288 
NATURE 
[JuLy 17, 1902 
Paris. 
Academy of Sciences, July 7.—M. Bouquet de la Grye 
in the chair.—The president announced to the Academy the loss 
it had sustained by the death of M. Faye, member of the Section 
of Astronomy.—On the relation between the intensity of the 
voltaic current and the amount of electrolytic action, by 
M. Berthelot.—The properties of a certain anomaly capable of 
replacing the anomalies already known in the calculation of the 
disturbances of the smaller planets, by M. O. Callandreau.—On 
the development of analytical functions in a series of poly- 
nomials, by M. Paul Painlevé.—The local treatment of the 
localisations of rheumatism, by M. Ch. Bouchard. From the 
experimental results quoted, the superiority of local treatment by 
injection over general treatment by the same drug (sodium 
salicylate) is well marked. The author concludes that in general 
it is better to apply the drug only at the place where it is useful, 
by injection. —M. Bouvier was nominated a member of the 
Section of Anatomy and Zoology in the place of the late M. 
Filhol.—On a new linear group of four variables, of finite order, 
by M. Léon Autonne.—On the electrolysis of silver nitrate, by 
M. A. Leduc. It is generally stated that the bath of nitrate of 
silver becomes more and more acid after prolonged electrolysis ; 
the contrary effect was, however, observed by Rodger and 
Watson. It is shown how either result may be obtained by 
varying the conditions in a definite manner. It is noted 
incidentally that the counter electromotive force of a silver 
nitrate voltameter, which has been usually assumed to be zero 
or extremely small, is in reality by no means negligible, amount- 
ing to about 0°03 volt.—On the action of self-induction in the 
ultra-violet portion of spark spectra, by M. Eugéne Neéculcéa. 
A continuation of previous papers, the present instalment giving 
a study of tin.—New researches on open currents, by M. V. 
Cremieu.—On the nature of the coherer, by M. J. Fenyi. 
A coherer formed of four steel needles in parallel is no more 
sensitive than a single needle, but if the four are placed in series a 
greater electromotive force can be placed in the circuit, and the 
-sensibility is accordingly increased.—The dissociating action 
of the divers regions of the spectrum on matter, by M. Gustave 
le Bon.—Dark light and actinoelectric phenomena, by M. 
Gustave le Bon.—On the hydration of zinc oxide, by M. de 
Forcrand. A thermochemical study of the solution of zinc 
oxide.— The oxidising properties of a pyranol, by M. R. Fosse. 
Dinaphthopyranol possesses an oxidising action towards hydr- 
iodic acid, an attempt to prepare the hypoiodite resulting in the 
formation of the tri-iodide of the oxonium compound.—The 
condensation of nitromethane with aromatic aldehydes, by MM. 
L. Bouveault and A. Wahl. The best condensing agent for 
.the reaction between the nitromethane and the aromatic alde- 
hyde is sodium methylate ; the sodium salt which separates is 
then treated with zinc chloride. The reaction has been applied 
to anisic, piperonylic and ortho-nitrobenzoic aldehydes and to 
furfurol.—The action of diazoic salts on desmotroposantonine 
and desmotroposantonous acid, by MM. E. Wedekind and 
Oscar Schmidt.—On a new proof of the cellular resistance of 
the saccharomyces and on a new application of this property to 
industry and the distillery, by M. Henri Alliot. The method 
which is usual in distilleries for removing nitric acid and other 
volatile acids prejudicial to the development of the yeast is to 
add sulphuric acid to the molasses, heat to boiling and force 
through a current of air. To avoid this, the author takes some 
of these volatile compounds and grows an acclimatised yeast by 
gradually adding increasing quantities of these antiseptic com- 
pounds to the cultures. The properties thus acquired by the 
yeast are sufficiently permanent for industrial use in the distil- 
lery.—On the active principles of the poison of the toad, Bufo 
vulgaris, by MM. C. Phisalix and Gab. Bertrand. Toad 
poison owes its activity to two principal substances—bufotaline, 
of a resinoid nature, and bufotenine.—On the nature of bufonine, 
by M. Gabriel Bertrand. The bufonine described by Faust does 
not exist in toad poison directly extracted from the glands, but has 
its origin in other parts of the skin. It appears to be animpure 
cholesterine.—The influence of sulphocyanicacid on the growth of 
Aspergillus niger, by M. A. Fernbach. Thesulphocyanide doesnot 
appear to interfere with the growth of the mycelium, but arrests 
fructification. —On the influence of choline on the glandular 
secretions, by M. A. Desgrez. Although an advanced decom- 
position product of albumin, choline is not without use to the 
organism in which it is produced, it exerts a favourable influence 
on the nutritive exchanges and contributes especially to the re- 
tention of phosphorus.—The disappearance of ethers in the 
NO. 1707, VOL, 66] 
blood #7 witvo, by MM. Maurice Doyon and Albert Morel.— 
Inhibition produced by interference on the retina, by M. Aug. 
