264 
NATURE 
[JANUARY 14, 1897 
o” C. the action is quite different, the compound TeCl,:3 NH, 
being produced. Under certain conditions, somewhat difficult 
to realise, tellurium nitride; TeN, arises by the spontaneous 
decomposition of this ammoniacal chloride. The nitride 
is unstable, detonating violently when struck or heated, 
but is not attacked by water or by dilute acetic acid. 
—On the absorption of sulphuretted hydrogen by liquid sulphur, 
by M. A H. Pélabon. Liquid sulphur at 440° C. absorbs 
hydrogen sulphide, which it gives out on solidifying. This can 
scarcely be a true case of a solution of a gas in a liquid, as it is 
found that the amount absorbed increases with the temperature, 
and is only given out on solidifying, no gas being given out by 
the solution in liquid sulphur even into a vacuum.—On the pro- 
duction of vanilline with the aid of vanilloylcarboxylic acid, by 
M. Ch. Gassmann.—On the transformation of eugenol into 
isoeugenol, by M. Ch. Gassmann.—On the principal varieties of 
wheat consumed in France, by M. Balland. Analyses of wheat 
from various sources. —Influence of the nervous system on the 
effects obtained by the injection of serum from vaccinated 
animals, by MM. Charrin and Nittis. As a general result it 
was found that lesions of the nervous system, which, as a rule, 
favour infection, also interfere with the protective power of a 
serum.—Influence of the different psychic processes upon the 
blood pressure in man, by MM. A. Binet and N. Vaschide. In 
all the experiments the blood pressure was increased. This effect 
was produced by pain, a strong mental effort, conversation, and 
a fatiguing muscular effort.—The Malpighian tubes of the 
Orthoptera, by M. L. Bordas.—On the Sfrrorézs ; asymmetry of 
these annelids and in the classification of this and allied species, 
by MM. Maurice Caullery and Félix Mesnil.—Remarks on the 
above note, by M. Edmond Perrier. —On the geological history 
of the Vosges, by M. A. de Lapparent.—On the period of 
formation of the phosphatic sands at the surface of the brown 
chalk, by M. Stanislas Meunier. Some remarks on a note by 
M. de Mercey. 
DIARY OF SOCIETIES. 
THURSDAY, January 14. 
“MATHEMATICAL Society, at 8.—Supplementary Note on Matrices: J. 
Brill.—The Partition of a Number into Primes : Prof. Sylvester, F.R.S.— 
Some Properties of Bessel’s Functions : Dr. Hobson, F.R.S. 
INSTITUTION OF ELECTRICAL ENGINEERS, at 8.—Inaugural Address of the 
President, Sir Henry Mance. 
SoutH Lonpon EnromotocicaL anp Naturat History SocieTy.— 
Some Marine Mimics: E. Step. 
FRIDAY, January 15. 
EPIDEMIOLOGICAL Society, at 8.—Age Incidence in Relation with Cycles 
of Disease Prevalence: Dr. Hamer. 
InstTiruTION OF CiviIL ENGINEERS, at 8.—On Girders and 
Arches ; Walter Beer. 
** Monier” 
SUNDAY, January 17. 
Sunvay Lecrure Sociery, at 4.—The Mountains of Great Britain : 
Norman Collie, F.R.S. 
MONDAY, January 18. 
Socrery or Arts, at 8.—Material and Design in Pottery : William Burton. 
- Society or CHEmicat INDustTRy, at 8.—The Character of the London 
Water Supply : W. J. Dibdin. 
Vicrorra INSTITUTE, at 4.30.—On the Assouan Embankment ; Prof. Hull, 
F.R.S. 
TUESDAY, January 19. 
Rovat INSTITUTION, at 3.—Animal Electricity : 
F.R.S. 5 
Royat GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY, at 4.30.—Sand Dunes; Vaughan Cornish. 
~ ZOOLOGICAL SociETY, at 8.30.—Revision of the West Indian Micro- 
lepidoptera, with Description of New Species : Lord Walsingham, F.R.S. 
-On some Points in the Anatomy of the Manatee lately living in the 
Society's Gardens: F. E. Beddard, F.R S.—On the Classification of the 
Primates from the Ophthalmoscopic Appearance of the Fundus oculi: Dr. 
G. Lindsay Johnson. 
“Roya STATISTICAL SOCIETY, at 5.30. 
INSTITUTION OF CivIL ENGINEERS, at 8.—Paper to be further discussed : 
Superheated Steam Engine Trials: Prof. W. Ripper.—Papers to be 
read, time permitting : The Diversion of the Periyar: Colonel J. Penny- 
cuick, C.S.1., R.E.—The Periyar Tunnel: M. P. Roscoe Allen. 
Royal PHoTOGRAPHIC Society, at 8. —The History of the Half-tone Dot : 
W. Gamble. 
GRESHAM COLLEGE, at 6.—Minute Organisms as Causes of Disease: Dr. 
Symes Thompson. 
Prof. 
Prof. A. D. Waller, 
WEDNESDAY, January 20. 
Society oF Arts, at 8.—The Roller Boat of M. Bazin: Emile Gautier. 
GEOLOGICAL Society, at 8.—On Glacial Phenomena of Palzozoic Age in 
the Varanger Fjord; The Raised Beaches and Glacial Deposits of the 
Varanger Fjord: Aubrey Strahan. 
