JANUARY 7, 1904] 
NATORE 
239) 
l-methylhydrindamines with d-chlorocamphorsulphonie acid, 
by Mr. G. Tattersai!.—The four optically isomeric /-menthyl- 
amines and their salts, by Messrs. F. Tutin and F. S. 
Kipping.—Preparation of the tetra-alkyl derivatives of 
stannimethane, by Messrs. W. J. Pope and S. J. Peachey. 
The authors have prepared a number of these derivatives 
by the interaction of magnesium alkyl haloids with stannic 
chloride or alkyl derivatives of the latter.—Optically active 
esters of B-ketonic and B-aldehydic acids, part iv., con- 
densation of aldehydes with menthyl acetoacetate, by Messrs. 
A. C. O. Hann and A. Lapworth.—Estimation of the 
adulterant in citronella oil, by Mr. M. K. Bamber. 
Geological Society, December 16, 1903.—Sir Archibald 
Geikie, Sec.R.S., vice-president, in the chair.—The igneous 
rocks associated with the Carboniferous Limestone of the 
Bristol district, by Prof. C. Lloyd Morgan, F.R.S., and 
Prof. Sidney H. Reynolds. Evidence for the contempor- 
aneous origin of the igneous rocks is given for several locali- 
ties. At Middle Hope the ejectamenta thin to the east, and 
lava is only found to the west ; at Spring Cove, near Weston- 
super-Mare, small lapilli were found in the limestone 8 feet 
above the basalt. At Goblin Combe there is the most 
characteristic section of ashy beds; the lenticular bands of 
greenish tuff, the limestone-intercalations, the admixture of 
lapilli, limestone fragments, and oolitic grains are stamped 
with the mark of submarine volcanic action; lava closely 
underlies these breccias and tuffs. There is evidence of only 
one volcanic episode, which occurred in all cases after the 
Zaphrentis beds had been laid down, and before the strata 
characterised by Chonetes and Streptorhynchus were de- 
posited. The lavas are olivine-dolerites or basalts, with 
phenocrysts of olivine or augite. They are frequently 
amygdaloidal, and in the variolites highly-altered felspar- 
phenocrysts occur. ‘The rocks vary in grain. The tuffs are 
all calcareous, and most are best described as ‘‘ ashy lime- 
stones.’’ The bulk, of the lapilli varies from one-hundredth 
part of the rock to about one-third, and their composition 
is related to that of the basaltic lavas of the district.—The 
Rheztic beds of England, by Mr. A. Rendle Short. The 
Paper opens with a description of four new exposures of 
these rocks ; one at Redland rests upon Carboniferous Lime- 
stone; a second is at Stoke Gifford, with a continuous, well- 
developed landscape-marble, the insect bed, and no bone bed ; 
a third at Cotham Road (Bristol) yields baryta, celestine, 
and Naiadita at horizons containing no other fossils; and 
the fourth, at Aust, has given measurements of the upper- 
most 13 feet. An account is given of the constituent beds, 
with reference to the conditions of deposition. 
Paris. 
Academy of Sciences, December 28, 1903.—M. Albert 
Gaudry in the chair.—M. Troost was elected a vice-presi- 
dent for the year 1904.—Researches on the density of 
chlorine, by MM. H. Moissan and Binet du Jassoneix 
(see p. 233).—On some new syntheses effected by means of 
molecules containing the methylene group associated with 
one or two negative radicals. The action of epichlorhydrin 
upon the sodium derivative of acetylacetone, by MM. A. 
Haller and G. Blanc. The reaction between epichlorhydrin 
and sodium acetylacetone is distinguished from the reactions 
between epichlorhydrin and the sodium derivatives of 
acetoacetic ester, benzoylacetic ester, and similar compounds 
by the fact that the chlorine reacts with the sodium, giving 
rise to products free from chlorine, one of which appears to 
be CH,.C=CH—CH,—CH.CH,OH. This changes spon- 
| | 
taneously into a ketone, the constitution of which is under 
examination.—The potash soluble in the water of the soil 
and its utilisation by plants, by M. Th. Schleesing, jun.— 
On the first volume of the photographic catalogue of the 
sky published by M. A. Donner, director of the Observatory 
of Helsingfors, by M. Loewy.—Remarks by M. R. Zeiller 
on the work of M. Michel Lévy on the fossil flora of the 
Tonkin Coal-measures.—Remarks by M. Alfred Picard on 
presenting his report on the Exhibition of 1900.—On the 
scapular and pelvic hands in the chondropterygian fishes, by 
M. Armand Sabatier.—On the limit of the Jurassic and 
Cretacean in the eastern part of the Pyrenees, and on the 
existence of two distinct epochs of formation of couzeranite 
limestones, by MM. Ch. Depéret and O. Mengel.—On the 
No. 1784, VOL. 69] 
influence of the depth of immersion of a vessel on the speed, 
by M. J. A. Normand. A mathematical investigation into. 
