2l6 



NATURE 



[January 2, 1908 



Ph. A. Ouye. From an examination of the experimental 

 work of Ramsay and Steele on the densities and com- 

 pressibilities of organic vapours, the author concludes that 

 neither the parabolic extrapolations of Daniel Berlhelot 

 nor the graphical extrapolation of measurements of com- 

 pressibility allows of the rigorous verification of the 

 principle of limited densities. — Ihe influence of temperature 

 on the optical properties of dissolved bodies : C. 

 Ch^neveau. The index of refraction of a dissolved body 

 varies only slightly with the temperature ; the variation of 

 the optical constant or the molecular refractive power of 

 a dissolved substance under the influence of temperature 

 appears to arise more especially from the change of volume 

 of the solution, and appears to be produced in the same 

 sense as the change of temperature. — The detection and 

 estimation of nickel in the presence of any quantities what- 

 ever of cobalt, iron, and manganese ; Emm. Pozzi- 

 Eecot. The nickel is precipitated as a double molybdate 

 of nickel and ammonium. No test analyses are given. — 

 The nature of some phosphorescent elements and meta- 

 elements of Sir W. Crookes : G. Urbain. Starting with 

 definite mixtures in varying proportions of pure terbium 

 and gadolinium, the author has been able to reproduce 

 many of the phosphorescent spectra attributed by Sir W. 

 Crookes to separate elements. — A new chromium sulphate : 

 Paul Nicolardot. — The influence of acids and bases on 

 the fixation of acid and basic colouring matters on wool : 

 L. Pelet-Jolivet and N. Anderson. Details of the 

 amounts of an acid and a basic dye taken up by wool in 

 presence of varying amounts of hydrochloric, sulphuric, 

 and phosphoric acids are given, and it is claimed that the 

 results are in accord with the hypothesis of contact electrifi- 

 cation, and agree with the colloidal theory of dyeing. — 

 Glycidic ethers and aldehydes in the naphthalene series : 

 Georges Darzens. — \n isomer of sparteine, isosparteine ; 

 Charles Moureu and .inland Valeur. .'\ description of 

 the preparation of the base, its dichlorohydrate, chloro- 

 platinate, hydriodide, and picrate. It forms a bi-tertiary 

 saturated base, and the methyl group is not attached to 

 the nitrogen. — Observations on the formation of the 

 aleurone grains during the ripening of the seed : J. 

 Beauveric — Observations on the production of chloro- 

 phyll in the higher plants at different luminous intensities : 

 W. Lubimenko. .\n important fact which appears from 

 this work is that the best illumination for the production 

 of chlorophyll Is lower than the maximum luminous 

 intensity of daylight. \ green plant can adapt itself to 

 a feeble light by increasing its production of chlorophyll. 

 — The constancy of composition of plant juices obtained 

 by successive extractions : G. Andr6. — The action of 

 tyrosinase on some substances resembling tyrosine : 

 Gabriel Bertrand. Only those substances examined which 

 contain a phenolic hydroxyl group proved to be oxidisable 

 by a solution of tyrosinase. The length and nature of the 

 lateral chain appeared to have only a secondary influence, 

 provided that the chain was not too strongly acid or basic. 

 — The excito-secretory action of the internal branch of the 

 spinal nerve on the stomach and pancreas : F. X. Lesbre 

 and F. Maisnon. The internal branch of the spinal nerve 

 of. the pig contains, not only motive fibres, but also secretory 

 fibres, the centrifugal fibres of the vagus. — Does the radio- 

 graphy of the abdominal organs permit of the diagnosis 

 of true death ? M. Beclere. Although the radiography 

 of the abdomen is capable of giving assistance in the 

 differential diagnosis of apparent and true death, the results 

 cannot be absolutely relied upon. — The physiological 

 properties of tubercle bacilli which have been submitted to 

 the action of chlorine : M,\[. Moussu and Goupil. These 

 chlorinated bacillary products have distinctive toxic proper- 

 ties, easily appreciable In healthy subjects. The thermal 

 reaction provoked differs from that of tuberculin. — Con- 

 tribution to the study of the influence of traumatisms on 

 the localisation of tuberculosis. Results of articular 

 traumatisms in rabbits tuberculised by the digestive canal: 

 S. Rodet and M. Jeanbrau. — The .Allier In Miocene 

 times. \ deposit of Miocene vertebrates near Moullns : 

 Ph. Glang^eaiid. — The fossils . near the tile works of 

 Soumailles. In the commune of Pardailhan : G. Vasseur. 

