August 5, 1886 | 
NATURE 
33% 
certain limits, be replaced by others, immediately if the lesion 
be slight, gradually if serious. — A contribution to the theory of 
quadratic forms, by G. Morera. 
~ July.—A case of extraordinary hirsuteness, by Prof. Giovanni 
Zoja. The author refers briefly to a Spanish girl observed by 
him at Pavia in 1881, who was above the average height, yet 
whose hair, when unbound, swept the ground by several centi- 
metres. Some of the tresses measured 180 to 187°3 centimetres, 
-—Meteorological observations made at the Brera Observatory, 
Milan, during the month of June. 
. 
SOCIETIES AND ACADEMIES 
SYDNEY 
_ Royal Society of New South Wales, May 5.—Annual 
Meeting.—Prof. Liversidge, F.R.S., President, in the chair.— 
The President stated that 27 new Members had been elected 
during the year, and the total number on the roll April 30 
“was 492. The Clarke Medal for the year 1886 had been awarded 
to Prof. L. G. de Koninck, M.D., of Liége, in recognition of 
his distinguished scientific attainments, and more particularly of 
his valuable contributions to our knowledge of the Palzeozoic fos- 
sils of New South Wales. During the year the Society held eight 
meetings, at which the following papers were read :—Presiden- 
tial Address, by H. C. Russell, B.A., F.R.A.S.—Notes on 
flying-machines, by L. Hargrave.—On a system of accurate 
measurement by means of long steel ribands, by G. H. Knibbs. 
—Local variations and vibrations of the earth’s surface, by H. 
C. Russell, B.A., F.R.A.S.—Some causes of the decay of the 
Australian forests, by Rev. P. MacPherson, M.A.—The history 
of floods in the Hawkesbury River, by J. P. Josephson, 
A.M.1I.C.E.—The Ringal of the North-Western Himalaya, by 
Dr. Brandis, F.R.S. (communicated by Baron von F. Miiller, 
K.C.M.G., F.R.S.).—Notes on experiments in mounting the 
Amphiplcura pellucida in media having a higher refractive index 
than Canada balsam, by Dr. W. Morris, F.R.M.S.—Notes on 
the characters of the Adelong Reefs, by S. H. Cox, F.C.S., 
F.G.S.—Stone implements of the aborigines of Australia and 
some other countries, by Rey. P. MacPherson, M.A.—On a 
form of flying-machine, by L. Hargrave.—On a new form of 
anemometer, by H. C. Russell, B.A., F.R.A.S.—The Medical 
Section held eight meetings, at which eighteen papers were 
read, and the Microscopical Section eight, at which three papers 
were read. The number of donations received was 1420 volumes 
and pamphlets, and 310/. expended in the purchase of books, &c., 
for the library. The Society has issued the following list of 
subjects, with the offer of the Society’s bronze medal anda prize 
of 257. for each of the best researches if of sufficient merit :— 
Series vi. to be sent in not later than May 1, 1887 ; (No. 20) on 
the silver ore deposits of New South Wales ; (No. 21) origin 
and mode of occurrence of gold-bearing veins and of the asso- 
ciated minerals ; (No. 22) influence of the Australian climate in 
producing modifications of diseases ; (No. 23) on the Infusoria 
peculiar to Australia. Series vii., to be sent in not later than 
May 1, 1888: (No 24) anatomy and life-history of the Echidna 
and Platypus; (No. 25) anatomy and life-history of Mollusca 
peculiar to Australia ; (No. 26) the chemical composition of the 
products from the so-called Kerosene Shale of New South 
Wales.—The following Officers and Council were elected for 
the ensuing year :—President: C. Rolleston, C.M.G. ; Vice- 
Presidents: H. C. Russell, B.A., F.R.A.S.; Dr. Leibius, 
M.A. 3; Hon. Treasurer: R. Hunt, F.G.S. ; Hon. Secs. : Prof. 
-Liversidge, F.R.S.; F. B. Kyngdon, F.R.M.S. ; Council: 
Hon. Dr. C. K. Mackellar, A.M., M.L.C. ; C. Moore, F.L.S. ; 
P. R. Pedley, Dr. J. Ashburton Thompson, C. S, Wilkinson, 
¥F.G.S.; Dr. H. G. A. Wright. 
PARIS 
_ Academy of Sciences, July 26.—M. Jurien de la Graviere, 
President, in the chair.—On the quantitative analysis of 
ammonia, by M. Th. Schlcesing. The author’s process of 
analysis, based on distillation in presence of magnesia, having 
een questioned by M. Berthelot and others, he has made some 
fresh experiments, here described, which fully confirm the 
accuracy of the results already obtained.—Observations on the 
oldest sedimentary groups in the north-west of France, by M. 
