330 
NATURE 
[JULY 31, 1902 
experiments on the subject should be made.—The mission to 
Martinique ; extract from a letter of M. Lacroix to M. Michel 
Lévy. Ashort account ofethe experiences of the exploring party. 
Stress is laid on the fact that no heavy masses appear to have 
fallen upon St. Pierre ; the destruction must have therefore been 
due to the effects of masses of incandescent gases, The tor- 
rential rains have caused great ravages, and in some 
cases have changed the hydrography of the coast. Sound- 
ings show that the sea bottom near the coast line has not 
undergone any appreciable alteration.—On the generalisation of 
the analytical prolongation, by M. Emile Borel.—Observations 
on the preceding communication, by M. P. Painlevé. —Anoma- 
lies presented by the charge of isolated conductors: on solid 
dielectrics. Particular magnetic phenomena proved in the 
neighbourhood of the nodes of electric oscillations, by M. V. 
Crémieu.—On the mechanical phenomena of the electric dis- 
charge, by M. Jules Semenov. It has been generally supposed 
that when a spark passes between two conductors material 
particles are torn off each pole and carried to the opposite pole. 
The author describes experiments which show that no particles 
are removed from the positive pole and that the material car- 
ried by the spark towards the negative pole arises exclusively 
from the gas or vapour in the immediate neighbourhood of the 
positive pole. —Photograph of a multiple lightning flash, by M. 
Piltschnikoff.—On magnetic double refraction, by M. Quirino 
Majorana. The study of magnetic double refraction in solutions 
of ferrous chloride and of dialysed ferric oxide has led to the 
deduction of the following laws: the double refraction is pro- 
portional to the thickness of the liquid normal to the lines of 
force, to the concentration of the liquid, to the square of the 
field strength and to the reciprocal of the square of the wave- 
length. —On the atomic weight of radium, by Mme. Curie. By 
concentrating by fractional crystallisation a large quantity of 
radiferous barium chloride, about o°1 gram of radium chloride 
has been obtained, the atomic weight of which, on the assump- 
tion that radium is a divalent metal, is 225. According to its 
chemical properties radium belongs to the series of the alkaline 
earths. The anhydrous chloride is spontaneously luminous.— 
The action of hydrochloric acid upon the sulphates of aluminium, 
chromium and iron, by M. A. Recoura. By the action of 
hydrochloric acid upon chromium sulphate a chromium chloro- 
sulphate is obtained, CrSO,CI,6H,0, the chlorine of which is 
not precipitated from its aqueous solution by silver nitrate. 
Freezing-point determinations showed that this compound is 
not dissociated in aqueous solution.—On the mixtures formed 
by sulphur and phosphorus at temperatures below 100°.C., by 
M. R. Boulouch. No definite chemical combination of ‘sulphur 
and phosphorus appears to be formed below 100° C. A 
eutectic mixture which melts sharply at 9°°8 simulates a definite 
compound.—On the precipitation of copper bromide and 
chloride by sulphuric acid, by M. Georges Viard.—Study of 
cerium silicide, by M. Sterba. A well-defined crystallised 
silicide of cerium is obtained by heating together cerium oxide 
and silicon in the electric furnace. Its composition is CeSia, 
and it possesses great stability. Its properties are different 
from those of calcium silicide and approximate rather to those 
of the silicides of the heavy metals.—The action of alcohols 
upon the sodium derivatives of other alcohols, by M. Marcel 
Guerbet. A mixture of cenanthyl alcohol, ethyl alcohol and 
sodium heated in sealed tubes to 230° C. gives some normal 
nonyl alcohol. The method appears to be a general one for 
obtaining higher homologues of the higher alcohols. —Study of 
the simultaneous distillation of two non-miscible substances, by 
MM. Eug. Charabot and J. Rocherolles. The ratio between 
the weight of a substance not miscible with water and the 
weight of water which distils simultaneously varies in the 
direction approaching unity when the temperature increases 
short of the critical temperature of one of the liquids.—Ona 
new di-iodophenol, by M. P. Brenans.—The action of nitrous 
acid in acid solution on the a-substituted B-ketonic esters ; the 
synthesis of homologues of pyruvic acid, by MM. L. Bouveault 
and R. Locquin.—On a method permitting of the separation 
from complex animal or vegetable liquids of the’ greater part 
of the ternary substances and several of the bases which: may 
accompany them, by M: S. Dombrowski.—The variations ‘of 
the iodine in the blood, by MM. E. Gley and P. Bourcet. 
