March 17, 1887] 



ISIA ruRE 



479 



sccted by the horizontal line of vapour-pressure corresponding 

 with that temperature, the two areas bet.veen the curve and 

 straight line being equal. Dy experiment and extrapolation the 

 authors find the loci of the apices of the serpentine curves corre- 

 sponding with diflerent temperatures, to intersect at the critical 

 point. The above results are proved for ether and carbon dioxide, 

 and the authors believe them to be true for all stable substances. 

 I'rof. Kticker remarked that if similar relations hold for liquids 

 and solids, the triple point of intersection would be of immense 

 interest. I'rof. I'erry, whilst regardmg the residts as of vast 

 importance, thought the curves and calculations should be very 

 carefully discussed before being finally accepted. 



Edinburgh 

 Royal Society, February 21. — Rev. Prof. Flint, Vice- 

 I'resident, in the chair. — In a paper on the effect of pressure on 

 the maximum density ])oint of water. Prof. Tait replied to 

 criticisms made upon his results by Grimaldi — Dr. J. Murray 

 gave a re-determination of the mean height of the land of the 

 globe above sea-level. He obtains a value higher than that 

 obtained by i>revicus observers. — Prof. Tait read a note on the 

 effects of explosives. He pointed out that within a certain 

 distance from the centre of explosion the speed of ejected matter 

 (air, &c.,) is greater than that of sound. Hence within this 

 distance there is great danger of damage to objects from 

 impulsive pressure. — Dr. Tiaquair read a supplementary report 

 on fossil Ganoidei collected in EsUdale and Tiddesdale. — Sir W. 

 Thomson submitted a paper in continuation of his paper read 

 before the last meeting on the equilibrium of a gas under its own 

 gravitation alone. 



Paris 

 Academy of Sciences, March 7. — M. Janssen in the chair. 

 — Determination of the constant of aberration : first and second 

 processes (concluded), by M. Lcewy. The relations being 

 known between the ecliptical and equatoria Ico-ordinates, the 

 equation is here determined by means of which for a couple of 

 stars without aberration, the epoch may be calculated, when both 

 are at the same altitude above the horizon. — On a theorem of 

 M. Liapounoff respecting the equilibrium of a fluid mass, by 

 M. H. Poincare. By considerations borrowed from electro- 

 statics, a simplification is here offered of the demonstration 

 recently published by M. Liapounoff in the Minioircs of the 

 University of Kharkoft". — On the direct fixation of the gaseous 

 nitrogen of the atmosphere by vegetable soils with the aid of 

 vegetation, by M. Berthelot. Having already described the 

 results of the experiments made at Meudon on the fixation of 

 atmospheric nitrogen by certain argillaceous and vegetable soils, 

 apart from the action of vegetation, the author here gives the 

 results of the experiments simidtaneously carried on with the 

 aid of vegetation, and under the ordinary conditions suitable for 

 the natural development of plants. In this case the amount 

 fixed was only 4'67 and 758 grins., as comp.aied with 127 and 

 23'I5 in the absence of plants. From these experiments im- 

 portant conclusions are drawn with regard to the rapid exhaus- 

 tion of the soil under the prevalent systems of forced culture. — 

 On the gieat movements of the atmosphere, and on M. Mascart's 

 second note of February 28, by M. Faye. The author replies 

 to the objections urged against, and repeats the arguments 

 already advanced by him in support of, the theory he has formu- 

 lated on this subject based on fifteen years' observations of 

 atmospheric ]>henoniena. — On the magnetic effects of the recent 

 earthquakes, by M. Mascart. A more careful study of the curves 

 recorded at the Observ,ilory of Nantes shows that the magnetic 

 effects observed at I'aris, Lyons, and Perpignan, were also felt 

 in the west of France, although here the oscillations were much 

 feebler. — On the determination of the poles in magnets, by M. 

 Mascart. For the method here described it is claimed th.at it 

 involves no hypothesis on the magnetic state of the bars, and is 

 free from the objections urged against the other methods now 

 in use. — On the nutritive properties of latex, .and on the .aqui- 

 ferous apparatus of Calophylliim as described by M. Vesquc, by 

 M. A. Trecul. — On the frequency and duration of showers, by 

 M. Herve >r.ingon. The results are here tabulated of the 

 pluviometric observations taken at Paris during the years 1860-70 

 with the pluvioscope invented by the author. The rainfall here 

 recorded is higher than that indicated by other instruments, 

 which mostly neglect slight showers under 010 or 015 mm., 

 which nevertheless represent from 1000 to Ijoo kgrms. of water 

 per hectare. — Letter on atmospheric eddies (M. Weyher's ex- 



periments, &c.), by M. D. Colladon. — Report on M. Leon 

 Roque's note respecting a new metronome, based on the 

 isochronism of the slight oscillations of the pendulum, by M. 

