456 



NATURE 



\Scpt. 9, 1880 



Brain a Journal of Ncitroh^i for July, iSSo, coiUams : 

 Ori<Tinal articles, by Prof. J. C. Dalton, on the form and 

 toro'^rophical relations of the corpus sfnatum.—R. P. Oglesby, 

 on nystat^mus (gives some very interesting facts relative to 

 symptomatic nystagmus).— Dr. A. Waller, on muscular spasms, 

 known as "tendon reflex."— Dr. J. Hughlmgs-Jackson, on 

 rlo-ht- or left-sided spasm at the onset of epileptic paroxy-ms, 



^^_ Dr. W. Ireland, on left-handedness. — With critical digests 



and notices of books, clinical cases, and several abstracts of 

 British and foreign journals ; among these latter a note by Allen 

 Thomson on Prof. Carlo Giacomiiii's method of preserving the 

 brain by chloride of zinc, alcohol and glycerine, which he thinks 

 most valuable. 



JUmsta Sckntifico-IndnstnaU, No. II, June 15.— Concentrated 

 sulphuric acid is volatile at ordinary temperatures, by Prof. 

 Marangoni. „ • • 1 



No. 12, June 30.— On a new apparatus for collecting rain aiv.l 

 atmospheric dust, by Prof. Sylvestri.— On the development of 

 the Forficida anricularia, Linn., by Prof. Camerano.— Some 

 experknents on the discharge in rarefied gas, by Prof. Righi. 



SOCIETIES AND ACADEMIES 

 Paris 



Academy of Sciences, August 23.— M. Wuttz in the chair. 



The following papers were read : — Meridian observations uf 



small planets at the Greenwich and Paris observatories during 

 the second quarter of 18S0, communicated by M. Mouchcz.— 

 Distinctive character of the pulsation of the heart, according as 

 the right or left ventricle is examined, by M. Marey. ^ During a 

 stoppage in respiration the right heart shows a diminution in 

 amplitude of pulsations, owing to pulmonary resistance, while 

 the left heart sho«'S a slight increase. If through any influence 

 lowering the arterial tension (such as muscular exercise, inhala- 

 tion of "nitrite of amyl, &c.), \Yaves be produced in the aorta, 

 these waves cause in the tracing of pressure of the left ventricle a 

 bifurcation or trifurcation of the summit (according as two or 

 three have occurred during systole). The right ventricle does 

 not show these waves, unless in vestige, and by propagation 

 from the neighbouring part.— Remarkable example of vertically- 

 ascending lightning, by M. Trecul. This was during a storm on 

 Aug. 19. The sparks appeared to come from some lightning con- 

 duiTtors in the place. Some rose singly and disappeared at a small 

 height, expanding into a magnificent, nearly circular flash, the light 

 of which diminished from centre to circumference. In one case 

 two luminous columns rose simultaneously and parallel, and at a 

 certain height precipitated themselves against each other at a 

 right angle.— The death of M. Godron, correspondent in botany, 

 was announced.— The sun would act inductively on the earth 

 even if its magnetic power were simply equal to that of our 

 globe. Induction of the moon by the earth and diurnal lunar 

 variation of terrestrial needles, by M. Quet. The induction of 

 the earth by the sun could be insensible only if the magnetic 

 power of the latter were much below that of the former, which 

 is not probable. The induction of the moon due to its revolu- 

 tion round the earth produces an electromotive force twenty-one 

 times less than that the effects of which are rendered sensible by 

 an experiment made on the earth, and consequently is itself 

 sensible. As the induction of the satellite by rotation of the 

 earth is about twenty-seven times gi-eater than the foregoing, the 

 resultant will be a sensible force with sensible reaction on 

 particular earth- currents, leading to a daily variation of needles 

 according to lunar hours.— On the variations of the coefficient of 

 dilatation of glass, by M. Crafts.— On tungstoboric acid, by M. 

 Klein.— On the products of distillation of colophony, by M. 

 Renard. — On the project of establishment of a station for 

 hospitable purposes at the sonrces of the Ogoone, by the French 

 Committee of the African Association, by M. Mizon. 



August 30.— M. Wurtz in the chair. — The following papers 

 were read :— On Vitis bcrlandkri, a new species of American 

 vine, by M. Planchon.— M. de Lesseps reported the proceedings 

 at the inauguration of the statue to Denis Papin at l;lois, 

 on August 29 (when he represented the Academy). — On the 

 dilatation and compresibility of gases under strong presvures, 

 by M. Amagat. He gives a scries of laws to wdiich his re- 

 searches have led. — Observations of a solar protuberance on 

 August 30, 1S80, by M. ThoUon. A thin, very brilliant jet 

 was observed (about 11 a.m.) to rise near the equator, and nearly 

 at right angles to the sun's limb ; its velocity was estimated at 

 35 km. per second, and its height 343,000 km. It rapidly 



attained prodigious dimensions, while its brightness diminished, 

 especially near the base. About I p.m. it '.was hardly visible. 