Charpentier.—On the autoregulation by carbonic acid of the 
energetic working of organisms, by M. Raphael Dubois. —The 
influence of temperature on the parthenogenetic development, by 
M. C. Viguier.—On the evolution of the branchial formations 
in the lizard and slow-worm, by MM. Prenant and Saint-Remy. 
—Contributions to the anatomical study of Rhabdopleura 
Wormant, by MM. A. Conte and C. Vaney.—On the cause of 
the changing colours of teguments, by M. H. Mandoul.—On a 
new method for the destruction of the pyralis and other noxious 
insects, by MM. Vermorel and Gastine. The use of liquid in- 
secticides having proved non-efficacious, recourse was had to 
gaseous poisons, hydrocyanic and sulphurous acids, sulphuretted 
hydrogen, &c., but without effect. By means of a special ap- 
paratus, steam at 50°C. was then applied to the leaves, and 
this mechanical method, which used with due care proved to be 
without injurious effects on the vines, was found to be very 
serviceable. —On the presence of the Aptian stage in south-east 
Africa, by M. W. Kilian.—On the volcanic eruption of May 8 
at Martinique, by M. Thierry. 
~ 
CONTENTS. PAGE 
Mechanics of Engineering é 265 
Surface-Feeding Ducks. By T. Digby Pigott, c. B. 266 
A French Text-Book of Ol a By Dr, G. C. 
Bourne. Fim cot eet pee, 
Waves and Sauna) Fis hough 268 
Our Book Shelf :— 
Ross : “ Malarial Fever, its Cause, Prevention and 
Treatment” Ewhelireh cweilice . 269 
MacCond: ‘‘ Velocity Diagrams. Their Construction 
and Uses. Intended for all who are interested in 
Mechanical Movements” ° tend to 269 
Thomas: ‘‘ Spiderland.”—W. F. K, 270 
Knopf: ‘‘ Tuberculosis as a Disease of ‘the Masses, 
and how to Combat It” . 270 
Murché : “‘ The Teacher’ s Manual of Object Lessons 
in Geography” . 270 
Benham : ‘‘ William ‘Gilbert of Colchester : a “Sketch 
of his Magnetic Philosophy.”"—S. P. T.. . . 270 
Wright : ‘‘ The Vocal System { tbased on the Funda- 
mental Laws of Language”’ . 5 271 
Collingwood: ‘‘ The Lake Counties.’ sy TL: 271 
Letters to the Editor :— 
Symbol for Partial Differentiation. —Dr. Thomas 
Muir, C.M.G., F.R.S.; Prof. John Perry, 
F.R.S. tine OM oy Creer ey ko 47/1 
The First Magnetician. — Prof. Silvanus P. 
Thompson, F.R.S. 272 
‘© Fox Shark” or ‘‘ Thrasher” (Alopecias vulpes) in in 
the English Channel.—E. Ernest Lowe . . . 272 
The Tramways Exhibition at the Agricultural 
Hall. By M.S. . 272 
The Astrographic Chart. By Prof. HL Fier amen! 
F.R.S. BD ons 273 
Some new Forms of. Geodetical Instruments. 
(Zilustrated.) . : 276 
M. Hervé Faye. By W. E. P. 277 
Notes 277 
Our Seronomical Column — 
Bopht Meteor of July, a3\caem een enemies 281 
iscoverer of Nova Persely) seen ene 282 
Nova Persei : 282 
Hong Kong Double Star Observations : 282 
Observations of the Variable Star x? oi during 
SOO 0c. - 282 
Rotation of the Brighter Fixed Stars, asa ‘whole, with 
respect to the Fainter Stars Biko 282 
Photographic Magnitude of Stars . 282 
Marine Biology in Wales. 282 
Forestry. By Prof. W. R. Fisher. . e283 
Recent Discoveries in Chinese Turkestan. By 
Prof. M. Winternitz St: . . 284 
University and Educational Intelligence 4 287 
Societies and Academies ........ 287 
