April 9, 1885] 



NA TURE 



547 



when this becomes, forjthe tetragonal system (kkos + - /; 1001), 



P 

 which is ( I: k - \ the Miller symbol for a pyramid face in 



:i, with the ratio of the parameter of 2 to that of x or y, 



by p. In the hexagonal system the symbol s + — Hi 



P 

 takes the form (hkl) + - n (in), where h + k + 1= o. .We 



P 

 may leave p understood, as it is constant for the same substance 

 and same temperature, and write this in the contracted forms 



(hkl, 11). This gives h + -, k + ", I + -, as the coefficients 



P P P 



of x, y, and e in the equation of the face referred to the rectan- 

 gular axes of the regular system. These axes are, of co 

 crystallographic axes of the hexagonal system, but some advant- 

 ages arise from their use. They are rectangular, and therefore 

 the ordinary formula: of solid geometry can be used ; the symbol 

 of the general form (h k I, n), where h k and / are free to change 

 places and change sign together, and « changes sign independ- 

 ently, gives a clear oversight of all the faces of the holohedral 

 enables us to derive from the symbol the various 

 kinds of hemihedry. — In a note on the effect of temperature on 

 the compressibility of water, Prof. Tait showed that the mini- 

 mum compressibility temperature of water appears to rise with 

 increase of pressure. — Dr. A. B. Griffiths' paper on chemico- 

 physiological investigations on the cephalopod liver and its 

 identity as a true pancreas, was read by Mr. Hoyle. 



Paris 

 Academy of Sciences, March 30. — M. Bouley, President, 

 in the chair. — Experiments connected with the phenomena 

 occurring within the sphere of organic life during epileptic fits, 

 by M. Vulpian. The effects of epileptic attacks artificially pro- 

 duced on the dog were found to agree substantially with those 

 observed in human patients subject to ordinary affections of this 

 . reply to the remarks of M. Troost on the objections 

 advanced against his experiments with the hydrate of chloral, 

 by M. Friedel. — Provisional elements of Borrelly's new planet 

 246, determined at Toulouse from observations taken at Mar- 

 seilles and Berlin, by M. Andoyer. — Observations of the same 

 planet made at the Paris Observatory (equatorial of the West 

 Tower), b) M. G. Bigourdan. — Latitudinal distribution of the 

 solar phenomena (spots, faculae, eruptions, and protuberances) 

 observed during the year 1884, by M. P. Tacchini. From 

 the observations here tabulated the author concludes that last 

 year the phenomena were more numerous in the southern hemi- 

 sphere of the sun, where protuberances occurred frequently even 

 near the pole: The spots, faculse, and eruptions were numerous, 

 especially in a wide zone stretching north and south of the 

 equator, whereas in preceding years a notable diminution 

 had been observed close to the equator itself. — A geometrical 

 presentation of the three constants relative to the great mirror M 

 of the sextant, by M. Gruey. — A method of measuring the double 

 stars by means of the spectroscope, by M. Ch. V. Zenger. — On 

 an apparatus intended to regulate the curvature of the surfaces 

 an i the refraction of lenses (four illustrations), by M. L. Laurent. 

 led as a focometer of great precision, 

 generally applicable to all curved surfaces, in ordinary cases 

 showing at a glance and without preparation the quality of any 

 optical system. — Remarks on the actinometrie observati 

 during the year 1SS4 at the Observatory of the Monlpellier 

 School of Agriculture, by M. A. Crova. — Meat of combustion 

 of the Ronchamp coal, by M. Scheurer-Kestner. — On the 

 formation arbonate of magnesia (hydromagnesite), 



by M. R. Engel. In this paper the author gives the results of 

 experiments made for the purpose of determining the causes of 

 the formation of hydromagnesite in the precipitation of a soluble 

 salt of magnesia by alkaline carbonates. — Experiments on the 

 reduction of mannite (C 6 H 8 (OH) ) by mean- of formic acid, by 

 M, • . I ■ iedel.- -( >n the formation of the kreatines and kreatin- 

 ines : a new kreatinine, o-ethylamidopropionocyamidine, by M. 

 E. Duvillier. — On the simultaneous contractions of antagonistic 

 muscles, by M. Beaunis. — On the pelagic fauna of the Baltic 

 Sea and Gulf of Finland, by MM. G. Pouchet and J. d 

 From specimens of. crustaceans (Cyclops quadricornis, Dapk- 

 iiclla brachyttra, Daphnia quadrangula, &c.) fished up last year 

 in the Gulf of Finland, the authors conclude that the pelagic 

 fauna of that slightly brackish sea resembles that of the great 

 European lakes, while the central basin of the Baltic offers well- 



marked transitional forms between fresh-water and marine ani- 

 mals. — On the existence of limestone at Fusulines in the Morvan 

 geological area, by M. Stan. Meunier. — On some crystals of 

 celestine (sulphate of strontian) discovered near Grauchet (Tarn), 

 by M. A. Caraven-Cachin. 



