468 



NATURE 



\_Sept. 15, 1 88 1 



contains free hydrochloric acid in large quantities. The water 

 of these springs deposits sulphur and sulphate of lime. 



On the Two First Lines of MenJclccff's ^Table of Atomic 

 Weights, by W. Weldon, F.R.S.E. The author draws atten- 

 tion to certain relations exhibited by the fourth and eighth 

 powers of the atomic weights of the elements in these two lines 

 of IMendeleeffs series. The atomic weights used to exhibit 

 these relations differ but slightly from those generally accepted. 

 The fourth powers of the atomic weights of the elements from 

 lithium to fluorine, viz. lithium, beryllium, boron, carbon, 

 nitrogen, oxygen, and fluorine, are, with the exception of carbon, 

 related to one another as the whole numbers I, 3, 6, 16, 27, and 

 54. In order to establish a similar relationship for the atomic 

 weight of all these elements, it is necessary to raise their atomic 

 v\'eights to the eighth power ; when die folIo\\ ing relation-hip is 

 found to exist : — 



Li" = 1N8 = 28 

 G3 =30 08 = 3" 



Ijs = 3- X 2= ps = 3« X 2» 



cs = 3- X 2^ 

 Similar relationships are establised for the fotirth powers of the 

 atomic weights of the elements in the next line of Mendeleeff 's 

 table. The author concludes that, in the case of each of these 

 fourteen elements some power of their atomic weight is a 

 simple multiple of the corresponding power of the atomic ^^■ei^ht 

 of lithium ; further, that this multiple is a function of 2 or 3, or 

 of 2 and 3 combined. 



Note on the Chrome Iron Ore of Japan, by E. Divers, M.D. — 

 This paper contains a description and analysis of a specimen of 

 chrome iron ore found in serpentine rocks, in the prefecture 

 Oita. Analysis shows it to contain magnesia, replacing ferrous 

 oxide, and tlie formula MgO2FeO.2Cr.jO3 is attributed to it. 



On the Oxides of Manganese, by V. H. Veley, B.A. — The 

 author at the outset gives an historical sketch of the researches 

 on this subject, in order to show how far it has been satisfactorily 

 proved by them — (i) that mang.inese forms a series of definite 

 oxides (apart from tho e present in manganic and permanganic 

 acids) ; (2) that mangane e dioxide forms a series of dioxides. 

 An account is also given of the researches of Pittmar, Wright, 

 and others on the conditions of formations of these oxides, and 

 their behavi ur when heated to various temperatures in certain 

 gases. The author has studied the action of air, oxygen, nitrogen, 

 and hydrogen at temperatures v.irying fioJ3 6o°-20O°, on an oxide 

 having the formula Mn^Oii. Hydrates of the following higher 

 oxides, Mn^jOj;, Mn^jO^,, Mn„4045, Mn.^O^, Mn^jOj-, have 

 been prepared and analysed. When these oxides .are heated in 

 air or oxygen, at low temperatures, two changes are observed : 

 (i) a loss of water of hydration; (2) an aborptionof oxygen. 

 When heated in nitrogen they are dehydrated, and at higlier 

 temperatures lo.e available oxygen. Heated in hydrogen, they 

 are simultaneouly dehydrated and reduced. The author regards 

 these oxides as distinct chemical entities, and not mere combina- 

 tions of molecules, or molecular compounds. 



On the Inferences dediuible from High Molecttlar Weights as 

 exhibited by the Oxides of Manganese, by Prof. Odling, M.B., 

 F. R.S. — In the course of his remarks Prof. Odliug brought 

 under the notice of the Section the various considerati ns which 

 affected the determination of the relative weights uf the reacting 

 units of chemical substances. He contended that estimalions of 

 vapour-density had not had, and could not have, an absolutely 

 determining influence, but thought the e e timutions always re- 

 quired to be checked by purely chemical considerations. In 

 particular he referred to the cases of bcdies which had two or 

 more distinct vapour-densities — cases vhich were becoming 

 added to rally. He expressed his entire concurrence with the 

 views of the President of the Section as to the non exi tence of 

 two distinct firms of combination, atomic and molecular, and 

 stroi gly opposed the notion that various metallic elements pos- 

 sessed a definite capacity of saturation. He brought forward 

 various illustrations to show that the saturation capacity of b ith 

 metallic and non-metallic elements was indefinite. He contended 

 that the doctrine of .atomicity furnished a vtry in.adequate idea 

 of the most important facts of chemical combination, and that 

 the representation of atomicity notions by graphic formuloe was 

 highly misleading. 



