618 
presence of selenious acid in the oxide of copper employed in the 
combustion tubes. —M. E. Royer read a paper on the reduction 
of carbonic acid into formic acid. The author, having found 
that formic acid is produced by the reduction tof oxalic 
acid in the porous vessel of a Bunsen’s battery in presence 
of hydrogen, has subjected carbonic acid to the same treat- 
ment, and found that this also furnishes formic acid.—M. 
Mauméné forwarded a further note on his general theory of che- 
mical action; and M. Dubrunfaut a paper on the law of dilata- 
tion of gases. —M. Guyon communicated some remarks ona paper 
by M. Ramon de Ja Sagra, describing an anomalously branched 
structure in the stem of a palm-tree (Ovedaxa regia). M.Guyon 
stated that a similar anomaly is very common-in the date palm, 
—In a note presented by M. de Quatrefages, on the inversion of 
the viscera and its artificial production, by M. C. Dareste, the 
author stated that he had produced this condition in young 
chicks, by maintaining a temperature at the heating point of 
105°8°—107'6° F., whilst the surrounding temperature was 
allowed to oscillate from 21° to 28°.—M. Bouley communicated 
an important report on the results of the inquiry instituted by 
the Ministry of Agriculture into the occurrence of hydrophobia in 
France during the years 1863-1868. From his statements, which 
unfortunately rest on rather imperfect documents, it appears that 
a large number of persons bitten by dogs supposed to be rabid, 
escape all serious consequences of the bites ; that the summer is 
not more dangerous than any other season ; and that immediate 
cauterisation of the bite appears to be the only sure remedy.— 
M. H. Sainte-Claire Deville presented a note by M. Piarron 
de Montdésir on ventilation by means of compressed air, ac- 
companied by a purification and cooling of the new air, and a 
disinfection of the vitiated air. The author proposed to employ 
strong jets of compressed air, which would carry with them a 
considerable body of uncompressed air; the cooling and purifi- 
cation of this air from dust is to be effected by means of a small 
jet of water in the midst of each air-jet ; and the purification of 
the vitiated air by substituting a disinfecting liquid for the water 
in the jets of compressed air in action at the bottom of the 
ventilating flues. With regard to M. Weestyn’s recent proposal 
to purify the vitiated air of hospitals, &c., by burning it, which is 
rejected on the score of expense by the author, M. Montanier 
remarked that in 1864 he had suggested a similar plan.—MM. 
Mille and Durand Claye presented a memoir giving the results 
of the experiments made for the utilisation of the sewage waters 
flowing into the Seine, which they propose to divert entirely 
from their direct influx into the river, and to apply as manure to 
the neighbouring country. 
VIENNA 
Imperial Academy of Sciences, February 17.—The 
president noticed the decease of Dr. Franz Unger, the well- 
known botanist and vegetable paleontologist, on the 13th Feb.— 
The following papers were read:—1. On the observation of 
oscillations by Prof. E. Mach of Prague. He stated that a very 
simple and effective form of vibroscope is obtained by placing a 
row of K6nig’s burners along one side of an organ pipe, and 
described some of the effects observable by means of this 
instrument.—2. On the intestinal movements, by Dr. S. Mayer, 
containing the results of a series of experiments, relating espe- 
cially to the innervation of the intestines, which had been made 
by him in conjunction with Dr. S. von Basch.—3. Dr. Boué 
completed his address on the petrographic and geognostic results 
of his travels in European Turkey.—The reports of observations 
at the Central Institution for meteorology and terrestrial mag- 
netism during the month of January, were communicated. 
March 10.—The president announced the death of Professor 
Joseph Redtenbacher on the 5th March. The following papers 
were read :—1I. On the renal pelvis of the mammalia and of 
man, by Professor Hyrtl, in which the author described in detail 
the structure of the urine-secreting organs ina great number of 
mammials.—2, Phanological studies, by M. Karl Fritsch, con- 
taining the results of observations made in Austria and Hungary 
on the blooming and maturity of plants, and on the first and 
last appearances of periodically occurring animals.—3. On the 
after-pictures of excitant changes, by M. V. Dvorak, showing 
that the after-pictures of movements observed by Plateau and 
Oppel are not isolated phenomena, but that similar effects are 
produced by changes of brightness.—4. On the rational 
triangle by M. H. Rath.—5. On the simple construction of 
obliquely turned hyperboloids and paraboloids by Professor R. 
Niemtschik.—6. On a cosmical attraction exerted by the sun 
through its rays, by M. C, Puschl, in which the author sought to 
NATURE 
[April 14, 1870 
prove that by means of the zether-waves issuing from it the sun 
exerts an attraction upon opaque bodies, equivalent to the repul- 
sion which it must have produced, according to the hypothesis 
of emanation, by the material particles emitted by it—7. On the 
atomic heat of oxygen inits solid compounds, by M. J. Tollinger. 
