May 29, 1884 



NA TURE 



119 



individual oscillation in sun-spot areas, and find the value of the 

 terrestrial element corresponding in time to the maximum and 

 the minimum of the solar wave. If we were to perform this 

 operation for every individual solar inequality, and add together 

 the results, we might probably find that the magnetic declination 

 range was largest when there were most sun-spots. If, however, 

 we were to make a similar comparison between sun-spot daily areas 

 and diurnal temperature-ranges we might not obtain a decisive 

 result. For at certain stations, such as Toronto, it is suspected 

 (the verification or disproval of this suspicion being one of the 

 objects of this paper) that there are two maxima and two minima 

 of temperature-range for one of sun-spots. The effect of this 

 might be that in such a comparison the temperature-range corre- 

 sponding to a maximum of sun-spots might be equal in value to 

 that corresponding to a minimum, or, in other words, we should 

 get no apparent result, while, however, by some other process 

 proofs of a real connection might be obtained. But if we can 

 get evidences of apparent periodicity in sun-spot fluctuations 

 when dealt with in a particular manner, we have at once a 

 method which will afford us a definite means of comparison. 

 And here, as Prof. Stokes has pointed out, it is not necessary 

 for our present purpose to discuss the question whether these 

 sun-spot inequalities have a real or only an apparent periodicity. 

 All that is needful is to treat the terrestrial phenomena in a simi- 

 lar manner, or in a manner as nearly similar as the observations 

 will allow, and then see whether they also exhibit periodicities 

 (apparent or real) having virtually the same times as those of 

 sun-spots, the phases of the two sets of phenomena being likewise 

 allied to one another in a constant manner. 



It is such a comparison that the authors have made, their 

 method of analysis being one which enables them to detect the 

 existence of unknown inequalities having apparent periodicity 

 in a mass of observations. A description of this method has 

 already been published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society 

 for May 15, 1879. The comparison was made by this method 

 between sun-spot observations extending from 1832 to 1867 in- 

 clusive, Toronto temperature-range observations extending from 

 1844 to 1879 inclusive, and Kew temperature-range observations 

 extending from 1856 to 1879 exclusive. The following conclu- 

 sions were obtained from this comparison : — 



1. Sun-spot inequalities around twenty-four and twenly-six 

 days, whether apparent or real, seem to have periods very nearly 

 the same as those of terrestrial meteorological inequalities as 

 exhibited by the daily temperature-ranges at Toronto and at 

 Kew. 



2. While the sun-spots and the Kew temperature-range in- 

 equalities present evidence of a single oscillation, the corre- 

 sponding Toronto temperature-range inequalities present evidence 

 of a double oscillation. 



3. Setting the celestial and terrestrial members of each indi- 

 vidual inequality, so as to start together from the same absolute 

 time, it is found that the solar maximum occurs about eight or 

 nine days after one of the Toronto maxima, and the Kew tem- 

 perature-range maximum about seven days after the same 

 Toronto maximum. 



4. The proportional oscillation exhibited by the temperature- 

 range inequalities is much less than the proportional oscillation 

 exhibited by the corresponding solar inequalities. 



Chemical Society, May 15.— Dr. Perkin, F.R.S., president, 

 in the chair. — The following papers were read : — On refraction 

 equivalents of organic compounds, by Dr. J. H. Gladstone. In 

 this paper is given a series of tables embodying the results of ob- 

 servations made from time to time since 1870. In these tables 

 the refraction equivalents for the line A for about 140 substances 

 are given and compared with the refraction equivalents calculated 

 from the following values of the respective elements : — Carbon 

 (saturated) 5-0, carbon in C„H n 5-95, carbon double-linked 

 6-1, hydrogen 1-3, oxygen single bond 2 -8, oxygen double bond 

 3-4, nitrogen 4-1, nitrogen in bases, NO„, &c, 5'i, chlorine 9-9, 

 bromine 15-3, iodine 24'5, sulphur single bond 14T., sulphur 

 double bonds l6'0. — On the estimation of silicon in iron and 

 steel, by T. Turner. The author has compared the various 

 methods of analysis, and concludes that the chlorine process sug- 

 gested by Watts, with certain modifications, is applicable to all 

 classes of iron, and is on the whole the best. — Note on the melting- 

 points and their relation to the solubility of hydrated salts by Dr. 

 W. A. Tilden. — Note on ferric sulphocyanate, by A. J. Shilton. 

 The author finds that a large excess of potassium sulphocyanide 

 or of boiling hydrochloric acid interferes with the well-known 

 blood-red colour given by ferric salts and a sulphocyanide. — A 



memoir detailing some minor researches on the action of ferrrous 

 sulphate on plant life, by Dr. Griffiths. The author finds that 

 cj'15 per cent, of ferrous sulphate added to a solution of various 

 salts aids, whilst o'2 per cent, is fatal to, the development of 

 mustard seeds and cabbage plants. 



