a 
May 13, 1886 | 
NATURE 
47 
mals of which he had lately obtained specimens.—Mr. W. 
F. Kirby read some remarks on four rare species of Sphing- 
idze, of which he had lately examined specimens.—Mr. F. E. 
Beddard read a paper containing observations on the ovarian 
ovum of Lepidosiren (Protopterus), and described the entrance 
of follicular cells into the interior of the ovum. It was believed 
that these cells played an important part in the formation of the 
yolk.—Mr. Beddard also communicated a paper by Mr. J. T. 
Cunningham, on the mode of attachment of the ovum of the 
smelt (Osmerus eperlanus). 
PARIS 
Academy of Sciences, May 3.—M. Jurien de la Graviere, 
President, in the chair.—On the magnetic principle, by M. 
Mascart. The author’s theoretical studies lead to the general 
inference that, in a magnetic and isotropic body of any form 
there are three rectangular directions for which the magnetic 
force is parallel to the outer field with different coefficients, 
fy fy» 2nd fo, These coefficients possess the same properties as 
those of a sphere of slightly magnetised anisotropic substance. 
For steel the mean coefficient of longitudinal magnetic force is 
much weaker than for soft iron ; hence the increased importance 
of transverse magnetisation.—On the formation of oxalic acid 
in plants: a study of Amex acetosa (sorrel), by MM. Berthelot 
and André. The analysis of the dried seeds of this plant yielded 
0'05 per cent. of oxalic acid, which is also largely present in the 
leaves and stalk, but to a less degree in the root.—Remarks on 
MM. Berthelot and Andrée’s communication on the proportion 
and quantitative analysis of the ammonia present in the ground, 
which appeared in the last number of the Comptes rendus, by M. 
Th. Schleesing. The author takes exception to MM. Berthelot 
and André’s account of his process for effecting the analysis, 
and also traverses the statement that arable land, when irrigated, 
tends constantly to liberate the ammonia of the ammoniacal 
salts contained in it.—On holmine, or M. Soret’s earth X, 
by M. Lecoq de Boisbaudran. This was a sealed paper 
recently deposited with the Academy, and now opened at 
the author's request. It shows that holmine contains at 
least two metallic radicals. —On dysprosium (symbol Dy), by 
_M. Lecoq de Boisbaudran.—Remarks on a work entitled 
— Science and Philosophy,” presented to the Academy by 
the author, M. Berthelot.—Observations on the new comet 
1886 a (Brooks I.), made at the Paris Observatory (equatorial 
- of the West Tower , by M. G. Bigourdan.—On the spectrum of 
' the Fabry Comet, by M. Ch. Trépied. In this comet, as in 
| that of Encke, there appears to be a predominance of the 
gaseous elements on the one hand, while on the other its spec- 
trum seems to show that the relative brightness of the nucleus 
bears no necessary relation to the degree of condensation of the 
cometary matter.—On the density of liquid atmospheric air and 
‘its constituent elements, and on the atomic volume of oxygen 
and nitrogen, by M. S. Wroblewski.—Practical method for the 
preparation of the Nicol and Foucault prisms (three illustrations), 
by M. L. Laurent.—On the penetration of light into deep sea- 
water, by MM. H. Fol and E. Sarasin. From the author’s 
experiments it appears that layers at a depth of 300 metres are 
illumined every day for the whole time that the sun remains 
above the horizon ; at 350 metres light penetrates for at least 
eight hours daily. Even after sunset the actinic rays seem to 
reach considerable depths. —On the combinations of phosphoric 
acid with titanic acid, zircon, and stannic acid, by MM, P. 
“Hautefeuille and J. Margottet. The general conclusion of the 
author's researches is that the phosphates of titanic acid, zircon, 
and stannic acid possess the atomic composition of the phosphate 
of silica. By employing phosphoric acid as a dissolvent they 
can be obtained only under the octahedric form, while the 
| phosphate of silica is obtained not only under this but under 
three other forms incompatible with the first.—Action of 
anadic acid on the ammoniacal salts, by M. A. Ditte.—On 
constitution of butter, by M. E. Duclaux.—On xenotime, a 
are mineral from Minas Geraes, Brazil, by M. H. Gorceix. This 
“substance, which on analysis yields PhO,;, 35°64, YO + ErO, 
63°75, and insoluble residuum 0°4, appears to be a phosphate of 
yltria and of a second earth, very probably erbire.—On the 
dothelium of the inner wall of the vessels in invertebrates, by 
f. W. Vignal.—On the existence in birds of a series of cephalic 
Hi anglia of sympathetic character, corresponding to the seg- 
‘mentary cranial nerves, by M. F. Rochas.—Researches on the 
} Structure of the stomach in birds, by M. M. Cazin. —On Znto- 
seus menadis, a parasite infesting the Carcinus menas crab, 
by M. A. Giard.—On some phenomena connected with the 
division of the cellular nucleus in plants, by M. L. Guignard.— 
Remarks on M. Boutroux’s recent communication on an acid 
fermentation of glucose, by M. Maumené. The author shows 
that this acid differs in no respect from that already determined 
and described by him in the year 1875, under the name of 
“hexepic.” 