—8. On the action of Digitalis and Tinct. Veratri viridis 
upon the temperature in crupose pneumonia, by Dr. L. von 
Schrotten.—9. Prof. V. von Jang delivered an address 
upon a new method of investigating the diffusion of gases 
through porous septa. His apparatus consists of a porous cell 
united by a thin caoutchouc tube with the air-tube of a Mariotte’s 
bottle, so arranged that the gas in the cell is always under the 
atmospheric pressure, and as soon as an increase of volume takes 
. place in it the excess flows over into the bottle, displacing an 
equivalent amount of water, which is determined by weighing.— 
10. The second part of investigations on ammonites by Prof. 
Suess, in which the author treated chiefly of the structure of the 
shell in the Cephalopodous mollusca. He showed that the shell 
which exists in the females of the existing genus Avgonauta, is 
to be regarded as a rudimentary ammonite shell, consisting of an 
ostracum or outer layer without a nacreous layer, and that Axgo- 
nauta belongs to a great group, commencing with Zyachiceras 
and including Cosmoceras, Toxoceras, Crioceras, many Scaphites, 
and the Flexwosi. 
DIARY 
THURSDAY, Apri 14. 
MaTHEMATICAL Society, at 8.—On the Mechanical Description of a 
Nodal Bicircular Quartic: Prof. Cayley. 
MONDAY, Apriu 18. 
Roya Asratic Society, at 3. 
TUESDAY, Aprit 19. 
ANTHROPOLOGICAL Society, at 8.—On the Hypothesis of Pangenesis ap- 
plied to the Faculty of Memory: Mr. Alfred Saunders.—Note on Con- 
sanguineous marriages: Mr. G. C. Thompson. 
WEDNESDAY, Apri 20, 
METEOROLOGICAL SociETY, at 7. 
Society oF ARTS, at 8. 
THURSDAY, Aprit 2%. 
Linnean Society, at 8.—On the Vertebrate Skeleton: Mr. St. George J. 
Mivart. 
CHEMICAL Society, at 8. 
BOOKS RECEIVED 
EnGuisH.—Forms of Animal Life: Prof. Rolleston (Clarendon Press).— 
Manual of Zoology: Dr. Nicholson (Hardwicke).—Alpine Flowers for Eng- 
lish Gardens: W. Robinson (Murray). 
Fore1cn.—Ueber Gahrung und die Quelle der Muskelkraft, und Ernih- 
rung: Liebig.-—Through Williams and Norgate. 
CONTENTS 
Tue Tora SorAr Ecripse oF DECEMBER NEXT . ..... . 
On THE Basis oF CHEMICAL Notation. By Professor W. ODLING, 
PaGE 
599 
DG Shae toe Gah Boece ae aoe a! {vcs Ray ey 600 
THE ‘VOYAGE OF THE “INGVARAS .) 22) sek cree . 602 
OuRevBOOKRISHELE ss Gs) keine) eee mito iene eee Re . 603 
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR:— 
The Dinornis.—Witttam DAVISON « . ss . « - 4s ~ « G04 
‘The Earthquake at Manilla; its Theoretical Significance.—RupoLr 
ATE io ian leutcame tetas epee ees’ GO Lch mlb . 604 
Right-handedness.= Juin. en ec) Nee Setters + 605 
The Balance of Nature:-—W. 1: 78 2.) 2) & 0 8) ee Bon 
Sir W. Thomson and Geological Time.—J. M. Witson . . » 606 
The Moon’s Diameter.—W. H. Stantey MoncKkK ... . = 606 
Fieat Units Tontas, Mure 06) Se en eee - 606 
The Solar Prominences.—ERNEST CARPMAEL. . . + « « « « 607 
Modern Geometry and the University of London.—RicHarp Wor- 
MELLS asthe Lewis: (aipiicisre rn MC ureUn cl ath ean keene - 607 
DEATH OF Pror. MaGnus. By Prof. Tynpatt, F.R.S. . . 607 
Tue Sources oF THE Nite. (W7thk Map.) By Ke1TH JOHNSTON, Jun. 607 
Notes moO omnis OO Getic So Oo doh ona or) 
On THE MADREPORARIA DREDGED UP IN THE “‘ PorcuPINE” ExPE- 
DITION. By, Prof. DuNcAN; P-R°S.)- G2 - 5 =e : . 612 
SOGIETIES) AND“ACADEMIES(© o> (si repibes iv) e) ya aine neem a RCT 
Didi (oF EVR Rao ©, eatees) ete de Vinee ome are 
Errata.—In No. 23, page 580, second column, line r: for ‘‘ Langel,” read 
“Laugel ;” for “ Lartel,” read ‘‘ Lactet.”—Line 3: for “carnulorum,” read 
“carnutorum.”—Line 4; for ‘‘ Trojonotherium,” read ‘‘ Trogontherium,” 
