192 
PARIS. 
Academy of Sciences, June 9.—M. Bouquet de la Grye 
in the chair.—Remarks by M. Hatt on the tidal constants for a 
certain number of ports in France, the Indian Ocean and China. 
—A discussion of the magnetic observations made in the central 
region of Madagascar, by M. P. Colin. A striking anomaly 
exists at Tsiafajavona, the highest summit of the Ankaratra 
chain. By reason of its mass and magnitude, this chain exerts 
a considerable influence in its neighbourhood. A second less- 
marked centre of disturbance appears in the neighbourhood of 
Vontovorona. The eastern plateau possesses a more regular 
magnetic field than the western, the volcanic zones having only 
a local action of small radius.—On the diabetogenic leucomaines, 
by MM. R. Lépine and Boulud.—M. Amagat was elected a 
member in the section of physics in the place of the late M. 
Cornu.—M. Albert. Gaudry announced that M. André 
Tournouér, who was in charge of the Patagonian expedition, 
had discovered important remains of Pyrotherium near Rio 
Deseado. The deposits containing these remains also yielded 
a large number of fossils of mammalia of great interest.—On 
functions of infinite species, by M. Emile Borel. —On a remark- 
able case of rational transformation in space. by M. D. Grave, 
On internal combustion motors, by M. L. Lecornu.—On the 
electric force due to the variation of magnets, by M. E. 
Carvallo. A discussion of an experiment of M. Cremieu which 
led to results apparently in contradiction to Maxwell’s theory. 
It is shown that this results from the manner in which M. 
Cremieu has applied the definition of electric force, and that 
the results are in complete accord with Maxwell’s theory.—On 
the variations of the zodiacal light, by M. L. Décombe.—The 
accidental double refraction of liquids mechanically deformed, 
‘by M. G. de Metz. A careful study of this property for a con- 
siderable number of solutions shows that there is no necessary 
-connection, as has usually been supposed, between the double 
refraction produced and the viscosity. For certain liquids the 
optical phenomenon lasted several seconds after the mechanical 
strain; the effect was especially noticeable with copal and 
dammar varnish and with collodion.—On a new isomerism in 
asymmetric nitrogen, by M. E. Wedekind. The presence of 
two atoms of asymmetric nitrogen in a molecule appears to 
render possible the existence of stereoisomeric ammonium 
salts.—On benzene-azobenzoic aldehyde, by M. P. Freundler. 
Compounds of the type C,H,.N:N.CsH,.CO.R cannot be 
obtained by the reaction of Friedel and Crafts, but can be 
readily prepared by the simultaneous reduction of a mixture of 
nitro-compounds ; thus a mixture of nitrobenzene and nitro- 
benzoic aldehyde reduced in this way gives benzene-azobenzoic 
aldehyde, the preparation and properties of which are described. 
—The oxidation of morphine by the juice of Ausszezla delica, by 
M. J. Bougault. The oxydase present in the plant juice gives 
the same oxymorphine as is obtained by the oxidation of 
morphine with potassium ferricyanide.—On the lipase of the 
blood, by M. Hanriot. The author admits the truth of some 
criticisms of his former work on this subject by MM. Doyon 
and Morel, but holds that these experiments furnish no con- 
clusive arguments against the existence of lipase in the blood. — 
On caryophysema in Euglena, by M. P. A. Dangeard.—On a 
permanent action which tends to provoke a negative tension in 
the woody vessels, by M. 11. Devaux.—The volcanic rocks of 
Martinique, by M. A. Lacroix.—The production of a polyvalent 
preventive serum against pasteurelloses, by MM. Ligniéres and 
Spitz.—On the presence of a rennet in plants, by M. Maurice 
Javillier. The rennet obtained from the juice of rye-grass possesses 
all the properties of animal rennet. The ferment is met with 
in many different plants, ten being enumerated in the present 
paper.—On a qualitative difference between the excito-motor 
effects of open and closed induced currents, by Mlle. I. 
Ioteyko.—On the yeasts used for the fermentation of cider, by 
M. Henri Alliot.—On the bouquet of wines obtained by the 
fermentation of sterile musts from grapes, by M. A. Rosenstiehl. 
The conclusion is drawn that the quality of a wine of well- 
known vintage depends less upon the quality of the grape than 
upon the nature of the yeast which grows spontaneously upon 
the grape.—The action of sulphurous acid upon oxydase and on 
the colouring matter of red wine, by M. A. Bouffard. The 
protective action of the sulphurous acid acts in two ways; it 
has a distinctly destructive effect upon the oxydase, and also 
forms an unstable compound with the colouring matter which 
protects it from the oxygen of the air.—On the phosphates of 
NO. 1703, VOL. 66] 
NATURE 
[JUNE 19, 1 902 
the soil which are soluble in water, by M. Th. Schleesing, fils. 
