96 



NA TURE 



[November 28, 1907 



bromide. From the fact that the radium salt acts from 

 the inside of a glass tube, the a rays are excluded from 

 the action. .Since similar tolouring effects are now shown 

 to be produced by the Rontgen rays, it is probable that 

 the effects observed are due to the 7 rays. — The presence 

 of f-metho.\ycinnaniic aldehyde in essence of estragon, and 

 on some derivatives of estragol : Maurice Daufremc. 

 The aldehyde was isolated from the essence by repeated 

 fractional distillation under reduced pressure, and by its 

 reactions and analysis identified with />-methoxycinnamic 

 aldehyde. .Since, however, the constants did not agree 

 with those of the same aldehyde, as described by Scholtz 

 and Wiedemann, a synthetical sample was prepared, and 

 found to be identical with that from the essence. — The 

 artificial reproduction of heavy spar, cclestine, and angle- 

 site, and on isomorphous mi.xtures of these substances : 

 Paul Gaubert. The method used is the re-crystallisation 

 of the precipitated sulphate from sulphuric acid at, or 

 slightly below, its boiling point. — The influence of the 

 concentration of sugar solutions on the development of the 

 spikes of Vlex eiiropaeus : Marin Molliard. — Floral 

 anomalies due to mechanical action : M. Ducamp. — The 

 use of heat for the treatment of coffee plants against the 

 attacks of the Indian borer (Xylolrcchus quadrupes) : Louis 

 Boutan. To have any practical results it is necessary 

 that all parts of the plant affected should be raised to a 

 temperature of 50° C. This cannot be done by the direct 

 action of a burner, and the author has designed a special 

 stove for this purpose. — The possibility of establishing the 

 diagnosis of death by radiography : Charles Vaillant. In 

 a radiograph of a living person the stomach and intestines 

 are not visible. Owing to their stationary condition after 

 death, and possibly owing also to the development of gases 

 which reinforce the action of the rays, these organs are 

 clearly shown immediately after death in the radiograph, 

 and the clearness increases with lapse of time after death. 

 — The study of the epiploic sero-appendices : R. Robinson. 

 — The north Pyrenees and prc-Pyrenees sheets of charriai;c 

 to the east of the Neste : L^on Bertrand. — An ancient bed 

 of the Pliocene Loire : E. Chaput. — The relation between 

 the radio-activity of subterranean waters and their hydro- 

 logy : F. Dienert and E. Bouquet. 



DIARY OF SOCIETIES. 



8.— The Development of 



THURSDAY, Nnvi 



Institution of Electrical Enginf.ef 

 Turbo-Generators : Dr. Robert Pohl. 



FRIDAY, November 20 



Society of Arts, at 8.— The Hygiene of Work in Compressed Air. 

 (Diving, Caisson Work, Subaqueous Tunnelling, &c.) : Dr. J. S. Haldane, 

 F.R.S. 



SATURDAY, November io. 



Essex Fiei d Club (at Essex Museum of N.itural History, Stratford), at 

 6 p.m. — Notes on an Ancient Human Skeleton found at Foxearth, Essex : 

 I. M. Wood. — A History o^ the Mineral Waters and Mineral Springs of 

 Essex : Miller Christy and (Miss) M.iy May Thresh. 

 MONDAY, Dfcember 2. 



Societv of Arts, at 8.— The Theory of the Microscope : Conrad Beck. 



Aristotelian Society, at 8. — Purpose : Prof Robert Latta. 



Society of Chemical Industry, at 8.— The Estimation of Narhlhalene 

 in Coal Gas and Spent Oxide of Iron: C. I. Dickenson-Gair.— Note 

 on the Influence of Formal on the Properties o'f Funtumm elastica : Dr. 

 P. Schidrowitzand F. Kaye.— The Polarimetric Determination of Sucrose : 

 Dr. F. Watts and H. A. Tempany.— Niam Fat: Dr. J. Lewkowitscb. 

 TUESDAY, December i. 



Institution of Civil Engineers, at B. — Experiments on Wind Pressure : 

 Dr. T. E. Stanton. 



WEDNESDAY, December 4. 



Geological Societv, at 8. — The Faunal Succession in the Carboniferous 

 Limestone (Upper Avonian) of the Midland Area (North Derbyshire and 

 North Staffordshire) : T. F. Sibly.— Brachiopod Homceomorphy : Stiiifcr 

 irlaber : S. S. Buckman. 



Entomological Society, at 8.— Notes and Descriptions of Pterophoridie 

 and Orneodida:: E. Meyrick, F.R.S. 



Society of Public Analysts, at S.— The Volumetric Determination of 

 Reducing Sugars: Part i. ; The Determination of Invert Sugar in Presence 

 of Varying Amounts of Cane Sugar: A. R. Ling and T. Rendle.-The 

 Quantitative Separation of Barium from Strontium : Miss Zelda Kahan.— 

 (i) The Action of Dimethyl Sulphate (Valenta's Reagent) upon Oils of Ihe 

 Aromatic and Aliphatic Series ; (2) Titration with Permanganate in 

 Presence of Hydrochloric Add : I' W. Harrison and Dr. F. M. Perkin — 

 Routine Methods for the Bacteriological Examination of Water; A. R. 

 Tankard. 



THURSDA Y, December 5. 