RoyaL METEOROLOGICAL SOCIETY, at 7.30.—Report of the Council ; Elec- 
tion of Officers and Council.—Address on Shade Temperature : E. 
Mawley, President. 
NO. 1420, VOL. 55] 
Roya Microscoricat Society, at 8.—President’s Address. 
ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY, at 8.—Annual Meeting. 
GrEsHAM COLLEGE, at 6.—Bacteria in Air and Water: Dr. 
Thompson. 
Symes 
THURSDAY, Janvary 21. 
Royat Society, at 4 30.—The following Papers will #70ably be read :— 
On Cheirostrobus, a New Type of Fossil Cone from the Calciferous Sand- 
stone: Dr. D. H. Scott, F.R.S.—(1) Experiments in Examination of the 
Peripheral Distribution of the Fibres of the Posterior Roots of some 
Spinal Nerves, Part II. ; (2) Cataleptoid Reflexes in the Monkey; (3) On 
Reciprocal Innervation of Antagonistic Muscles (third note): Prof. 
Sherrington, F.R.S. 
Roya INsTITUTION, at 3.—Some Secrets of Crystals : Prof. H. A. Miers, 
F.R.S. 
LinnEAN Society, at 8.—On the Origin of the Corpus callosum ; a Com- 
parative Study of the Hippocampal Region of the Cerebrum ‘of Mar- 
supialia and certain Cheiroptera ; Dr. G. Elliott Smith.—On the Minute 
Structure of the Nervous System of the Mollusca: Dr. J. Gilchrist. 
CuHemicac Society, at 8.—Studies of the Properties of Highly Purified 
Substances. I. The Influence of Moisture on the Production of Ozone 
from Oxygen and on the Stability of Ozone. II. The Behaviour of 
Chlorine, Bromine, and Iodine with Mercury. III. The Behaviour of 
Chlorine under the Influence of the Silent Discharge of Electricity and in 
Sunlight: W. A. Shenstone.—Action of Diastase on Starch, Part III. : 
A. R. Ling and J. L. Baker.—The Solution Density and Cupric-reducing 
Power of Dextrose, Levulose, and Moist Sugar: Horace T. Brown, F-R S.; 
Dr. G. Harris Morris ; J. H. Millar.—Derivatives of Maclurin, Part IL.: 
A. G, Perkin. 
GresHAM COLLEGE, at 6.—Milk, Meat, and Oysters as Carriers of Disease : 
Dr. Symes Thompson. 
FRIDAY, JAanxvary 22. 
Roya INsTiTuTION, at g.—Properties of Liquid Oxygen: 
F.R.S. 
Prysicat Society, at 5.—An Exhibition of some Simple a by W. 
B. Croft.—On the Passage of Electricity through Gases: E. C. Baly. 
GresHam COLLEGE, at 6.—Diphtheria : Dr. Symes Thompson. 
Prof. Dewar, 
CONTENTS. 
Cellulose.—The Choice of Paper for Books. By 
PAGE 
i a cies 241 
Early Chaldean Civilization : 243 
Handbooks of Physiology 244 
Our Book Shelf:— 
‘“The Fauna of British India, including Ceylon and 
Burma”. . ees so) ee 
Luedecke : ‘‘ Die Minerale des Harzes” : + 2 Sea 
Giberne : ‘‘ The Wonderful Universe”. jee 246 
Rodway: ‘‘ The Story of Forest and Stream”. 246 
Chudzinski : ‘‘ Quelques observations sur les Muscles 
Peauciers du Crane et de la Face dans les Races 
Humaines” (3aegeeae . 2°. ea 
Letters to the Editor :— 
The Meaning of the Symbols in Applied Algebra. — 
Prof. Oliver J. Lodge, F.R.S. .. 246 
The Force of a Pound.—Prof. A. M. Worthington, 
F3RsS2.. sae ay 
Sir William MacGregor’ Ss Journey : across New Guinea. 
Dr. Henry O. Forbes .. . nea, 
Shooting Stars of January 2. __w. F. ‘Denning . 247 
The Svastika. (J///ustrated.)—S. E. Peal... 248 
A Critic Criticised.—Prof. Uo There The 
Reviewer. . 248 
The Union of Nerve ‘Cells.— F. XC. Kenyon; A. 
Sanders : : oes Ceunz4s 
Two Corrections == Ni “F. Sinclair. so Ey ee 
Celestial Eddies. (J/ustrated.) By J. Norman — 
Lockyer, C. Bikes Same). - sis «1 von eag 
The Theory of Solutions. Be: Lord Rayleigh, 
ERS See ae 253 
The Bog-Slide ae Eeceieeecha, i in ‘the County of 
Kerry. (J//ustrated.) By Prof. Grenville A.J. Cole 254 
Notes ‘...).. . GaMeBeMIc= Ss 0s << s © e RoneneeeUEen 
Our Astronomical Column :— 
The Algol Variable + 17° aaer W Dep eee 6) 2a) 
Comet Notes. . . 5 pits ZO 
The Universal Meridian een ese eg Lou 
Prize Subjects of the Paris Academy of Sciences. 261 
The Old Turkish Inscriptions in Mongolia 262 
University and Educational Intelligence +p) eedopd 
Societies and Academies Sls ty mee 2 05 
Diary, of Societicsmeeaiar-eetice-) -) - =) ne 264 