—On a new form of collecting bottle for sea-water at great 
depths, by M. Jules Richard. 
DIARY OF SOCIETIES. 
THURSDAY, June 10. 
Roya Society, at 4.30.—On the Correlation between the Barometric 
Height at Stations on the Eastern Side of the Atlantic: Miss F. E. 
Cave-Browne-Cave and Prof. K. Pearson, F.R.S.—Note on the Effect 
of Mercury Vapour on the Spectrum of Helium: Prof. J. Norman 
Collie, F.R.S.—The Seed-Fungus of Lolium temulentum, L., the 
Darnel or Poisonous Rye-Grass: E. M. Freeman.—On Methods for the 
Limitation and Regulation of Chloroform when administered as an 
Anesthetic: A. Vernon Harcourt, F.R.S.—On the Measurement of 
Temperature. Part I. On the Pressure Coefficients of Hydrogen 
and Helium at Constant Volume, and at different Initial Pressures. 
Part II. On the Vapour Pressures of Liquid Oxygen at Tempera- 
tures below its Boiling Point, on the:Constant Volume Hydrogen and 
Helium Scales. Part 111. On the Vapour Pressures of Liquid Hydrogen 
at Temperatures below its Boiling Point, on the Constant Volume 
Hydrogen and Helium Scales: Dr. M. W. Travers and others.—On 
Colour-Physiology of the Higher Crustacea: F. W. Keeble and Dr. 
F. W. Gamble.—On some Phenomena which suggest a Short Period 
of Solar and Meteorological Changes: Sir Norman Lockyer, F.R.S., 
and Dr. W. J. S. Lockyer. And other papers. 
LinNneAN Society, at 8.—On Obesiella, a New Genus of Copepoda: 
Dr. W. G. Ridewood.—On Modern Methods in Mycology: Mr. G. 
Massee —Further Observations on the Owls, especially their Skeleton: 
W. P. Pycraft. 
FRIDAY, June 20. 
Puysicat Socigty, at 5.—Exhibition of a Three-Circle Goniometer : 
G. F. Herbert Smith.—The Heat Absorbed when a Liquid is brought 
into Contact with a finely-divided Solid: C. J. Parks.—(1) On the 
Electrical Resonance of Metal Particles for Light Waves (Second Com- 
munication): (2) Ona Remarkable case of uneven Distributicn of Light 
in a Diffraction-Grating Spectrum: Prof. R. W. Wood.—Exhibition of 
a Simple Form of Apparatus for Measuring the Mechanical Equivalent 
of Heat: Prof. H. L. Callendar. 
CONTENTS. PAGE 
The Place of Lamarck in the History of Evolu- 
fioomeby lh. A.D. | cis: sien emnelt ile) LD 
Elementary Chemistry. By A.S. ........ 170 
SolidiGeometry... ..... ses, a baa ey enous een 
Belgian Botanical Investigations. ........ I7I 
Our Book Shelf :— 
Kapp: ‘‘ Dynamos, Alternators and Transformers ; 
Defays and Pittet : ‘‘ Etude Pratique sur les Diets 
Systémes d’Eclairage.”—M. S.. . . . 172 
Wood: ‘«Sanitary Engineering. A Practical Manual 
of Town Drainage and Sewage and Refuse Dis- 
posal”. Pentel i) fees 
Lindsay: ‘‘ The Story of Animal Life? 1... . . 173 
Baker : ‘‘ Municipal Engineering and Sanitation”. . 173 
Letters to the Editor :— 
Astronomy in the University of London.—Prof. Karl 
Pearson, F.RIS: a: . 174 
De Vriesian Species. —Prof. T. D. A. “Cockerell_ 174 
Formula for the Perimeter of an Rue ST 
Thomas Muir, C.M.G., F.R.S. ma 174 
The ‘Armorl”  Electro- Capillary ae "The 
Writer of the Article. ... . Ph 175 
Science and Military Education . becmnwo: 67/5, 
A Holiday Cruise to Alaska. By G. w. m ti sadn el BRO. 
Observations of Volcanic Activity in the West 
Indies). 2 eos > oleae ots ws 
Dre@eAdolf Fick . ...1; 41s geet sc Rene 
INotes 7... - PR cOMENCNDYO egos > se 
Our Astronomical Column : — 
The Sunspot Curve and Epochs . . 186 
Method of Observing Altitudes at Sea “during Night- 
hee Ale 186 
Liquid Fuel for Steam Purposes, Byils S. s. Brame 186 
The Murchison Falls. By C, Steuart Betton ... 188 
The Manufacture and Usesof Sodium, (///ustrated) 189 
University and Educational Intelligence ..... 190 
Socretiesjand/Academiesi) saa meneencl- 1 eil-a aaeLOL 
Diarylorsocieties . i.) hansen: << smn meloe 
a 
