Awe 
NATURE 
[JuLY 27, 1899 
solid than of a fluid earth. Reasons were also given for 
believing that seismic activity was greater in earlier geologic 
times than now; and that, if this were so, stratigraphical 
changes would almost certainly have taken place more quickly 
in former ages. 
PARIS. 
Academy of Sciences, July 17.—M. van Tieghem in 
the chair.—On the combinations of sulphide of carbon with 
hydrogen and nitrogen, by M. Berthelot. A mixture of 
hydrogen and carbon bisulphide was submitted to the action of 
the silent discharge for some hours. The carbon bisulphide 
was found to have combined with about half its volume of 
hydrogen. Similar experiments with nitrogen in place of 
hydrogen showed that combination also took place. the pro- 
portions in two experiments being 7CS,:N, and 4CS,:No.— 
Kemarks on the combination of nitrogen with oxygen, by M. 
Berthelot. The author’s results agree with those obtained by 
previous workers in the same field.—On the advantages of 
autumn crops, and their usefulness as a green manure, by M. 
P. Deherain. A green crop, such as vetch or potato, sown 
over the wheat stubble immediately after the harvest, is usually 
successful if the months of August and September are not 
too dry.—Remarks by M. Loewy on some lunar _photo- 
graphs presented by M. Weineck.—On some transformations 
of some right lines, by M. E. O. Lovett.—On the general 
theory of congruences of circles and spheres, by M. C. Gui- 
chard.—On the Mossotti-Clausuis and Betti formule relating to 
the polarisation of dielectrics, by M. F. Beaulard. The author 
investigates a formula for the dielectric capacity of a mixture of 
a conductor and a non-conductor, and shows experimentally that 
fora mixture of copper and paraffin the formule of Poisson and 
-of Betti both agree with the results found.—Do rarefied gases 
“possess electrolytic conductivity? by M. E. Bouty. From the 
experiments quoted the author concludes that the electrical 
properties of a gas cannot be considered as resembling 
those of any known electrolyte. For a given pressure of 
gas there is a certain value for the strength of field below 
which the rarefied gas acts as a perfect dielectric. As 
the strength of the field is increased there is produced a 
sudden change, manifested by the luminescence of the tube.— 
On the reversible temporary and residual variations in nickel 
steels, by M. C. E. Guillaume.—On chromic acetate, by M. A. 
Recoura. Chromium acetate, Cr(C,H30.)3, has been obtained 
‘in four isomeric forms ; thus differing from the other chromium 
salts previously studied, which only give two.—On the pre- 
vention and cure of toxic epilepsy by the injection of normal 
nerve substance, by MM. V. Babes and Bacoucea. Injections 
of nerve substance were found in some cases to retard or pre- 
vent epilepsy artificially induced in rabbits.—On the presence 
of a soluble reducing ferment in the animal organism. Reducing 
power of extracts of organs, by MM. E. Abelous and E. Gerard. 
The kidney of the horse, macerated with chloroform water, 
gives a ferment capable of reducing potassium and ammonium 
nitrates to nitrites. It decolorises methylene blue, and appears 
‘to give butyric aldehyde with butyric acid. The ferment is de- 
stroyed at 72° by mercuric chloride solution, but the activity of 
reduction is not impaired by the addition of such antiseptics as 
«thymol or sodium fluoride.—On the development of the chicken, 
by M. Etienne Rabaud. —Tarsian regeneration, and regeneration 
of the members of the two anterior pairs in the leaping Orthoptera, 
‘by M. Edmond Bordage. The loss of the front pair of append- 
ages is usually fatal to the insect, but when it survives, if still 
in the larval state, regeneration may give a perfect member again. 
‘The contradiction to the law of Lessona is only apparent.— 
Division of the nucleus in the spermatogenesis of man, by M. 
Sappin-Trouffy. The two modes of division studied yielded 
multiplication cells with a single nucleus, and polynucleated 
reduction cells, or mother cells of spermatozoids.—Osseous re- 
generation, followed with radiography, by M. Abel Buguet.— 
Radiography of calculus of the kidney, by MM. Albarran and 
Contremoulin. The exact position of the renal calculi was dis- 
covered by radiography previous to removal.—Radiography of 
the heart and aorta at the different phases of cardiac revolution, 
by M. H. See —The vé/e of the locomotor organs in the 
horse, by M. P. Le Hello.—On the development and piscicul- 
ture of the turbot, by M. A. Eugéne Malard. The culture of 
the turbot would appear to be easy provided the basins are of 
sufficient capacity. —Experimental researches on dreams. On 
the a of dreams during sleep, by M. Vaschide. 
