December 31, 1908J 



NA rURE 



209 



lutramelliyl-ethylcne and isopropyl-methji-ethylene. In 

 this reaction the acetic anhydride was regarded as the 

 true dehydrating agent, but in the present paper this 

 viiw is shown to be incorrect. in the absence of the 

 sulphuric acid the acetate is alone termed, and it is the 

 presence of the very small amount of sulphuric acid which 

 determines the formation of the ethylenic hydrocarbons. 

 — Physical observations of the comet igoSc, made at the 

 Observatory of Lyons: J. Guillaume. .\ detailed account 

 ol the changes of form undergone by the comet as observed 

 between October 24 and Vovcmber 28. — Observations of 

 the .Morehouse comet, igoSf, made with the BrCinner-Henry 

 iquatorial of the Observatory of Toulouse : MM. Saint- 

 Blancat and Rossard. Two tables giving the results of 

 ubsi.rvations of the positions of the comet and of the com- 

 parison stars between October 2 and 14. — Geodesic lines : 

 Jules Drach. — The number of double integrals of the 

 second species of certain algebraic surfaces : L. Remy. — 

 Description of the \'oisin aeroplane used by MM. Farnian 

 and Delagrange : G. Voisin. — The compensation of com- 

 passes of great magnetic moment : Louis Dunoyer. — The 

 magnetic dichroism of calcite and of dolomite in mixed 

 liquids : Georges Meslin. — The influence of pressure on 

 the phenomena of ionisation ; curvesof current and curves 

 with constant field : E. Rothe. — Rotatory power at low 

 temperatures and the connection between the absorption 

 of light and rotatory polarisation in crystals of cinnabar : 

 Jean Becquerel. — The theory of absorption in gases ; L. 

 eioch. A modification of Lorentz's theory on the basis 

 of Walker's hypotheses. The formulae arrived at still 

 await experimental verification. — The magnetism of the 

 rare earths : B. Urbain and G. Jantsch. For groups of 

 the rare earths, the salts of which possess nearly identical 

 solubilities, and the atomic weights of which are nearly 

 ihi- same, the coefficients of magnetisation vary consider- 

 ably, and hence may serve to determine the composition of 

 mixtures which scarcely admit of analysis by other 

 rncihods. Results are given of measurements of o.xides of 

 the type X,0,, in which X may be neodymium, samarium, 

 europium, gadolinium, terbium, or dysprosium. — The 

 variations of the composition of the colloids which are 

 formed in a solution of ferric chloride according to the 

 conditions of hydrolysis : L. Michel. — Remarks on the 

 magnetic properties of the' simple bodies : P. Pascal. 

 Thc' following law is enunciated : — the atomic suscepti- 

 bility is an exponential function of the atomic weight for 

 diamagnetic bodies of the same valency and of analogous 

 chi'mical properties. Some of the experimental data in 

 support of this are given. — The preparation of thorium 

 rhloride : Caniille Matigrnon. The oxide is heated in a 

 mixture of chlorine and the vapour of chloride of sulphur, 

 the chloride being formed at a temperature sufficienll\ 

 low to permit the use of glass tubes in the place of porce- 

 lain tubes required by other methods. Thorium chloride, if 

 quile pure, i.s not so hygroscopic as has been stated by 

 previous workers. — Studies on aluminium. The analysis 

 of aluminium powder : E. Kohn-Abrest. Two methods 

 of analysis are suggested, and the results given of their 

 application to a sample of aluminium powder. — The dis- 

 sociation of sodium bicarbonate : M. Soury. — The atomic 

 \''-ight of silver : Louis Dubreuil. \ reply to some recent 

 iilijrctions of .\. Leduc. — The true atomic weight of silver : 

 (.. I). Hinrichs. The value 108 is maintained to be the 

 true experimental atomic weight of silver. — ^The action of 

 sulphur chloride (S,C1,) on metals and metalloids : Paul 

 Nicolardot. In all the actions described S,C1,, acts like 

 IK'I, and not as a chlorinating agent. — The action of heat 

 I iodic anhydride : Marcel Guichard. Iodine pentoxide 

 unchanged by heating until a temperature of 300° is 

 uhed. .Above this temperature iodine and oxygen are 

 _ vc'n off. The non-decomposed portion becomes chestnut 

 loured. Comparative analyses of the white and brown 

 anhydride gave similar results, all agreeing well with the 

 composition of IjO,. The brown colour appears to be 

 due to minute traces of iodine retained by the undecom- 

 posed anhydride, and no proof of the formation of a lower 

 oxide could be obtained. — Research on the occluded gases 

 rontained in a_ complex brass containing manganese and 

 filled with cavities : G. Guillemin and B. Delachanal. 

