120 
NATURE 
[May 29, 1902 
fluorescence of a diamond under violet light and its lustre under 
ordinary artificial light. In the case of a yellow diamond, after 
a short exposure to violet light, the colour changed from yellow 
to a dark brown; after twenty-four hours, however, the diamond 
recovered its original colour and lustre. —The volumetric estima- 
tion of iodides in the presence of chlorides and bromides, by 
M. V. Thomas. In dilute solution, in the presence of an 
excess of a thallic salt such as the chloride, the whole of the 
iodine in the iodide is set free. Test analyses are given showing 
the accuracy and range of the method.—On the action of 
sulphites on the nitroprussiates, by M. Juan Fages.—On a 
method of gradual synthesis of aldehydes, by MM. L. Bouveault 
and A. Wahl. Nitroisobutylene, reduced by aluminium 
amalgam or by zine dust and acetic acid, is converted into 
isobutyric aldoxim. Nitrostyrolene, Cs;H;—CH=CH—NO,, 
was found to undergo a similar change on reduction by either 
of the above-mentioned reagents, giving phenylacetaldoxime.— 
The Sexual elements and fertilisation in Pterocephalus, by MM. 
Louis Léger and Octave Duboscq.—On the destruction of 
certain noxious insects in agriculture and especially the wire 
worm in the plum-tree, by M. J. Laborde. The composition 
and mode of application of an insecticide is given which has 
been proved by experiment to be efficacious in combating the 
parasite. —Sarcocystzs tenella, a parasite of man, by M. Paul 
Vuillemin. —On A%nhkeliba and its botanical origin, by MM. 
E. Perrot and G. Lefévre. Kinkeliba is an arborescent plant 
the leaves of which are employed by the nativesall over western 
Africa as a medicine, and which merits a complete therapeutical 
study. It is identified as C. mzcranthum.—On the tectonic 
relations between Greece and western Crete, by M. L. Cayeux. 
—A point of the geology of the neighbourhood of Bayonne, by 
M. R. Chudeau.—On a principle of rational classification of 
gorges cut by water courses, by M. Jean Brunhes.—The 
microbiological study of the steeping of flax, by M. L. 
Hauman. The aérobic rotting of flax has been accom- 
plished with pure cultures of various organisms, including 
Penicillium glaucum, Aspergillus niger, Botrytis cinerea, 
Bacillus coli communis and others. The process appears to 
consist essentially in the fermentation of pectic bodies, con- 
siderable quantities of which are present in the original 
flax, but of which traces only can be found after fermentation. 
The rotting of flax is thus a purely biological process which is 
accomplished by means of the bacteria and moulds of the soil. 
The disintegration is due to the disappearance of the tubes of 
the young tissues filled with pectic substances which separate 
the fibro-vascular bundles. —The influence of lecithin on the de- 
velopment of the skeleton and of nervous tissue, by MM. A. 
Desgrez and Aly Zaky. It is shown that the increase in weight 
of animals receiving lecithin is not due to an abatement of 
nutrition, but is due to the phosphoric acid retained by the 
organism, under the influence of the lecithin, being normally 
utilised for the development of the osseous and nerve-cells.— 
The vaccination against pasteurelloses, by MM. Joseph and 
Marcel Ligniéres. The name pasteurelloses is applied to a 
group of diseases of the same type, including typhoid fever and 
pneumonia of the horse, chicken cholera and hemorrhagic 
septicaemia of the sheep, ox and pig. It has been‘proved by ex- 
periment that it is possible to prevent these diseases by a pro- 
cess of vaccination.—The etiology of the canker and gum in 
fruit trees, by M. F. P. Brzezinski. 
DIARY OF SOCIETIES. 
THURSDAY, May 29. 