—The pharmacodynamic properties of some aromatic © semi- 
carbazides, by MM. Auguste Lumiére, Louis Lumiere and’ J. 
Chevrottier.—The experimental transmission to descendants of 
lesions developed in the ancestors, by MM. A. Charrin, A. 
NO. 1709, VOL. 66] 
Delamare and Moussu.—On the evolution of the cranial ring 
detached by trepanning and immediately transplanted, by MM. 
V. Cornil and Paul Coudray.—Mosquitoes and yellow fever in 
Havana, by M. André Poéy.—The elaboration of zymogen in 
the gastric glands of the snake Berus, by M. L. Launoy.—On 
artificial parthenogenesis, by M. C. Viguier.—The production of 
sleep and local and general anesthesia by electric currents, by 
M. Stéphane Leduc. With electric currents the complete in- 
hibition of the cerebral centres can be instantly obtained and 
without apparent pain, leaving intact the centres of respiration 
and circulation. A complete general anzesthesia can thus be 
obtained which is without any after action.—Spermatogenesis 
in Cybister Roesel’i, by M. D. N. Voinov.—On the 7é/e of the 
spleen in the heematolytic function, by M. Louis Lapique.—On 
the presence of lecithin in plants, by MM. Schlagdenhauffen 
and Reeb.—On the conservation of the germinating power in 
seeds, by M. L. Maquenne.—On the specialisation of parasitism 
in Erystphe eraminis, by M. Em. Marchal.—On the hydro- 
graphy of Tidikelt in the Central Sahara, by M. G. B. M. 
Flamand,—On the constitution of the sea floor, by M. f. 
Thoulet. 
CONTENTS. 
PAGE 
Automobiles. By Mervyn O’Gorman . 313 
Comparative Anatomy of Animals ........ 314 
The Classics of Physical Science 315 
Pure and Applied Bacteriology. By Dr. E. Klein, 
F.R'S. . . 316 
Our Book Shelf :— 
Gauss: ‘‘ General Investigations of Curved Surfaces 
Git TELA CYL of oO, 5 4 9 o.0 0.8 316 
Brooks : ‘‘The Elements of Mind.”—A. E. T. 317 
Weber: ‘A Graduated Collection of Problems in 
Electricity.",—M. S.. .... . . ... ‘ 317 
Harrison: ‘‘ Junior Chemistry and Physics” . 317 
Letters to the Editor :— 
Penetrating Rays from Radio-active Substances. — 
Prof. E. Rutherford aie rucrardarateet OMS 
The Future of the Victoria University. — Prof. 
Arthur Smithells, F.R.S.; Prof. Arthur 
Schuster, F.R,S:, 5 - caeenenene 4 5 319 
Science and the London Matriculation Examination. 
—A.Irving . : eG, Soom ono ai) 
The Recent Fireball.—Walter E. Besley « aag2o 
Sunspots and Wind. (With Diagram.)—Alex. B. 
MacDowall . Reo 320 
The Chelsea Physic Garden Pt okdns, 0 Fie 321 
A Quartette of Museum Publications. (Ldlusts ated.) 
By R. L. ae 322 
Terrestrial Magnetism . Oa OME MID, oe Odes Sk 
The ‘Nature-Study’’ Exhibition. By Wilfred 
IMarkavVebbig. ... < -)tomeneme 324 
RIGGS oo SSSR c 327 
Our Astronomical Column :— 
Astronomical Occurrences in August 331 
A New Algol Variable ....... a aor co 331 
Spectroscopy of the Solar Eclipse of May 18, 1901 331 
Report of the Cape Observatory for 1901 331 
Work at the Athens Observatory. ... - 331 
Vibrations of Bridges. By J. M.. 332 
Report on University Colleges ... 2. ++. 332 
University and Educational Intelligence 333 
Societies and Academies. 334 
