3 o8 



NA TURE 



\_Jan. 29, 1885 



The author considers that a careful study of these tables will 

 suffice to convince the most incredulous of the intimate relation 

 existing between the solar phenomena (spots, facula:, &c.) and 

 the oscillations of the magnetic needle. — On some new trans- 

 formations of partially-derived linear equations of the second 

 order, by M. R. Liouville. — On the laws of evaporation 

 as determined by the measurements recorded with ordinary 

 evaporometers at the various meteorological stations, by M. 

 Berthelot. — On oxygenated water, by M. H. Henriot. The 

 results are given of experiments made to distil oxygenised water 

 under a reduced pressure of 3 cm. of mercury. — On an easy 

 method of obtaining measurable crystals of the peroxide of 

 cobalt, C0 3 4 , by M. Friedel. The method consists in sub- 

 mitting the liquid chloride to the action of a current of moi-t air 

 in the same apparatus in which he has already succeeded in 

 obtaining artificial hausmannite. — On the formation of the 

 nitrate of tetramethylammonium, by MM. K. Duvillier and H. 

 Malbot. — On a method for regulating the chemical action of 

 solar radiation, the intensity of which is constantly changing on 

 the surface of the earth, by M. L. Olivier. — On the origin of 

 the Microzymas and of the Vibrionians everywhere present in 

 the atmosphere, in water, and the ground, in connection with 

 M. Duclaux's recent communication, by M. A. Bechamp. The 

 author argues against M. Pasteur that these germs are to be 

 sought originally, not in the air, where they are dissemi- 

 nated by the winds, but in the ground and water, where 

 they are deposited by the disintegration of the neozoic and 

 palaeozoic rocks, and by decomposing animal and vegetable 

 matter of all sorts. He holds this, not as a mere hypothesis, 

 but as a conclusion actually determined by strict experiment, by 

 facts discovered by himself, verified and controlled by former 

 opponents of his views. — Note on the vitality of the germs of 

 microbes preserved in the liquid in which they were developed, 

 by M. E. Duclaux. The persistence of these germs for a period 

 of twenty or twenty-five years is clearly determined by the 

 author's researches. — On some physiological phenomena asso- 

 ciated with the lesion of certain parts of the animal organism, by 

 M. H. de Varigny. — Contribution to the study of the glands 

 yielding byssus, and of the water-bearing pores in the family of 

 the Lamellibranchida?, by M. Th. Barrois. — Remarks on some 

 new crepuscular glows recently observed in Central America, by 

 M. F. de Montessus. — On some of the phenomena observed in 

 connection with the recent earthquakes in the south of Spain, 

 by M. A. Germain. — Observations collected on earthquakes 

 during a residence of forty-six years in Chili, by M. Domeyko. — 

 Observations on the earthquakes that occurred in Andalusia on 

 December 25, 1884, and the following weeks, by M. F. de 

 Botella. — Earthquake shocks felt at the Azores on December 22, 

 1884, by M. da Praia. 



