Marcu 4, 1897 | 
IVA TORE 
431 
Geological Society, February 19.—The following officers 
were elected :—President: Dr. Henry Hicks, F.R.S.  Vice- 
Presidents: Prof. T. G. Bonney, F.R.S., Lieut.-General C. A. 
MacMahon, J. J. H. Teall, F.R.S., and Dr. [lenry Woodward, 
F.R.S. Secretaries: J. E. Marr, F.R.S., and R. S. Herries. 
Foreign Secretary : Sir John Evans, K.C.B., F.R.S. Treasurer : 
Dr. W. T. Blanford, F.R.S. The medals and funds were 
awarded as announced in NATURE of January 14 (p. 256). 
The President delivered his anniversary address, which dealt 
with some recent evidence bearing on the geological and 
biological history of Early Cambrian and Pre-Cambrian times. 
EDINBURGH. 
Royal Society, February 15.— Prof. Geikie in the chair.— 
A paper, by Prof. Crum Brown and Dr. Bolam, on the electro- 
lysis of potassium ethyl-sulphone-acetate was read by the former. 
The electrolysis of this salt takes place in a manner quite 
analogous to that of potassium acetate, the product corre- 
sponding to ethane (CHj), being ethylene di-ethyl-sulphone 
(CH,.SO,.C,H;)..—A paper by Lord Kelvin, on configurations 
of minimum potential energy in clusters of homogeneous 
molecules, with application to the theory of crystalline forms, 
was read by Prof. Tait.—Dr. Beattie described further ex- 
periments, conducted by Lord Kelvin, Dr. Smolan, and 
himself, on the apparent and real diselectrification of solid 
insulators by flame, by air in contact with white-hot metal, 
by ultra-violet light, and by Rontgen rays (see p. 343).— 
Prof. Gibson read a paper on photo-chemical action.—Prof. 
Tait read a paper on the compressibility of salt solutions. On 
the hypothesis that the compressibility of an aqueous solution of 
a salt is inversely proportional to its internal pressure, an attempt 
is made to find the effecézve volume of the dissolved salt, as com- 
pared with its volume in the solid form. The experimental 
«lata have been employed also to find the nature of the changes 
in the (nearly constant) ratio (D—1)/S, where D is the density 
of the solution, and S the mass of salt in 1 of water. It 
-diminishes slowly with increase of S in all the cases examined, 
with the single exception of common salt, where it increases 
slowly. Its actual value has a wide range, being nearly unity for 
magnesium sulphate, and little more than o°5 for ammonium 
sulphate. 
_ MANCHESTER. 
Literary and Philosophical Society, February 9.—Dr. 
Edward Schunck, F.R.S., President, in the chair.—On hypo- 
siodous acid and hypoiodites, by R. L. Taylor. The author re- 
ferred to the work done on the subject by Schénbein, by Lunge 
-and Schoch, by Schwicker, and, more recently, by Walker and 
Kay, and pointed out that, when an aqueous solution of iodine 
is treated with an alkali, a solution is obtained which bleaches 
much more strongly than chlorine water or hypochlorites. He 
also investigated the action of aqueous solution of iodine on 
mercuric oxide, and finds that hypoiodous acid is formed, but 
possesses very feeble bleaching properties, which, however, are 
- greatly increased by the addition of a small amount of alkali. 
Hypoiodous acid also appears to be formed by the action of 
iodine water on certain silver salts; but this solution is much 
less stable, and loses 90 per cent. of its bleaching power in five 
minutes. 
Paris. 
Academy of Sciences, February 22.—M. A. Chatin in the 
-chair.—Note on the sixth volume of the ‘‘ Annals de lobserva- 
toire de Bordeaux,” by M. Loewy. The present volume 
contains a memoir by M. Rayet on the climate of Bordeaux, 
one by M. Kromm on the Comet 1893 III., and further obser- 
vations relating to a revision of the austral zones of Argelander. 
—On the physiological 7é/e of the leucocytes, with especial 
reference to wounds in the cornea, by M. L. Ranvier. From 
the observations cited it is maintained that the so-called 
inflammatory phenomena are really physiological, differing only 
in intensity from those observed during embryonic development. 
—On the existence of anode rays analogous to the kathode rays, 
by M. de Heen.—Photography of the electric radiations of the 
sun and the solar atmosphere, by the same.—Note on some 
photographs obtained through plates of various metals, by M. 