Royat Society, at 4.30.—The Minute Structure of Metals and other 
Plastic Solids: G. Beilby.—The Influence of Varying Amounts of Carbon 
Dioxide in the Air on the Photosynthetic Process of Leaves and on the 
Mode of Growth of Plants: H. T. Brown, F.R.S., and F. Escombe.— 
On the Influence of an Excess of Carbon Dioxide in the Air on the 
Form and Internal Structure of Plants: Prof. J. B. Farmer, F.R.S., 
and S. E. Chandler.—On the Structure of the Gills of the Lamelli- 
branchia ; Dr. W. G. Ridewood. 
Sociery oF ARTS, at 4.30.—Western Australia: its 
Resources : Hon. .f. W. Venn. 
InstiruTion OF MininGc EnoGingeErs (Geological Society), at 11.— 
Working Coal under the River Hunter, the Pacific Ocean and its Tidal 
Waters, near Newcastle, New South Wales: A. A. Atkinson.—Lead and 
Zinc Deposits of the Mississippi Valley, U.S.A.: Prof.C. R. Van Hise 
and H. Foster Bain.—Ihe Campbell Coal-washing Table: Clarence R. 
Claghorn.—The Mining, Concentration and Analysis of Corundum in 
Ontario: Dr. W. L. Goodwin.—Re-opening of Hartley Colliery: R. E. 
Ornsby.—Deposits of Hydroborate of Lime: its Exploration and Refina- 
tion: Carlos A. Lynes Hoskold.—Remarks on Mr. M. Walton Brown's 
** Report on Mechanical Ventilators”: Prof. A. Rateau. 
FRIDAY, May 30. 
Rovat INsTiTuTION, at 9.—The Electronic Theory of Electricity : Prof. 
J. A. Fleming, F.R.S. 
NO. 1700, VOL. 66] 
Progress and 
| InsTrTuTION oF MINING ENGINEERS (Geological Society), at 10.30.—The 
Training of Industrial Leaders: Prof. J. Wertbeimer.—Smelting in 
British Columbia: W. Denham Verschoyle.—Treatment of Low-grade 
Copper-ores in Australia: J. J. Muir.—The Tarkwa Goldfield, West 
Africa: A. R. Sawyer.—Gold-dredging : T. Ross Burt.—Gold-dredging 
in Otago, New Zealand : F. W. Payne.—Electric Traction on Roads and 
Mineral Railways: W. R. Cooper.—The Analytical Valuation of Gas- 
coals: G. P. Lishman, 
EPIDEMIOLOGICAL SociETY, at 8.30.—A Doubtful Case of Hemorrhagic 
Smallpox : S. Murphy and Dr, Klein, F.R.S.—An Outbreak of Syphilis 
_in an Indigenous Tribe in India : Dr. L, Rogers. cad) 
MONDAY, JUNE 2. 
INSTITUTE OF ACTUARIES, at 5- 
Sociery or Cuemica INpustTRY, at 8.—A Contribution to the Chemistry 
of Whiskey, I.: Dr. P. Schidrowitz.—The Estimation of Perchlorate in 
Saltpetre, &c.: Dr. A. Dupré, F.R.S.—On the Will Test for Nitro- 
cellulose: Dr. R. Robertson.—On the Effect of the Alcohol Duty on 
Chemical Industries : Dr. O. Silberrad. 
TUESDAY, JUNE 3- 
ZooLoGIcaL Society, at 8.30.—The Wild Sheep of the Upper Ili and 
Lower Lena Valleys: R. Lydekker, F.R.S.—On_ Differences in 
Dicynodont Skulls, apparently due to Sex: Dr. R. Broom.—On the 
Gonad Ducts and Nephridia of Eudrilus: F. E. Beddard, F.R.S. 
RovaL Institution, at 3.—The Laws of Heredity, with special 
Reference to Man: Prof. Karl Pearson, F.R.S. 
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4. 
EnromMoLocicaL Society, at 8.—The Butterflies of Chile, with an 
Exhibition of Specimens: Henry J. Elwes, F.R.S.—The Protective 
Resemblance to Flowers borne by an African Homopterous Insect: S. L. 