 — The .\gout, a tributary of the Aude, and the valley of 

 the Lhers niort : J. Blayac. — Researches on the variations 

 of the terrestrial potential : ."Vlbcrt Nodon. 



NO. 1992, VOL. ']']'\ 



DIARY OF SOCIETIES. 



FRIDAY, January 3. 

 Gkologists' Association, al S.— On the Zones of the Chalk in the 

 Thames Vallev between Goring and Shiplake : C. P. Chatwin and 

 T. H. Withers. 



MONDAV, January 6. 

 Aristotelian Society, at 8— Prof. James's "Pragmatism " : G. E 



Moore. 

 Victoria Institute, at 4.-io.— The Influence of the Glacial Period upon 

 ^ the Early History of Man : Rev. G. F. Wright. 



Society of Chemical Industry, at 8.— Preparation of Paratoluidine from 



mixed Toluidines by means of Paratoluidine Hydrate : R. J. Friswell. — 



The Determination of Small Quantities of Bismuth : H. W. Rowell. 



n-EDNESDAY, January 8. 



Junior Institution of Engineers, at S. — Recent Improvements in 



Electric Conduit Traction Construction : Fitz Roy Roose. 

 Geologigal Society, at S.— On the Application of Quantitative Methods 

 to the Study of the Structure and History of Rocks : t)r. H. C. Snrby, 

 F.RS.— Chronology of the Glaci.il Period in North America: Prof. 

 G. F. Wright. 



THURSDAY, January 9. 

 Institution of Electrical Engineers, at 8.— Cost of Electrical Powe.r 

 for Industrial Purposes : J. F. C. Snell. 



FRIDA y, January 10. 

 Royal Astronomical Society, at 5. * : 



CONTENTS. PAGE 



The Inheritance of "Acquired" Chaiacters. By 



A. D. D 193 



Problems of Vision 193 



A Lancashire Flora 194 



Selenology and General Astronomy. By W. E. 



Rolston 195 



Our Book Shelf : — 



West: "The Climber's Pocket Book. Rock CUniliing . 

 Accidents, wiih Hints on First Aid to Ihe Injured, 

 some Uses of the Rope, Methods of Rescue and 



Transport " 196 



Porter: "What Rome was Built with. A Descrip- 

 tion of the Stones employed in Ancient Times for 



its Building and Decoration " 196 



Klngzett : " Nature's Hygiene and Sanitary Che- 

 mistry." — C. S, ig6 



Vanderlinden : " Etude sur les Foudroiements d'arbres 

 Constates en Belgique pendant les Annees 1884- 



1906" 197 



Douglas: "The Laws of Health. A Handbook on 



School Hygiene." -R. T. H 197 



Letters to the Editor : — 



The Wehnelt Kathode In a High Vaciuim. -Prof 



O. 'W. Richardson ; F. Soddy 197 



British Association Seismology. — Prof John Milne, 



F.R.S 198 



The Photoelectric Property of Selenium. — Richard 

 J. Moss; Dr. Shelford Bidwell, F.R.S. .198 



Echelon Spectroscope. — H. Stansfield 19S 



A Point in the Maihematical Theoiy of Elasticity. — 



H. M. Martin 198 



Lord Kelvin: an Appreciation. ByJ. L. .... 199 

 Lord Kelvin and the University of Glasgow .... 200 

 Fluctuations in Himalayan Glaciers. (I/lm/i aled ) 



By Prof T. G. Bonney, F.R.S 201 



Tidal Investigations in Canada. By G. H. D. . . . 202 



Education and Research in India 202 



Notes 203 



Our Astronomical Column : — 



Astronomical Occurrences In January 208 



Daniel's Comet, 19070' 208 



Ephemetis for Encke's Comet 20S 



Ab.solute Scale of Photographic Magnitudes 208 



Annual Astronomical Publications 208 



The Canyon Diablo Meteorites 208 



The Stresses in Masonry Dams. (H/iislra/n/.) By 



Prof. E. Brown 209 



The Ethnology of Africa 211 



The Place of the Laboratory in the Training of 



Engineers. {///;/)/ .;/,<i'. ) By Prof. A. L. Mellanby 2H 

 American Invesiigatiot s on Electrolytic Con. 



ductivity .. ■ ■ ... 213 



The Tuberculin Test for Cattle 213 



University and Educational Intelligence 214 



Societies and Acai emies . 214 



Diary of Societies 216 



1 