Berlin 

 Physiological Society, February 27. — Prof. Busch laid 

 before the Society two preparations illustrative of his in- 

 vestigations into the laws of ossification. The one preparation 

 was of the inferior maxilla of a dog, in which, when the 

 animal was from three to four months old, two pairs of precisely 

 similar grains of shot were inserted, as fixed marks, into holes 

 bored by a gimlet of the same diameter. In order that such 

 marks might be really fixed points from which the process of 

 growth could be studied, it was necessary that the pieces of 

 metal inserted into the osseous tissue should not project beyond 

 the surface of the bone, nor, on the other hand, should they 

 touch on other organs by the growth of which they would be 

 liable to be displaced. In the inferior maxilla of a dog Prof. 

 Busch had made four marks, two on each side, at distances of 

 several centimetres, and then, with an exact pair of calipers, he 

 measured the distances of the four grains of shot from each other. 

 The wounds soon healed, the dog did not seem to suffer the least 

 inconvenience, and after 112 days was killed. The examination 

 of the lower jaw now showed that of the four grains there were 

 only three still remaining, the fourth not being discoverable. 

 The two placed on one side of the lower jaw, in front and behind, 

 showed exactly the same distance from each other as at the 

 beginning of the experiment. The distance of one grain on one 

 side from the corresponding grain on the other had on the other 

 hand grown greater, while the length of the whole lower jaw 

 from the posterior angle to the anterior end had throughout the 

 period in question undergone an increase of about five centi- 

 metres. From these results Prof. Busch inferred that the increase 

 in length of the lower maxilla was not due to interstitial growth 

 but to apposition. The second preparation had for its object to 

 ascertain .facts regarding the growth of the epiphyses of the long 

 bones whether it proceeded from the terminal line between epi- 

 physis and diaphysis, from the epiphysal line, or from the 

 articular cartilage. For this purpose steel pins, 1 centimetre 

 long, were inserted into previously bored holes, one pin close 

 under the epiphysal line of the tibia, a second in the epiphysis 

 of the tibia, a third in the epiphysis of the femur, and a fourth 

 close above the epiphysal line of the femur. The point of the 

 gimlet was broken off during the operation, and served as a 

 fifth mark. The question as to the mode by which the epiphyses 

 grew was to be decided by the eventual change in the distance 

 between mark 2 and mark 3. The experiment in this case 

 likewise was carried out on a big dog of three months 

 old, which was killed 119 days after the operation. The 

 examination of the marks then showed that mark 1 was removed 

 several centimetres lower down, lying horizontally under the 

 periosteum. Mark 2 lay apparently unchanged at its original 

 spot ; mark 3 was shifted a large piece upwards, and lay hori- 

 zontally under the periosteum of the diaphysis. As a result of the 

 operation, therefore, instead of under the epiphysal line, it 

 was inserted above that line into the diaphysis ; mark 4 

 was not to be found ; mark 5, the broken-off gimlet-point, 

 lay far up on the posterior edge of the diaphysis. As to 

 the growth of the epiphysis, the experiment had therefore no 

 significance, seeing that mark 3 was not inserted into the epi- 

 physis of the femur. It showed, however, indisputably that the 

 diaphyses grow by apposition from the epiphysal line, and that 

 in proportion as the parts retired from this line, they became 

 from resorption thinner and slenderer. In the discussion on this 

 communication, Prof. Wolff stated that he had performed a great 

 number of experiments on the lower jaws of quite young rabbits, 

 which, contrary to the results obtained by Prof. Busch, clearly 

 demonstrated the interstitial growth of the bone in question. After 

 he had quite concluded these experiments, he would lay the results 

 before the Society. — Prof. Ehrlich made a communication on 

 physiologically important results he had obtained from his 

 investigations into the 'susceptibility of the different tissues to 

 colouring matters. If colouring solutions — in particular methylic 

 blue — were injected into living animals and then, with the ut- 

 most expedition, particular tissues were examined, interesting 

 reactions of the living tissue under the colouring materials would 

 be perceived, which, in spite of their rapid evanescence, revealed 

 important facts which by other methods were in part wholly 

 unascertainable, in part to be 'ascertained only with difficulty. 