 Curiously, while the lower and middle part of the protuberance 

 gave a deflection of the line C towards the violet, the summit 

 presented a nearly equal deflection towards the red. — On the 

 amylamines of inactive amylic alcohol, by Mr. Plimpton. — The 

 star-fishes of the deep regions of the Gulf of Mexico, by M. 

 Perrier. This is a study of star-fishes dredged by Mr. Alexander 

 Agassiz on board 'Aiz Blake in tv/o consecutive years. — Influence 

 of alkaline or acid media on Cephalopoda, by M. Yung. M. 

 Richet's law regarding crayfish (that acid or basic liquids are not 

 toxical in direct ratio of their acidity or basisity); M. Yung verifies 

 for Cephalopoda. The latter are extremely sensitive to mineral 

 acids. With o"5 cc. sulphuric, nitric, hydrochloric, or oxalic 

 acid in a vessel holding two litres of water, the respirations of 

 four Elcdone vwschata were raised from twenty-four to numbers 

 varying from thirty to fifty-six per minute. Double the quantity 

 of acid was fatal, except in the case of oxalic acid. Of the other 

 three sulphuric acid is least poisonous. Of the much less 

 powerful organic acids, tannic acid acts most rapidly. ^ The 

 alkalie,'5 act in the order given by M. Richet. The action of 

 ammonia is extremely rapid. — Influence of coloured lights on the 

 development of animals, by M. Yung. He confirms for marine 

 animals (at the Naples station) the results he formerly obtained 

 with fresh-water animals. The development of eggs of Loligo 

 vulgaris and Sepia officinalis is stimulated by violet and blue 

 light, retarded by red and green. Yellow light in this respect 

 comes nearest to white. Contrary to former results, the 

 development, though retarded, is well accomplished in red and 

 green vessels. — On the vaso-dilator nerves of the sides of the 

 muuth, by MM. Dastre and Morat. — On a particular mode of 

 asphyxia in poisoning by strychnine, by M. Richet. The 

 asphyxia first relieved by artificial respiration, is due to two 

 causes, viz. contraction of the tetanised respiratory muscles, and 

 exhaustion of the nervous centres of respiration. But there is 

 another asphyxia resulting from the enormous interstitial com- 

 bustion in the tetanised muscles, shown by the dark hue of the 

 blood. Hence the necessity of practising artificial respiration 

 very energetically so long as there is convulsive tetanus, so as 

 to replace the oxygen that has disappeared. Substances pre- 

 venting tetanus (such as chloroform, alcohol, or curare) should 

 also be introduced,— On the intensity of some phenomena of 

 atmospheric electricity observed in the north of the Sahara, by 

 M. Amat. Without insulating himself he could, by passing a 

 pocket-comb through his hair or beard, produce sparks O'cSm. 

 to 0-07m. in length. This was best in the evening after a long 

 ride on the arid plains, in hot, dry weather. Horses present even 

 more striking electrical phenomena in their tails, &c. The elec- 

 tricity liberated by the tails is positive. Man in direct com- 

 munication with the ground does not show much accumulation 

 of the electric fluid, and friction is necessary to develop it. The 

 fluid accumulates much more on the horse, the horn of the hoofs 

 acting as insulators. 



CONTENTS Page 



English AND Amekican Bee-Keeping 433 



OuK Book Shelf :— . ,• , t- . ir 



Bergsma's " Rainfall of the East Indian Archipelago; First Year, 



igyj " 43-) 



" Eolanische Jahrbucher fur Systematik, Pflanzengeschichle und 



Pflanzengeographie."— W. B. Hehsley 434 



Letters TO THE Editor:— , ^ . /:,...■ .1,. 



The Conditions Necessary for the Existence of Matter in the 



Liquid State— Existence of Ice at High Temperatures.— Thos. 



Carnelley ' ^^^ 



A Doubtful British Moliusk.— Grant Allen US 



A H.iLi.- Miss L. SoAMES 435 



Tone of Violins— Lewis Wright ';-;; 



Adolph Edouard Grube ••35 



Thunderstorms. IV. By Prof. Tait .... ■ 43^ 



Physics without Apparatus, IV. (Wtih lllustrattons) 4^^ 



The British Association •J^J 



Reports ; ^, •• •, ],". 



Section A— Mathematical and Physical 445 



Section B— Chemical Science 4*/ 



Seclion C— Geology i ! .' 451 



The m'eeti^'^f T»flRON ^nd sVekl "institute" at Dusseldor; 452 



Annual Congress OF the German ANTHRoroLOGiCAL Society . 4.53 

 Our Astronomical Column: — 



Soutllem Variable Stars "^^A^ 



Ceraski's New Variable Star "3 



ANew Comet Z" 



Geographical Notes i !'.'.!'. 455 



Scientific Serials .:5 



Societies and Academies 



