; 
ties of the quartz, and the crystal the other properties, and the 
two ought to give similar spirals. In fact the fluid should 
replace the quartz succe-sfully in all these experiments. By 
means of ac lumn of oil of lemons 200 millimetres in length, 
and crystals of calcite, sugar, topaz, and nitre, Mr. Wright showed 
this to be the case. Finally he demonstrated that the same 
phenomena held good through all the ordinary analogies with, or 
artificial substitutes for, natural crystals, the figures being pro- 
duced with a circular chilled glass in parallel light, and also 
with an artificial uni-axial crystal made of crossed mica film:, 
after Norremberg, and an artificial quartz made of superim- 
posed mica films, after Reusch, in convergent light. All the 
figures were projected by the electric camera to a size 8 
feet in diameter. All Mr. Wright’s experiments went to 
illustrate the truth of Fresnel’s theory.—Mr. C, V. Boys then 
read a paper on the prevention of the bursting of water pipes. 
Mr. Powell had proposed the use of pipes of elliptical 
or other round section, and Mr, Mangnal of Manchester had 
independently hit on the same idea, Such a pipe would become 
rounder in section when the water froze and expanded. A 
round pipe tends to become thinner at its weak parts on expand- 
ing under the pressure. With an elliptical pipe, the force re- 
quired to alter the shape of its section is greater as the section 
is more circular, therefore the effect produced by a change of 
shape at any place makes that place stronger. A round pipe is 
in a state of unstable, and an elliptical pipe in a state of stable, 
equilibrium, and changes its form uniformly from end to end. 
Hence if a portion only of such a pipe is exposed to the cold, 
the whole is effective, and it will require a proportionally greater 
number of frosts to make the pipe round. Inspection would 
show if the pipes were becoming round, and then they could be 
squeezed back to their original shape. Mr. Boys had demon- 
strated these inferences by experiment with Mr. Powell. Messrs. 
Powell, Rigby, and Co. of Piceadilly made these pipes.—Mr. 
J. Macfarlane Gray drew attention to some apparent discrepan- 
cies in the constants employed by Regnault in his work on “ The 
Physical Properties of Steam.” 
PARIS 
Academy of Sciences, November 14.—M. Wurtz in the 
chair.—The following papers were read: --Researches on elec- 
trolysis (continued), by M. Berthelot. He illustrates the ‘‘ prin- 
ciple of minimum electromotive force in electrolyses,” in virtue 
of which electrolytic decomposition occurs as soon as the sum of 
energies necessary is present, It is distinctly verified wherever 
there is no polarisation of electrodes.—The maritime labora- 
tories of Banyuls-sur-Mer and Roscoff, by M. de Lacaze- 
Duthiers. The Roscoff station has had increasing success ; 38 
have worked at it this year, as against 27 in 1880 (there are 25 at 
present). The number of foreigners is eight. A large fish-pond 
has been added, and Government has provided a vessel for 
dredging. Banyuls-sur-Mer was fixed on for a winter station. 
The author gives particulars of what is to be called the Avago 
Laboratory, &c., which will be ready early next year. He has 
received 48,000 francs. The Mayor of Banyuls has opened a 
subscription for a dredging vessel.—Observations on the second 
volume of M. Fontaine’s Universal History; the Iranians, by 
M. de Lesseps.—On the working zone of anesthetic agents, 
and on a new process of chloroformisation, by M. Bert. With 
increasingly-strong mixtures of an anzesthetic vapour and air, a 
point is reached at which an animal in such an atmosphere 
is made insensible, and another point at which it is killed. 
The interval between these is the zone maniadle, or 
working zone. M. Bert used chloroform, ether, amylene, 
bromide and chloride of ethyl, and the animals were dogs, 
mice, and sparrows. Under these conditions the fatal dose is 
precisely double the anzsthetic dose. (In the case of protoxide 
of nitrogen the ratio is one to three.) The zone is much greater 
for ether than for chloroform. Animals anzesthetised in the way 
indicated remain perfectly quiet and need no attention. In the 
common way of applying chloroform, with a compress, the limits 
of the working zone may be exceeded on either side. Chloro- 
form acts, not by the quantity respired, but by the proportion in 
which it exists in inspired air, The author applies the mixture 
through a tube and a small mask, The anzsthetic dose for man 
has yet to be determined.—Synthesis of azotised colloids, by M. 
Grimaux. Proteic matters he defines as azotised colloids break- 
ing up, through hydration, into amic acids, carbonic acid and 
ammonia, and from this his method of synthesis is derived, He 
combined aspartic anhydride with urea.—Crystallographic obser- 
vations on a variety of natural blende, by M. Hautefeuille.— 
a 2 I* 
— [Mov. 24, 188 
Observations of Schiiberle’s comet (c 1881) at Rio Janeiro 
Observatory, by M. Cruls.—On the theory of motion of 
celestial bodies, by M. Callandreau.—On certain series for 
development of the functions of a variable, by M. Halphen. 
