Fan. 4, 1383 | 
NATURE 
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considered in connection with the gradient down which the 
glacier has passed.—Prof. Osborne Reynolds, F -R.S., com- 
municated and explained an elementary solution of the dynamical 
problem of isochronous vibration.—Mr. John Boyd exhibited a 
fine living specimen of Argulus foliaceus, a parasite of the carp. 
—Mr. Charles Bailey, F.L.S., made some remarks on the 
occurrence of Seinum carvifolia in Lincolnshire, and of Pota- 
mogeton zizii in Lancashire and Westmoreland, and mentioned the 
localities where he had met with them respectively,—Mr. R. D. 
Darbishire, F.G.S., gave an account of dredgings made by him 
in company with Dr. A. M. Marshall and Mr. Archer at Oban 
in September last, and exhibited specimens of a considerable 
variety of animals taken.—Prof, A, M. Marshall, M.A., gave a 
detailed description of three forms of Pennatulida met with 
during the dredging, and suggested the desirability of the sec- 
tion undertaking or taking part in similar excursions in future 
years. 
DUBLIN 
Royal Society, November 20, 1882.—Sections I. and III, 
Physical and Experimental Science, and Applied Science.—Rev. 
Gerald Molloy, D.D., in the chair.—The following communica- 
tions were received :—Rev. H. M. Close, M.A., on the definition 
of force as the cause of motion, with some of the inconveniences 
connected therewith.—G. Johnston Stoney, D.Sc., F.R.S., and 
G. Gerald Stoney, on the energy expended in propelling a 
bycicle, parts 2 and 3.—Prof. W. F. Barrett, F.R.S.E., physical 
apparatus for class-teaching.—A. H. Curtis, LL.D., improved 
apparatus for exhibiting double reflection in the interior of a 
crystal. —Prof, G. F. Fitzgerald, F.T.C.D., recent advances in 
physical science, an account of Prof. Rowland’s curved gratings 
for spectrum analysis.—Prof. Fitzgerald exhibited photographs 
of the solar spectrum taken by Prof. Rowland. 
Section II. Natural Science.—Rev. A. H. Close, M.A., in 
the chair.—The following communications were received :— 
Prof. V. Ball, M.A., F.R.S., on some effects produced by 
landslips and movements of the soil cap, and their resemblance 
to phenomena which are generally attributed to other agencies. 
—Prof, A. C. Haddon, M.A., exhibition of marine inverte- 
brates, belonging to the Natural History Museum, prepared at 
the Zoological Station, Naples, with remarks upon the various 
methods for the preparation of zoological specimens,—G, A. 
Kinahan, on the geolo.y of Bray Head. 
December 18, 1882.—Sections I. and III. Physical and 
Experimental Science, and Applied Science.—A. H. Curtis, 
LL.D.; in the chair.—The following communications were 
received :—G. F, Fitzgerald, F.T.C.D., on Dr. Eddy’s hypo- 
thesis that radiant heat is an exception to the sccond law of 
thermodynamics. Communicated by Howard Grubb, M.E., 
F.R.A.S.: (a) Notes on the transit of Venus, as observed at 
Armagh Observatory by Dr. Dreyer; (4) Notes on the transit 
of Venus, as observed at Cork Observatory by Prof. England ; 
(c) Notes of the transit of Venus, as observed at Rathowea, Co. 
Westmeath, by Mr. W. E. Wilson.—G. Johnstone Stoney, 
D.Sc., F.R.S., on means of neutralising echves in rooms.—G, 
Johnstone Stoney and G. Gerald Stoney, on geared bicycles and 
tricycles.—Dr, Otto Boeddicker, on the influence of magnetism 
on the rate of a chronometer (communicated by the Right Hon. 
the Earl of Rosse, F.R.S.)—Mr. Grubb informed the Society 
that Dr. Huggins had authorised him to announce that he had 
succeeded in photographing the corona of the uneclipsed sun by 
employing absorbing media. 
PARIS 
Academy of Sciences, December 18.—M. Jamin in the 
chair.—The' following papers were read :—On‘a recent memoir, 
by M. Wolf, of Zurich, on the periodicity of sun-spots, by M. 
