456 
NATORE 
[SEPTEMBER 4, 1902 
The following observation is illustrative. A piece of skin of 
breast one-and-a-half hours after removal gave 00180 and 0'0230 
volt in response to single shocks of both directions. On the 
third day the reactions were 0 0050 and 00175, on the fourth day 
0'0025 and 0'0035._ In all cases, this was abolished by boiling. 
A remarkable feature was the great diminution of resistance 
of living skin caused by tetanisation. The resistance of dead 
skin is far below that of living skin and is unaltered by tetanisa- 
tion. Fatigue is exhibited more in human skin than in frog’s 
kin. 
As regards the locality of the reaction, Dr. Waller finds that 
the blaze currents arise exclusively from the malpighian layer of 
the epithelium, not from the superficial keratinised cells, or 
from the subcutaneous tissue and the corium ; he demonstrates 
this by means of a three-way key leading off from three elec- 
trodes, of which one, A, is on the external surface. B on the 
internal opposed surface, C on an external indifferent part. 
Excitation is made through A B and the result is led off from 
Ac and from BC; there is response from Ac, but not from 
BC, showing that the under surface B gives no reaction. The 
blaze reaction is quite local and is not propagated to any 
distance from the excited ‘spot, and adjacent portions exhibit 
different degrees of vitality. 
The apparent duration of vitality is surprising, lasting as long 
as ten days aller excision. 
The remarkable augmentation of conductivity hy tetanisation 
may be due to, first, a ‘‘ Kataphoric” migration of water, 
second, to a dissociation of electrolytes. Dr. Waller is inclined 
towards the second alternative. 
Alterations of temperature produce alterations of resistance 
as in any moist conductor. In the case of living skin, Dr. 
Waller has witnessed at the moment of congelation (— 4° to — 6° 
of the cooling chamber) a sudden electromotive discharge of 
00080 volt attributable to the sudden excitation of living matter 
in the act of congelation. On return of the frozen skin to the 
original temperature, the resistance was found to be much reduced 
and the response to excitation was abolished. 
PARIS. 
Academy of Sciences, August 23.—M. Bouquet de la Grye 
in the chair.—Short period solar and meteorological variations, 
by Sir Norman Lockyer, K.C.B., and Dr. William Lockyer. A 
‘comparison of the curves, for a period of from fifteen to thirty 
years, of sun-spots, prominences, atmospheric pressure and 
rainfall in India. By comparing the solar data with the terres- 
trial atmospheric pressure, the conclusion is reached that the 
eruptions of prominences, coinciding with the variations of 
latitude shown by the spots about every three and a half years, 
are the true causes of a variation of air pressure on the earth. — 
The relation between the solar protuberances and terrestrial 
magnetism, by Sir Norman Lockyer, K.C.B. An examination of 
Italian observations made during the last thirty years has shown 
that the epochs of the solar storms classed as great by Ellis are 
identical with those of the greatest chromospheric activity near 
the poles of the sun, whilst the general curve of terrestrial 
magnelic activity is very nearly the same as that of 
the prominences observed near the solar equator.—The 
theoretical study of resistance to compression o! mortar, by 
M. Considére.—On the methods of concentrating liquids used 
for food, and especially wine, by M. F. Garrigou. By distilling 
wine in a vacuum, it has been found possible to reduce the 
wine to one-fourth of its original bulk, without losing any of its 
aroma or alcohol.—Mechanical treatment in the milk industry, 
by MM. F. Bordas and Sig. de Raczkowski. The number of 
bacteria in a cubic centimetre of milk capable of forming 
colonies under plate cultivation was determined in the milk as 
it left the udder, in the mass of milk 24 and 36 hours after milk- 
ing, in the one case where it had not been touched by hand, and « 
in the other after the usual amount of handling. In some cases, 
special antiseptic precautions were taken. The results show 
that there is no difficulty in keeping the various pipes and taps 
used in connection with the mechanical treatment sterile, and at + 
the same time there is greater safeguard against accidental con- 
tamination.—The structure of the suprarenal bodies of the 
Plagiostoma, by M. E. Grynfeltt. 
New SouTH WALEs. 
