NA TURE 



[August 3, 1882 



Berlin 

 Physiological Society, July 14. — rrof. Du Bois Reymond 

 in the chair. — Dr. Friedlander spoke a propos of a paper by Dr. 

 Bao-inski at the last meeting, on the cells of the stomach-wall, 

 and presented some microscopical preparations. Dr. Brbsicke 

 gave a summary report on the resuhs of his investigation of 

 normal bone-tissue. With a very favourable preparation, a 

 bone 200 years old, he could explain the nature of the " hone- 

 corpuscles" observed in fresh bones, for he v, as in a position to 

 inject them from the Haversian canals with a coloured mass. 

 Thereby was proved the existence of lacuna?, which, by 

 their outrunning parts, communicate with the Haversian canals. 

 The entire bone-travei sing system of cavities, lacuna?, their out- 

 runners, and thecanab, are inclosed in a proper skin, the limiting 

 membrane, which I Ir. Brbsicke was able to isolate and inve tig te 

 chemically. The limiting membrane hereupon showed reactions, 

 which essentially distinguish it from the intercellular substance, 

 and which entirely agree with the reactions of horn-tissue ; it was 

 therefore named the " Keratin-layer." The contents of the 

 lacuna; are very different in different stages of development of 

 the bone. In the embryo, the lacuna- are quite filled with 

 protoplasm ; later, the protoplasm retires from the inter- 

 cellular substance, and a distinct interval between the latter 

 and the protoplasm-cell can be observed ; at this stage, 

 probably, arises the "keratin-layer." At a further stage of 

 development, the contents of the lacunae are transformed into fat, 

 the cells of which abundantly fill the cavities The fat cells then 

 fall asunder into detritus, which is gradually dissolved, so that 

 the lacuna; remain empty, or, as the author suppose-, filled « ith 

 a gas, probably carbonic acid. The proper lime-containing 

 b me-substance consists of fibres of the nature of connective 

 tissue, which are bedded in lines in different directions, make up 

 the layers of bone-material, and are held together by a structure- 

 less lime-containing cement-substance. This structure of the 

 lime containing bone-tissue has been described before, and Dr. 

 Brbsicke has merely been able to confirm former data ; but what 

 is specially to be noted as new, among the results of the inquiry, 

 is the demonstration of a limiting membrane clothing the entire 

 system of cavities, and its keratin-like character. 



Vienna 

 Imperial Academy of Sciences, July 6. — W. Biedermann, 

 on the morphological changes of the lingual glands of the frog 

 by stimulation of the glandular nerves.- II. Hammer], on rain- 

 bows formed by liquids of different index of refraction. — F. 

 Streintz, experimental researches on galvanic polarisation (first 

 part). — R. Preseher, on the mucous organs of Marchantieie. — 

 G. Schmidt, on the internal pressure and energy of superheated 

 steam. — S. Mayer, studies on the histology and physiology of 

 the vascular system (preliminary communication). — T. V. Tan- 

 owsky, on the nitro-derivates of azobenzene-parasuiphonic acid. 

 — T. Kajaba, a contribution to the theory of polar pianimeters 

 used in practice. — F. Kreuter, a sealed packet witli the inscrip- 

 tion "On a new process of preservation of railway-sleepers." — 

 T. Holletschek, on the orbit of the planet Ate (1 1 1). — G. Vort- 

 mann, on a new methi irect determination of chlorine 



besides bromine and iodine. — Zd. II. Skraup, synthetical experi- 

 ments on the chinoline series (part 4). — Zd. H. Skraup and G. 

 Vortmann, on the derivates of dipyridyl. 



Paris 

 Academy of Sciences, July 24. — M. Jamin in the chair. — 

 The following papers were read : — New researches 

 pagation of explosive phenomena in gases, by MM. Berthelot 

 and Vieille. They study the beha\ iour of a great variety of 

 mixtures, and find a very fair agreement between the theoretical 

 velocity and that observed. The velocity of translation of 

 the gaseous molecules, keeping all the kinetic energy which 

 corresponds to the heat liberated, may be considered as a limit 

 representing the maximum velocity of propagation. This velo- 

 city is dimini-hed by contact of ga-.es and other foreign 1 

 also when the gas inflamed at first is too small and too quickly 

 cooled by radiation, also when the elementary velocity of the 

 chemical reaction is too weak (a- with carbonic oxide). — Separa- 

 tion of gallium, by M. Lecoq de BoLsbaudran. This relates to 

 separation with cobalt, nickel, and thallium. — Dilator 

 thetic nerves of vessels of the mouth and the lips, by MM. Dastre 

 and Morat. — Theory of the diurnal motion of the axis of the 

 earth, by M. Folie. He finds a diurnal precession and nutation 

 which are far from insignificant and may become sensible 

 to observation for circumpolars, even supposing the earth 



solid in the interior. — M. Faye made some remarks on 

 Tom. I. of the Annals of the Observatory of Rio de 

 Janeiro, sent by the Emperor of Brazil. — Observations 

 of solar spots and faculae, at the Royal Observatory of the 

 Roman College, during the first half year of 1SS2, by M. 