Faye. From further careful study (by amethod described) of 
data for the last 120 years, M. Wolf concludes (1) that there is 
a period of Io years ; also (2) a period of 11 years, 4 months; 
and (3) that there is not a period of 12 years, imputable to the 
action of Jupiter. Spite of the great difference of the two 
periods, the interval between a minimum and the next maximum 
is the same in both, viz. 44 years. After 170 years the pheno- 
mena recur in the same order, and with the same numerical 
values. M. Faye added some remarks by way of theory.— 
Statistics of preventive vaccination against chardon relating to 
85,000 animals, by M. Pasteur. The figures (for Eure-et-Loire, 
where the ravages have been worst) show a marked reduction of 
the mortality from chardon ; thus, of the 80,000 sheep vacci- 
nated, only 0°65 per cent. died, whereas the average mortality 
of the past 10 years is g’oI per cent.—Contribution to the study 
of rabies, by M. Bert. He gives results published a few years 
ago, but little known. Jer alza, inoculation with mucus from 
the respiratory passages of a mad dog caused rabies, but that 
with the salivary liquids did not. Reciprocal transfusion of 
blood between a healthy and a mad dog did not cause rabies in 
the former. The slaver of a mad dog, after filtering through 
plaster, was harmless, but the portion caught on the plaster 
caused rabies (which is thus probably due to a microbe).—On the 
functions of seven letters, by M. Brioschi.—Experiments with a 
new arrangement of the automotor elevating apparatus with 
oscillating tube, by M. de Caligny.—M. Faye presented the 
second and last volume of his ‘‘ Cours d’Astronomie.”—M., de 
Quatrefages announced the formation of a committee, headed by 
M. Milne-Edwards (who is now convalescent) for a monument 
to Darwin, as proposed in England.—On maize at different 
periods of its vegetation (continued), by M. Leplay.—M. 
Ladureau (in a memoir) stated that he has found, on an average, 
1°8oce. of sulphurous acid (free and combined) per cubic metre 
of air in the atmosphere of Lille.-—The Secretary called atten- 
tion toa new work on Galileo, by Sigaor Favaro, asked to be 
informed of any documents relative to Fermat (whose works 
are to be published by the Minister of Public Instruction), and 
read some telegrams on the transit of Venus.—Observations of 
the transit of Venus at Algiers Observatory, by M. Trépied. 
Bad weather marred the work. The spectrum, and photographs 
taken in the green, blue, and violet, showed no absorption by 
an atmosphere round Venus.—On the transit as observed at 
Rome, by M. Millosevich. He thinks the spectroscopic method 
the only one capable of giving good results, which admit of 
being tested, for the first contaci.—On the great southern comet, 
as observed at the Imperial Observatory of Rio de Janeiro, by 
M. Cruls. On October 15 there were two nuclei, and he thinks 
the appearance of the tail due to two tails (corresponding to the 
nuclei).—On solar photometry, by M. Crova. By a method 
described, and by Bougner’s method, he arrives at about 60,000 
carcels for the intensity of the solar light on a clear day (at Mont 
pellier), an estimate ten times those of Bougner and Wollaston. 
—Reply to M. Ledieu, &c., by M. Decharme.—On the sensation 
of white and complementary colours, by M. Rosenstiehl. The 
introduction of a coloured object in an illumination apparently 
homogeneous and colourless, at once shows the real lack of 
homogeneity in the combination of lights. There is often con- 
fusion between mixture of lights and mixture of sensations.— 
Researches on the duration of solidification of surfused substances, 
by M. Gernez. He worked with U tubes holdimg phosphorus. 
The course of the phenomenon is uniform. Przvious heating of 
the phosphorus to different temperatures did not sensibly affect 
the velocity of solidification. M. Gernez studies the curve for 
velocity of solidification at different temperatures (43°'S to 24°"9). 
—On the measurement of pressures developed in a closed vessel 
by explosive gaseous mixtures, by M. Vieille. The method 
(described) was to register the law of displacement of a piston of 
known section and mass ; (results shortly). —On the crystallisation 
of hydrate of chlorine, by M. Dittee—On chloride of pyrosul- 
phuryl, by M. Konovaloff.—On the products of distillation of 
colophanry, by M. Renard.—Production of surgical anzesthesia, 
by combined action of protoxide of nitrogen and chloroform, by 
M. de Saint Martin. With protoxide of nitrogen (85 vol.), and 
oxygen (15 vol.) M. Bert got anzesthesia by operating under 
pressure. If 6 or 7 gr. chloroform be added per hectolitre, the 
effect is had quickly at ordinary pressure.—Passage of the 
bacterium of charéon from mother to fcetns, by MM. Strauss 
and Chamberland.—Physiological properties of oxethylquino- 
leine-ammonia, by M. Bochefontaine. Like curare, it prevents 
passage of excitation from nerve to muscle, but, unlike curare, it 
makes the heart beat more slowly.—Experimental researches on 
spontaneous contractions of the uterus in certain mammalia, by 
M. Dembo.—On the formation of embryonal layers in the 
trout, by M. Hennegny.—Remarks on M., Lichtenstein’s paper 
on pucerons, by M. Balbani.—Orographic note on the region 
of the Jura between Geneva and Poligny, by M. Bourgeat.—On 
a phenomenon of molecular mechanics, by M. Treve. He 
covers the tops of ivory balls, hung in a row, with metallic 
powder ; when one end ball (say the left) is drawn back and 
let fall on its neighbour, the powder on the right half of the balls 
is thrown in the direction of the shock ; but that on the last 
ball is thrown from the side opposite to the direction o the 
shock. 
