DEcEMBER 24, 1896] 
NATURE 
IgI 
on water and on other liquids, giving several formule. The 
surface tension of pure water is sufficient to bear up discs 
or rings of metal for three days in localities free from dust, 
but the slightest impurity in water destroys the surface 
tension ; even dipping the finger into it, or pouring vapour of 
ether upon it. Could the water be kept absolutely free from 
dust, it seems probable that it would retain its surface tension 
indefinitely. The surface tension of mercury is about ten times 
as great as that of water, but it overflows the metal, and is not 
convenient to experiment with. The kind of metal used in 
these experiments is quite immaterial.—Prof. Simon Newcomb 
read two papers, one on the physical causes of the variations of 
latitude. These causes are accumulation of ice and snow, and 
the alternate northerly and southerly motion of the earth’s atmo- 
sphere from and towards the poles for a period of three months in 
one direction, and three months in the other direction in each 
year. His second paper was on solar motion as a gauge of stellar 
distances. He finds that the stars observed have an apparent 
drift southward of about 2” a year, indicating that the 
solar system is moving at that rate in the direction of Alpha 
Lyre. His observations show, also, that the stars of smaller 
magnitudes are not so remote from the earth as their magnitude 
would indicate, the increase of distance being about one-fifth 
for each decrease in stellar magnitude. This seems to warrant 
the inference, he thinks that the visible universe has a definite 
limit in space.—Prof. C. S. Hastings read a paper on a new 
type of telescope free from secondary colour. He finds it 
possible, by proper arrangement of silicate glasses, to eliminate 
secondary colour entirely, and also to reduce the length of the 
telescope tube one half, obviously giving a great advantage in 
the construction of large telescopes where the weight of the 
object-glasses has to be supported at a great distance from the 
point of support.—Prof. Ira Remsen read two papers: one on 
the hydrolysis of acid amides; the other on the isomeric 
chlorides of paranitro-orthosulphobenzoic acid.—Prof. C. S. 
Peirce read two papers: one on a graphical method of logic ; 
the other on mathematical infinity. 
Paris. 
Academy of Sciences, December 14.—M. A. Cornu in 
the chair. —On a new form of the equations to the problem of 
three bodies, by M. H. Poincaré.—On a class of transcendental 
functions, by M. Emile Picard.—The theory of the confluence 
of lymphatics and the development of the lymphatic ganglions, 
by M. ‘L. Ranvier.—The application of the Réntgen rays to 
pulmonary tuberculosis, by M. C. H. Bouchard. The continua- 
tion of the study of one of the cases of pleurisy previously 
described shewed an opacity at the summit of the lung, appear- 
ing to result from a condensation of the pulmonary tissue, and 
this was confirmed by percussion and auscultation. In all the 
cases of tuberculosis examined with the aid of the fluorescent 
screen, the number of pulmonary lesions has been clearly made 
out, and in all diseases of the thorax the application of this 
method forms a valuable aid to diagnosis.—On the third scien- 
tific campaign of the Prevzcess Alice, by S. A. Albert I., Prince 
of Monaco. This communication is chiefly occupied with the 
results of deep-sea soundings in the neighbourhood of the Azores, 
and in the Mediterranean.—A new double image micro- 
meter, particularly suitable for the measurement of 
small diameters, by M. G. Bigourdan. —On Taylor’s series, 
by M. Emile Borel.—On a linear partial differential equation 
of the second order, by M. J. Le Roux. —On the quadratic in- 
tegrals of the equations of dynamics, by M. G. di Pirro.—On 
the longitudinal tension of the kathode rays, by M. Colard. 
Starting with the hypotheses that the ray consists of the trans- 
port of negatively charged molecules, and that the electric 
field is negligible in the space considered, the conclusion is 
drawn that the behaviour of a kathode ray in a magnetic field is 
similar to that of a perfectly flexible conductor carrying the 
same current.—On some errors admitted as facts in electro- 
magnetism, by M. Vaschy. In the case of the movement of a 
magnet under the influence of a current of constant intensity, 
the usual calculation of their relative energy neglects the heat 
evolved by the current. Other examples are given of similar 
cases.—On selenic anhydride, by M. René Metzner. A com- 
parison of the thermochemical data of sulphuric and selenic 
acids; the formation of selenic anhydride from selenious 
anhydride and oxygen is an endothermic reaction,— 
Analysis of copper by the electrolytic method: estimations 
ef arsenic, antimony, sulphur, and foreign metals, 
NO. 1417, VOL. 55] 
by M. A. Hollard. A continuation of a previous paper on the 
same subject.—On the antimonio-tungstic combinations, by 
M. L. A. Hallopean.—Researches on the sulphides of cobalt 
and nickel, by M. G. Chesneau. The solubility of cobalt 
sulphide in sodium polysulphide increases rapidly with the excess 
of sulphur present. The sulphide of cobalt obtained in this 
way approximated to the composition CO,.S;. Nickel gives 
with the same reagent a black polysulphide of perhaps analogous 
composition, differing from the cobalt salt in being soluble with 
difficulty in sodium polysulphide, and more soluble in the mono- 
sulphide. —New method for the estimation of glycerol, by MM. 