 Fizeau. The Commission appointed to examine this instrument 

 reports favourably on the principle of its construction as at once 

 simple and practical, and considers that it is likely to be of service 

 to the art of music. — Report on MM. Bcrard and Leaute's memoir 

 on the means of diminishing momentary increase of velocity 

 in machinery furnished with governors acting indirectly, by the 

 Commissioners, MM. Levy, Marcel Deprez, Sarrau, and 

 Phillips. The report considers that MM. Berard and Leaute 

 have arrived at a simple and complete solution of the problem 

 how best to control the irregular action of machinery, and that, 

 while specially useful for the manufacture of gunpowder, their 

 ajiparatus will be found generally applicable to all mechanical 

 work. — Note on the earthquake of February 23 in Italy, by M. 

 F. Denza. General conclusions are given regarding the charac- 

 ter, extent, duration, intensity, &c., of this disturbance, derived 

 from reports received from all quarters at the Observatory of 

 Moncalieri. — Propagation of the earthquake in one of the mines 

 at Anzin (Nord), by M. Fran9ois. The /;w«D«<;V;-i' (seismometer) 

 set up in this mine at a depth of 250 metres two months ago 

 recorded, for the first time, extraordinary vibrations between 

 6.15 and 6.30 a.m. on February 23. — Reports on the same 

 phenomenon, by MM. A. Issel (Porto Maurizio), M. E. de 

 Rossi (Rome), and Perrotin (Nice). — Observations on M. Don- 

 nadieu's recent note on the winter incubations of Phylloxera, by 

 M. Balbiani. In reply to M. Donnadieu, the author maintains 

 his views regarding the hibernation of this parasite. — Observa- 

 tions of Barnard's Comet II. and of Palisa's new planet made 

 at the Observatory of Algiers with the o'50 m. telescope, by 

 MM. Trepied and Rambaud. — Distribution in latitude of the 

 solar phenomena during the year 1SS6, by M. P. Tacchini. 

 From the tabulated results of the year's obsen-ations it appears 

 that the eruptions, spots, and faculfe, were more numerous in 

 the southern, and the protuberances in the northern, solar 

 hemisphere. The latter occurred in all zones, whereas the 

 other phenomena were almost entirely confined to the region 

 between the equator and ± 40°.— On the rectifications of 

 Maclaurin's trisector curve by means of the elliptical integrals, 

 by M. G. de Longchamps. — On the laws of solution, by M. H. 

 Le Chatelier. This is a reply to MM. Chancel and Parmentier's 

 recent communication to the effect that the author's law of 

 solution is not general, and in certain cases is opposed to 

 observed facts. — On some formula relating to saline solutions, 

 by M. Duhem. — On a particular case of solution, by M. F. 

 Parmentier.— On an acid obtained by the action of potassa 

 on a mixture of acetone and chloroform, by M. R. Engel. 

 The compound substance here described has been obtained 

 by M. Willgerodt by treating acetone with chloroform and 

 a small quantity of solid potassa. Its formula is 

 CjHjOCls, and it takes the name of acetone-chloroform. — 

 Synthetical researches on some derivatives of diphenyl, by M. 

 P. Adam. — Note on active camphene and ethyl-borneol, by 

 MM. G. Bouchardat and J. Lafont. — Action of the bibromide 

 of ethylene on the alkaline alcoholates : prepiratiou of acetyl- 

 ene, by M. de Forcrand. — On the spares of BiUillvs anthracis, 

 by M. S. Arloing. It is shown that these spores are really 

 killed by the light of the sun. — A new method of attenuating the 

 virus of ovine pox, by M. P. Pourquier. The experiments here 

 described yield an unlimited supply of an attenuated virus or 

 vaccine, with which sheep may be safely and efficiently inocu- 

 lated. — Researches on the structure and development of the cysts 

 in Echinorhynchus angustatus iXii. E. prolciis, bvM. R. Koehler. 

 — On the food of the sardine, by MM. G. Po'uchet and J. de 

 Guerne. It is shown that the food of the sardine varies according 

 to circumstances, and does not depend, as recently asserted, on 

 the animal refuse drifting from the Newfoundland fisheries. — 

 New researches on the mode of formation of double monsters, by 

 M. Camille Dareste. — On the variations of structure in the car- 

 boniferous porphyries of Renfrewshire, by M. A. Lacroix. — On 

 the minerals associated with the basalt of Prudelles, near 

 Clermont-Ferrand, by M. Ferdinand Gonnard. The prevailing 

 mineral disseminated among these as among most of the Puy-de- 

 Dome basalts is a christianite apparently confused by the old 

 mineralogists with mesotype, or vaguely described under the name 

 of zeolite. — Researches on the contraction of the terrestrial radius 

 since the formation of the solid crust, by M. A. de Lapparent. 

 Several arguments are adduced against the general theory that 

 the radius of the globe has diminished by one-half since the gneiss 

 or oldest rock formation. 



