236 
new compound, whose formula is 2NH,Cu,Is, as shown by the 
following figures :— 
Found ‘Theory 
Copper 24°66 24°61 24°84 
Todine 66°03 65°01 66°27 
Ammonia ... 8:58 8:66 8°88 
—On the synthesis of an inactive terpilenol, by MM. G. 
Bouchardat and J. Lafont.—Action of anhydrous baryta on 
methylic alcohol, by M. de Forcrand. From the author’s ex- 
periments it follows that whenever the solution of baryta takes 
place in methylic alcohol in the presence of a trace of water, 
which it is very difficult to avoid, the resulting compound should 
be C,H,0,, BaO, H.Oy.— Action of heat on the acetones, by MM. 
P. Barbier and L. Roux. The paper deals fully with the mode 
of decomposition which these substances undergo when sub- 
jected to the influence of red heat.—Decomposition of pilo- 
carpine, by MM. E. Hardy and G. Calmels.—Researches on 
the development of beetroot, by M. Aime Girard. Here the 
author studies more especially the tap-root and radicules, con- 
cluding that the saccharine matter is formed, not in the under- 
ground, but exclusively in the overground parts of the plant. — 
On the functions of the ovoid gland, of Tiedemann’s bodies, and 
Poli’s vesicles in the Asteridze, by M. Cuénot.—On the con- 
junctions of the ciliated Infusoria (Colpidium colpoda, Pava- 
mecium aurelia, and FEuplo’es patella), by M. E. Maupas.—On 
the classification of the Thaliaceze and some other groups of 
Ascidians, by M. F. Lahille.—Note on the Amphistegina of 
Porto Grande, St. Vincent Island, by Ms de Folin,—On the 
functions of the cephalic fossettes in the Nemerte, by M. 
Remy Saint-Loup.—Researches relative to the influence of the 
nerves on the production of lymph, by M. Serge Lewachew.— | 
On the anatomic constitution of the Ascidians attached to the 
rare American plant Heliamphora nutans, Benth., By M. Ed. 
Heckel.— On the presence of a line of erratic boulders stranded 
on the coast of Normandy, by M. Ch, Vélain.—On the erup- 
tion of Etna during the months of May and June, by M. H. 
Silvestri. The discharge during twenty days of activity has 
been approximately estimated at 66,000,000 cubic metres. 
BERLIN 
Physiological Society, May 28.—Dr. Virchow made 
a report of his investigations into the capillaries of the 
vitreous body and their environment. The vitreous body, 
which must no longer be regarded as a tissue, but as an 
organ, showed different structural relations among the dif- 
ferent groups of animals, and, in the case of fishes and the 
frog, was distinguished by its strong bounding cuticle, on which 
the capillaries formed an object of interesting examination. In 
regard to the structure of the capillaries the speaker had come 
to the conviction that they consisted of a fundamental membrane 
which was occupied with cells. The environment of the capil- 
laries formed lymph-spaces, which had not yet, however, mani- 
fested themselves as standing in continuous connection with one 
another. On the cuticles inclosing the lymph-spaces lay cells 
displaying a great multiplicity in form and arrangement among 
the different kinds that had been examined.—Prof. Munk 
attacked the position taken up at the last sitting of the Society 
by Prof. Christiani respecting the possibility of seeing after 
excision of the greater brain. He challenged his opponent to 
show to the Society or the Association of Naturalists for this 
year a rabbit that was able to see after the removal of the greater 
brain.—Dr. Benda exhibited a series of preparations of the 
central nervous system which were coloured in accordance with 
the hematoxyline method as modified by him. There were in 
particular three advantages distinguishing his haematoxyline 
colouring from that of Weigert’s: (1) the axial cylinders 
of the nerve fibres in the brain came out more dis- 
tinctly, and their connection with the ganglia cells was 
directly demonstrated. (2) The structure of the ganglia 
came out more distinctly. In the case of those ganglia which 
remained clear after the hamatoxyline colouring, there ap- 
peared with great constancy in the fibrous framework, dark 
concretions, which might perhaps be interpreted as a special 
structure, though the speaker was not yet prepared to decisively 
maintain that assumption as fact. (3) With still more reserva- 
tion would he present the third result, which came to light in a 
particular structure of the medullary sheath. On the transverse 
section radiate drawings were seen to proceed from the axis 
cylinder towards the neurilemma. These markings ramified, 
NATURE 
[xudy 8, 1886 
and perhaps formed the protoplasmatic scaffold within which 
was deposited the fluid nerve-medulla. The speaker next de- 
scribed more minutely his method of proceeding—hardening 
with picrin acid, washing out with alcohol, laying in paraffin, 
treating with a sulphate of iron, colouring with haematoxyline, 
washing out with solution of alum or with a diluted acid. In 
conclusion Dr. Benda gave a theory of heematoxyline colouring, 
which ranged itself close in order with the colouring with logwood 
customary in technics. In both cases the colouring-matter was 
applied as lac, the tissue being first saturated with the mordant, 
and then impregnated with the colouring-matter, which formed 
in the tissue lacs insoluble in water and alcohol, and only in 
part capable of being resolved through washing out with the 
mordants or with acids. Or the colouring-matter might be used 
in the way of ink, which formed precipitates with the tissues. 
