Dec. 7, 1882 | 
SCIENTIFIC SERIALS 
Annalen der Physik und Chemie, No, 12.—On the volume- 
changes of water containing salts on heating, and the resulting 
chemical transpositions, by E. Wiedemann.—On the molecular 
refraction of sulpho-carbonic ether, with some remarks on 
molecular refraction in general, by the same.—On the dispersion 
of colourless transparent media, by A. Willner. -Some remarks 
on the pipers of Herren Hasselberg and Goldstein, by the same. 
—On galvanie elements supposed to consist only of elements, 
and the electromotive useful effect of chemical processes, by F. 
Braun.—The electric conductivity of chloride, oromide, and 
iodide of silver, by W. Kohlrausch.—On methods of multiplica- 
tion and rejection, by E. Dorn.—Contributions to a knowledge 
of the relations between fluidity and galvanic conductivity, by 
C. Stephan.—On the joint action of traction and torsion in 
metallic wires, by F. Himstedt.—On the connection between the 
units of magnetism and of electricity, by &. Clausius,—On the 
theory of Fresnel’s integrals, by A. Lindstedt.—On the theory of 
elastic reaction, by E, J. Micheelis. 
Fournal de Physique, November.—On the methods to employ 
for determining the ohm, by L. Lorenz.—On the electro-chemical 
fivuration of equipotential systems, by A. Guébhard.—On the 
liquefaction of ozone, by P. Hautefeuille and J. Chappuis.— 
On the absorption spectra of ozone and pernitric acid, by J. 
Chappuis.—Application of instantaneous photography to the 
study of animal locomotion, by G. Demeny. 
Fournal of the Russian Chemical and Physical Society, vol. 
xiv. fascicule 7.—On the action of the cyanide of ammonium on 
glyoxal, by M. N. Lubavin.—On the decomposition of the 
acetate of tertiary amyl by heat, by Prof. Menshutkin.—Analy- 
sis of the water which accompanies naphtha in wells, and ejected 
by mud-volcanoes, by M. A. Potilitzin.—On new beds of mineral 
manure, by M. P. Grigorieff.—Analysis of naphtha coke, by 
M. A. Lidoff.—Residual elasticity and analogous physical phe- 
nomena, by M. N. Hesehus.—Review of Russian chemical 
literature for the year 1881, by M. N. Lubayin. 
Archives des Sctences Physiques et Naturelles, October 15.— 
On cometary refraction, by G. Cellerier.—On the duration of 
excitability of nerves after the separation of their nutritive 
centres, by O. Gorlinsky.—Researches on lodes, by F. Sand- 
berger.—The grain of the glacier, by E, Hagenbach: Bischoff. 
November 15.—Sixty-fifth session of the Helvetic Society of 
Natural Sciences, held at Linthhal on September 11, 12, 13, 
1882.—The prehistoric antiquity of man, by G. de Mortillet.— 
The origin of cultivated plants, by A. de Caudolle.—New re- 
searches on the appearances of Jupiter, by E. W. Hough. 
Fournal of the Franklin Institute, Noyember.—An improved 
feed-water heater and purifier, by G. E. Strong.—Economical 
steam power, by W. B. Le Van.—Note on the pendulum, by 
J. R. French. —Vision by the light of the electric spark, by W. 
Le Conte Stevens.—Notes on water analysis, by Kk. Haines, — 
Report on European sewerage systems, &c., by R. Hering.— 
Examination of water and air for sanitary «purposes, with 
remarks on disinfection, by R. Hitchcock.—Report of Com- 
mittee on the Rappleye rheometric governor burner.—The 
silver and gas dynanometers, by L. H. Sargent.—The American 
iron trade in 1881. 
SOCIETIES AND ACADEMIES 
LONDON 
Royal Society, November 8.—‘‘ Note on the Discovery of 
Bacilli in the Condensed Aqueous Vapour of the Breath of 
Persons affected with Phthisis.” By Arthur Ransome. Com- 
municated by Dr. W. Roberts, F.R.S. 
In the year 1869 the author had examined the aqueous vapour 
of the breath in health and disease. This vapour was condensed 
in a glass globe surrounded by ice and salt, and, in condensing, 
it was found to carry down all the organic matter contained in 
the breath. It appeared probable that the breath of persons in 
advanced stages of phthisis would contain the bacillus of 
tubercle, and that this organism could be rendered visible by 
Dr. Heneage Gibbes’ method of staining. 