F, Bordas and Sig. de Raczkowski.—On 1 : 3 di-bromo-propy- 
lene, by M. R. Lespieau. This substance (CH Br: CH.CH,. Br) 
is obtained by the action of phosphoric anhydride upon 
symmetrical dibromhydrin.—On the decolorisation in wines, by 
M. J. Laborde. Under the action of the oxydase present in a 
culture of Botrytis cinerea, a wine was completely decolorised 
in four hours. This oxydase is destroyed by heat, hence the best 
method of preventing the spontaneous decolorisation of wines is to 
raise the wine to a temperature sufficiently high to destroy 
the ferment.—Coagulating and toxic properties of the liver, by 
MM. Mairet and Vires. By the action of heat upon the ex- 
tracts a precipitate is formed, possessing coagulating properties ; 
the filtrate contains the toxic principles. —Replacement of the 
amibocytes and phagocytic organ in the Pa/udina vivipara, 
by M. L. Cuénot.—On the development of Annelids, by M. 
Auguste Michel.—Contributions to the study of the Rouge?, by 
M. S. Jourdain. The disease known as ‘‘rouget,”’ ‘‘ béte 
rouge,” &c., is due to the attack of an acarus (Zvombzdton), in 
a larval hexapodal form.—On the formation of non-nitrogenous 
food stores in the nut and almond, by M. Leclerc du Sablon. 
—Action of some substances on the germination of the spores 
of black rot, by MM. L. Ravaz and G. Gouirand.—On an 
apparatus designed to show that the quantity of dissolved gas 
in sea-water at great depths is independent of the pressure, by 
M. Jules Richard. A description, with diagrams, of the 
apparatus used in the deep-sea soundings on the last voyage of 
the Princess Alice.—On the influence of certain living 
organisms on the quantities of oxygen and _ carbonic 
acid dissolved in sea-water, by M. Marten Knudsen. 
The observations on the amount of dissolved oxygen 
in the superficial layers made by Dittmar, in the 
Challenger Expedition, and later by Tornoé, show great 
variations, the quantities found being in some cases greater than 
that calculated from the law of solubility of gases. These 
results were attributed by Dittmar to errors of observations, 
but similar results having been obtained during the expeditions 
of the Zngolf to Greenland, although by a different method 
from those adopted by other observers, led to the discovery 
that this excess was due to the presence of a great number of 
living copepods.—On a red rain that fell at Bizerte (Tunis), by 
M. Ginestous. The colouring matter was of a mineral nature, 
which from its composition would appear to consist of the 
débris of a granulitic pegmatite.—The cooling of the globe, 
the primordial cause of evolution, by M. R. Quinton. 
New SoutH WALEs. 
Linnean Society, October 28.—Mr. Henry Deane, 
President, in the chair.—The President formally announced the 
death, on the roth inst., of Baron von Mueller, who was one of 
the first two honorary members of the Society to be elected 
(January 22, 1876).—On the motion of Mr. J. H. Maiden it was 
resolved that (1) the members of this Society desire to express 
the profound regret with which the tidings of the decease of 
Baron von Mueller have been received ; and at the same time 
to place on record their high appreciation of the Barons life- 
work, which has in so eminent a degree contributed to the 
advanced state of our knowledge of the flora of Australia. (2) A 
copy of this resolution be forwarded to the surviving sister of the 
late Baron, with an expression of the Society’s sympathy in her 
bereavement.—The President read a letter from the Royal 
Society of Tasmania, offering to co-operate in any movement to 
raise some appropriate memorial of the late Baron von Mueller. 
—The following papers were read :—Australian Zermitide 
(Part ii.), by Walter W. Froggatt. The author discusses the 
classification of the family, and proposes its subdivision into four 
subfamilies based upon the characters of the neuration of the 
wings.—Note on the occurrence of Palaeozoic Radiolaria in New 
South Wales, by Prof. David. With the exception of the opal 
rocks, which contain numerous spherical casts, possibly of 