Hinde. 
THURSDAY, June 5. 
ROYAL SOCIETY, at 4.30. i 
CHEMICAL Society, at 8.—The Action of Ungerminated Barley Diastase 
on Starch. Part I.: J. L. Baker.—The Decomposition of Chlorates. 
Part V. Potassium Chlorate in presence of Oxides of Manganese : W. H. 
Sodeau. 
RONTGEN SOCIETY, 
Herbert Jackson. p 
Linnean Society, at 8.—On certain Species of Dischidia and their 
Double Pitchers: H. H. W. Pearson.—{1) On “‘Silver-leaf” Disease of 
Plums ; (2) Observation on the Occurrence of Crystals of Calcium 
Oxalate in Seedlings of Alsike (7vzfolium hybridum, Linn.): Prof. J. 
Percival.—On the Morphology of the Cerebral Commissures in the 
Vertebrata: Dr. Elhot Smith. 
FRIDAY, June 6. 4 
Rovat InsTiruTIon, at 9.—The Nile Reservoir and Dams: Sir Benjamin 
Baker, K.C.M.G., F.R.S. Fh. 
GroLocists’ ASSOCIATION, at 8.—On a Peculiarity in the Course of 
Certain Streams in the London and Hampshire Basins: H. J. Osborne 
White.—Note on the Occurrence of Mzcrotus intermedius ia the 
Pleistocene Deposits of the Thames Valley: M. A. C. Hinton and G. 
White. 
at 8.30.—The Sources of Phosphorescence: 
CONTENTS. 
PAGE 
The Supplement to the Encyclopedia Britannica. 97 
Practicall Physiology . <3) sus ee) ey yee ee 
Our Book Shelf :— 
Morgan: ‘The Elements of Physical Chemistry.” 
— He Me D. .|... 2 cae ee ne 
Bower and Gwynne-Vaughan : “ Practical Botany for 
Beginners”? ...- =; 2 | Mo ehecieee iy eee 
Picard : ‘‘ Quelques réflexions sur la mécanique suivies 
d'une premiére lecon de Dynamique” ..... - 
Letters to the Editor :— 
Volcanic Eruption in Java, Brilliant Sunset Glows 
in 1901, and probable Glows from the Eruption in 
Martinique.—Henry Helm Clayton. ..... 
A Method of Showing the Invisibility of Transparent _ 
Objects under Uniform Illumination. —Prof. R. W. 
Wood 45 ie ay aba 
Misuse of Coal—W.. Hibbert. .-......-. 
The Conservation of Weight and the Laws of Thermo- 
dynamics.—A. N. M. ... - Pe a3. 0 
A Solar Halo. (With Diagram.)—R. T. Omond . 
Mathematical Training. —C. E, Stromeyer . ae 
Influence of Light upon Plant Assimilation.—E. E. 
Wiennesey. . : .. «cies se 
The Farmers’ Years. II. (Ji/ustrvated.) By Sir 
Norman Lockyer, K.C.B., F.R.S. ...-.... 
The Recent Volcanic Eruptions in the West Indies. 
(Zdlustated.) By Prof. J. Milne, F.R.S. . 
NGS Glee = 5 Oo DO Gon aen Ses 
Our Astronomical Column :— 
100 
Iol 
Iol 
101 
102 
102 
102 
103 
103, 
103 
104 
107 
112 
Astronomical Occurrences in June. . . «+ + + + + 25 
New Algol Variable... 5 2 =b eae es) - pees 
Coast Fog Signals .. . Sa ree eS 
Sea Temperature and Shore Climate Se ce ol nee 
University and Educational Jntelligence .... . II7 
ScientiiciSerials: «|. ...o. cs peenema uc. emia 
Societies and Academies .....------+-+ U8 
Diary of Societies ... 2 25 ss 1 we + = os ee 