On Peppermint Camphor (Menthol) and some of its Derivatives, 

 by R. W. Atkinson, B.Sc. (Lond.), and H. Yoshida.— This 

 paper contains an account of the determinations of the physical 

 properties of menthol (CioH^oO), menthone (CjoHigO), men- 

 hene (CioHjg), and those of a hydrocarlon, C](,Hjp. which 



litter compound is obtained by the action of hydric iodide upon 

 menthol and subsequent treatment with caustic soda and metallic 

 sodium. The authors also discuss the constitution of the above 

 compounds. 



Note on the Occurrence of Selenium and Tellurium in Japan, 

 by E. Divers, M.D.— The author draws attention to the fact that 

 the presence of these two elements has been observed in Japanee 

 sulphuric acid, and considers it probable that these substances 

 occur in material quantities in Japan. 



No'e on the Sodium Alum of fa/tan, by E. Divers, M.D. —An 

 analysis is given of a specimen of this substance ; it occurs as an 

 efflorescence on decomposing sodium albite, which contains 

 pyrites scattered th-ough it. It is found in the province of 

 Idzumo, in the prefecture of Shiniane, near the coast. It is 

 said to occur in considerable quantities. It occurs in two form"^, 

 one massive, finely fibrous, greyish white and translucent, and 

 the second in friable opaque tears, slightly coloured by iron 

 oxide. 



Bnwingin Japan, by R. W. Atkinson, B.Sc. (Lond.).— The 

 Japanese brew ing process is divided into two parts comparable 

 with the malting and brewing processes of beer-making. The 

 mode of preparation and the properties of the diastatic materials 

 are different in the two cases. The Japanese equivalent of 

 malt or " koji " hydrates maltose in addition to cane-sugar, 

 dextrin, and starch, and the ultimate products of its action on 

 starch-paste are dextrose and dextrin, or perhaps dextrose alone. 

 Koji differs from malt in being rendered inactive by heat at a 

 much lower temperature than malt. Koji is prepared as follows : 

 a mixture of steamed rice and water is allowed to remain in 

 shallow tubs at a low temperature (o°-5° C.) until quite liquid ; 

 it IS then heated, fermentation commences, .and continues until 

 nearly all the dextrine first formed is exhantted. This product 

 is now used like yeast, and is added to fresh quantities of 

 steamed rice and water, fermentation proceeding until the per- 

 centage of alcohol amounts to about 13 or 14 per cent, by 

 weight. After the greater part of the rice added has been used 

 up, the mash is filtered and clarified by standing. The "sake" so 

 prodaced requires very carefid watching, and when summer ap- 

 proaches, or it exhibits signs of putrefactive fermentation, it is 

 then heated in iron vessels ; this operation has frequently to be 

 repeated. Analyses of various specimens, fi-esh and diseased, 

 are given in the paper. 



Observations on the Specific Refraction and Dispersion of Light 

 by Liquids, by J. H. Gladstone, Ph.D., F.R.S.— The general 

 conclusions arrived at from a large series of observations on 

 different liquids are as follows : — 



I. The c nfirmation of the statement made by the Rev. T. P. 

 Dale and the author, viz., that the length of the spectrum (the 

 difference between the refraction of the Fraunhofer lines A and 

 H) decreases with elevation of temperature. 



II. It would appear that the length of the spectrum divided 



by the density, i.e., - — —^ , is approximately, but not exactly, 



con tant for differi=nt temperatures. 



III. The specific dispersion appears to decrease with increase 

 of temperature. 



IV. The specific dispersion is influenced by the chemical con- 

 stitution of a compound. In the case of hydrocarbons the 

 change of the refnactive equivalent of the carbon from 5'0 to 

 6'i or 8 influences the specific dispersion to a far greater extent 

 than the specific refraction. 



V. Finally, the specific dispersion of a compound does not 

 appear to be the means of the specific dispersions of its 

 contituents. 



On the Production of Crystals by the Action of Metals on 

 Carbon Bisulphide in Sealed Tubes, by P Fraham, F.C.S.— The 

 author described a series of experiments which consisted in sealing 

 up fifteen different metals in carbon disulphide. Some of these 

 tubes were sealed up in 1S79, and in those which contained gold, 

 antimony, and bisnnUh, microscopic crystals were found. The 

 composition of the e crystals has not as yet been determined. 

 The author also exhibited a micro-gori meter. 



On I he Alleged Decomposition of the Elements, by Prof. Dewar, 

 M.A , F.R.S.— In his reu arks Prof. Dew.irdealt chiefly with the 

 spectroscopic v ork from which Mr. Norman Lockyer had drawn 

 conclusions very different from those of Professors Liveing and 

 Dewar, especially concerning the value of evidence on the su)iject. 

 Prof Dewar argued that Mr. Lcckjer's views regarding the exist- 

 ence of carbon vapour in the corona of the sun would not bear 

 scientific investigati' n, rnd that his views regarding the modifica- 



