308 
NATURE 
[A4ug. 11, 1870 
41°'2 C, (= 106°°16 F.).—A note by M. V. Raulin on the 
rain-fall of the French Alps was communicated by M. Leverrier. 
It included tables of mean, annual, seasonal, and monthly rain- 
falls for sixteen stations.—M. C. Saint-Claire Deville communi- 
cated an extract from a letter of M. Chassin on a severe earth- 
quake felt in Mexico on the 11th May of the present year. This 
earthquake destroyed the town of Pochutta, in the State of 
Oaxaca, in twelve minutes ; it continued until the 19th.—A note 
was read by M. Mares on the corpuscular disease of the silkworm, 
and Marshal Vaillant contributed some extracts, showing the adyan- 
tages which have been obtained in various places by the adoption 
of the processes of selection of silkworm’s eggs recommended by 
M. Pasteur.—M. Decaisne presented a note by MM. Planchon and 
Lichtenstein on the specific identity of the Phylloscere of the 
leaves and roots of the vine.—A note by M. E. Roze on some 
mycological experiments, was communicated by M. Brongniart. 
The author confirmed the results obtained by M. Oersted as to 
the production of Rastelia penicillata on the hawthorn by means 
of Podisoma clavarieforme from the juniper, and described some 
important experiments on the relation of Claviceps purpurea (Tul.) 
to the exgot of rye and other grasses.—A note by Mr. F. C. 
Calvert on the employment of phenic acid as a disinfectant, was 
presented by M. Chevreul. The author claimed the first appli- 
cation of phenic acid in this way for Dr. D. Davis, of Bristol, in 
1867. The perpetual secretary states in a note that it was used 
on a large scale in Paris in 1865. 
BERLIN 
German Chemical Society, July 11.—Alexander Miiller, 
having been engaged in analysing the waters of Berlin, 
stated, the principles which he thinks necessary for procuring 
good analyses, as follows :—The bad property of water 
depends upon the organic matter contained in it. | Water 
should therefore be evaporated i vacuo and submitted to di- 
alysis, the colloid portion to be examined with the microscope. 
The organic matter should be determined by elementary analy- 
sis. Another portion should be evaporated with a weighed 
quantity of carbonate of soda, to separate silicic and phos- 
phoric acids. The residue should be heated to redness ; the loss 
corresponds to the nitric and nitrous acids and organic matter. 
The remaining weights, minus the carbonate of soda added, is 
that of the salts contained in the water, with the exception of 
phosphates and silicates: —Dr. Schwarz related his experiments 
instituted to obtain the homologues of isothionic acid with methy- 
lic, amylic, and butylic alcohols. Working with large quantities 
of sulphuric anhydride, he was unable to remark the two modifi- 
cations which have been lately observed by Schultz Sellac. The 
boiling point of his anhydride (prepared by distilling Nordhausen 
acid with phosphoric anhydride) was 26° C.—M. Jafféin describing 
an experiment concerning the constitution of rufigallic acid estab- 
lished the mode of the formation of colouring matters in plants. 
Gallic acid C, H, O;, a derivation of benzol, when heated with 
sulphuric acid, yields rufigallic acid, until now considered as 
C,H,O,. By treating this compound with zinc powder M. 
Jaffé has obtained anthracene C,,H,. He therefore doubles the 
formula of rufigallic acid, and thinks it probable that the compli- 
cated vegetable colouring matters are derived from the tannic acids 
which are a constituent ingredient of most plants.—A. Oppenheim 
described experiments on the action of sulphuricacidon oxygenated 
organic chlorides. This he found to be analagous to the action 
of sulphuric acid on the corresponding chlorinated hydrocarbons. 
The chlorhydrine of glycol yieldsglycolsulphuric acid, just as chlo- 
ride of ethyl yieldsethylsulphuricacid. Epichlorhydrine,C,;H,C10, 
yields the mixed ether of glycerine, C; H; Cl OHSO, H, 
just as chloride of allyl yields a mixed ether of propylic glycol. 
Acid chlorides yield sulphuric acids in which the organic acid 
radical replaces one atom of hydrogen. These compounds are 
decomposed by water into the acids entering into their com- 
position. Thus we have acetyl-sulphuric acid, phthalyl-sul- 
phuric and benzoyl-sulphuric acid. The latter, however, is 
gradually transformed into sulphobenzoic acid. By heating, this 
molecular transposition takes place at once, and thus a good 
method exists for preparing this acid free from any secon- 
dary product. The same chemist, conjointly with M. Ador, 
established theidentity of this acid with that discovered by 
Mitscherlich. It yields the same salts and is transformed into 
isophthalic and oxybenzoic acids by fusion with formiate and 
hydrate of potassium.—L. Carus communicated observations 
on the temperature necessary for his method of organic analysis 
in sealed tubes. P, Griess established the formula of benzo- 
creatine, Cz Hy N3 O,. obtained by the action of potash on the 
cyanide of amidobenzoic acid.—L. Henry reported on the action 
of PCl; on the ethers of diatomic monobasic acids.—MM. 