Royal Society, July 2.—Prof. Warren, president, in the 
chair. — Notes on two chemical constituents from the Evcalypts, 
by Mr. Henry G. Smith.—In this paper, the author records the 
NO. 1714, VOL. 66] 
' 
results of continued investigations on the ester (gerany|l-acetate) 
contained in the oil of Lucalyplus Macarthuri, and also on the oil 
itself, These data show that the ester does not fall, at any time of 
the year, below 60 per cent., and that the amount of free alcohol, 
considered as geraniol, diminishes in amount as the ester in- 
creases. The greatest amount of naturally formed ester occur- 
ring at any time of the year was 74°9 per cent. in September, 
but the free alcohol was only 6 per cent., at that time. It has 
been found from numerous determinations that when the oil is 
acetylised the ester content will be but little removed from 80 
per cent. The oil does not contain phellandrene at any time of 
the year, and eucalyptol appears to be always absent. Eudesmol 
is always present, but as it varies in amount the specific gravity 
of the oil varies also. The crude oil appears to be always 
slightly dextrorotatory. From the results of investigation of the 
oil obtained from more than 100 distinct species o! Eucalypts, 
this is the only one found to contain this valuable oil.—The 
aboriginal languages of Victoria, by Mr. R. H. Mathews.—The 
parks of Sydney; some of the problems of control and 
management, by Mr. J. EH. Maiden. 
CONTENTS. 
By Dr T.*E) Thorpe; CoB; 
PAGE 
Dangerous Trades. 
HekeS: 6 433 
The New International Catalogue. ‘By ‘Prof, Her- 
bert McLeod, F.R.S.. . F 436 
Another Theory of Sex. By If A, Te : 437 
Rontgen Rays in Medicine and Surgery 438 
Our Book Shelf :— 
Fletcher: ‘‘ Elementary Geometry” . 438 
Church: ‘* Diagrams of Mean Velocity ‘of Uniform 
Motion of Water in open Channels, based on the 
Formula of Ganguillet and Kutter.”—R. G. - 439 
Leonard : ‘‘ A First Course of Chemistry (Heuristie).” 
SANS es 439 
Jackson and Jackson : “An Elementary Book | on 
Electricity and Magnetism and their peplicanaas 
SOS re) = . 439 
Ovenden: ‘* The Face ‘of Nature” : go 
Kassner: ‘Gold Seeking in South Africa: a Hand- 
book of Hints for intending Explorers, Prospectors 
and Settlers.. Witha Chapter on the Agricultural 
Prospects of South Africa” . 440 
Holleman: ‘‘A Text-Book of Inorganic Chemis- 
try” - 440 
Hasler: ‘ The Bernese Oberland” 440 
Letters to the Editor :— 
Archzological Remains on the Summit of the Nevado 
de Chani.—Dr. Erland Nordenskidld, F.R.S.. 440 
Radiant Point of the Perseids.—Prof. Alexander 
Graham Bell =F: 440 
Earth Surface Vibrations. — je c, Constable; Tt M. 440 
Larva Stage of He/rocopi is /std’s.— Fred. Fletcher 441 
The Lava-Lake of Kilauea. (///ustvated.) By S. E. 
Bishop 441 
The Influence of Education upon Trade and In- 
_ dustry. By Dr. F. Mollwo Perkin . 442 
Bird-Photogiaphy inthe Garden. (J///ustrated ) By 
R.L. 444 
A New Theory of the Tides of Terrestrial Oceans. 
By Prof, G. H. Darwin, F.n. Z 5 . . 444 
Notes .. i ae 
Our Astronomical Column :— 
Catalogue of New Double Stars 5 450 
Hypothesis on the Nature of Solar Prominences - 450 
Visit of the English Arboricultural Society to Com- 
piegne. (///ustrared.) By Prof. W. R. Fisher 450 
Paleolithic Frescoes and Mural Engrav.ngs. (/¢- 
lustrated.) By A, C. H. te oo ae 452 
Sea Temperature Variations on the British 
Coasts. (//lustrated.) 452 
Recent Educational Reports. . - 453 
Snow-Waves and Snow-Drifts. (iitustrated) By 
Dr. Vaughan Cornish F > ae 
University and Educational ‘Intelligence 455 
Scientific Serials Asal eeree Soe 455 
Societies and Academies 455 
i! 
Nee = 