 Tacchini. The spots showed a secondary minimum in January, 

 both in frequency and in size. There was increase till April, 

 then rapid diminution. On no day were spots absent. The 

 maximum will probably occur this year. The faculae were pretty 

 numerous from the firs'. — Latitudes of groups of solar spots in 

 1SS1, by M. Kicco (see Notes). — On the orbit of Japhet, by Mr. 



\. Hall. — Rapid solution of the problem of Kepler, by M. 

 Zenger. — On the chemical work produced by the battery, by M. 

 Tommasi. — The chromic acid couple as used by l'avre (posi- 

 tive electrode platina) produces an exterior chemical work 

 equal to about 65 calories. Substituting for the platina, 

 carbon or spongy platina, one may get 20 calories more 

 [i.e. about 85 calories). — On the variation of friction pro- 

 duced by voltaic polarisation, by M. Krouchkoll. He has 

 found that polarisation by oxygen increases the friction, while 

 polarisation by hydrogen diminishes. He describes his ap- 

 paratus. — On the amplitude of telephonic vibrations, by M. 

 Salet. On the iron plate of a Hell telephone were fixed two 



mall glass discs giving Newton's rings. On speaking loudly to 

 the telephone at 5m. or 6m. distance, the rings lose distinctness 

 and disappear. To estimate the displacement by a continuous 

 sound, a disc with slits was rotated before the instrument ; with 

 a certain velocity the rings return ; and on then blowing through 

 the 01: c, the sound proves to be in unison with that of the tele- 

 phone. The amplitude of vibration of the telephone plate was 

 estimated at two to three ten-thousandths of a millimetre. — Re- 

 searches on the use of crusher-manometers, &c. (continued), by 

 MM. Sarrau and Vieille. With the same density of charge, the 

 maximum pressure of picrate of potash and dynamite are shown 

 to differ considerably, though with one piston they had nearly 

 the same crushing force. — Reproduction of calcite and of 

 witherite, by MM. Miron and Bruneau. — On the vaporisation of 

 metals in vacuo, by M. Dernarcay. This was effected at com- 

 paratively low temperatures ; the volatility of cadmium was 

 proved at 160°, zinc at 184 , antimony and bismuth at 292 , lead 

 and tin at 360 . The deposits in 24 to 48 hours were weighable 

 (5 to 15 mgr.). — On the determination of astringent matters in 

 wine, by M. Girard. He employs catgut, utilising its 

 to combine with those matters. — Law of congelation of benzenic 

 substances in neutral substances, by M. Raoult. Acetones, 

 aldehydes, ethers, hydrocarbons, and their derivatives, dissolved 

 in a given weight of benzine in quantities proportional to their 

 molecular weights, all lower the freezing-point of this liquid the 

 same number of degrees. — Means of artificially conferring im- 

 munity against symptomatic or bacterian charbon, with attenu- 

 ated virus, by MM. Arloing, Cornevin, and Thomas. — On 

 Lieberkuehnia, a multinucleate rhizopod of fresh water, by M. 

 Maupas. — On the fossil flora of Tong-King coal, by M. Zeiller. 

 — New researches (physiological and therapeutical) 

 larine, by MM. Heckel, Mourson, and Schlagdenhauffen. 

 Globularetine is the purgative principle, and in a leaf -decoction 

 the action is greater, on account of associated mannite. 



CONTENTS Page 



Francis Maitland Balfour. By Dr. M. Foster, F.R.S. ... 313 



The Mount Whitnev K.xpedition. By Prof. S P. LakOIEV . . 3'4 



Asia. By Rev. A. H. SaVCE . . 3'7 



Magneto- and Dynamo-Electric Machines 318 



Or Book Shelf:— 



Saunier's "Watchmaker's Handbo .b "— H. Dent T.MnNE'i . . 319 



Regel's " Descriptiones Plantarum Novarum el minus Cogtli- 



larwn" 3'9 



Letters to the Editor : — 



The Spectrum of the Lieht emitted by the Glow-worm.— Sir 



John Conrov 319 



Oscillations of the Sea-level.— T. F. Jamwson 3* 



Lizards. -S. I 7 . PeaI 3 2 ° 



Halo— W. A. Sanford 3*> 



The Electric Properties 01 :s) .... 3^0 

 Thi-: Meteorology of Iceland during the Winter and Spring 



of 1881-S2 



The Colours op Flowers, as Illustrated by the I: 



F lora, II. {With Illustrations). By Grant Allen 3 2 3 



Astronomical Observatories. By Dr. Simi ... 326 



Notes 3 2 9 



Ouh Astronomical Column : — 



Continental Observatories 33* 



Atomic Attraction. By Fred. D Brown ' 



re Spbech of Man. By Col. Garrick Maliery . . . 333 



Scientific Serials 335 



Societies and Acapemips 335 