the relations existing between the weights of coal, engines, 
and other load, the maximum speed, displacement, and the 
exponent according to which the velocity varies in the neigh- 
bourhood of the maximum power.—On a property of 
functions, by M. H. Lebesgue.—On linear partial differ- 
ential equations, by M. J. Le Roux.—The convergence of 
periodic superposed roots, by M. Paul Wiernsberger.—On 
a new system of road traction called a propulsion continue, 
by M. Charles Renard. A description of a method of 
mechanically transmitting the power of a locomotive to a 
series of attached vehicles, the whole train forming a kind 
of articulated locomotive. The advantages gained are great 
precision in steering round corners, and a reduction in the 
weight of the locomotive, since the tractive power is not 
limited, as in the usual type, by the adhesion of its wheels. 
—New electromechanical arrangements of engagement and 
gradual change of velocity, by M. Paul Gasnier. A method 
of using an electrically driven motor by which its speed can 
be gradually varied from nothing to maximum as required. 
—On the extension of the Clapeyron formula to all in- 
different states, by M. L. Ariés.—On the luminous intensity 
of stars and their comparison with the sun, by M. Charles 
Fabry. Measurements made on the intensity of the star 
Vega, near the zenith, in calm weather and at the sea-level, 
gave a value equal to a candle at 780 metres distance, 
or 1-7X10-° candles. A relation between magnitude of a 
star as usually measured by astronomers and the candle- 
power is then worked out.—On the difference of temperature 
of bodies in contact, by M. E. Rogovsky.—On sliding dis- 
charges, by M. J. de Kowalski.—On a diffusiometer, by 
M. J. Thovert. A modification of an instrument previously 
described, suitable for volatile liquids. The rate of diffusion 
is measured by the change in the refractive index of the 
liquid.—On a new method of preparing some anhydrous 
crystallised fluorides, by M. Defacqz. By heating a 
mixture of calcium chloride and manganese fluoride, the 
former being in excess, to 1000°-1200°, crystallised calcium 
fluoride is obtained, either in cubes or octahedra.—Electrical 
osmosis in liquid ammonia, by M. Marcel Ascoli.—On the 
dissociation of alkaline carbonates, by M. P. Lebeau. 
Sodium carbonate, heated in a vacuum, is appreciably dis- 
sociated, the pressure of the carbon dioxide varying from 
1 mm. at 700° C. to 41 mm. at 1200° C. Similar measure- 
ments were also carried out with the carbonates of 
potassium, rubidium, and cz#sium.—On the a-amino-nitriles, 
by M. Marcel Delépine.—The combination of saccharose 
with some metallic salts, by M. D. Gauthier.—On the 
transformation of the primary a-glycols into the correspond- 
ing aldehydes, by M. Tiffeneau. A study of the mechanism 
of the transformation of (CH,).(C,H,).C(OH)—CH,OH 
into (CH,).(C,H,).CH.CH : O by the action of 25 per cent. 
sulphuric acid.—On the nitric esters of the acid alcohols, by 
M. H. Duval. Description of the preparation and properties 
of the nitrates of acetoxyacetic, lactic, a-oxybutyric, and 
glycollic acids.—The action of carbon dioxide upon aqueous 
solutions of aniline in the presence of nitrites, by M. Louis 
Meunier. An aqueous solution of aniline mixed with 
sodium nitrite gives diazoamidobenzene in presence of 
carbonic acid. Silver nitrite with aniline gives the silver 
salt of diazoamidobenzene. There is no reaction between 
sodium nitrite and aniline in aqueous solution in the absence 
of carbon dioxide-—On the retrogradation of starch, by 
M. t.. Maquenne.—The preparation of hydrogenated 
alcohols of the aromatic series, by M. Léon Brunel. By 
the action of hydrogen in the presence of reduced nickel at 
170°-200° C., phenol gives cyclohexanol, thymol, hexa- 
hydrothymol, and carvacrol hexahydrocarvacrol.—On the 
oxidation of guaiacum by laccase, by M. Gabriel Bertrand. 
—The development of annual plants: study of the mineral 
bases, by M. G. André.—On the culture of sarrasin in the 
presence of a mixture of algz and bacteria, by MM. 
Bouilhac and Giustiniani.—The evolution undergone by 
fishes of the genus Atherina in fresh and brackish water, 
by M. Louis Roule.—New facts on the n-rays of physio- 
logical origin, by M. Augustin Charpentier. The emission 
of the n-rays by living bodies is not peculiar to man; it has 
been found in rabbits, frogs, and other animals. The most 
important part of the physiological emission of the n-rays 