352, VOL. 60] 
AMsTERDAM. 
Royal Academy of Sciences, June 24.—Prof. H. G. van 
de Sande Bakhuyzen inthe chair.—Prof. Schoute reported, on 
behalf of Prof. Cardinaal and himself, on the treatise by Mrs. 
Alicia Boole Stott, entitled ‘‘ On certain series of sections of the 
regular four- dimensional hypersolids.” The conclusion of the 
report, viz. that the treatise should be inserted in the Z7ans- 
actions of the Academy, was approved.—Prof. Lobry de 
Bruyn made, on behalf of both Dr. A. Steger and himself, a 
communication concerning the influence of water upon the 
rapidity of the formation of ether from methyl iodide and ethyl 
iodide, and from sodium methylate and sodium ethylate. This 
inquiry, which is a sequel to a previous study of the conversion 
of o-dinitrobenzol with sodium methylate and sodium ethylate, 
showed that the addition of constantly increasing quantities of 
water did not prevent the occurrence of constant reaction co- 
efficients. In the case of methyl iodide it was possible to 
continue the inquiry down to pure water; as in the case of the 
above-mentioned reaction with o-dinitrobenzol, water here also 
proved to cause the reaction coefficient in ethyl alcohol to con- 
stantly decrease, while in the case of methyl alcohol it first rose 
and then also fell. That the sodium, dissolved in aqueous 
ethyl alcohol of 50 per cent., was for the greater part present as 
alcoholate, was proved by an experiment the result of which 
was that ethyl iodide was for the greater part converted 
into ordinary ether by such a solution.—Prof. Bakhuis 
Roozeboom made two communications: (a) on an in- 
stance of conversion of mixture crystals in a compound ; 
(6) (on behalf of Dr. Ernst Cohen and Mr. C. van Eyk) on the 
enantiotropy of tin.—The following papers were presented for 
publication in the Proceedings : (a) one by Prof. J. C. Kluyver, 
on the continuation of a univalent function represented by a 
doubly infinite series; (6) one by Prof. Kamerlings Onnes, on 
standard gasmanometers ; (c) one by Mr. N. Quint (presented by 
Prof. Van der Waals), on Beveriiations of the isotherms of 
mixtures of hydrochloric acid and ethane ; and one by Prof. 
Lorentz (also presented by Prof. Van der Waals), on the ele- 
mentary theory of Zeeman’s effect, being a reply to the objections 
of Prof. Poincaré.—Prof. Mulder presented for publication in 
the Zransactions a treatise entitled ‘‘ On peroxy-silver sulphate 
and peroxy-silver acetate” (sixth paper).—Prof. H. G. van de 
Sande Bakhuyzen communicated the fact that the comet the 
orbit of which was computed a few years ago by Mr. Zwiers in 
a treatise published by the Academy had appeared again, and 
that the place observed corresponded very closely with the one 
computed beforehand. 
CONTENTS. PAGE 
Inorganic Chemistrya) By A.S. . . .  -semeeeeneeoo 
Marine Boilers) BysimSs ahs. 4 . | ceeeeeeeeoD) 
Our Book Shelf :— 
Todhunter: ‘‘The Elements of Euclid”; Wells: 
‘Essentials of Plane and Solid Geometry.”— 
Gi Baie 290 
Cheyne and Burghard : ‘(A Manual of Surgical 
Treatment” . 291 
Rortern=ie Impressions of America.” —H. R. M. . 291 
Morgan: ‘‘Tables for Quantitative Metallurgical 
Analysis for Laboratory Use”’ an Princ 12)! 
Letters to the Editor:— 
Tides of the Gulf and River St. Lawrence and Bay 
of Fundy —Sir J. W. Dawson, F.R.S 201 
School Laboratory Plans. —A. E, Munby ; 292 
Duties of Provincial Professors.—‘‘ A. Professor” ; 
EP: : 3) 2 W202 
The Rede Lecture. By Prof. A. Cornu, D.C.L., 
SceD:. ise 5 eee . oA ee oe 
Notes ; 2907 
Our Astronomical Column :— 
Astronomical Occurrences in August 301 
Tempel’s Comet 1899 ¢ (1873 II.) . . ..: cea co Sot 
Stellar and Nebular Spectra with Concave Grating 302 
Tne Reason for the Hissing of the Electric “Arc. 
\l. (//lustrated.) By Mrs. W. E. Ayrton 302 
The International Conference on Hybridisation 
and Cross-Breeding. By Wilfred Mark Webb . 305 
University and Educational Intelligence 2g 
Scientific Serials . CERES tes oD 
Societies and Academies... .......4.. 
