242 
that of simple saline solutions. The difference in this 
respect is due to the osmotic pressure of the colloids 
added, by which loss of water by the kidneys or to the 
tissues is prevented. Solutions containing gum do not 
produce oedema in artificial perfusion of organs. When 
the fall of blood pressure is due to peripheral vaso- 
dilatation, then gum or gelatine solutions, although 
more effective than pure saline, produce a much less 
permanent rise thap in cases of loss of blood.—A, J. 
Brown and F. Tinker: Selective permeability: the 
absorption of phenol and other solutions by the seeds 
of Hordeum vulgare. The paper deals with the con- 
centrations in which solutions of various organic 
solutes diffuse into barley seeds across the semi-per- 
meable membrane of the latter. It is found that the 
membrane and the starchy contents of the seeds act 
selectively towards the solutions in such a way that 
the concentration of an aniline or a phenol solution 
which enters the seeds is about three times as strong 
as the: outside solution from which it has diffused. 
Somewhat similar results are obtained for the diffu- 
sion of acetic acid solutions into the seeds; but in this 
case it is found also that the ‘“‘adsorbed”’ solution 
which enters the seeds becomes saturated at a con- 
centration of 80 per cent. acid. The amount of solu- 
tion which enters the seeds is determined by the rela- 
tive concentrations of the solutions inside and outside. 
The research also brings out the fact that the perme- 
ability of the barley membrane is due to selective 
adsorption.—C,. Shearer: The toxic action of dilute 
pure sodium chloride solutions on the meningococcus. 
—C, Shearer and H. W. Crowe: The réle of the phago- 
cyte in cerebro-spinal meningitis. Good evidence has 
been obtained for thinking that under certain condi- 
tions the meningococcus can be taken up. by the leuco- 
cytes, but not killed by them. In the case of freshly 
isolated strains the leucocytes will not take them up 
at first. With old cultures, on the other hand, inges- 
tion on the part of the phagocytes takes place with 
great rapidity. In a short time the germs are killed 
and completely digested by the leucocytes. This hap- 
pens also with the majority of the nasal strains 
examined from chronic carriers, although they show 
great individual differences.—S. B. Schryver and Mary 
Hewlett : Investigation dealing with the phenomena of 
“clot”? formations. | Part 1V.—The diphasic erosive 
action of salts on the cholate gel.—I. Jérgensen and F. 
Kidd; Some photochemical experiments with pure 
chlorophyll and their bearing on theories of carbon 
assimilation. 
Zoological Society, November 7.—Dr. S. F. Harmer, 
vice-president, in the chair.—Dr. F. E, Beddard ; Two 
new species of Cestodes. The first species was ob- 
tained from a slow lemur and was referred to the genus 
Linstowia; the second occurred in a_ black-headed 
partridge, and was placed in the genus Cotugnia.— 
Dr. J. F. Gemmill: The development of some star- 
fishes. The species of which the development was 
traced are:—Asterias glacialis, Cribrella oculata, 
Solaster endeca, and Stichaster roseus, 
Geological Society, November 8.—Dr. Alfred Harker, 
president, in the chair.—Dr. °S. Smith: Aulina roti- 
formis, gen. et sp. nov., Phillipsastraea hennahi (Lons- 
dale), and the genus Orionastrwa. <A description of 
a new coral genus of colonial habit, Aulina, obtained 
from the highest limestone associated with the Lower 
Carboniferous—the Fell Top Limestone of North- 
umberland and its equivalent horizon in Teesdale, the 
Botany Beds. 
Royal Meteorological Society, November 15.—Major 
H. G. Lyons, president, in the chair.—C, E.. P. 
Brooks: A meteorologist in China. The work was 
described of the late Capt. L. H. Tamplin, who resided 
NO. 2456, VoL. 98] 
NATURE 
/ 
[NOVEMBER 23, 1916 
in eastern China from 1g02 to 1915, and took very full 
and accurate meteorological observations, chiefly at 
Chinkiang, but for a time at Wuhu, and finally at 
Amoy. These observations are made the basis of 
a discussion of the climate of the coastal region of 
China and its controlling factors. In addition to his 
actual observations, Capt. Tamplin’s close acquaint- 
ance with the Chinese enabled him to note some quaint 
weather superstitions, and he also made some impor- 
tant observations on the causes of flood and famine 
in China.—Lieut. A. E. M, Geddes: The storm of 
November 11-13, 1915, in its passage over the British 
Isles. This storm was remarkable for its close re- 
semblance to a very severe storm which crossed the 
British Isles on November 11-13 in 1901. Both dis- 
turbances gave unusually heavy rainfall over Ireland 
and England, but in both cases there was very little 
precipitation over Scotland. All records available at 
the Meteorological Office have been examined, and 
from them weather maps have been constructed for 
intervals of two hours. From these maps the path of 
the centre of the storm has been traced with great 
detail. In this case the path skirted the southern 
coast of the British Isles, whereas in the case of 1901 
it was from Galway to the Wash. The two-hourly 
maps have been used for working out the air circula- 
tion in the storm. Two distinct air supplies can be 
identified : (1) a supply of warm air from the south, 
and (2) a supply of much colder air from the east. 
CAMBRIDGE. 
Philosophical Society, October 30.—Annual general 
meeting.—Prof. Newall, president, in the chair.— 
C. T. R. Wilson; Methods of ae in atmo- 
spheric electricity.—L. A, Borradaile ; The functions of 
the mouth-parts of the common prawn. The author 
stated that food is seized by either pair of chelipeds or 
by the third maxillipeds, and by them placed within 
the grasp of the second maxillipeds, which direct it, 
according as it is finely divided or coarse, to the 
maxillules or to the incisor processes of the mandibles, 
By these two pairs of limbs it is further divided and 
passed into the chamber guarded by the lips, where 
the molar processes grind it still further. The first 
maxillipeds and maxilla play subsidiary parts, if any, 
in the manipulation of the food.—J. T. Saunders ; The 
growth of Daphne pulex. The author showed that at 
least two adult forms of D. pulex existed, differing 
only in size and fecundity. Both forms had embryos 
in the brood pouch, but the larger forms had more 
than the smaller. More than one adult form probably 
occurs in other Entomostraca, and this would account 
for the great difficulty, which is experienced. in this 
group, of determining species.—W. A. D. Rudge: A 
self-recording electrometer for atmospheric electricity. 
—C. E. Van Hom: An axiom in symbolic logic.—S. 
Ramanujan: The expression of a number in the form 
ax*+by*+cs*+du?,—J. G. P. Nicod: A reduction in 
the number of primitive propositions of logic. 
Paris. 
Academy of Sciences, November 6.—M. . Camille 
Jordan in the chair.—The President announced the 
death of M. Léauté.—G. Bigourdan: The position and 
co-ordinates of the old observatory in the rue Vincenne. 
Important work was done at this observatory between 
1666 and 1669, some details being given. The exact 
position of the instruments has been lost, but is now 
reconstructed by the author from old maps and con- 
temporary documents.—M. Aries was elected a corre- 
spondant of the Academy in the section of mechanics 
in the place of the late M. Considére.—W. H. Young 
and Mme. Grace Chisholm Young: The normal 
frontier of a region or of an ensemble.—G, Koenigs : 
anaes 