Merz and Miilhauser described the properties of naphthoilic or 
naphthylearbonic acid—T. Thomsen described experiments on 
specific heat. In order to arrive at a standard quantity of 
heat he heated liquids by burning a certain volume of hydrogen. 
He arrived at the conclusion that mixtures of sulphuric acid and 
water have the specific heat of the water entering into the mix- 
ture. C. Rammelsberg communicated experiments on the specific 
weights of the different modifications of tin. 
BOOKS RECEIVED 
Encttsu.—A Manual of Zoology, Vol. I.: H. A. Nicholson (Blackwood 
and Sons).—Heat a Mode of Motion; new edition: Prof. Tyndall (Long- 
mans).—Irregularities and Diseases of the Teeth: H. Sewell (Churchill).— 
Notes on Electricity: Prof. Tyndall (Longmans).—The Laboratory Guide : 
A. H. Church (Van Voorst).—Murby’s Scripture Manuals, Genesis: Murby. 
An Elementary Course of Plane Geometry : R. Wormell (Murby).—Cassell’s. 
Book of Birds, Part ix.—Co-operative Agriculture : W. Pare (Longmans).— 
Henfrey’s Elementary Course of Botany, edited by Dr. Masters (Van Voorst) 
— Mushroom Culture: its Extension and Improvement: W. Robinson 
(Wames).—Notes about Aldeburgh: N. F. Hele (J. R. Smith). 
Forzien.—Archiv fiir Anthropologie, Vol. IV. (Triibner). — (Through 
Williams and Norgate) Berichte iiber die biologisch-geographischen Unter- 
suchungen in den Kaukasus-landern ; with Atlas. 
CONTENTS PacE 
Scignck SCHOOLS AND MuSEUMSIN AMERICA. . . - «© + + « 289 
THE VERTEBRATE SKELETON. By St. Grorce Mivart, F.R.S.. . 291 
Hooxer’s BritisH FLrora. By ALFRED W. Bennett, F.L.S.. . . 292 
WATER ANALYSIS «acc ce Ge ee tse) Petites je tie mm 293 
Our Book SHELF :— 
“A Sketch of a Philosophy. PartIII. The Chemistry of Natural 
Substances” 0 're je Je Fe Ses, “oN ce) vw Let janie ho inin tEAM 
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR :— 
The Source of Solar Energy.—R. P. GREG. . «. « « 2 + + «+ 295 
Kant's Transcendental Distinction between Affection and Function. 
—DriiGiM, INGERBY 4... < “fe< ge. Te. Yo. iv Ele iia ho iano 
Spontanecus Generation.—C. EKIN . . . . +. + « « « « « 2096 
Mirage.—W. L. CARPENTER. «9: 6 6 s = s 7s @ » © = 200 
The Sun’s Corona:—R. APROCTOR). © 5 « = =v) > "si se 200 
The Horse-Chestnut.—C. EkIN . . .. . 2 207 
The “English Cyclopedia..—Nemo. .... .» 297 
Entomological Inquiries.—Rev. T. W. Weep. . . . . « « - 207 
The Solar Spots.—W. DAWSON. . «© 5 2 6 = © = = oiyenege 
DARWIN BEFORE THE FRENCH ACADEMY. . . » « «© « «© « « » 208 
TRANSMISSION OF POLARISED LIGHT THROUGH UNIAXAL CRYSTALS. 
(With Illustrations.) By W. H.L. Russerr, F.R.S. . . . 299 
INOTES sap ce) co fe je ye cee fey ie) fa) ae fe) ge are ce Ne eee OCD 
Tue FLAGSTAFF OBSERVATORY AT MELBOURNE. By Prof. BALFouR 
STEWART; (PAROS. 9 Sip he ale gie, eaieiy Wks treat hte ny aan a 303 
Tue MANUFACTURE OF TAR PAVEMENT. + . + + « - © « + + 303 
INDIAN*BARRACKS}.0 5 fe) (e Gem tee fem) Me) tat Miviiite twit teslsies tals ite OR 
Tue Province OF MingrAt Cuemistry. By T. E. ToorreE . . . 304 
New OssERVATORY IN THE SOUTHERN HemispHerr, By Dr, B. A, 
GourD ee tet eet bese Une cd Tena tess 305 
SCIENTIFICISERIALS ): 9s <j0) pes) @) [0 = 6 @ © js\ © mene EEG 
SociETIES AND ACADEMIES :— 
Lonpon—Entomological Society . . 2. + » . + 1 « « «© + 306 
EpInpurGH—Scottish Meteorological Society . . . . . « « 306 
Dusiin—Royal Irish Academy . . + » - s + «© © «© + » 307 
Parrs—Academy of Sciences . . .,s 2 » © + + = «©, 51 SgOy 
Beriin—German Chemical Society . . . . - 308 
BoOKS#RECEIVED (seat) 6S 6) se aah (egees volt (el Sn Eaten e ane rs re 
ErRATUM.—Page 269, second column, last line of table, for 89,395, read 
34,413. 
