DECEMBER 25, 1913] 
NATURE 
495 
appreciate the proper conditions for the production 
of neon by electric discharge through hydrogen or from 
some other cause.—Walter Wahl: The relations be- 
tween the crystal-symmetry of the simpler organic 
compounds and their molecular constitution. Part iii. 
—Prof. G. G, Henderson and I. M. Heilbron: The 
selective absorption of ketones. The authors have 
found that the selective absorption of a large number 
of simple ketones is of the same type, since the ab- 
sorption bands of all are practically identical. They 
suggest that the absorption of these compounds may 
be due to electronic disturbances accompanying oscilla- 
tions which arise from the alternate formation and- 
breaking down of unstable ring systems within the 
molecule.—F, E. Smith: Absolute measurements of a 
resistance by a method based on that of Lorenz. The 
instrument employed differs from all other forms of 
apparatus based on the method of Lorenz, inasmuch 
as two discs are employed ‘instead of one. The dis- 
turbing effect of the earth’s magnetic field is thus 
practically eliminated. The result of the experiments 
is that a resistance of one international ohm is equal 
to 1:00052+0-00004 ohms (10°cm./sec.)—A. N. Shaw: 
A determination of the electromotive force of the 
Weston ‘normal cell in semi-absolute volts. With a 
preface by Prof. H. L. Callendar, -This paper repre- 
sents the completion of work commenced by Prof. 
H. L. Callendar and Mr. R. O. King in the years 
1894 to 1898. The final result for the E.M.F. of the 
Weston cell in semi-absolute volts comes out 1-01827 at 
20° C., which agrees closely with the mean of. the 
best recent determinations, namely 1-o1824.—F. E. 
Rowett ; Elastic hysteresis in steel. A thin-walled steel 
tube was coupled to a coaxial tube of greater section 
and length. The compound tube was twisted, and 
the twist in each component measured by spirit levels. 
The twist of the large tube, in which the stress and 
therefore also the hysteresis was small, measured the 
torque applied to the small tube. The elastic hysteresis 
in hard-drawn. tubes was about one-eighth of that in 
the same tube after annealing.—F. W. Aston: A 
simple form of micro-balance for determining the 
densities of small quantities of gases. (1) A simple 
micro-balance is described, by which the densities of 
gases may be determined relative to some standard 
gas, using a null method; (2) about half a cubic centi- 
metre only of the gas is required; (3) the determina- 
tion can be performed in a few minutes, with an 
accuracy of o-1 per cent; (4) possibilities of its use 
in other fields of research are indicated—T. R. 
Merton : A second spectrum of neon. The spectrum of 
neon has been investigated under different conditions 
of electrical excitation. It has been found that with 
a condensed discharge a second spectrum is developed, 
as in the case of argon, krypton, and xenon. The 
strongest lines of the ordinary spectrum are also feebly 
visible when a condensed discharge is used. ; 
DUBLIN. 
Royal Dublin Society, November 25.—Prof. James 
Wilson in the chair.—Prof. T. Johnson : Gink gophyllum 
kiltorkense, sp. nov. The author described a stalked 
leaf of a Ginkgophyllum from the Yellow Sandstone 
beds of Kiltorcan, county Kilkenny. The bilobed leaf 
is 5x7 cm., and shows forking venation clearly in 
its dichotomising segments. It suggests comparison 
and affinity with G. Grasseti, Saporta, from the Per- 
mian of Lodéve.. The specimen indicates that the 
Ginkgoacez occurred in the Devonian epoch. Im- 
pressions of the stem, showing distant leaf-scars 
arranged spirally, and intervening Lyginodendron-like 
cortical fibres, were also described, as well as certain 
seed-like impressions.—W. R. G. Atkins: Oxydases 
and their inhibitors in plant tissues. Part ii., The 
leaves and flowers of Iris. These gave the indirect 
NO. 2304, VOL. 92] 
| oxydase reaction throughout, though not in many 
instances until after the removal of inhibitors by 
hydrogen cyanide. Prolonged darkness has no 
decided effect upon the distribution of enzyme or 
inhibitor. The occurrence of the natural sap pig- 
ments in the flowers of about thirty varieties of Iris 
has been correlated with the presence of oxydase and 
inhibitor. 
Paris. 
Academy of Sciences, December 8.—M. F. Guyon in 
the chair.—H. Deslandres and V. Burson: The action 
of the magnetic field on the lines of the arithmetical 
series in a band of lighting gas. Variation of the 
number of the lines with the intensity of the field. 
; A study of the violet band 43889 in the spectrum of 
coal gas. The lines of a given arithmetical series are 
all either divided or displaced in the same manner, the 
magnitude only of the divisions or displacements being 
variable from one line to another.—G. Gouy: The 
absence of sensible refraction in the sun’s atmosphere. 
A discussion of the possible effects of abnormal dis- 
persion in lines of emission or absorption from the 
sun, with especial reference to the views of W. H. 
Julius.—Ph. Barbier and R, Locquin; The transforma- 
tion of citronellol into rhodinol. It is shown that 
pure rhodinol, the main constituent of essence of roses, 
can be obtained from citronellol—M. Duhem was 
elected a non-resident member.—J. Guillaume: Ob- 
servations of the sun made at the Observatory of 
Lyons during the third quarter of 1913. The results 
are given in three tables showing the number of spots, 
their distribution in latitude, and the distribution of 
the facule in latitude.—Maurice Gevrey: Indefinitely 
derivable functions of given class and their réle in the 
theory of partial -equations.—G. Bouligand: The 
problem of Dirichlet in an indefinite cylinder.—MM. 
Maurian and de Moismont : Comparative measurements 
of the friction of air on surfaces of different natures. 
—P, Idrac: Observations on the flight of gulls behind 
ships. In the hovering flight of birds in the neigh- 
bourhood of moving ships, the birds are sustained by 
ascending air currents due to the motion of the vessel. 
—Victor Valcovici: The hydrodynamical resistance of 
an obstacle in a movement with surfaces of slipping. 
—A,. Bilimovitch ; Special canonical transformations.— 
Marcel Brillouin: The propagation of sound in a non- 
absorbent heterogeneous fluid.—Edouard Guillaume : 
The velocity of light and Carnot’s principle—P. 
Vaillant : The polarisation capacity of an electrode sub- 
mitted to an alternating electromotive force and a 
method for its determination. The polarisation capa- 
city appears to start from a very high value for zero 
polarisation, decreases rapidly to a minimum, and 
again increases continuously. Its order of magnitude 
is 10 microfarads per.sq. mm. for a difference of 
potential of o-5 volt between the electrode and the 
electrolyte.—Marius Hartog and Philip E. Belas: The 
trajectory of a permeable particle moving without 
inertia in a bipolar Newtonian field of force.—G. 
Foex : Molecular fields in crystals and energy at the 
absolute zero.—E.° Tassilly: Determination of the 
velocity of formation of the diazo-compounds. Since a 
colouring matter was the product of the reaction studied, 
the reaction velocity was followed with the Féry 
spectrophotometer. The reaction is shown to be bi- 
molecular.—René Dubrisay: The neutralisation of 
periodic acid. _ Periodic acid in solution behaves as a 
tribasic acid.—J. Barlot and Ed. Chauvenet : The action 
of carbonyl chloride upon phosphates and the natural 
silicates —P. Brenans: The nitration of paraiodo- 
acetanilide.—L. Moreau and E. Vinet: Remarks on 
the use of wine traps for capturing the moths of 
Cochylis. These traps, although useful as supple- 
mentary means of destruction, cannot be relied upon 
