16 NATURE 

and heavier elements to be expected on this hypo- 
thesis. Considering the simplest case, that of 
hydrogen, let us assume that very large equal numbers 
of positive and negative electrons initially combine to 
form N + positive, and N -7 negative protons, and 
that the negatives immediately combine with an 
equal number of positives to form heavier nuclei, 
leaving 2” positive protons to form hydrogen atoms. 
Since in the combination of protons to form heavy 
nuclei the loss of mass by “ packing’ is apparently 
mass of hydrogen Howld ty 
total mass of all elements °°" = 
very nearly equal to 2n/2N, 7.e. n/N. 
The probability that, in the fortuitous formation of 
2N protons, N+ shall be positive and N -n nega- 
(2N)! 
25. (N+2)!.(N-n)! 
when n=o0. Call this probability for an exactly 
equal distribution P, then the probability for any 
PN)? : : 
(N+n)!.(N -n)! white zn, Ee 
limit when N is very great, reduces to Pe ¥, It is 
hence highly improbable that n* should be large 
compared with N. If we assume that n?=N we 
should get a result of the right order of magnitude. 
On this assumption the relative concentration of 
hydrogen would be 1/ ,/N. 
Whatever may be the case in other systems, we 
would certainly seem to be justified in assuming that, 
in the solar system, all, or almost all, the atoms are 
of the positive nucleus type. The number of protons 
constituting the solar system is about 1-2 x 10%, 
which would give a hydrogen concentration of the 
order of 4x10-**. As the hydrogen in the terrestrial 
oceans forms 8 x 10" of the whole mass of the solar 
system, there is no need to enlarge upon the magni- 
tude of the discrepancy. A similar argument might 
be applied t6 the other light elements formed by the 
combination of positive and negative protons. 
The above argument may be objected to on the 
ground that some negative protons would certainly 
combine with previously formed positive complexes. 
As, however, about half the complex nuclei first 
formed would be negative, so that some of the positive 
protons would be lost by combination with them, we 
would expect these effects to balance approximately, 
unless we assume that, when two unequal nuclei 
combine, the sign of the combination is determined 
by that of the larger constituent. On this hypothesis 
it is conceivable that, if the first set of nuclei formed 
happened to be positive, they might so direct the 
course of subsequent events by annexation of negative 
protons, and light negative nuclei, as to lead to the 
existing distribution of the elements. 
Horace H. Poote. 

small, the ratio 
tive is This is a maximum 
other distribution is 
Royal Dublin Society, 
Leinster House, November 29. 
The Hemoglobin Distribution on Surfaces of 
Erythrocytes. 
From time to time the point is brought home that 
factors should be discarded only when exact calcula- 
tion proves them to be negligible. A case in point 
is the recent paper by Dr. K. Burker (Pfluger’s 
Archiv fiir die gesamte Physiologie, vol. 195, p. 516). 
In this interesting paper it is shown that in mammals 
the weight of hemoglobin per square micron of 
surface of the erythrocytes is apparently a constant 
equal to 31-7 x10o"“ gm. Dr. Burker has, however, 
assumed that the surface area of the cells is equivalent 
NO. 2775, VOL. 111] 
[JANuaARY 6, 1923 
to twice the area of a circle having for its diameter 
the large diameter of the cell. The general opinion 
is that in mammals (the camel excepted) the shape 
of the cells is a bi-concave disc, having a circle for 
its horizontal projection, and a flat bi-concave 
ellipse for the vertical projection of which the minor 
axis is about one-third of the major axis (E. Ponder, 
Proc. Roy. Soc. 948, p. 102). The surface area of 
such an erythrocyte would then be equal to that of 
an ellipsoid of revolution around the minor axis. 
It can be shown by the integral calculus that the 
area of such an ellipsoid (if the minor axis is equal 
to one-third the major) is I-09 times as great as that 
of two circles with the major axis for diameter. 
Dr. Burker’s constant is therefore equal to 31-7/1:09 
or 29 x10" gm. hemoglobin per square micron of 
surface of erythrocyte instead of 31-7 x 10°“ gm. i 
BENJAMIN S. NEUHAUSEN. 
Department of Physiology, 
Johns Hopkins University, 
Baltimore, Md., November 24. 

The Local Handbook of the British Association. 
I HAVE just seen Mr. Bernard Hobson’s letter in 
Nature of November 4, p. 605. Mr. Hobson might 
have finished the quotation he gave from your 
review of the Hull Handbook which stated that “ It 
approaches nearer to our ideal than that issued at any 
previous meeting. .. .” 
Early last year Mr. Hobson wrote to me making 
various suggestions in connexion with the handbook, 
and I fancy I was able to tell him that they had all 
been carried out: he has now found some more. Of 
course no one will be able to meet the wishes of every 
member of the British Association in this way, but 
what is often forgotten is the fact that the local 
handbook is presented to the visitors by the local 
committee, and whether it is good or bad is scarcely 
the concern of a committee of the British Association. 
In our case something like 800/. was spent in pro- 
ducing a book which, we knew quite well, could not 
possibly be read, marked, learned, and inwardly 
digested during the meeting, but we felt that the book 
might be useful for reference after the return of the 
members to their respective homes. 
I quite agree that an index and a geological map 
would have been an improvement ; in fact, we went 
to considerable trouble in the preparation of a geo- ~ 
logical map of the Riding, but the printers’ strike 
made its publication, indexing, etc., impossible. 
Only a few days before the Hull meeting none of the 
handbook was printed off, much was still in manu- 
script, and it was only by working day and night that 
a supply was ready for the use of the members. For 
the benefit of future meetings of the Association, may 
I suggest that the editor of the handbook should not 
be one of the local secretaries. Each of these tasks 
is quite sufficient for an ordinary human being, and 
for one to attempt both is almost bound to court 
disaster. T. SHEPPARD. 
Museum, Hull. 
Occult Phenomena and After-images. 
ProFr. ANDRADE’S experiments recorded in NATURE 
of December 23, p. 843, on the apparent move 
ments of cardboard hands, suitably illuminated by 
dim light, are interesting in connexion with a pheno- 
menon recently recounted to me by a coroner of long 
experience. It appears that members of the jury, 
when brought in to view a corpse, frequently declare 
that they have seen the body, sometimes of long 
standing, breathing. No doubt an apparent up and 
