January 2, 1908] 



NATURE 



207 



elusion that the thermoelectric method is the better, that 

 the best time of swing of the galvanometer is five seconds, 

 and that greater use should be made of galvanometer 

 deflections than is done at present, so as to reduce as far 

 as possible potentiometer manipulations. Slide wire 

 potentiometers should be avoided, switch instruments being 

 much more satisfactory, and leakage disturbances should 

 be prevented by surrounding the circuit with a continuous 

 or nearly continuous metallic shield. 



The September (1907) number of Terrestrial Magnetism 

 and Atmospheric Electricity contains an abstract, by Mr. 

 J. A. Fleming, of the results obtained by the Ziegler 

 Tolar Expedition of 1903-5. Astronomical, survey, tidal, 

 meteorological, and magnetic observations were made 

 during one year at several stations in the Franz Josef 

 .Archipelago. Two new maps embody the results of the 

 survey, and indicate the two channels by which the tidal 

 wave from the Atlantic reaches the archipelago. The 

 mean barometric pressure was 39-6 inches, and the mean 

 temperature 8° F. ; the mean declination 22° east, the 

 dip 83° north, and the total intensity 0-57 C.G.S. unit. 

 The morning maximum of easterly diurnal declination 

 occurred between five and six o'clock, and the afternoon 

 minimum between eight and nine o'clock. 



The employment of the conversion temperatures of 

 1 I ystallised salts as fixed points in thermometry has been 

 -hown recently to possess a real practical value, sodium 

 -ulphate having been shown to give the point 32°.383, and 

 ~odium bromide 5o°.674, both on the international hydrogen 

 ~i'ale. In a recent number of the Zeitschrift fiir physik- 

 itlische Chemic (December 3, 1907) Messrs. T. W. Richards 

 .md Franz Wrede put forward manganese chloride, 

 \InCl, + 4H,0, as a suitable substance for another fixed 

 |ioint. One re-crystallisation of the commercially pure salt 

 1-i sufficient to give a point within o°-o6 of its final value, 

 md after si.x re-crystallisations the point is fixed to within 

 ci^ooi C. A simple and effective form of thermostat is 

 described and figured, by means of which the correction 

 for the emergent column is reduced to one or two 

 thousandths of a degree. The transition temperature of the 

 tetrahydrate into the dihydrate of manganese chloride is 

 finally given as 58°o89, with a limit of error of +o°oo5. 



The number of the Zeitschrift referred to above 

 contains a paper by Mr. A. Hantsch giving the result of 

 experiments on the cryoscopic behaviour of sulphuric acid. 

 It is shown that, as a criterion of purity, the cryoscopic 

 method far surpasses the ordinary analytical method. The 

 pure monohydrate H,SOj melts at io°.46, and the addition 

 of either water or sulphur trioxide causes a lowering of 

 the melting point. This result is confirmed by conductivity 

 measurements, the maximum melting point corresponding 

 with the minimum electrical conductivity. It was found 

 possible to determine the molecular weight of various 

 organic substances, methyl sulphate, trinitrobenzene, 

 phthalic anhydride, &c., in pure sulphuric acid, and from 

 the mean results of nine substances by the application of 

 van 't Hoff's formula a latent heat of fusion of 2294 

 calories was deduced. The latent heat of fusion, directly 

 determined, was found to be 2282. 



We have received from Messrs. Philip Harris and Co., 

 Ltd., Birmingham, a copy of their latest price list of 

 chemical apparatus and chemicals. A special feature of 

 this list is the arrangement into sections, which is likely 

 greatly to facilitate its use. The earlier sections deal with 

 general apparatus, such as instruments for weighing and 



NO. 1992, VOL. yy] 



measuring, apparatus of glass, porcelairi, and metal ; 

 thermometers, microscopes, spectroscopes, &c. ; each of the 

 later sections deals with apparatus used in a special 

 branch of chemistry, for example, brewing, iron and steel 

 analysis, mining, cements, oils, fats and waxes, water 

 and agricultural analysis. Sections are also devoted to 

 physicochemical work, and to driving, stirring, and 

 shaking apparatus. The list is admirably printed and' 

 illustrated, and is furnished with a very complete index. 



.A SERIES of striking addresses delivered on the occasion 

 of the inauguration of Dr. W. A. Noyes as professor of 

 chemistry at the University of Illinois has been printed' 

 in Science (vol. xxvi., No. 673, pp. 689-714). ProL 

 H. A. Webber, in discussing the relation of chemistry tO' 

 agriculture, emphasised in particular the great improve- 

 ment both in quantity and quality of agricultural crops- 

 owing to the utilisation of the results of modern science. 

 Dr. McMurtrie, speaking on the relation of chemistry to- 

 the industries, dealt with the need of developing the power 

 and judgment of the industrial chemist by research work 

 carried out in university laboratories ; the fact that scientific 

 research is a nation's " greatest financial asset " was 

 especially emphasised. Prof. J. Stieglitz, while deploring 

 the lack of active investigators in the past among teachers 

 in .American universities, pointed out that recently there 

 has been a great development in all branches of research, 

 especially since Clark University and the University of 

 Chicago were founded mainly with this object in view. 

 The American teacher is, however, still as a rule over- 

 burdened with an excessive amount of routine work, con- 

 sisting of lecturing, laboratory instruction, and adminis- 

 trative duties, and is seldom afforded aid by the provision 

 of suitable research assistants ; funds also are too often 

 lacking. ProL G. B. Frankforter, in discussing the teach- 

 ing of chemistry in State universities, pointed to the 

 wonderful growth of German chemical industry as a speci- 

 men of what can be done by hearty cooperation between 

 the universities and the leaders of industry of a nation. 

 Chemistry has too often been taught in such a way as to 

 convey the idea that it " serves no other purpose than to 

 be simply dabbled with in college laboratories " ; it is not 

 therefore tg be wondered at that few realise that its " laws 

 and principles are the foundation stones of our great in- 

 dustrial structures." In his speech on the contribution of 

 chemistry to modern life. Prof. Noyes took as his key- 

 note the supreme importance of purely scientific work 

 undertaken without reference to its technical application ; 

 he illustrated his subject by referring to the history of the 

 coal-tar colours and the development of several industries 

 from a purely scientific nucleus. The speeches, taken 

 collectively, constitute a powerful plea for greater support 

 and sympathy being accorded to purely scientific work. 



The second edition, revised and enlarged, of " A 

 Bibliography of the Works of Sir Isaac Newton, together 

 with a List of Books illustrating his Works, and Notes," 

 by Mr. G. J. Gray, will be published this month by 

 Messrs. Bowes and Bowes, Cambridge. 



Messrs. George Philip and Son, Ltd., have sent us 

 two specimen sheets of their " Imperial " series of maps. 

 The price of each sheet is 2s. 6d., but the maps can also 

 be obtained on cloth, with rollers and varnished, at 3s. 6d. 

 each. Each sheet is about 28 inches by 19 inches, and 

 contains several physical maps. One sheet provides a map 

 of the world in hemispheres, showing physical features in 

 the familiar shades of green, brown, and blue, together 

 with three maps of the world indicating isobars, rainfall, 