BERLIN 
Physiological Society, March 26.—Dr. Kossel communi- 
cated the results of experiments instituted by Dr. Schotten 
respecting the cholic acids. As was known, two different 
nitrogenous acids entered into the composition of the bile, glyco- 
collic acid and taurocholic acid, which broke up respectively 
into glycocoll and cholalic acid, and into taurin and cholalic acid. 
The constitution of this azoteless acid, common to both, had not 
yet been determined. It was, however, known to be different 
with different animals. In the bile of horned cattle two cholalic 
acids had been found, distinguished as taurocholic acid and 
choleic acid. In the bile of swine a third cholalic acid had been 
found, hypocholalic acid; and in the bile of geese, a fourth, 
chenocholalic acid. It was probable that still more cholalic acids 
would be discovered. Dr. Schotten’s studies had for their 
object the elucidation of the constitution of cholalic acid. By 
heating to 300° C. he was able to split two molecules of water, 
and to obtain a body of an equal quantity of carbon, a less 
quantity of hydrogen and of oxygen. By subjection to a still 
greater degree of heat, from two molecules of the acid a molecule 
of water was separated, and a substance obtained consisting of two 
groups of atoms connected by an atom of oxygen. By treat- 
ment with anhydrous acetic acid Dr. Schotten established that 
cholalic acid was both monobasic and monoyalent. Finally 
he investigated the composition of human bile from 350 gall- 
bladders, with a view to testing the statement that in human 
bile was contained a peculiar cholalic acid, the anthropocholalic 
acid of Herr Beyer. Although at first he received the same 
results, viz, a salt of baryta containing much less carbon than the 
other cholalic acids, yet subsequently, by continued purification 
and transcrystallisation of the product, he came to the conviction 
that in the human bile only the taurocholic acid of horned cattle 
was present. The results at first obtained of apparently different 
significance were due to the fact that the soluble barytic 
cholalate with carbonate of barium very readily formed insolu- 
ble double salts which were not easily split—Dr. Biondi spoke 
on the intermaxillary bone, and discussed the fact that the 
doctrine set up by Goethe, that on each side but one inter- 
maxillary bone was developed, namely from the frontal process, 
while the superior maxilla, on the other hand, was evolved from 
the maxillary process of the skull, had, in the year 1879, been 
replaced by a new doctrine advanced by Herr Albrecht. Ac- 
cording to this new doctrine two intermaxillary bones were 
developed on both sides, growing out of the lateral and median 
frontal process, and then coalescing with the superior maxilla 
from the maxillary process. According to the older view, at 
present defended in particular by Dr. Kolliker, the hare-lip 
originated between superior maxilla.and intermaxillary bone. Prof. 
Albrecht, on the other hand, removed the position of the hare- 
lip to between median and lateral intermaxillary bone. By 
way of proof for this latter view, the circumstance was ad- 
duced that externally from the fissure an incisor tooth was 
regularly found. Dr. Biondi had examined a very large number 
of normal and pathological skulls, and had followed the develop- 
ment in embryos of the facial bones. Like Prof. Albrecht, he regu- 
larly found an incisor tooth externally from the hare-lip fissure, 
and, in the case of embryos, in the intermaxillary bone two points 
of ossification, whence were developed two separate intermaxil- 
lary bones. Between these two were situated the hare-lip 
fissure and that of the palate. ‘The views of Dr. Biondi and of 
Prof. Albrecht deviated on the contrary very materially from each 
other respecting the place where the two intermaxillary bones 
originated. In accordance with the speaker's views, the superior 
maxilla and the ouier intermaxillary bone developed from the 
maxillary process, while, on the other hand, the inner inte:- 
maxillary bone sprang from the median frontal process. The 
lateral frontal process did not reach so far down. The hare-lip, 
in point of fact, therefore, as had been maintained by earlier 
authorities, was situated between the maxillary and frontal pro- 
cess. The upper lip, in the opinion of the speaker, developed 
itself, in perfect accordance with the relations obtaining in 
respect of the superior maxilla and its alveolar margin, out of 
the maxillary process and the inner frontal process, while the 
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