2 40 



NA TURE 



[July 5, 1906 



Sparks were produced in the apparatus. In some experi- 

 nifnts a confined volume of the mixed gases was used ; in 

 -Others a current of gas was slowly circulated through the 

 apparatus for a period of several hours. In all cases 

 nitric acid was the sole product, and this whether the 

 oxygen or nitrogen was in excess. Oxides of nitrogen, 

 nitrous acid, and ammonia were looked for, but were in- 

 variably absent, even when the reaction took place in the 

 presence of potash solution. — The application of the tele- 

 phone and the Claude-Driencourt astrolabe to the deter- 

 mination of the longitude of Brest : E. Guyou. Two 

 chronometers, beating half-seconds, were used for the 

 transmission of time, one being regulated to mean time, 

 the other to sidereal time, in order to allow of the appli- 

 cation of the method of coincidences, k microphone placed 

 on the glass of each chronometer enabled the beat to be 

 heard in the telephone at the distant station, two observers 

 furnished with receivers working at each station. It was 

 found that the deviations between the comparisons obtained 

 at the same place by two different observations were 

 generally less than o-oi second, these deviations being in- 

 differently positive and negative, showing the freedom from 

 an appreciable personal error. The results obtained at both 

 ends are of the same accuracy as those obtained at a 

 single station, showing that there is no advantage in work- 

 ing from both ends. — The action of carbon monoxide at 

 a red heat upon steam, and of hydrogen upon carbon 

 dioxide. The application of these reactions to the study 

 of volcanic phenomena : .Armand Gautier. .\i a full red 

 heat (1200° C. to 1300° C.) carbon dioxide is reduced by 

 hydrogen, the reaction being limited when the volume of 

 carbon monoxide produced is half that of the hydrogen 

 remaining. The inverse reaction between carbon monoxide 

 and steam was also studied, the composition of the gas 

 mixture being represented by the equation 



3CO-|-2H,0 = 2CO„ + 2H. + CO. 



The bearing of this reaction upon volcanic phenomena is 

 discussed. — Some new properties of malt e.xtract : L. 

 Maquenne and Eugfene Roux. The activity of malt 

 extract, prepared rapidly in the cold, increases on standing, 

 and the advantageous influence exercised by acids is due 

 to the fact that they are favourable to the establishment 

 of this new state of equilibrium. — Some Patagonian fossils. 

 Study of a portion of the Antarctic region : Albert Gaudry. 

 — The use of metallic oxides as catalysers in oxidation : 

 Paul Sabatier and Alphonse Mailhe. If a mixture of a 

 paralifin with oxygen is passed over a column of copper 

 oxide heated to a temperature of about 200° C, the oxide 

 glows, and the reaction continues without further heat- 

 ing of the tube being necessary. The greater part of the 

 hydrocarbon is burnt to carbon dioxide and water, but 

 small quantities of aldehydes and acids are found con- 

 densed in the water produced in the reaction. — The experi- 

 mental production of transmissible varieties of the tubercle 

 bacillus and of anti-tuberculous vaccine : S. Arloing;. A 

 modified human tubercle bacillus has been obtained, the 

 acquired properties being fixed after the eighth generation. 

 It differs from the original bacillus only in that" its patho- 

 genic effects are reduced in intensity. This bacillus has 

 been successfully used since 1902 for anti-tuberculous 

 vaccination of calves. — M. Edmund Weiss was elected 

 correspondant in the section of astronomy in the place of 

 M. Struve. — The coal basin of Sarrebriick and its con- 

 tinuation in French Lorraine ; Jules Berg;eron and Paul 

 Weiss. — The deformation of certain tetrahedral surfaces : 

 G. Tzitzeica. — Differential equations the general integral 

 of which is uniform : M. Gambier. — The equation of 

 Laplace with two variables : Georges Lery. — The photo- 

 graphy of the infra-red spectrum: G. Millochau. In 

 addition to the use of screens proposed by Stefanik, the 

 author makes use of the well-known property of the infra- 

 red rays of destroying the photographic action on an 

 exposed plate. As the effect produced . during the pre- 

 lirhinary exposure to the actinic rays penetrates further 

 into the film than the reversing effect of the red rays, verv 

 thin films of emulsion, coloured red or yellow, were found 

 to give the best results. — \ new method for the photo- 

 graphy of coins : Eug. Demole. — The presence of gold 



NO. 191 4, VOL. 74] 



and silver in the Trias of Meurthe-et-Moselle : Francis 

 Laur. .'Vnalyses of rocks from various parts of this region 

 show traces of both gold and silver. In one case, a lime- 

 stone grit from a depth of 582 metres, the gold amounted 

 to 30 grams, and silver to 245 grams, per ton. — The re- 

 duction of antimony selenide : P. Chretien. — Oxidations 

 with air. The problem of the comparison of velocities : 

