596 Pi 
NATURE 
| April 20, 1882 
the sun does not shine continuously enough to favour the practical 
use of the apparatus.—On the heat due to magnetisation, by 
M. Pilleux. He was able to heat, to more than 200°, the iron 
core of an electro-magnet, with the alternative currents of a 
Meritens’ machine; a non-magnetic core was not heated. 
Using various iron and steel cores, the coercitive force is 
proved to increase their heating under frequent magnetisa- 
tion and de-magnetisation ; it acts like resistance to the pas- 
sage of electricity—On the absorption-spectrum of pernitric 
acid, by M. Chappuis. This spectrum is important, especially 
as a means of verifying that ozone has been prepared with 
oxygen exempt from nitrogen.—On the electrolysis of distilled 
water, by M. Tommasi. His experiments prove that water may 
be electrolysed, even by the current of a very weak battery, 
provided the calories liberated by this battery are at least equal 
to the calories absorbed by water in being decomposed, about 
sixty-nine calories. —On the determination of nitric and nitrous 
acid in the state of ammonia, by M. Guyard.—On the effects 
of compression on the hardness of steel, by M: Lan. The com- 
pression of fused steel has been practised both in France and 
England ; increasing the hardness and the proportion of com- 
bined carbon.—On the composition of hydrated carbonic acid, 
by M. Wroblewski. At zero temperature and about 16 atm. it 
consists of 1 eq. of carbonic acid and 8 eq. of water.—On the 
bisulphydrate and cyanhydrate of ammonia, by M. Isambert.— 
Action of sulphuretted hydrogen on saline solutions of nickel 
and metals of the same group, by M. Baubigny.—On ammonia- 
cal chlorides of zinc, by M. André.—On the hydrate of sul- 
phuretted hydrogen, by M. de Foucrand.—Synthesis of quinine, 
by M. Maumenc. The discovery of H,N furnished him with 
the means of this synthesis—details of which are not yet given. 
—Aetion of fuming nitric acid, and action of hydrochloric acid 
on ‘pilocarpine, by M. Chastaing. — Gastric microzymas and 
pepsine ; remarks on M. Gautier’s note of March 6, by M. 
Béchamp.—On the existence of products similar to ptomaines 
in gastric and pancreatic digestion of several albuminoid 
‘matters, by M. Béchamp.—Digestion of fatty and cellulosic 
matters, by M. Duclaux. The emulsion of fatty matters 
by the pancreas he regards as a phenomenon almost exclu- 
sively physical (not produced by diastase), The agents 
of digestion of cellulose seem to be small rod-like organ- 
isms, which one finds in seeds in the crop of birds or the 
paunch of ruminants. M. Faye recalled former experiments 
of his own on emulsion.—On the resistance of African asses to 
charbon fever, by ‘1M. Tayon.—Researches on the nervous 
system of larvze of dipterous insects, by M. Brandt.—The Alcyo- 
narians of the Bay of Marseilles, by M. Marion.—On the deve- 
lopment of the ganglion and the ciliated sac in the bud of 
Pyrosoma, by M. Joliet.—Artificial reproduction of witherite, 
strontianite, and calcite, by M. Bourgeois.—On the artificial 
reproduction of a crystalline hydrated silicate, by M. de 
Schulten.—On the limit between the lias and the inferior odlite, 
according to documents left by Henri Hermite, by M. Velain. 
April 1o.—M. Blanchard in the chair.—The following papers 
were read:—On the secular displacements of planes of the 
orbits of three planets, by M. Tisserand.—Movements acquired 
by different parts of a liquid within a vessel or reservoir, whence 
it escapes by an orifice, by M. de Saint Venant.—Philosophical 
essay on the method named by its author the ‘‘ Science of order,” 
by M. Villerceau.—Use of instantaneous photography for analysis 
of movements in animals, by M. Marey. He gives details of his 
photographic rifle, as applied to birds’ flight. A central axis, 
rotated by clockwork twelve times in a second, when a detent is 
released, commands all the pieces. There is an opaque disc, 
with a small hole ; behind this a disc with twelve holes, which 
rotates intermittently; and behind this a sensitised plate, 
circular or octagonal, on the margin of which the images ap- 
pear. To get good effects in the phenakistiscope it was neces- 
sary to increase the number of images, and M. Marey found 
1-1400th second (as against 1-720th before) sufficient expo-ure. 
M. Marey found the chief results of his study by the graphic 
method confirmed. He makes some remarks on bats’ flight, 
which is difficult to photograph.—On some recent types of fossil 
plants (continued), by M. de Laporta,—Note on the quarantines 
imposed at Suez on maritime arrivals from the extreme East, by 
M. de Lesseps. He holds the measures taken are useless and 
vexatious, The evil (cholera) should be vigorously attacked at 
the centres of infection formed by the large concourses of 
pilgrims, and care taken to disinfect putrid dejections, and 
destroy objects that may have been contaminated.—On the 
necessity of destroying the winter «gg of phylloxera, by M. 
