344 
cases the time taken to attain the maximum value of 
fatigue with the transverse field was about double that 
with the longitudinal field.—Prof. E. A. Letts: The 
chemistry of foul mud deposits. The sulphides and 
carbonates usually present in foul mud deposits are 
those of iron, calcium, and, more rarely, magnesium 
and sodium. It has been stated, but also denied, that 
the action of hydrogen sulphide on carbonates, and the 
opposite, namely, that of carbon dioxide on sulphides, 
is a reversible reaction, e.g. : 
Excess 
7 a 
FeS +2CO,+2H,O—Fe(HCO,).+H,S. 
Excess 
In the first part of their paper the authors prove thi at 
the actions are reversible. The second part of the 
paper deals with actual analyses of foul mud deposits 
before and after keeping.—E, J. Sheehy: Abnormality 
in arterial arches in a rabbit. The right subclavian 
artery is absent. A blood-vessel which originates from 
the aorta behind the left subclavian runs dorsal to the 
cesophagus and trachea, and appears on the right 
side, where it serves as a subclavian, i.e. it branches 
into the right vertebral artery and _ blood-vessels 
to the arm. The _ recurrent laryngeal nerve 
associated with the abnormal blood-vessel is quite 
normal, even though the vessel which it usually 
embraces is absent. Persistence of an unusual 
portion of the embryological blood system, namely, 
the right descending aorta, explains this ex- 
ceptional condition, and the normal position of the 
recurrent nerve suggests that the nervous system was 
well developed previous to the obliteration of the 
embryonic arches. 
Paris. 
Academy of Sciences, December 4.—M. Camille Jordan 
in the chair.—W. Kilian and J. Révil: Discontinuities 
of sedimentation and the levels of the breccias in the 
French Alps.—W. Sierpinski; The réle of Zermelo’s 
axiom in modern analysis.—G. Julia: The forms of 
Dirichlet and the loxodromic substitutions of the 
Picard group.—M. Brillouin: Fundamental solution in 
a heavy liquid with free surface.—M. Baticle ; The cal- 
culation of thick arches submitted to uniform pressure. 
-—B. Globa-Mikhailenko ; A new figure of equilibrium of 
a fluid mass in rotation.—L. Roy : The problem of the 
wall and its application to the discharge of a condenser 
on its ‘own dielectric.—L. Gentil: The ‘‘Trouée de 
Taza,” northern Morocco. The Miocene deposits 
found at Taza confirm the view put forward in earlier 
papers, that there was communication between the 
Mediterranean and the Atlantic during the Neogene 
epoch, the narrowest point being at the gap of Taza.— 
J. Boussac: The existence, between Modane and the 
Col de Chaviére, of a fenétre showing the Trias under 
the Permian.—-P. de Sousa: The earthquakes of the 
eighteenth century in the neighbourhood of the oval 
Lusitania-Spain-Morocco depression.—F, Baco: Varia- 
tions of a sexual hybrid of the vine by grafting on one 
of its parents.—C. Sauvageau: A Laminaria new for 
the French coast, Laminaria Lejolisti—]. Georgévitch : 
The various forms of Ceratomyxa Her 
Lumiére and E. Astier; Tetanus and frost-bite. Evi- 
dence that precautions against tetanus should be taken 
in cases of lesions caused by frost. bite.—A. Arnoux : 
The mechanical protection and preservation of eggs. The 
newly laid egg is wrapped up in layers of a “material 
impregnated with a solution of sodium silicate, and air- 
dried for twelve hours. The preservative properties of 
the alkaline silicate are well known. The above 
method of applying it gives mechanical strength; the 
treated eggs can. be allowed to roll down a flight of 
stairs fees breaking. 
98] 
2461, VOL. 
NATURE 
[DECEMBER 28, 1916 
BOOKS RECEIVED. 
Fertilizers. By the late Dr. E®B. Voorhees. Revised 
edition by J. H. Voorhees. Pp. xv+365.. (New 
York: The Macmillan Co.; London : Macmillan and 
Co., Ltd.) “6s. 6d. net. 
The Fauna of British India, including Ceylon and 
aa Coleoptera, Rhynchophora, Curculionidae. 
By Drada. wR. Is. Marshall. Pp. xv+ 367. 
Tay ie and Francis.) 15s. 
A Memoir on British Resources of Sands suitable for 
Glass-making. By Dr. P. G. H. Boswell, with 
Chemical Analyses by Dr. H. T. Harwood. (London : 
Longmans and Co.) 1s. 6d. 
The eescrles of Electric Wave Telegraphy and 
Telephony. By Prof. J. A. Fleming. Third edition. 
Pp. oe (London : Longmans and Co.) 30s. 
net. 
The ‘Wellcome’? Photographic Exposure Record 
and Diary, 1917. 
Edition. Pp. 256. 
and Co.) Is. 
Northern Hemisphere and Tropical 
(London: Burroughs, Wellcome 
DIARY OF SOCIETIES. 
* TUESDAY, Jaxnvary 2 
RONTGEN Society, at 8.15.—A Spectroscopic Investigation of Some Sources 
of Ultra-violet Ravistons in Relation to Treatment by Ultra-vio'et Rays: 
C. A. Schunk. 
SATURDAY, Janvary 6. 
Grotoaists’ AssociaATION, at 3.—T he Age of the Chief Intrusions of the | 
Lake District: J. F. N. Green.—The Ibex-zone at Charmouth: W. D, 
Lang. 
CONTENTS. PAGE. 
The Life-work of Dr. E. K. Muspratt. nati Sir T. E. 
Thorpe, C.B., F.R.S. 2. 4 2, 
Studies of the Respiratory Exchange . + 0 a 
Gnomonics and Celestial Movements . ose 
Our Bookshelf 327 
Letters to the Editor:— 
University Doctorates.—Prof. J. B. Cohen, F.R.S. 327 
The Deterioriation of the Atmosphere in the Swiss i 
Alps.—Sir Napier Shaw, F.K.S.. 328 
Winter Thunderstorms.—Capt, C, J. P. Cave. 328 
Gravitation and the Principle of Relativity. By 
Prof, A. S. Eddington, F.R.S. spp ats. «i ae 
Plants in Health and Disease, By F. K.. ... . 330 
Prof. Daniel Oliver, F.R.S. : 331 
Prof, Cleveland Abbe. By Sir Napier Shaw | F.R.S. 332 
Notes as 332 
Our Astronomical ‘Column :— 
Mercury an Evening Star’ “2 4 2%). 9. . se 
‘Total Eclipse'of:the:Moon © <7.) .csusm)) = saan 
Long-period Variable Stars. . . ee 
International Electric and Magnetic Units... 337 
Argentine Meteorology. By R. C. M. eee 
A Plague of Voles in Italy, and its Control... 338 
Science and Industry, with Special Reference to © 
the Work of the National Physical jab ¢ 
By Dr. R. T. Glazebrook, C.B., F.R.S. . ... + 339 
Coal and Fuel Economy . 1. oar 341 
University and Educational Intelligence o « §342 
Societies and Academies. ..... 5 a \e! 
Books Received UR ef ra, oe 344 
Diary of Societies. > =.) eee. 344 
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