288 
NATURE 
- 
[Aug. 4, 1870 
municated a report on a memoir by M. Massieu on the charac- 
teristic functions of various liquids and on the theory of vapours. 
-—A note was read on the mechanical equivalent of heat and on 
the electro-chemical properties of aluminium, by M. J. Violle.— 
Father Secchi communicated some further remarks on the spectra 
furnished by various types of stars.—M. Bertrand presented a 
note by M. Laussedat on the restoration of a conical sun-dial, 
from a fragment brought from Phoenicia by M. Renan.—Remarks 
on the variations of the magnetic needle, by M. Broun, were 
yead; the author cited the decennial differences observed at 
Munich from 1841 to 1861, and drew from them the conclusion 
that the western declination increased up to 1855, remained 
variable in 1856, and then diminished to about 1860, since when 
there appears to have been a slight increase. —A note by M. H. 
Gal on the brominated derivatives of anhydrous acetic acid was 
communicated by M. Cahours. The compound described by 
the author was bibrominated anhydrous acetic acid, which was 
obtained by pouring bromide of monobrominated acetyle upon 
pulverised fused acetate of soda, and distilling the mixture. Its 
formula is C8H4*Br?O*.—A note was read by M. Guyot on the 
volumetric determination of the soluble fluorides. ‘The author 
employs a solution of perchloride of iron.—A note by M. 
Dobroslavine on the fatty matters of the chyle was presented by 
M. Wurtz; and M. H, Sainte-Claire Deville communicated a 
note from Professor Cossa, of Udine, giving an account of some ex- 
periments made with an amalgam of aluminium, and stating that 
aluminium acts upon iodide of zthyle in sealed tubes at ordinary 
temperatures, and that he has prepared aluminium-ethyle by the 
action of aluminium upon stannzthyle.—M. Faye presented 
remarks upon some peculiarities of the soil of the Landes of 
Gascony, in which he noticed especially the characters of the 
‘“alios”’ or impermeable stratum which exists at a depth of one 
metre from the surface ofthe soil, and which, in his opinion, was 
the main cause of the former insalubrity of the Landes, He 
considered that it was formed by the infiltration of water holding 
decomposing organic matter in solution during the winter season, 
and the evaporation of the water in the summer.—M. H. 
Sainte-Claire Deville presented a noteonaschistose rock impreg- 
nated with carbonaceous matter, sent by MM. Ravizza and 
Colomba.—A note was read by M, Dieulafait on the Zerebratula- 
diphya limestones of the French Alps, from Grenoble to the 
Mediterranean. From stratigraphical considerations, the author 
confirms the results arrived at by M. Hébert upon palzonto- 
logical evidence.—An extract from a letter by M. Pissis to M. 
Elie de Beaumont on mountain-systems and on the formation of 
the desert of Atacama was read.—M. Daubrée presented a note 
by M. F. Garrigou on the chemical examination of a metamor- 
phosed cement from the Bayen spring at Luchon. A ball of 
cement which had remained for eighteen years in the hot water 
(147° F.) of the spring was found to have gained a considerable 
quantity of silica, some organic matter, and a little fluorine. It 
contained some ‘‘ microzymas.’—-M. de Quatrefages presented a 
note by MM. F. Garrigou and de Chasteigner on the contempo- 
raneity of man with the cave-bear and the reindeer in the cave of 
Gargas (Hautes Pyrénées). The remains discovered consisted 
of a hearth, with flint implements, split bones, &c.—A note by 
M. Perez on the generation of the Gasteropoda was communi- 
cated by M. Milne-Edwards, consisting chiefly of remarks upon 
the phenomena of copulation in snails.—An extract from a 
letter of M. de Vallier stated that whilst the general results of 
the silkworm cultivation in the department of the Basses-Alpes 
have been deplorably bad, M. Rayband-Lange, following M. 
Pasteur’s rules, has sold cocoons to the value of 64,000 francs, 
BERLIN 
German Chemical Society, June 27.—F. Sonnenschein has 
found the oxide of cerium Ce, O, to give characteristic colours 
with alkaloids. The oxide, when added to strychnine and sul- 
phuric acid, produces a violet colour more stable than that obtained 
with bichromate of potassium. The oxygen thus developed 
is in the form of ozone.—C. Graebe and C. Liebermann have 
diseoyered that anthrahydrochinone (C,, Hg O. OH,) is formed 
when the chinone of anthracene is fused with potash. By 
treating bromide of anthracene, C,, Hg Bry, with sulphuric acid, 
bisulpho-anthrachinonic acid is formed, which yields alizarin 
when fused with potash. They have also prepared alizarin- 
sulphuric acid and tried in vain to transform it by fusing potash 
into purpurine.—O. Hesse has investigated opium-wax, con- 
sisting chiefly of cerotate of ceryl, and of palmitate of ceryl. 
—W. v. Schneider, by oxidising diamylene, has obtained an 
acid, C; Hy, Og, and an indifferent oil, Cjy Hy) O.—E, v. 
