260 
vessels into the surrounding tissues simply to the increase of fluid 
pressure caused by stasis, and not to the amoeboid movements of 
the corpuscles, which are generally urged as the true cause. Dr. 
R, S. Marsden read a paper on the state of carbon in iron and 
steel, in which it was argued that the molten metal held the 
carbon in solution, and that, on cooling, the carbon crystallised 
out in minute diamond crystals, so giving to the metal its peculiar 
hardness and temper. Much would depend on the size and 
number of the crystals, and the size was obviously a function of 
the rate of cooling ; so it was quite conceivable that too much, 
as well as too little, carbon might have a deleterious effect upon 
the physical properties of the metal. 
Boston, U.S.A. 
American Academy of Arts and Sciences, December 
14, 1881.—Prof. J. Lovering, president, in the chair.—Prof, C. 
L, Jackson and Mr, A. E. Menke presented the results of an 
investigation upon curcumin, The formula was shown to be 
C,4H\,O,. By the study of the potassium salts it was proved to 
be a diatomic monobasic acid. Powerful oxidising agents 
destroy it ; weaker agents, not in excess, give vanillin, but in 
too small quantity for purification; by oxidising diethyleurcu- 
min, however, with potassic permanganate the authors obtained 
ethylvanillic acid, with melting-point at 195°.—A paper on a 
comparison of the Harvard College Observatory Catalogue 
of Stars for 1875, with the fundamental systems of Auwers, 
Boss, Safford, and Newcomb, was read by Prof, William A. 
Rogers.—Dr. Wolcott Gibbs announced the discovery of the 
following new complex acids :—Arsenoso-molybdie acid, ar- 
senoso-tungstic acid, antimonoso-molybdic acid, antimonoso- 
tungstic acid, vanadoso-molybdic acid, vanadoso-tungstic acid, 
yanadio-phosphoric acid, vanadio-arsenic acid, vanadio-antimonic 
acid. All of these acids have well-defined series of salts.—A 
paper on the law of diffusion of gases was read by Mr. N. D, C. 
Hodges, 
PARIS 
Academy of Sciences, January 2.—M. Jamin in the chair. 
—M. Blanchard was elected Vice-President for 1882.—The 
Academy has lost three members during 1881, viz. MM. Delesse, 
Deville, and Bouillaud ; and two correspondents, MM. Kuhl- 
mann and Pierre. —M. Faye presented the Annuaire du Bureau 
des Longitudes for 1882 ; it contains, zter alia, a complete table, 
with history, &c., of the comets of the last decade, by M. Leewy, 
and a fac-simile of M. Janssen’s photograph of the comet of last 
summer.—On the correction of compasses, and on M. Collet’s 
recent ‘‘ Treatise on the Regulation and the Compensation of 
the Compass,” by M. Faye.—Craniology of the Mongolian and 
white races, by MM. de Quatrefages and Hamy. They presented 
the tenth and last volume of their ‘‘ Crania Ethnica,” and gave 
a résumé of the contents. The different general forms of the 
human skull are found in each of the three chief races; but 
while among the black races, globular skulls, and among the 
yellow, elongated skulls, are rare, among the white the two 
cephalic types coexist in nearly equal proportions, The authors 
regard craniology as one of the most powerful means of scien- 
tific study of human races.—On the diffusion of solids, by M. 
Colson. Toa given temperature corresponds a constant coeffi- 
cient of diffusion of carbon in iron, This law holds only so 
long as the iron is transformed into steel. Among substances 
that diffuse very easily in carbon, silica holds the first place. 
Platinum wire, heated long enough with lampblack in an 
earthenware crucible, becomes crystalline, and has the com- 
position SiPt, (the silicum being from the crucible, whose 
silica is diffused in the lampblack), Repeating the ex- 
periment with lampblack holding 60 per cent. of precipitated 
silica, one obtains SiS,Pt;.—On the diffusion of carbon, by M. 
Violle. He had observed, in 1878, a diffusion of carbon in 
porcelain (temperature under 1500°),—Anchylostoma (duodenal 
anchylostoma of Dubini) in France, and the disease of miners, 
by M. Perroncito. ‘The miners’ anemia of Saint Etienne has the 
same parasitic cause as that of the workmen in the St. Gothard, 
the Schemnitz miners, &c, 
cleanliness and treatment of excrementitious matters with heat of 
50° C, (to kill eggs, larva, and worms), or better, with concen- 
trated solutions of chloride of sodium, sulphuric, hydrochloric 
or carbolicacid, or Depernis’s insecticide liquid. Patients should 
be treated with doses of etherised extract of male fern,—On 
algebraic forms with several series of variables, by M. le Paize, 
—Integration of certain equations with partial derivatives, by 
means of definite integrals containing, under the sign s, the 
NATURE > 
| by M. Pouchet. 
The malady may be prevented by | 
product of two arbitrary functions, by M. Boussinesq.—On the 
theory of motion of planets, by M. de Casparis——On the 
determination of the ohm; reply to M. Brillouin, by M. 