Physical Society, May 10. — The meeting was held in the 

 chemical theatre of the Mason College, Birmingham. Members 

 had previously visited some of the factories in the town, including 

 Gillott's pen works. — Dr. Guthrie, president, took the chair at 

 three p.m., when Prof. J. H. Poynting made a communication 

 on an experiment illustrating the refraction of water-waves. 

 The experiment was designed to illustrate by means of waves in 

 water the refraction of waves when they pass from one medium 

 to another in which their velocity is different. The apparatus 

 consisted of a tank 2 feet 6 inches square, with a plate-glass 

 bottom. Water is poured into the tank to a depth of say 5 to 

 6 mm. The lid of the tank consists of a calico screen, and is 

 slightly tilted up. A limelight under the tank projects the wave 

 on a screen. Plates of glass 3 or 4 mm. thick are placed in the 

 tank, thus reducing the depth of water. If waves are sent 

 across the tank they travel more slowly through the shallow 

 water, and are seen to be refracted. When circular or lenticular 

 plates are used, the refracted waves are seen to converge to a 

 focus. — Mr. C. J. Woodward exhibited an oxy-hydrogen lantern 

 suitable for lecture purposes. — Dr. Gladstone took the chair, 

 and Prof. Guthrie, president, exhibited a sealed tube containing 

 46 '6 of tri-ethylamine, and 53 '4 °f water. At temperatures 

 between o° C. and 18 '3° C. the liquid forms a clear mixture. 

 At l8'3° it becomes turbid, and at 26° C. almost perfect separa- 

 tion is effected. It was stated that all proportions of the two 

 liquids containing about 15 per cent, and 50 per cent, of tr hyl 

 amine become turbid at the same temperature. A mixture con- 

 taining 4 per cent, requires a temperature of 41° C. to produce 

 turbidity, while one containing 90 per cent, is turbid at 6° C. 

 A series of sealed glass bulbs containing the liquids in different 

 proportions can be employed to indicate the fever temperature of 

 the body if placed under the tongue. The author also showed 

 the connection between such separation by heat and the separa- 

 tion between the same two bodies by cold, whereby in the latter 

 case, according to the strength of the solution, either ice or 

 subcryohydrate is separated, until the composition and tempera- 

 ture of the cryohydrate is reached (l9'2 per cent. ; -3"8°C). 

 The peculiar white condensed vapour of the chloride of tri- 

 ethylammonium was exhibited. The white fume of this body 

 so quickly aggregates into masses, that the shapes of the smoke- 

 lines and curls are preserved. Dr. Gladstone agreed with the 

 author in supposing that the separation of triethylamine and 

 water was continuous in nature with the separation of ammonia 

 from water by heat. Dr. Tilden exhibited a tube containing a 

 cold, clear solution of amylic alcohol in water which became 

 turbid on gently warming, and clear again on heating to about 

 60° C. He suggested that a similar remixing might take place 

 with ethylamine and water. Prof. Silvanus P. Thompson re- 

 called the experiments of Prof. Ramsay on the critical state 

 described by Andrews, and the failure of a body beyond the 

 critical condition to retain in solution the substances it held as a 

 liquid. Mr. W. Lant Carpenter suggested the microscopic 

 examination of the triethylamine and water mixture at its critical 

 temperature. — Members then visited the College rooms. 



Royal Microscopical Society, May 14. — Rev. W. H. 

 Dallinger, F.R.S., president, in the chair. — A resolution was 

 passed altering the by-laws so as to make ladies el : ible as 

 Fellows of the Society, but without the right of attending ordi- 

 nary meetings. — Dr. Golding Bird exhibited a new freezing 

 microtome of his construction, adapted for students and inter- 

 mittent workers, and for use with ice and salt, or with ether. — 

 Mr. Boecker showed an extensive series of Bacteria, Bacilli, and 

 other Schizomycetes. — A very curious microscope of the date of 

 1772 was exhibited by Mr. Crisp, in which, with other pecu- 

 liarities, three objectives were attached to a sliding plate at the 

 end of the nosepiece in a way similar to that adopted in the 

 modern Harley and other microscopes. Also two micro- 

 scopes by Reichert of Vienna, one with a very simple form of 

 Abbe condenser, and the other with a polarising prism attached 

 to a swinging and rotating diaphragm. — The following apparatus 

 and objects were also exhibited and discussed : — Frog plate 

 made of glass, with serrated edges for the string ; Griffiths' 

 multiple eyepiece (an attempt to combine four eyepieces in one 

 by fixing different eye-lenses in a rotating disk) ; Bradley's 

 "mailing boxes " for sending one or several slides conveniently 