Hébert. The region here dealt with is the northern section of 
Brittany and Normandy, where the most ancient sedimentary 
rocks are the clay-slates of Saint-Lé and the widely diffused 
purple conglomerates. The former, which are quite distinct 
from the mica-schists, gneiss, and other primitive crystalline 
schists, form the fundamental feature throughout the department 
of La Manche, stretching far eastwards into Calvados, and west- 
wards into Brittany. They assume almost everywhere a vertical 
or nearly yertica) disposition, and are remarkably homogeneous, 
being almost totally destitute of any organic remains. The 
whole system seems to be posterior to the granitic pudding of 
Granville.—On the meteorological station of |’Aigoual, by 
M. F. Perrier. Since the beginning of July this station has 
been in full activity, and has been furnished by M. Houdaille, 
of Montpellier, with maxima and minima thermometers, a psy- 
chrometer, an evaporometer, and a registering hygrometer. In 
the neighbourhood other instruments have been fitted up, in- 
cluding Tonnelot and Richard barometers, a large pluviometer, 
and a Campbell heliograph. Regular observations have already - 
begun to be taken on this peak, which stands at an altitude of 
1567 metres above sea-level, on the water-parting between the 
Atlantic and Mediterranean basins. The present temporary 
erections will soon be replaced by a solid structure, for which a 
grant of 4800/. has been made by the Minister of Agriculture.— 
Remarks accompanying the presentation of vol. xii. of the 
“‘ Mémorial du Dépét de la Guerre,” by Col. F. Perrier. The 
first part of this volume describes the instruments and apparatus 
employed in the various geodetic operations connected 
with the new measurement of the meridian of Paris, with 
an exposition of the methods of observation. In the second 
are embodied all the observations taken from 1871 to 1884 
between Perpignan and Paris by MM. Perrier, Bassot, and 
Defforges, at seventy-two stations belonging to the meridian of 
France.—Note on Gen. Meusnier’s projected aérostatic machine, 
by M. Létonné. The album here referred to is a photographic 
reproduction of an atlas now in the military aérostatic establish- 
ment of Chalais (Meudon), and containing sixteen plates of 
designs relative to a projected aérostatic machine prepared by 
Gen. Meusnier between the years 1784 and 1789. Eight tables 
are added, giving the coefficients of resistance of various sub- 
stances suited for the construction of this machine.—On the 
pressure that exists in the contracted section of a gaseous cur- 
rent, by M. Hugoniot. This paper is supplementary to that 
inserted in the Comftes rendus of June 28, showing that the 
results of M. Hirn’s experiments on the flow of gases are in 
harmony with the laws of hydrodynamics and with the formula 
of Weisbach or Zeuner, which is a direct consequence of those 
laws. Some objections ratsed by M. Hirn himself are here dis- 
posed of, and the general conclusion confirmed by fresh argu- 
ment.—On the velocity of light in the sulphuret of carbon, by 
M. Gouy. The experiments here described have been carried 
out with a revolving mirror analogous to that of Foucault, and 
capable of 800 revolutions per second by means of compressed 
air. The results correspond with those recently obtained by 
Mr. Michelson (American Fournal of Science, and NATURE, 
March 11and April 22, 1886).—Note on the construction of an 
absolute electrometer adapted for the measurement of very high 
potentials, by MM. E. Bichat and R. Blondlot. By an im- 
provement introduced into the construction of their already 
described electrometer, the authors haye produced an instruinent 
possessing absolute sterility and capable of measuring potentials 
corresponding to explosive distances of 2°5 centimetres. — A 
model of the apparatus has been constructed by M. D. Gaiffe, 
of Nancy.—On the slow decomposition of the chlorides in their 
extended dissolutions, by M. G.rFoussereau. Further experi- 
ments with the chlorides of aluminium and magnesium, with the 
double chloride of rhodium and sodium, the bichloride of platina 
and the sesquichloride of gold show that the recently described 
phenomenon of decomposition probably extends to a numerous 
class of chlorides.—On the definition of the coefficient of self- 
induction in an electro-magnetic system, by M. G. Cabanellas. 
—On the numerical laws of chemical equilibria, by M. H. Le 
Chatelier, The formula for the numerical law of the chemical 
equilibrium of a gaseous system, 
agin” = 273 Q = co: 7 ‘ 
log gp"... Dp ae met const., 
announced by the author in the Comptes rendus for November 
16 and December 28, 1885, is here established by rigorous de- 
monstration.—Fresh experiments on the decomposition of hydro- 
fluoric acid by an electric current, by M. H. Moissan. These 
experiments show conclusively that the gas separated by electro 
Nayf? 