Priwoznik describes tetracetyl bromo-gallic acid and bromacetyl- 
gallic acid.—P. Wexlsky communicates an easy way of obtain- 
ing bichlorinated chinone by treating trichlorinated phenole with 
nitrous acid: C, Cl, H, O + O=C, Cl, Hy (O,)” + HCL— 
A. Ladenburg describes some chlorinated derivatives of stanno- 
triethyl.—R. Radziscewsky has obtained nitro- and dinitro- 
derivatives of phenylacetic acid,—Hugo Schiff has observed 
that phenylcarbamic ether— 
OC, H; 
COnWc,’H, 
yields, by heating, cyanurate of phenyl, diphenylated urea 
and triphenylated biuret. — A. W. Hofmann has obtained, 
in an easy way, cyanate of phenyl by treating phenyl- 
carbamic ether with phosphoric anhydride. The cyanate is 
slowly transformed into cyanurate. ‘The transformation takes 
place suddenly when triethylphosphine is brought into contact 
with the cyanate. As phenyl-carbamic ether when distilled by 
itself also yields a certain proportion of cyanate of phenyl, the 
reaction just now mentioned by Schiff obtains a simple explana- 
tion. The cyanates of tolyl, of xylyl, and of naphthyl have 
been prepared in an analogous manner.—Prof. Hofmann then 
drew the attention of the society to some new lecture experi- 
ments, apologising that an experiment formerly described by 
him as new was not so. ‘The demonstration of the development 
of heat through crystallisation, by pouring ether upon a super- 
saturated solution of acetate of sodium, belongs to Faraday. 
He then poured fuming nitric acid into hydriodic acid gas 
in a test-tube, which inflamed the hydrogen. H, 5 and 
H,Se show a similar combustion. A second experiment con- 
sisted in heating a watch-glass containing a minute quantity of 
aniline green. According to experiments instituted by Dove the red 
copper lustre shown by this substance in reflected light is exactly 
complementary to the green colour shown in transmitted light. 
When heated a violet is obtained exactly complementary to the 
yellow metallic lustre which it shows in reflected light. A third 
experiment showed the colouring power of aniline red. In one 
hundred million parts of water added to one part of the colour- 
ing matter, the colour may be distinguished, supposing the 
layer of the liquid to have half a metre’s thickness. A white 
silk thread le(t in this bath for twenty-four hours exhibits a very 
decided colour. A fourth experiment was arranged to show the 
formation of nitrous vapour and nitric acid, by burning hydrogen 
in air, A balloon of Io litres capacity was provided with three 
openings, two of which, opposite each other, were provided with 
platinum tubes soldered to glass-tubes, and serving to introduce 
the two gases. The red vapours and the acid property of the water 
can easily be observed. ‘The fifth experiment, an easy way ot 
condensing cyanogen gas, depends upon a simple apparatus, 
for the description of which we must refer to the society's reports. 
Lastly, a pretty experiment to show alternate reduction and 
oxidation was exhibited. A copper crucible was placed on a 
triangle, so that it could be heated inside with a strong gas 
bummer. A funnel was placed over it, the tube of which was 
connected with a hydrogen apparatus. By alternately remoying 
and again approaching the tunnel the copper became oxidised 
and reduced.—N. Limpricht described derivations of meconic 
acid.—R. Rieth has taken the vapour density of metallic 
chlorides, arriving at the formule of Hg Cl and Hg Clg 
Sn Cl,, and Sn Cly, dissociation being out of the question, be- 
cause tin is scarcely volatile, 
CONTENTS PAGE 
Tue Science AND AkT DEPARTMENT . «s+ 4 «4 + + sw 6 « 268 
Wuart is Enercy? IV. THe Dissipation oF Enercy, By Dr. 
BALFOUR STEWART, FyR-Se so a)ee) = 2)» 8, se 3) mene! 
PoPuLAR PHYSIOLOGY "3" Sf 6 eh es ho yb 5 en 
Mo ter’s Puysics AND MeTEoROLOGY. By Prof. W. JAcK. . . « 272 
Our ‘Book, SHELF: 60.4 jt 1 8 . to 6. i Ea es 
LETTERS TO THE EpiTor :— 
Fertilisation of Polygala (¢dlustrated).—W. E. Hart . . . « « 274 
Our Middle-Class Schools . 1. . . . 4 és wa? ies 
The Source of Solar Energy.—R. A Procror. . . « « «. « . 275 
Spontaneous Generation.—W. G. SMITH. . . 2. . 1 + + + « 276 
Super-Saturation.—J.G, GRENFELL . 5 1: fs « se @ ego 
Derivation of the term ‘‘ Horse-Chestnut."—J. JEREMIAH . . . . 297 
Ozone and Thunderstorinn—S. BARBER. « « 7 \Se) +. Ome 
The Sun’s Corona.—R. A. PROCTOR. «4 « + ¢ ts ¢ «© 6 &@ 877 
VON GRAERE | jes os, 8) ged be os) Oe Kode a oa) re 
Tue ConTINUITY OF THE GASEOUS AND Liguip STATE: OF MATTER 
(With Illustrations). By Pror. James THOMSON. . «© « « « 278 
NOTES! fb 6. sla ge, a! eS el ae UE es G5 0 
On Votcanoss. By D, Fornes, F.R.S. ‘ ec es + 283 
SCIENMIEIC SRRLALS <a. nice uate vayereuiie uel (eye ota es ie tieiae « 286 
Socierigs AND ACADEMIES . 66 i td 6b 0b 6 HCE GY BF 