 Andr^ Job. — Heterogeneous equilibria. The formation of 

 phosphonium chloride, ammonium carbamate, and sulph- 

 hydrate : E. Briner. — The osmotic pressure in colloidal 

 ferric chloride : G. Malfitano. — Researches on copper 

 steels : Pierre Breuil. — Melezitose and turanose : Georges 

 Tanret. Turanose gives glucose and levulose in equi- 

 molecular proportions on hydrolysis, and not two molecules 

 of glucose, as usually accepted. — The true nature of the 

 leucins and glycoproteins obtained by P. Schutzenberger 

 in the splitting up of protcid materials : MM. Hugrounenq 

 and .\. IMorel. — The influence of chocolate and coffee on 

 the excretion of uric acid i Pierre Fauvel. The methyl- 

 xanthines of chocolate and coffee increase the urinary 

 purins, but not the uric acid. They prevent the precipita- 

 tion of the latter by acids. — The law of increase of volume 

 in trees : Francois Kovesst. — The spectroscopic study of 

 the green pigments of ripe seeds : W. Lubimenko. — The 

 structure of the different gall nuts in the Euphorbiaceae : 

 C. Houard. — The larval biology and metamorphoses of 

 Siphona Cristata. A new case of internal ectoparasitism ■ 

 E. Roubaud. — The influence of phosphoric acid and cf 

 mono- and trisodium phosphates on the nutritive ex- 

 changes : Mile. Bl. Guende. — The influence of the ovary 

 on nutrition : MM. Charrin and Jardry. — The character- 

 istics of the stem of Adelnphytnii Juiicri : Paul Bertranc^. 

 — The rapidity of torrential erosion : E. .\. Martei. — The 

 polarisation of the skv during eclipses of Ihe sun : N. 

 PiitschikolT. 



CONTENTS. p.^GF 



Some Recent Philosophy 217 



Tides and Waves. By W. H. W 21S 



Electricity Meters 219 



A New Volume of the "Fauna of British India." 



By W. F. K 220 



Our Book Shelf: — 



Stonenian: " Plants and their Ways in South Africa" 221 

 Martin : " Lectures on Compass Adjustment." — 



E. W. C 221 



Nee :" Lotus Blossoms " .... ... .221 



Lea: " Hydrographic Surveying. Methods, Tables, 

 and Forms of Notes." — Commander H. C. 



Lockyer, R.N 221 



Letters to the Editor- - 



Osmotic Pressure. — Prof. Louis Kahlenberg . 222 



The Olfactory Sense in Apteryx. — Prof. W. B. 



Benham 222 



Molecular Changes in Nickel Steel. — C. E. Stro- 



meyer 223 



Manx Archaeology and Natural History. By Prof. 



John Rhys 223 



The South African Medal of the British Association. 



{Illiistraled.) By Sir G. H. Darwin, K.CB., F.R.S. 225 

 The Earthquake in South Wales. By Dr. Charles 



Davison . . i-' 225 



Profs. N. S. Shaler and I. C. Russell 226 



Notes 227 



Our Astronomical Column : — 



Search-ephemeris for Finlay's Comet 231 



Stereoscopic Measurement of Proper Motions . ... 231 



Radiative Power of the Sun's Disc 231 



New Forms of Asirographic Object Glasses . . . 231 

 The Great Typhoon in the Philippine Islands in 

 September, 1905. [llliislrah-J.) .... . 232 



The New Buildings of Armstrong College, New- 

 castle-on-Tyne. (Illnstrated.) . . ... . 232 



International Science. By Prof. Arthur Schuster, 



F.R.S 233 



University and Educational Intelligence 237 



Societies and Academies . . ,, .^. ..,,..... 238 

 Diary of Societies .... ."■s'-^.'-''..'-v '."■'.'. '. ■. . . 240 



