireland" . , 5 S 6 



1 rankland's " Agricultural Chemical Analysis " . . 586 

 Letters to the Editor : — 



" Elevation and Subsidence." — T. Sington ; J. 



Starkie Gardner 587 



The Apparent Disappearance of Jupiter's Satellites 



on October 14. — W. F. Denning 588 



Arithmetical Notation of Kinship — Alexander Mac- 



farlane 588 



A Green Sun.— Henry Bedford 588 



" Zoology at the Fisheries Exhibition." — Bryce- 



Wright 589 



Organic Evolution and the Fundamental Assumptions 



of Natural Philosophy.— Rev. Frederick W. Ragg 589 

 Curious Habit of a Brazilian Moth. — E. L. Layard 589 



Meteors. — Donald Cameron 589 



The Uselessness of Vivisection.— Lawson Tait ; 



George J. Romanes, F.R.S 589 



Breeding of " Hapale jacchus " in Captivity. — W. C. 



Atkinson 590 



Telescopic Work for the Autumn. By W. F. 



Denning . . 590 



The International Bureau of Weights and Measures, 



II. (With Illustrations) 592 



Notes S96 



The Movements of the Earth, I. By J. Norman 



Locker, F.R.S. ( WUh Diagrams) 598 



Table of Different Velocities expressed in Metres 



per Second 604 



The British Association : — 



Reports 604 



Section A — Mathematical and Physical Science . . 605 

 Our Astronomical Column : — 



Pons' Comet 606 



Swift's Cometary Object 606 



The Cordoba Observatory 606 



University and Educational Intelligence .... 607 



Scientific Serials 607 



Societies and Academies 608 