—Equality of mean sinking produced by two equal fool 
(each at points where the other is deposited) arbitraril 
distributed along two concentric surfaces on a horizontal ground, 
or on a horizontal circular plate having the same centre as these 
circumferences, and supported or secured throughout its contour, 
by M. Boussinesq.—On the maximum yield of which two given 
dynamo-electric machines are capable, when used for transport 
of force, by M. Lévy.—Researches on: the absorption spectrum: 
of our atmosphere at Paris Observatory, by M. Egoroff. He 
describes the absorption of strong electric light by the air-layer 
between Mont Valerien and the Observatory, observed on eleven” 
evenings. It is probable that, after aqueous vapour, air is the 
only strongly absorbent substance.—On the electrolysis of water 
(continued), by M. Tommasi. All metals except gold and 
platinum, being able to combine with the oxygen of water under 
action of the voltaic current, are capable, when ‘positive elec- 
trodes, of decomposing water by action of a single (zine co’ 
or zinc carbon) element. He here shows that the decomposition’ 
will occur if one of the two electrodes is aluminium, zinc, or 
carbon, He opposes some of M. Berthelot’s views.—On the 
reversibility of the electro-chemical method for determination of 
systems of equipotential or discharge, by M. Guébhard.—On 
the magnetic properties of the nickelised iron of Santa Cattarina, 
Brazil, by M. H. Becquerel. There is great increase of mag- 
netism after heating followed by cooling, and the author got a 
like result with pure nickel crystallised in the cold state ; but not. 
with pure iron. The native iron must have crystallised at a low 
temperature.—On the proportions of carbonic acid in the high 
regions of the atmosphere, by MM. Miintz and Aubin. The 
observations, made on the Pic du Midi (2877m.) gave 2°86, 
which is extremely like the figure got on the plain of Vincennes, 
and similar figures were got in two Pyrenzan valleys.—On the 
post-embryonal development of Diptera, by M. Viallanes.—The 
pourridium of vines of Haute-Marne, produced by Resteria 
hypogea, by M. Prillieux.—Bauxites, their age and origin; 
complete diffusion of titanium and vanadium in rocks of 
primordial formation, by M. Dieulafait. 
VIENNA 
Imperial Academy of Sciences, November 3.—L. T. 
Fitzinger in the chair.—The following papers were read :— 
A. D’Albert Adamkiewicz, on the blood-vessels of the spinal 
cord of man, Part II. The vessels of the spinal marrow,.— 
E. Heinricher, contributions to the teratolozy of plants.—E. 
Tangl, on nucleus and cell division in the formation of pollen 
of Hemerocallis fulva, L. 
ead 
CONTENTS Pach 
ANTI-VIVISECTION versus HUMANITY . . - + - - - + « « = © @@ 
EcyrrortTHe Pasr . . ss © © et ee oh ew oe se 
Our Boox SHELF :— 
Aveling’s ‘* Natural Philosophy for London University Matricula- 
ie cr SIMONE Dl 
Bastian’s ‘‘Volkergedanke im Aufbau einer Wissenschaft vom ? 
Menschen” ; ‘‘ Die Vorgeschichte der Ethnologie” . . . - 
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR :— 
Telescopic Definition in a Hazy Sky.—Dr. G. W. Roysron- 
Pigott; F-R.S.. 2 4. se cs 0 os 8 1S Oe 
The Morteratsch Glacier.—HuGo Leupotp. ._ . oi oe ee 7 
Arctic Research. —CLEMENTS R. MarkHaM, C.B., F.R.S . .« 78 
Curious Formations of Ice.—J. F. Durniz. . - + ~ . 78 
Meteor.—Rev. S. J. Perry, F.R.S.; M. L. Rouse; Henxy 
Ceci.; Henry. Hiccmys . - « - 2 + - + sw w es Oe 
Integrating Anemometer.—V. Ventosa (With Diagrams) . . . 7% 
Geological Results of the Late Gales.—G. A. LzxBourR . . . . 79 
‘The Recent Weather.—RicHArp M. BARRINGTON .« . « « + 79. 
Dipladenia amabilis.—AMY MULHOLLAND . © Sint © ote 79 
“The Lepidoptera of Ceylon."—F. MoorE - « - « - . « « 5 79 
A Guimpse THROUGH THE CorRgipoRs OF Time, I. By Prof. Roserr S. 
Batu, LL.D., F.R.S. pL Reo) > (xy oN ORES ae Se ne 
Some ‘‘Gugsses AT TRuTH”’ OF THE Emperor Kuanc-H1. . . . 82 
On THE EVOLUTION OF ANTLERS IN THE RuMINANTS. By Prof. W. 
Boyp Dawkins, F.R.S. (With Diagrams) . . «© «© 1 ew we 8 
THe Gmovocicat Survey oF Iraty. By W. Torrey ... . - 86 
NGTES, ope fous secs ® ent oe Sens Sis <0 Se 87 
GeoGRarHIcaL NOTES . - - «+ «2 © +e 8 2 ee #8 89 
Tue Pressure Errors oF THE “CHALLENGER”? THERMOMETERS, I. 
By Prof. Tarr (With Disgrams) 2 a « 2 se Se wee ie ee 
TRANSFORMATION OF Op CoinsINALAKE. « - + + + « ; os 
Our ASTRONOMICAL COLUMN :— 
The Great Comet of 1861 . 2. 2 © » © es © © © te oF 
The Satellites of Mars 2d 6 ae ee Oe o4 
UNIVERSITY AND EDUCATIONAL INTELLIGENCE. o4 
SOCIETIES AND ACADEMIES . « . + 2 © # © © © # © © 8 o4 