The aqueous vapour of the breath of several advanced cases 
of phthisis was accordingly condensed by the above-mentioned 
method, and each specimen was separately examined, 
NALORE 
143 
In order to carry down the organic matter, and to afford a 
basis to attach the material to the microscopic cover glasses, 
fresh white of egg, or a little mucus, free from bacilli, was added 
to the fluid. 
No attempt was made to sterilise the fluids, as the ordinary 
bacteria of putrefaction are not stained by the process used. 
In the aqueous vapour obtained from two of the cases, speci- 
mens of bacillus were found which took the staining in the same 
manner as the bacillus found in phthisical sputa and in tubercle. 
The organism was not found in several other cases, nor yet 
in the aqueous vapour condensed in the waiting-room of the 
Manchester Consumption Hospital. 
Physical Society, November 25.—Prof. Clifton, president, 
in the chair.—A paper by Mr. William Ackroyd, on rainbows 
produced by light reflected before entering the rain-drops, was 
read by the Secretary. The author investigated mathematically 
the rare phenomenon of three bows, and inferred that it would 
generally take place about sunrise or sunset. Mr. Lecky thought 
the effect had a simple explanation, It might be said to be due 
to two suns, one (reflected) appearing to be below the horizon, — 
Mr, Shellford Bidwell gave an account of some experiments he 
had made to test the theory of Dr. James Moser, that the action 
of a selenium cell under light was due to the heat rays making a 
closer microphonic contact between the selenium and the metal 
electrode , by expanding the material. Jie submitted selenium 
cells to dark heat rays, and found their resistance to 7se. Under 
light rays, however, their resistance fell. He therefore concluded 
that Mr. Moser’s theory was erroneous, and that the fall in re- 
sistance due to the light rays is the differential result of 
the rise due to heat and the fall due to light. He also 
explained the ‘‘ fatigue” of a selenium cell by use, as 
caused by its increase of temperature. When the cell cooled 
again the fatigue disappeared. Dr. Moser and Prof. G, 
C. Foster made remarks on the paper, the former suggesting 
experiments to test the reversability of the effects observed by 
Mr. Bidwell, and the latter seeking to reconcile Mr. Moser’s 
theory with the new data.—Dr. James Moser then read a paper 
on a general method of strengthening telephonic currents. This 
consists in forming a primary circuit of the telephone traasmitter 
or derived circuit, a set of induction bobbins in derived 
circuit, and a changed secondary battery, the whole circuit 
having a very low resistance. Each primary bobbin has a 
secondary wound over it, and these secondaries are connected 
in quantity to the telephone line, which has at its remote end a 
set of telephones in derived circuit to the earth or return wire. 
In this way one line wire serves to supply a large number of separate 
telephones, a hundred being employed by Dr. Moser to transmit 
music from the Hippodrome in Paris to the Place Vend6éme. 
The system is applicable to long lines; and the induction noises 
are reduced by subdivision among the separate telephones. 
Victoria (Philosophical) Institute, December 4.—A paper 
by Dr. Miller was read on the references to the Antediluvian 
period in the cuneiform texts. 
Institution of Civil Engineers, November 28.—Sir F. J. 
Bramwell, vice-president, in the chair.—The paper read was on 
‘* American Practice in Warming Buildings by Steam,” by the 
late Mr. Robert Briggs, M. Inst. C.E., of Philadelphia, U.S. 
CAMBRIDGE 
Philosophical Society, November 27.—On complex mul- 
tiplication of elliptic functions, by Mr. A. G. Greenhill.—On 
certain points in the function of the cardiac muscle, by Dr. 
W. H. Gaskell.—On the development of the Pollinium of 
Asclepias, by Mr. T. H. Corry.—On some micro-organisms and 
their relations to disease, by Mr. G. F. Dowdeswell. 
BERLIN 
Physical Society, November 17.—Prof. Helmholtz in the 
chair.—Herr Hagen has sought to determine the physical pro- 
perties, and especially the coefficients of expansion, of metallic 
sodium and potassium, and he reported on the methods and 
results of this investigation. Both metals, which, in petroleum, 
in which they are commonly kept, always present a dull surface 
of hydrated oxide, Herr Hagen succeeded in keeping, with 
bright metallic surface, without petroleum, any length of time, 
in evacuated tubes, after the small amount of oxygen in the 
residual air had been fixed by a part of the metal in an ante- 
chamber. By melting the metal, drops could be formed, from 
whose heights the capillary constants of the two metals were 
