404 



NA TURE 



[Fed. 26, 1 88; 



in the comatulse, by M. Edm. Perrier. — Extraction of the green 

 colouring matter of leaves ; definite combinations formed by 

 chlorophyll, by M. Er. Guignet. — On some theorems in 

 algebra, by M. Stieltjes. — On the heating power of coal-gas in 

 various states of dilution, by M. A. Witz. From his experi- 

 ments the author infers that the complete combustion of gas 

 requires a dilution of over six volumes of air, the effect of the 

 dilution thus being the reverse of what might be supposed 

 a priori. — On the laws of solution, by M. H. Le Chatelier. 

 From his researches the author concludes that solubility in- 

 creases with the temperature for bodies whose solution absorbs 

 heat, decreases for those that liberate heat, and remains un- 

 changed when the heat of solution is null. — On the solution of 

 the carbonate of magnesia by carbonic acid, second note, by 

 M. R. Engel. — On a crystallised hydrate of phosphoric acid, by 

 M. A. Joly. — Note on the cellular structure of cast steel, by 

 MM. Osmond and Werth. — On glycol, its preparation and 

 solidification, by M. G. Bouchardet. A very pure preparation 

 of glycol, obtained by a solution of carbonate of potassa acting 

 on the bromide of ethylene, was found to boil at 198° C, and to 

 solidify at temperatures varying from - n°'5 to -25°. — Note on 

 monochlorhydric glycol, by M. G. Bouchardat. — Action of the 

 diastase of malt on natural starch, by M. L. Brasse.— On the 

 rotatory power of the solutions of cellulose in Schweizer's liquid, 

 by M. Alb. Levallois. — Observations regarding the organisms to 

 which fermentation is due ; claim of priority of discovery in con- 

 nection with some remarks of M. Pasteur on a recent note of 

 M. Duclaux, by M. A. Bechamp. — Note on the anatomical 

 structure and classification of Halia priamus (Risso), by M. J. 

 Poirier. — On the anatomy of the brachiopods of the genus 

 Crania, by M. Joubin. — On the nervous system of a Fissurella 

 (F. alUrnata), by M. L. Boutan. — On the origin of the metalli- 

 ferous ores existing on the periphery of the central plateau of 

 France, and especially in the Cevenne highlands, by M. Dieu- 

 lafait. — On the results of M. Sokoloff's studies on the formation 

 of sandy dunes in Central Asia, by M. Venukoff. 

 Berlin 

 Physiological Society, January 21. — Dr. von Monakow, 

 referring to his anatomical investigations of the brain, commu- 

 nicated an account of those relating to the central origin of the 

 optic nerve. He had enucleated on one or both sides the bulbus 

 in young rabbits and cats, and, after an interval of some months, 

 examined the changes which had set in as a result of that violence 

 done to the brain. In each case he found regular ascending 

 atrophy capable of being traced up to the origin of the nerves. 

 By this means he had been able to recognise as central original 

 spots of the nervi optici the corpus geniculatum externum, the 

 pulvinar and the anterior corpora quadrigemina. The corpus 

 geniculatum and the pulvinar consisted of large multipolar cells, 

 between which lay a gray medullary substance, which, on being 

 coloured with carmine, showed a particularly strong tinge. 

 After the enucleation, atrophy of the gray medullary substance 

 was observed in both, while the cells remained altogether intact. 

 On colouring with carmine, the somewhat shrunken organs 

 appeared much paler than in the norma^ state. In the corpora 

 quadrigemina five different layers of small and large cells and 

 fibrous bands were distinguished. Of these the three inner- 

 most layers lying towards the ventricle remained intact, while 

 the two exterior cellular layers were atrophied or were altogether 

 wanting The degeneration and disturbance of growth after the 

 enucleation of the bulbus had not, however, extended beyond 

 these primary centres of the optic nerve. Dr. von Monakow had, 

 furthermore, removed particular parts of ■ the cerebral cortex 

 lying within Munk's sphere of vision, and the degeneration and 

 atrophy which succeeded this injury, and, extended peripheri- 

 cally, could be followed through Gratiolet's fibres on to the 

 three centres of optic nerves above mentioned, the corpus 

 geniculatum externum, the pulvinar and the anterior c 

 quadrigemina {Vurhiigeln), and beyond these centres as 

 far as the tractus opticus and the optic nerves. It was an 

 interesting fact that after the injury of the cerebral cortex the 

 degeneration of the three centres of optic nerves was of a dif- 

 ferent character from that which set in after the peripherical enu- 

 cleation. The corpus geniculatum and the pulvinar were now 

 altered in such a manner that it was mainly the cells which 

 either showed degeneration or were entirely wanting. In the 

 anterior corpora quadrigemina, likewise, it was other layers — 

 namely, the third medullary layer and the larger cells— which 

 were overtaken by degeneration. The speaker had had the 

 opportunity, in making a dissection, of substantiating on a man 



who had long been suffering from diseased retina, that the 

 degeneration in the case of man propagated itself centrally — 

 towards the three centres before-mentioned — just as much as in 

 the case of the rabbits operated on. — Dr. Weyl spoke on casein, 

 which took quite an exceptional place among albuminous bodies. 