Balbiani.—On the winter egg of phylloxera, by M. Mayet.— 
Observations of comet a, 1882, at Lyons Observatory (Briinner 
6 inch equatorial), by M. Gonessiat.—Observations of the same 
at the Roman College, by M. Tacchini.—Observations of solar 
eruptions in 1881; spectrum of Well’s comet, by the same. 
There are two maxima of the former between + 10° and + 30°, 
and more eruptions appeared in the north than in the south ; 40 
metallic eruptions were observed, against 10in 1880, (Curves of 
the solar phenomena are given).—On hypercycles, by M. La- 
guerre.—On the integration, by Abelian functions, of certain 
equations with partial derivatives of the first order, by M. 
Picard.—On Fuchsian functions, by M. Poincaré.—On the 
theory of uniform functions of a variable, by M. Mittag-Lefiler. 
—On general inversion, by M. Vanacek.—-Resistance of a pris- 
matic and homogeneous bar, of supposed infinite length, to 
transversal shock and longitudinal shock, by M. Boussinesq.— 
Experimental researches on the thermal conductivity of minerals 
and rocks, by M. Thoulet. The novelty of his method (applied 
to glass, forged iron, and anhydrite) consists in substituting a 
precise estimation of times for determination of temperatures.— 
Evaluation of thermal conductivity by measurement of times 
during a variable period, by M. Lagarde.—On electrolysis, by M. 
Tommasi. He proves the law that when a voltaic current tra- 
verses several electrolytes, it is necessary (for decomposition to 
occur) that the quantity of calories produced by the pile be 
equal to the sum of the calories absorbed by each electro- 
lyte Zlus the calories required to overcome the total resist- 
ance of the electrolytes.—Researches on the solubility of 
aluminates of lime in water; influence of this on the final 
hardening of hydraulic materials, by M. Landrin.—On the 
relation between isomorphism, atomic weights, and comparative 
toxicity of metallic salts, hy Mr. Blake. His experiments (in 
which the substances were introduced directly into the blood) 
prove, in opposition to M. Richet, an intimate connection be- 
tween chemical function and physiological action.—On some 
physical properties of bichlorised camphor, by MM. Cazeneuve 
and Didelot.—Peptones and alkaloids ; reply to M. Béchamp, by 
M. Tanret.—On the rapidity of propagation of the inoculated 
bacterium of charbon, by M. Rodet, with M. Davaine. He 
found great irregularity in the effects of destruction of the inocu- 
lated part.—The puceron of Latania, by M. Lichtenstein. —On 
the density and the chlorination of sea-water obtained in the 
Travailleur in 1881, by M. Bouquet de la Grye. The density 
and saltness are shown to increase on passing from the ocean to 
the Mediterranean. The surface-waters are less salt and dense 
than the lower, and generally the increase varies in the same 
sense as the depth. Measurements of density at 400 m. depth, 
opposite the Rhone mouth, and in the Gulf of Gascogne, indi- 
cated a difference of height of 0°72 m. (agreeing with M. Bour- 
dalone’s observations). —On a recent communication of M. Dieu- 
lafait, on ophitic rocks of the Pyrenees, by M. Virlet d’Auost. 
CONTENTS Pace 
Ecuirse Notes. By J. Norman Locxyer, F R.S. (With Diagrams) 573 
Pror. WIESNER ON “THE PowER OF MovEMENT IN(Ptants.”’ By 
Francis Darwin (With Diagram) . . .>. « «© «© + «© « « 578 
Our Book SHELF :— 
Lansdell’s ‘‘Through Siberia”. . . . 2. 2 ss « 582 
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR :— 
Limulus.—Prof. H. N. Moserey, F R.S.. . . . - + = « + 582 
Silurian Fossils in the North-West Highlands.—W. H. Hupie- 
STON > ea. eon cee eee ae 5 582 
Magnetic Storm.—G. M. WHrprL— . . « ee ee + es 6583 
Sea-shore Alluvyion—Dungeness or Denge-nesse —J. B. REDMAN 583 
Dispersal of Bivalves.—D. PipGEON . . . - - + « + + © «+ 584 
The Yellow River and the Pei-ho.—Surgeon H. B. Guppy . . . 584 
Table of the Appearance of Rare Lepidoptera in this Country in 
Connection with the Sun-Spots.—A. H. Swinton. . . . « ~ 584 
Tue ApPLicaTION OF Ecectricity To Snips’ Locs (With Diagram) 584 
‘THE TONNAGE QUESTION] == © = = ely cugehtsueeeten OSE, 
Tue NAVAL AND MARINE ENGINEBRING EXHIBITION . - « - + « 587 
Tota Ec.iprsE oF May 17 are ae - 587 
Tue EpINBURGH FISHERIES EXHIBITION. « . » + «6 +» + + «© + 589 
INOTES \=~ oMieisl eon eeneniaiite ola) Vented peglnig «glee ere SOC 
Our AsTRONOMICAL COLUMN :— 
Comet 1882@....-.. . ok Ge eats! pp cat et eee OS 
UNIVERSITY AND EDUCATIONAL INTELLIGENCE 504 
SocieTigs AND ACADEMIES .. .- Cc te aya ae ee 594 