 — The waxes of the Coniferae : a new group of natur.il 



NO. 2044, VOL. 79] 



principles : J. Bougault and L. Bourdier. — Syntheses ol 

 derivatives of camphenylone : J. Bouveault and G. 

 Blanc. — The action of sulphuric acid on aldehyde and 

 paraldehyde : the preparation of crotonic aldehyde : .Marcel 

 Delepine. .\cetaldehyde, carried as vapour in a current 

 of air into pure sulphuric acid maintained at 10° C. to- 

 15° C, is absorbed, and distillation of the diluted acid 

 gives a 30 per cent, yield of crotonaldehyde, together with 

 a new polymeride, CjHj.O,. The substitution of paralde- 

 hyde for aldehyde improves the yield. — The action of acids 

 on diiodo-o-methylsparteine : Amand Valeur. — The action 

 of ferments at varying temperatures ; C. Gerber. — 

 .Attempts at the molecular analysis of protoplasmides ; A. 

 ktard and \. Vila. Anhydrous methyl alcohol is sug- 

 gested as a suitable means of separation. — The influence 

 of some mineral salts, especially stannous chloride, upon 

 fermentation : G. Gimel. Two types of yeast (the elliptic 

 wine yeast of Jacquemin and a distillery yeast of the 

 Frohberg typej have been submitted to the action of salts 

 of various metals. The results with tin and bismuth salts 

 are the most striking. The addition of o-oi per cent, of 

 stannous chloride increases the yield of alcohol by 4 per 

 cent., a property possessing obvious industrial applications. 

 — The influence of light on the development of fruits and 

 seeds : \V. Lubimenko. — Contribution to the cytological 

 study of the Endomyces : Saccharomycopsis capsularis and 

 Endomyces fibuUgcr : A. Guilliermond. — The production 

 of a new variety of spinach, Spinacia oleracea, var. poly- 

 gania : M. Blaringhem.— The structure of the ciliary 

 retina : J. Mawas. — .\n .\crasped without medusa : 

 Tacniolhydra Koscoffeiisis : Edgard Herouard. — ^The 

 rhythmic appearance and stages in the experimental 

 inversion of the chlorotropism of the Pagurse : Romuald 

 Minkiewicz. — Studies on the cancer of mice : the histo- 

 phvsiology of certain cells of the conjunctival stroma of 

 tumour B : L. Cuenot and L. Mercier.— The treatment of 

 deep-seated tumours by a method allowing the action of 

 radiant matter to proceed at close quarters with the tissues 

 without altering the teguments : E. de Bourgade 

 la Dardye. Zinc sulphide is injected, and this rendered 

 phosphorescent bv the X-rays. Cases are cited in which 

 the method has been used with advantage. — The treatment 

 of arterial hypertension by the high-frequency current : 

 G. Lemoinei Good results have been obtained in five 

 cases, full details of each being given.— The radiographic 

 study of the articulation of the elbow and knee in a girl 

 three and a half years of age : Maxime Menaird. — The- 

 fossil man found at Chapelle-aux-Saints (Correzc) : 

 Maicellin Boule. — The white rhinoceros, re-found in the 

 Soudan, is the unicorn of ancient times : E. L. 

 Trouessart. — The Haleciidae, Campanulariidse, and Sertu- 

 lariida; of the Challenger collection : .Armand Billard. 

 — The appearance of males and hermaphrodites in 

 parthenogenetic reproduction : J. Pantel and R. de 

 Sinety. — Microseisms of long duration : Jose Com.is 

 Sola.— The Phoridas and LeptidiE of Baltic amber : 

 Fernand Meunier. — The influence of deflation on the con- 

 stitution of the ocean floor : J. Thoulet. 



December 21.— M. Emile Picard in th.' chair.— Remarks 

 on Fredholm's equation : II. Poincare. — The action of 

 lines of electric energy on hailstorms : J. Violie. In a 

 previous note the author described the ravages caused 

 bv a hailstorm, the path of which foUowed exactly a \yire 

 carrying current at a high potential. Such a wire gives 

 oflf torrents of ions carrying large electric charges, the 

 effects of which are exactly comparable with those pro- 

 duced bv the hail cannon. .Although one electric trans- 

 mission line is insufficient to protect a district, several 

 might have a protective effect. — The mode of action of 

 electricity in electric parthenogenesis : Yves Delage. It 

 has been found that the condenser used in the experiments 

 previously described permitted a leakage of current, the 

 resistance being of the order of 20 megohms. It is con- 

 ceivable that the acid and alkali produced by this current 

 frcim the salt in the solution might account for the observed 

 phenomena, which would thus reduce to a case of chemical 

 parthenogenesis. — The forms of endogenous multiplication 

 of Hacmogregarina laccriae : A. Laveran and A. Pettit. 

 .A detailed description with diagrams. — Observations of the 



