NATURE 



'y_/une 23, iSSi 



Bergman (to whom we owe our knowledge that the difference 

 between wi'ought iron and steel depends on the carlion in the 

 latter) showedin 17S1 that fixed air could give ni> its carbon to 

 iron ; and he concluded by showing that Reiumur, so long ago 

 as 1722, actually employed the Torricellian vacuum in experi- 

 ments on the tempering of metal, the meial being placed red-hot 

 in a highly rarefied atmosphere. Reaumur also had a clear 

 view of the effect a gas nii^ht have on the physical properties 

 of a metal — a point of great interest to physicists in general. 

 Prof. Hughes expressed the opinion that temper was not due to 

 absorption of hydrogen, but to the combination of carbon with the 

 iron. Mr. .Stmh had found that an electrically-fused steel contact 

 was glass hard. Prof. Guthrie exhibited a steel chain which he 

 had beautifully blackened by dipping in fused nitre. The ski 1 

 might be u-eful in the arts, and was perhaps analogous to that 

 produced by Barff's process. Lord Raylei:_;h, M. Walenn, Mr. 

 Lecky, Dr. Coffin, Prof. Ayrtnn, and others continued the di-- 

 cussion. — Mr. Grant then read a paper on curves of elcctro- 

 mai^^netic mduction, which he had traced out by means of 

 primary and 'econdnry coils, sliding on frames so as to take 

 diiTereiit positions with respect to one another. The paper was 

 illustrated by experiments and diagrams. — Prof. Reinhold then 

 read portions of a paper by Pmf. .S. P. Thompson on the opicity 

 of tourmaline crystals. The optical and electric properties of 

 these crystals are related ; and Prof. Thomson propounds an 

 explanation of this connection based on the late CI rk-Maxwell's 

 electro-magnetic theory of light. The full paper will be publi hed 

 in the jfourna! of the Society. 



Meteorological Society, June 15. — Mr. G. J. Symon=, 

 F.R.S., president, in the chair. — Eleven I'entlemen were elected 

 Fellows of the Society, viz. F. ( rowlev, A. M. Davis, Rev. K. 

 Drake, F. H. D. Eyre, W. M. Gih-on, E. W. Mathew, J. P., 

 D.L., J. Parnell, M.A., F.R.A.S., J. Rigby, T. G. Kylanris, 

 F.L.S., F.G..S., H. Smith, and A. H. Wood.— The foll.,uing 

 papers were read : — The use of synchronous meteorolo.'ical 

 charts for determining menn values over the ocean, by Charles 

 Harding, F. M.S.— The climate of Fiji, by R. L. Holmes, 

 F.M.S. This paper gives the results of meteorological observa- 

 tions taken at Delanasau, Bua, Vanua I.evu, during the ten years 

 1871-80. — Note on the formation of hail, by J. A. B. Oliver. — 

 Note on a comparison of maximum and minimum temperature 

 and rainfall oljserved on Table Mountain and at the Royal Ob- 

 servatory, Cape Tom a, during January and February, iSSi, by 

 John G. Gamble, M.A., M.In.st.C.E., F.M.S.— Mr. E. J. Spitta 

 exhibited and described a new mercurial maximum and minimum 

 registering thermometer. 



Paris 

 Academy of Sciences, June 13. — M. VVurtz in the chnir. — 

 The first volume of Annals of the Rio Janeiro Observatory « as 

 presented. — The following papers wer? read : — On a simple law 

 of natural circular or magnetic double refraction, by M. Cornu. 

 The decomposition of a wave polarised rectilinearly into two 

 waves polarised circularly in opposite directions is such that the 

 mean of the velocities of propagation of the resultant waves is 

 equal to the velocity of the single wave which exists where the 

 causes of decomposition do not act. — On dialdanic alcohol, by 

 M. Wurt?. — On reproduction, by aqjeons method, of orthi>e 

 felspar, by MM. Friedel and Sarasin. The felspar was formed 

 at a high temperature in the heart of a mother-water rich in 

 alkaline silicate. The crystals were very small. Summary 

 account of experiments made at Pouilly le-Fort, near Melun, on 

 charbon vaccination, by M. Pasteur, with MM. Cha ■ beriand 

 and Roux. We now possess vaccine matter of charbon, capable 

 of preserving from the fatal disease, but not itself fatal, capable 

 of cultivation at will, transportable anywhere without alteration, 

 and prepared by a method which may probably be generalised. 

 M. Milne-Edwards noted the analogy of some of M. Pasteur's facts 

 to the phenomenon of alternating generations, asking wheiher, 

 by changing the biological conditions, one or other term of such 

 alternation might not be had at will. —Observations on M. Pas- 

 teur's paper, by M. Bouley. He calls attention to the succe-slul 

 vaccination, by MM. Arloing, Cornevin, and Thomas, at;ain t 

 symptomatic charbon (which is distinct from bacteridian charbon). 