Berlin 

 Physical Society, January 9. — Dr. Kayser reported on 

 measurements of the electromotive force and of the resistance of 

 an improved Noe thermo-generator, which in its essentials 

 resembled the old Noe generator, differing from it only in that, 

 instead of the wires connecting the bismuth alloy pieces with 

 one another, strips of an unknown alloy were taken, which 

 opposed greater resistance to heat than did the wires. The 

 electromotive force of the generator increased proportion- 

 ally with the quantity of the gas consumed for heating, that 

 is, proportionally with the temperature. The curve of the 

 electromotive force foimed a straight line, and showed a bend 

 only in proximity to the terminal temperature, where the 

 metallic parts began to melt. The resistance of the generator, 

 which, at the temperature of the room, amounted to about 

 o - 9 Siemens unit, rose with increasing consumption of gas, 

 reached a maximum of about I '2 Siemens unit under a consump- 

 tion of about 60 cc. gas per hour, and then, under a consump- 

 tion of 100 cc. gas, sank below the initial value. On repeti- 

 tion of the measurement, the resistance was found to become 

 less and the curve flatter. After a repose, however, of several 

 days, the resistance again grew greater, without, however, reach- 

 ing the value of the newly-examined battery. On a com- 

 parative estimate of the costs of generating electricity by means of 

 a thermo generator and a Bunsen battery, it was ascertained that 

 a current of 1 ampere per hour with the Bunsen battery cost about 

 3 pfennigs, but with the thermo-battery only somewhat over 

 I pfennig. The current of the thermo-battery proved itself, in 

 conclusion, highly constant, no change in the current having 

 been observed in the course of twenty-four hours' uninterrupted 

 heating with the Bunsen flame. — Prof, von Ilelmholz confirmed 



the last-mentioned fact. For the purpose of the electrolytic 

 purification of quicksilver, he had made incessant use for a fort- 

 night long of a thermo-battery, and on intercalating a galvano- 

 meter had discovered only inconsiderable variations in the 

 current. He described the various methods he had made trial 

 of, for the complete purification of quicksilver, all which, 

 however, turned out ineffectual, till at last he adopted the 

 electrolytic method, applying it in the following manner: — The 

 impure quicksilver lay at the bottom of a glass vessel, and on 

 the quicksilver swam a second vessel for the reception of the 

 pure metal. An isolated platinum wire dipped into the quick- 

 silver, connecting it with one pole of the battery, while the other 

 pole was connected with a platinum plate placed in the empty 

 vessel. The vessel then was filled with nitric acid, and the 

 nitric oxide of quicksilver which was formed became decom- 

 posed by the current. The quicksilver separated itself, chemi- 

 cally pure, on the platinum strip, in the form of little globules, 

 which dropped into the swimming vessel, and after covering the 

 bottom in a cohering layer, it formed itself the electrode, at 

 which the pure quicksilver further precipitated itself. — Prof. 

 Neesen reported on a series of thermo-batteries and galvanic 

 elements which had been quite recently patented for Germany, 

 but which presented no innovations in principle. The only ele- 

 ment deserving any special notice was Pabst's, consisting of carbon 

 impregnated with oxide of iron, solution of chloride of iron, and 

 iron, a material said to remain long constant for weak currents. 

 — Prof, von Helmholz related that this cell had been sent to 

 the Physical Institute, and for four months had proved itself 

 pretty constant for weak currents. Following this up, he de- 

 cribed the arrangement he had very recently given to the Daniell 

 cell for the common purposes of the laboratory. At the bot- 

 tom of a deep glass goblet lay a copper spiral connected with 

 an isolated platinum wire in a glass tube. Above the spiral was 

 placed a solution of blue copperas, which could be filled in by 

 means of a funnel reaching to the bottom. On the solution of 

 copper lay the lighter water-clear acid, or white sulphate of zinc, 

 in which was placed the zinc cylinder. A siphon, the outer leg of 

 which was directed from below upwards, dipped into the fluid 

 as far as the bounding plane of the two fluids, so that, on 

 filling in a fresh solution, only the solution of white vitriol im- 

 mediately above the blue copperas, and contaminated by it, 

 flowed off. This arrangement had the effect of keeping the 

 upper fluid constantly water-clear, though, indeed, after a while, 

 some copper was found precipitated on the zinc cylinder. The 

 constancy, however, of the cell was not thereby perceptibly 

 impaired. 



CONTENTS Page 



The Stability of Ships, II. {Illustrated) 285 



Our Book Shelf:— 



Melville's " In the Lena Delta" 287 



Rudler's " Stanford's Compendium of Geography 



and Travel — Europe " 2S7 



Faulds's " Nine Years in Nipon " 288 



Letters to the Editor : — 



Krakatoa.— S. E. Bishop 288 



Recent Earthquakes. — Dr. F. A. Forel ; W. A. 



Sanford • 2S9 



The Lexden Earthquake.— R. Meldola 289 



Barrenness of the Pampas. — Arthur Nicols . . . . 289 



Cross-Breeding Potatoes. — James Melvin .... 290 



Protoplasm. By Dr. Jules Schaarschmidt .... 290 



Collecting Desmids 292 



Relative Frequency of Storms in the Northern 



Hemisphere ' . . 293 



The U.S. Fish Commission at Wood's Holl. By 



Alfred C. Haddon 294 



Ancient Air-Breathers. By Ben. N. Peach, 

 F.R.S.E., of the Geological Survey of Scotland. 



(Illustrated) 295 



Notes 29S 



Geographical Notes . . 300 



Astronomical Phenomena for the Week 301 



Science in Victoria 301 



The Kilimanjaro Expedition 301 



A Scandinavian Land of Ophir 303 



Scientific Serials 3°3 



Societies and Academies 3°4 