-de Sanderval.—Description of the photographic method, 
allowing of the production of positives in two colours, by M. A, 
- Graby.—On the quadratic integrals of the equations of 
mechanics, by M. Lévi-Civita.—Remarks on the preceding 
communication, by M. Appell.—On the formation of the solar 
= system, by M. du Ligondés.—A reply to the objections raised 
NO, 1427, VOL. 55] 
by M. Wolf to M. Faye’s theory.—Automatic recording of the 
bending in the testing of metals, by M. Ch. Fremont.—New 
method for producing transparent crystals, by M. Ch. de 
Watteville. If the crystal is kept slowly rotating during its 
growth, its lustre and transparency are much increased.—On 
pyrosulphury] chloride, by M. A. Besson. This substance can 
only be obtained pure by fractional distillation under reduced 
pressure. Its boiling point is 53°C. under 15 mm. pressure, 
142 C. at 765 mm., and its melting point — 39°C. The 
reactions with hydrogen bromide, hydrogen iodide, hydrogen 
sulphide and phosphide are given.—Anethol and its homo- 
logues, by MM. Ch. Moureu and A. Chauvet. The method of 
preparation described is a simplification of the original synthesis 
of Perkin.—On the soluble oxidising ferment causing the 
decolorisation of wine, by M. P. Cazeneuve.—On the examin- 
ation of white wines for coal tar dyes, and the differences between 
these colours and the caramel colours, by MM. Alb. d’Aguiar 
and W. da Silva. The reagent employed is amylalcohol acting 
upon the wine rendered alkaline with ammonia.—Experimental 
researches on the mechanism of cutaneous hyperemia, by MM. 
Jacquet and Butte.—On the part played by recurring images in 
the irradiation phenomena shown by short flashes of light, by 
M. Aug. Charpentier.—Absorption of nitrogen and hydrogen 
by the blood, by M. Christian Bohr. The absorption of nitro- 
gen by blood is always somewhat greater than that absorbed by 
water under similar conditions, and this difference is much 
increased if oxygen is present along with the nitrogen.—A new 
generic type of mycomycetes, by M. E. Roze.—The use of 
sulphate of iron for the destruction of the parasitic cryptogamia 
of the vine, by M. Croquevielle.—On a crystallised mineral 
(metabrushite) formed in a leaden coffin, by M. A. Lacroix.— 
On the Cretaceous beds in the region of Mondégo, by M. Paul 
Choffat.—The second international ascent of the dérophile, by 
MM. Hermite and Besancon. The highest point reached was 
about 15,000 metres, and the minimum temperature — 66°C. 
AMSTERDAM. 
Royal Academy of Sciences, November 28, 1896.—Prof. 
vande Sande Bakhuyzen in the chair, —Prof. van Wyhe exhibited 
a number of anatomical preparations fixed by means of formol, 
and discussed the conception of the spinal nerve as a complex 
of two independent nerves.—Mr. Hamburger dealt with the 
influence of respiration upon the size and shape of the blood 
corpuscles. Inthe minute blood-vessels of the tissues the red 
and the white blood corpuscles undergo a swelling; in the 
capillaries of the lungs they shrink again. Notwithstanding 
the swelling the ved corpuscles show, on microscopic examination, 
a decrease of diameter. This is to be ascribed to their losing 
their biconcave flattened form under the given circumstances, 
and their tendency to assume the globular shape. The swelling 
is accounted for by the fact that under the influence of CO, 
the proportion of water-absorbing substances increases in a 
greater measure in the blood corpuscles than in the serum. 
This brings about a disturbance in the osmotic equilibrium, in 
consequence of which the blood corpuscles absorb water and 
swell. —Mr. Jan de Vries presented a paper on geometrical 
proofs of theorems in number.—Prof. van der Waals presented, 
for publication in the Academy’s Proceedings : (1) On behalf of 
Prof. C. A. J. A. Oudemans, a paper, entitled ‘‘ Notice sur 
quelques champignons nouveaux.” (2) On behalf of Prof. 
Kamerlingh Onnes: (a) A paper by Mr. L. H. Siertsema, on 
temperature-coefficients of aneroids. As causes of the usually 
rather high temperature-coefficients of aneroids are adduced 1° 
the expansion of the metal, 2° the decrease of the elasticity- 
coefficients of spring and vacuum box, 3° the expansion of the 
residual air in the box. An investigation into the consequences 
of 1° shows that this cause can produce only a small part of the 
temperature-coefhcient. If this cause be left out of account 
in a first approximation, then the temperature-coefficient A, 
when deduced from 2” and 3°, is found to be A=/ (a + 7) — An, 
in which g represents the pressure of the air in the box at 0°, 
a, the expansion-coefficient of air, 7 the quantity by which the 
variation of the elasticity-coefficient of the spring is measured 
{E--E. (1—7n¢)], and A the barometric pressure. A com- 
parison with what has been observed experimentally on this 
point shows that the formula is not in opposition with ex- 
perience. For a complete numerical comparison, however, 
more data would be required. (4) An account of some further 
experiments made by Dr. Zeeman in the Leyden Laboratory, 
concerning the influence of magnetism on the lines of the 