Royal Society, at ^.^o.—Protablc Paf^crs : Reciprocal Innervation of Anta- 

 gonistic Muscle!. Eleventh Noie. Further Observations on Excessive Induc- 

 tion : Prof. C. S. Sherringlon, F. R. S.— On the Distribution of the Different 



NO. 1987, VOL. 77] 



Arerics supplying the Human Prain : Dr. C. E. Beevor.— Localisation of 

 Function in the Lemuis Brain : Dr. F. W. Mott, F R.S., and Prof. W. D. 

 Halliburton, F.R.S.— On the Supposed Extracellular Photosynthesis of 

 Carbon Dioxide with Chlorophyll ; Prof. A. J. Ewart.-The Influence of 

 Increased Barometric Pressure on Man, No. 4, The Relation of .^ge and 

 Body Weight to Decompression Effects: 1,. Hill. F.R.S., and M. G. 

 Greenwood, jun —On Ihe Present Distribution and Origin of the Cal- 

 careous Conctelions in Coal Seams known as "Coal Balls": Miss Slopes 

 and D. M. S. Watson.— On the Structure of Sigil/arin scutellata, Brongn., 

 and other Eusigillarian Stems in Comparison with Those of other Palaeozoic 

 Lycopods : E. A. Newell Atber and H. H. Thomas. 



Chemical Society, at 8.30.— I he Aflinity Constanls of Bases as Deter- 

 mined by Methyl (Jrange. Preliminary Communication : V. H. Veley. — 

 The Velocity of Reduction of the Oxides of Lead, Cadmium, and Bismuth 

 by Carbon Monoxide, and the Existence of ihi Suboxides of these Metals : 

 F. J, Brislee.— The Relation between Unsaturation and Optical Activity, 

 Part i.. The Menthyl and Bornvl Esters of P-Phenylpropionic, Cinnamic, 

 and Phenylpropiolrc Acids : T. P. Hilditch.— The Constituents of the 

 Essential Oil of Nutmeg: F. B. Power and A. H. Salway.— Methyl 

 Ethers of some Hydroxy-anthraquinones : A. G. Perkin. — The Colouring 

 Matters of the Stilbene Group, Part iv.. The Action of Cau,tic Alkalies 

 up^n Parani rotoluene and its Derivatives: A. G. Green, A. H. Davies, 

 and R. S. Horsfall.— The Replacement of Alkyl Radicals by Methyl in 

 Substituted Ammonium Compounds : H. O. Jones and J. R. Hill. 



Institution of Electrical Engineers, at 8. — Automatic Cab-signalling 

 01 Locomotives: J. Pigg. 



Civil and Mechanical Engineers' Society, at 8. — Retaining Walls; 

 A. T. Walmisley. 



LiNNEAN Society, at 8.— Report on Alcyoaaria of the Sudanese Red Sea : 

 Prof J. Arthur Thomson.— Repoit on the Crinoidea of the Sudanese Red 

 Sea : H. C. Chadwick.— Notes on some Marine Alga: from the Red Sea : 

 Prof. R. J. Harvey Gibson. — Exhibitions: — Specimens of Spartina. 

 Townsendi,_ as illustrating its Distribution in Britain : Dr. Otlo Stapf. — 

 Lantern Slides showing Stages of Soil-denudation consequent on the 

 Removal of Forests : A. P. Young. 



CONTENTS. PAGE 



The Vertebrate Nervous System. By Dr. W. Page 



May 73 



Electric Power and Traction. By L. C 74 



School Chemistry and Practical Organic Chemistry. 



ByJ. B. C 74 



Our Book Shelf:— 



Velenovsky ; " Vergleichende Morphologic der Pflan- 



zen."— J. B. F 76 



van Baren : " De Vormen der Aardkorst : Inleiding tot 



de Studie der Physiogtaphie " 76 



North: "Nests and Eggs of Birds found Breeding in 



Australia and Tasmania " 7^ 



Smalian : " Grundziige der Tieikunde fiir hohere 



Lehranstalten." — R. L 76 



" Precis des Caracteres generiques des Insectes, disposes 



dans un Ordre nalurel par le Citoyen Latreille " . . 77 

 Petkin ; "The Metric and British Systems of Weights, 



Measures and Coinage " 77 



James; "The Story of Scraggles (A Sparrow)" ... 77 

 Letters to the Editor: — 



Specific Stability and Mutation.— Sir W. T. Thisel. 



ton Dyer, K.C.M.G, F.R.S 77 



The Winding of Rivers in Plains.— Sir Oliver Lodge, 



F.R.S. ; R. C. Slater 79 



The Occurrence of Copper and Lithium in Radiun - 



bearing Minerals.— Prof. Herbert N. McCoy. . . 79 

 A Convenient Formula in Thermodynamics. — Harvey 



N. Davis 80 



A Miocene Wasp.— Prof. T. D. A. Cockerell. ... 80 



The Eggs of the Platypus.— The Reviewer 80 



Literature relating to Australian Aborigines. — Dr. A. 



W. Howitt ; k. H. Mathews 80 



Notes on Ancient British Monuments. IL (Illiis- 

 ti-atcd.) By Sir Norman Lockyer, K.C.B., F.R.S. 82 



The Preservation of Eggs 84 



Notes 8s 



Our Astronomical Column : — 



Astronomical Occurrences in December 89 



Saturn's Rings 90 



Photographs of Jupiter 90 



Final Designations of recently discovered Variables . . 90 



A Large Eruptive Prominence 9° 



Surveys of Nebul.v 90 



New Geological Survey Maps and Memoirs. {[litis- 



tralcd.) . . . . ■ 90 



Recent Publications of the U.S. Museum.— By R. L. 91 



University and Educational Intelligence 92 



Societies and Acadmies 93 



Diary of Societies 96 