BOOKS AND PAMPHLETS RECEIVED 
“ Annual Report of the Smithsonian Institution for the Year 1884" 
(Washington).—* The Gothic of Ulfilas,” by T. le M. Dowse (Vaylor and 
Francis).—‘* Recherches pour établir ses Rapports avec Ja Cote de France,” 
by Prince A. de Monaco (Gauthier-Villars, Paris).—“ Monthly and Yearly 
Means, Extremes and Sums for the Years 1883, 1884, 1885” (Vokio).—“ Aus 
dem Archiv der Deutschen Seewarte,” 7 Jahrgang, 1884 (Hamburg).— 
“ Reichenbachia, Orchids Illustrated and Described,” part 1, May, by F. 
Sander (Sander and Co., St. Albans).—‘* Encyklopedie der Naturwissen- 
schaften,” Erste Abth. 45, 46, und 47, Lief.; Zweite Abth. 34. 35) und 35, 
Lief. (Trewendt, Breslau).—‘‘ Mémoires du Comité Geologique, St. 
Petersburg,” vol. ii. No. 3.—‘‘ Bulletins du Comité Géologique, St. Peters- 
burg,” v. Nos. 1 to 6.—‘ Bibliotheque Géologique de la Russie,” i., 1885.— 
“Physiological Laboratory Notes,”” by S. W. Holman (Cushing, Boston).— 
“Annotated Catalogue of the Published Writings of Chas. A. White,” by 
J. B. Marcow (Washington). . 
CONTENTS PAGE 
The Etiology of Scarlet Fever... .- 1 +++ 4 + 213 
Oils and Varnishes. By Prof. R. Meldola, F.R.S.. 213 
Hartlaub on the Manatees .......+.-«4 +++ 214 
Our Book Shelf :— 2 | 
Hale’s ‘‘Infant-School Management” ... +--+ 215 
Dents oWearan Brazile js cnc: ool 
Walshe’s ‘‘ Colloquial Faculty for Languages” . . 216 | 
Letters to the Editor :— 
Periodicity of Glacial Epochs.—Adolphe d’Assier . 216 
Evidence of Man and Pleistocene Animals in North ,| 
Wales prior to Glacial Deposits.—Henry Hicks, 
FURS. fs scs-a0e ee Eka ee | 
Ampére’s Rule-—H. G. Madan .....-++-. 217 | 
Halos.—J. He A: Jenner.) -- -0-) - see 
The Microscope as a Refractometer.—Rev. Gordon : 
Thompson «24 = <\s0 4-6. + =) -) imeem | 
The Bagshot Beds.—Rev. A. Irving ..... + 217 
The Enemies of the Frog.—T. Martyr... . +. 217 | 
Hybrids between the Black Grouse and the Pheasant. . | 
=D rvAwB) Meyer ein) iq. oo eoi lee n 218 
The Finsbury Technical College Conversazione . 218 | 
The Recent Discoveries at Tiryns. (J//ustrated) .« 218 
On Variations of the Climate in the Course of Time, : 
I; “By Prof. A. Blytt. 2 . = <0) 0 0) 
Hypertrichosis. By Dr. J. Jenner Weir... . ++ 223 
Notes 2.4. 6 Sse <)>, fo Bre We oe Mette) [tou 
Our Astronomical Column :— 
Method of Correcting for Differential Refraction in 
Declination Jf he he 2 eh. ee 
A New'Minor Planet. .....+-+-++-+ => 225 
Astronomical Phenomena for the Week 1886 
July iten7 ic oye) bo ee ke rn | 
Geographical Notes ..... ~. +i + = + = sia 226 | 
The Sun and Stars, VIII. By J. Norman Lockyer, 
F.R.S. (/dlustrated) y am a wine sta o bie 
Flame Contact, a New Departure in Water 
Heating. By Thomas Fletcher. ..... - 
The Craters of Mokuaweoweo, on Mauna Loa, By 
Jo M.vAlexanderg= sy. m1-tieene oe jo) stan 
Immisch’s Thermometer. (J//lustrated) ....+.. 234 | 
Scientific Serialé. ... . «> ».0 + +,.0u0,+ 2 | 
Societies and Academies. ......-+-.--+-++ 2: 
Books ani Pamphlets Received ........-. 236 