Lippmann,—Measurement of potentials corresponding to de- 
terminate explosive distances, by M. Baille. The potential 
of an electrified plane increases nearly regularly with the 
explosive distance which can be traversed. The electric densities 
decrease at first slowly, reaching a constant value about 0.5 ctm. | 
The pressure of electricity on the air when a spark of o‘or m. 
passes 1s only 1-2000th of atmospheric pressure.—Note on the 
temperatures of the sea observed during the mission to Lapland, 
In the roadstead of Vadsé the mean sea- 
temperature rose about 9° in 50 days from June8 (or abont 0°°2 a 
day). A cooling influence of the coast was observed to 1} miles 
and to a depth of room. at the Vadsé anchorage (a difference of 
about 1° for depths of 20 to 3om.), The temperature always 
decreased very regularly to the bottom.—On the ratio of potash 
to soda in natural waters, by M, Clooéez. This relates to water 
of the Seine, Marne, Dhnis, Vanne, &c. In general the potash 
counts for more than 1-5th in the sum of alkalis (potash 25, 
soda 100), and while the potash comes from decomposition of 
felspathic rocks, the soda is probably from chloride of sodium 
impregnating all the strata, except granitic soils. The Vanne, 
rising in the chalk and not meeting argillaceous deposits, has no 
salts of potash.—On the complex function of morphine, its 
transformation into picric acid, and its solubility, by M. 
Chastaing.—On artificial production of the forms of organic 
elements, by MM. Monnier and Vogt. He obtains cells, tubes, 
&c., by bringing together two salts in a liquid, forming by 
double decomposition one or two insoluble salts. —Researches on 
development of cryptogamic vegetation without and within hens’ 
eggs, by M. Dareste. Such vegetation he found on most of 
sixty eggs submitted singly to artificial incubation in a small 
vessel hermetically closed with a caoutchouc stopper. He con- 
siders the spores to have entered the oviduct from the cloaca 
and to have been incarcerated in the egg during its passage in 
the oviduct. The vegetation may be fatal to the embryo.—On 
a parasitic tuberculosis of the dog and on the pathogeny of 
tuberculous follicle, by M, Laulanié. He observed in a dog’s 
lung alterations very like those of tuberculosis, produced by 
eggs of a nematoid (Strongy/us vasorum, Baillet). 
VIENNA 
Imperial Institute of Geology, December 6, 1881.—G, 
Laube, on melaphyry-stones inclosed in the porphyry of Lie- 
benau (Bohemia). — R. Hoernes, on the remains of mam- 
malia found in the brown coal at Goeriach, near Turnan, 
Styria.—Th. Fuchs, on the relations of heat and light of the 
ocean,—L. Szajnocha, exhibition of the geological map of 
Taslo and Krosmo in Western Gallicia. 
December 20.—C. Doelter, on the voleanic rocks of the Cape 
Verde IJslands:—R. Hoernes, exhibition of remains of mam- 
malia from the Styrian brown coal-deposits.—G, Stache, new 
data on the occurrence of olivin-rocks on the gneiss mountains 
of Southern Tyrol.—V. Uhlig, on the composition of the lime- 
rocks at Lublau (Hungary). 
CONTENTS 
CLERK-MAXxwetv’s ‘f ELECTRICITY AND MaGneTisM.” By Prof. G. 
CHRYSTAL., © oie 8 ee) oe we! EN oP all Cee on ee 
Our Book SHELF :— 
“« The Zoological Record for 1880"" . . » + e+ + + ss 5 240 
Naeher’s “Land und Leute in der brasilianischen Provinz Bahia 240 
Letrrrs TO THE Epirok :— : 
A Glimpse through the Corridors of Time.—Prof. T. H. Huxtey. 
rR 
Pace 
Outburst of Sun-Spots, July 25, 188x.—J. B. N. HENNESSEY. . . 24 
Polymorphism of the Flower-Heads of Cenfaurea Facea,—Dr. 
HERMANN Micurr . elle 2 6 oe en a ny 
The Weather.—Ri MCLACHLAN « + » 0 es w ele « = 
THe TRANSIT OF VENUS IN 1882. . . + 5 + + s 4 5 se 0 B42 
On THE Puysicat Cause oF THE OckAN Basins. By the Rev, O 
Fiswgr, F.R.S. . . - 243 
CLAsstFICATION oF THE DinosauRtA. By Prof.O.C. MARSH. « . 244 
THe TAY AND THE FortH BripGes (With Diagram). . « « « + 246 
NOTRR SE seas ib) 48 kee 5 Bh 
Suan Paysite, ile By Capt. Abvey, RES RRS. UM 
uiomaetanes or cite TRMNOPLEURIDA. i By Prof. P. M. Duncan, 7 
Univebires ‘AND EDUCATIONAL INTELLIGENCE - 3% ; 3 ved a 
Savesngere SERIALS 1.8 ec }) @ oe ds a ae 8 Ne Be SS eae 
SocigTigs AND ACADEMIES 