 They do not use attenuated virus (like M. Pasteur), but natural 

 virus, attenuating the effects by bringing it directly int.) the 

 blood. — Reply to observations by M. de Lesseps at the last 

 slance, by M. Cosson. This relates to the Tunisian Chott .— On 

 a system of differential equations, by M. Briordier. — On the 

 means of saving water in double locks and acceleration of the 

 service, by M. de Caligny. — M. Milne-Edwards presemed a 



brochure on some macruran Crustaceans from great depths in the 

 Caribbean Sea, calling attention, inter alia, to a large Crustacean, 

 Phoberus ca:ciis, quite blind, which is a transitional form between 

 grou|is hitherto thought very different. — M. Fouque was elected 

 Member in Mineralogy in room of the late M. Delesse. — On linear 

 differential equations with periodical coefficients, by M. Floquet. — 

 On the treatment of vines w ith sulphide of carlion, by M. Boiteau. — 

 On the functions of two variables arising from the inversion of 

 mtegrals of two given functions, by M. Fuchs. — On certain 

 systems of differential equations, by M. Halphen. — On the influ- 

 ence of temperature on radiophonic selenium receivers, by M. 

 Mercadier. Tliese tend more or less quickly to a stable state 

 relatively to effects of temperature. At ordinary temperatures and 

 even up to 100° the resistance varies inversely as the tempera- 

 ture. Between 5° or 6° and 35° these variations may be 

 approximately considered proportional one to the other. — On 

 some mt-ans and formula: of measurement of electric elements 

 and coefficients of utilisation with the arrangement having two 

 galvanometers, by M. Cabanellos. — Hemeralopia and retinian 

 torpor, two opposite forms of Daltonism, by MM. Mace and 

 Nicati. Hemeralopia is in general Daltonism for blue. Persons 

 having letinian torpor are as if in a poor light ; other rays than 

 the blue are badly perceived, especially the red. — Water-raising 

 machines, by M. de Romilly. He describes a machine, consist- 

 inof, in its general form, of a shallow cylinder with vertical axis, 

 wide circular opening above, and near the circumference the 

 orifice of a pipe which curves upwards. The cylinder (turbine) 

 is rotated, and the water accumulates by centrifugal force at the 

 circumference, where it leaves tangentially through the pipe. 

 Water can thus be raised much higher than hitherto by centri- 

 fugal force (e.g. 150 m. with a turbine driven by hand). Two 

 modifications are described. The same principle is applied In 

 oiling the machine. — Cyanides of strontium, calcium, and zinc, 

 by M. Joannis. — Industrial preparation of crystallisable formic 

 acid, by M. Lorin. — Researches on tertiary monamines : J. 

 acti m of triethylamine on monobromised propylenes, by M. 

 Reboul. — Nervous system of Ophiurans, by M. Apostolides. — 

 On the squamous temporal bone in the vertebrate series, by M. 

 Lavocat. — On Phytolacca dioica, by M. Balland. — On the Car- 

 boniferous fauna of Remy (Loire), and its relations with that of 

 Ardoisiere (Allier), by M. Julien. — On the dissolution of false 

 membranes of angina pelUcvlaris by local applications of papaine, 

 by M. Bouchu*. — On an apparatus for suppressing the dangers 

 of movable stoves, by M. Godefroy. The air for combustion is 

 drawn from the chimney itself by a second tube ; the chimney 

 and stove may thus be hermetically closed. 



CONTENTS Page 



Lectures on Teaching 161 



Practical Histologv. By E. Klein, F.R.S 163 



LaTTEnS TO THE EDITOR I — 



The Electric Railway in Paris— Dr. W. Spottiswoode, P.R.S. . 164 



Probably New Variable and Red St.->r.— John Birmingham . . 164 

 The Doctrine of the Consers-ation of Electricity.— Prof. Silvanus 



P. Thompson 164 



Thought-Reading.— Rev. George Henslow 164 



Notes of the Cuckoo.— John Birmingham 165 



Notes on ihe Indian Glow-Fly.— H. A. Severn 165 



Birds Suffering from Cold. —J. V.SlAdek; 165 



An Optical Illusion.— Dr. C. M. Inglbby iCs 



How to Prevent Drowning.- Dr. Henry MacCormac . . . . r66 



Buoyancy of Bodies in Water.— Dr. W. Curran 166 



Resouanceoftlie Mouth-Cavity.— George J. Romanes, F.R.S. . 166 



Thunder-storm at the Cape.— C. Tomlinson 166 



A Six-Fingered Family. — Thomas Capper ........ ^tCt 



Singular Behaviour of a Squirrel.-J. Shaw 167 



Hot Ice.— Otto Pettersson (With Diagrams) 167 



Notes on Alg.^ '69 



Pe.vnsvlvania Oil Regions 170 



"Thought-Reading." By George J. Romanes, F.R.S 171 



The Weather and He.alth of London, II. By Alexander 



Euchan. (With Diagrams) '73 



Notes '75 



Our Astronomical Column : — 



The Solar Parallax '77 



Biela's Comet in 1805 178 



GsoGKA.HiCAL Notes '78 



Physical Notes '7? 



University and Educational Intelligence '80 



Sjcietiks and Academies .... 8n 