 According to the most recent researches albuminous bodies con- 

 tained only O, H, N, C, and S, but no phosphorus, and might 

 be divided into (1) albumins or albuminous bodies soluble in 

 water ; (2) globulins, insoluble in water, but soluble in solution 

 of common salt ; (3) proteins, soluble neither in water nor solu- 

 tion of common salt, but in diluted alkalis. Finally, a fourth 

 group of albuminous bodies was formed by such as were soluble 

 in none of those reagents, but, except in this one characteristic, 

 had no affinity to each other, such as fibrin, amyloid, casein, 

 &c. Casein had hitherto been identified only in milk. 

 It was an albuminous body, because under the agency 

 of diluted muriatic acid and pepsin it yielded a pepton, 

 and, besides, precipitated an insoluble substance, which must 

 be classed among the nucleins. Casein contained phos- 

 phorus, and so was distinguished from all other albuminous 

 bodies. In order to the demonstration of casein and its quan- 

 titative determination in milk, Dr. Weyl had, in conjunction 

 with Dr. Frentzel, adopted a new and less detailed pro- 

 cess than that of Prof. Hoppe-Seyler so universally intro- 

 duced into practice. This new process consisted in diluting 

 the milk threefold and reducing it with highly diluted sulphuric 

 acid (1 : 1000). Thereupon a flaky precipitate at once segre- 

 gated itself, which could be filtered off and weighed. The pre- 

 cision of this method was equal to that of Hoppe-Seyler's, and 

 by means of it Dr. Weyl and Dr. Frentzel had begun to study 

 quantitatively the transformation of casein into pepton and 

 nuclein. The speaker hoped to be able soon to make communi- 

 cations regarding the result of this investigation. — Dr. Rossel 

 had examined the nuclein of the yolk, in order to test the asser- 

 tion of Mr. Michat that it resembled the nuclein of cell- 

 nuclei, an assertion which lent a chemical support to the view 

 of Prof. His that the granules of the yolk entered as organic 

 elements towards the upbuilding of the embryo, and formed the 

 cell-nuclei. Dr. Rossel had isolated the nuclein of the yolk of 

 hen-eggs, and, on examining it, had found it essentially different 

 from the nuclein of cell-nuclei. While this latter contained 

 the highly nitrogenous organic bases guanin and hypoxanthin, 

 none of these bases were found in the nuclein of the yolk. The 

 nuclein of the yolk was, therefore, essentially different from that 

 of the cell-nuclei, and under the demonstration of this differ- 

 ence the support which, from the chemical side, had been 

 afforded to the view of the transference of granular formations 

 of the yolk into cell-nuclei, fell away. 



CONTENTS Page 



The Relative Efficiency of War-Ships 381 



Professor Williamson's Dynamics 384 



Our Book Shelf:— 



Saporta's "Organismes problematiques des Anciennes 



Mers" 386 



Letters to the Editor :— 



Civilisation and Eyesight.— R. Brudenell Carter ; 



Geo. A. Berry ■ 3 s6 



The Fall of Autumnal Foliage.— A. T. Fraser . . 388 



Erosion of Glass.— W. R. H 3S8 



A Lantern Screen.— Rev. Charles J. Taylor ... 3S8 



Fuller's Earth as a Filter.— A. G. Cameron ... 3S9 



The Boomerang in India.— Arthur Nicols .... 3S9 

 The Camera Obscura in Torpedo Work. (Illus- 



tra(ed) 3*9 



The Continuity of the Protoplasm in Plant Tissue. 



By Walter Gardiner 39° 



The Bangor Laboratories. (Illustrated) 39' 



Notes 393 



Our Astronomical Column : — 



The Double-Star Piazzi XIV. 212 39° 



Wolfs Comet 39° 



Astronomical Phenomena for the Week 1885, 



March 1-7 39° 



Geographical Notes 397 



The Forms of Leaves. By Sir John Lubbock, Bart., 



M.P., F.R.S 398 



Scientific Serials 399 



Societies and Academies 399 



