574 
NATURE 
[AucusT 1, 1912 
affected by the solar radiations, but those from the ] Committee. 
lamp split it up rapidly into carbon monoxide and 
ethane. Aqueous solutions of acetone also yield 
acetic acid and methane.—M. Markétos: The an- 
hydrous nitrates of uranyl and of zinc. These can 
be prepared by heating the hydrated nitrates carefully 
in an atmosphere of nitric acid vapour.—Pierre Joli- 
bois: Grignard’s  reaction.—H. Cousin and H. 
Hérissey: The oxidation of parathymol. Dehydro- 
diparathymol. When parathymol is oxidised either by 
ferric chloride, or by air in presence of the oxydase 
of fungi, two molecules lose hydrogen and unite to 
form dehydro-parathymol, of which the properties are 
described.—P. Lemoult ; Diphenylethylene derivatives ; 
preparation of two cyclohexylidene bases. The bases 
in question are produced by the action of the com- 
pound of cyclohexyl bromide and magnesium on 
Michler’s ketone, and on its tetraethyl homologue.— 
Georges Abt: Salt stains on skins and hides.. These 
stains, which detract seriously from the value of the 
materials, are caused by the presence of calcium 
sulphate in the salt liquors used in pickling.—A. 
Duifour: JIsomorphism of the irido- and _ rhodio- 
chlorides of the alkali metals. A crystallographic 
comparison of the potassium, rubidium, czsium, 
ammonium, and dimethylammonium salts derived 
from H,IrCl, and H,RhCI,.—Louis Matruchot : The 
culture of Lepiota procera.—Romuald Minkiewicz : 
The nature of the chromotropism of the Nemertea. 
Red light exerts a specific action on these animals.— 
M. Wedensky: Prolonged excitation of sensory nerves 
and its effect on the central nervous system. —Robert 
Lévy: The mechanism of the haemolysis caused by 
arachnolysin. Arachnolysin is probably not a direct 
hemolytic toxin, but rather a complex system, like 
many other venoms.—Henry Cardot and Henri 
Laugier : The mechanism of the inversion of the polar 
law of Pfluger.—L. Camus: Passive immunisation.— 
Charles Nicolle, L. Blaisot, and A. Cuénod: The sus- 
ceptibility of the Magot (Macacus inuus) to trachoma. 
Filtrability of the virus. Infective power of the tears. 
The chimpanzee is readily infected with trachoma, 
the course of the disease being very similar to that 
in man. Owing, however, to the rarity of these 
animals, the authors investigated several of the lower 
apes with regard to their susceptibility to the disease, 
and found that Macacus inuus was easily infected. 
The virus was still potent after filtration. Infection 
may be conveyed by the tears.—Pierre Delbet and 
Pierre Cartier: Hzemarthrosis of the knee. The 
bacillus of tubercle was found to be present in many 
of the cases investigated.—E. Kayser: The influence 
of uranium salts on alcoholic ferments. Very small 
amounts of these salts act as stimulants to the fer- 
ments, larger quantities as poisons. Yeast slowly 
acquires a tolerance to the action of uranium.— 
Gabriel Bertrand and H. Agulhon: The presence of 
boron as a normal constituent of animal tissues. 
In exceedingly small amounts, boron was found to be 
present in most of the tissues of the five animals 
examined—guinea-pig, rabbit, sheep, cow, and horse. 
The dried muscles of the rabbit contained about one 
part in two million. 
BOOKS RECEIVED. 
Henri Poincaré. Biographie, 
Analytique des Ecrits. By E. 
Edition: 7 Pps m1) a(Barisk: 
francs. 
La Péche au Bord de la Mer. 
Je- AvePerreau) Sep) siren (eatiss: 
Fils.) 4 francs. 
The Fire Resistance of Doors and Shutters: being 
Tabulated Results of Fire Tests Conducted by the 
NO. VOL. 89] 
Bibliographie 
Lebon. Seconde 
Gauthier-Villars.) 7 
By L. Jouenne and 
J. B. Bailliére et 
Lo stato) 
223 
Compiled by E. O. Sachs and E. Mars- 
land. (Journal of the British Fire Prevention Com- 
mittee. No. vii., 1912.) Pp. 11+2 plates+tables. 
(London: British Fire Prevention Committee.) 42s. 
net. 
Outdoor Philosophy: the Meditations of a Natural- 
ist. By S. D. Kirkham. Pp. xii+214. (New York 
and Benda: G. P. Putnam’s Sons.) 5s. net. 
A Handbook on the Gas Engine. By H. Haeder. 
Translated by W. M. Huskisson. Pp. xii+317. 
(London: C. Lockwood and Son.) 18s. net. 
The Extra Pharmacopceia of Martindale and West- 
cott. Fifteenth Edition. Revised by Dr. W. A. Mar- 
tindale and W. W. Westcott. Vol i., pp. xxxi+1114. 
Vol. ii., pp. viiit+370. (London: H. K. Lewis.) Vol. 
i., 145. net; vol. il., 7s. net. 
A Guide for the Study of Animals. 
By W. Whitney, 
F. €. Lucas, H. B. Shinn, and M. 
E. Smallwood. 
Pp. ix+197. (Boston, New York, Chicago, and Lon- 
don: D. C. Heath and Co.) 2s. 
Their Winged Destiny: being a Tale of Two 
Planets. By D. W. Horner. Pp. vi+240. (London: 
Simpkin and Co., Ltd.) 2s. net. 
Das Relativitatsprinzip: eine Einfithrung in die 
Theorie. By A. Brill. Pp. iv+29. (Leipzig and Ber- 
lin: B. G. Teubner.) 1.20 marks. 
The Story of our Trees, in Twenty-four Lessons. 
By M. M. Gregson. Pp. xii+160. (Cambridge Uni- 
versity Press.) 2s. 6d. 
The Record of the Royal Society of London. Third 
Edition. Pp. viiit483. (London: H, Frowde.) 1535. 
net. 
Lehrbuch der Physik. By Prof. E. Riecke. Fiinfte 
Auflage. Erster Band. Pp. xvi+600. Zweiter Band. 
Pp. xii+775. (Leipzig: Veit and Co.) 26 marks. 
Die Assimilationstatigkeit bei | Schmetterlings- 
Puppen. By Prof. G. von Linden. Pp. 
(Leipzig : Veit and Co.) 4.50 marks, 
Physik in graphischen Darstellungen. 
bach. Pp. x+213 plates+28. 
B. G. Teubner.) 9 marks, 
164+iii Taf. 
By F: Auer- 
(Leipzig and Berlin: 
CONTENTS. 
PAGE 
Mechanical and Chemical Engineering. ..... 549 
Kainozoic Stratigraphy. ByJ.W.G. ...... 551 
Analytical Chemistry. ... . ree a 2 
Our Bookshelf ; esa cay day col -<y yar lok Yoh Sebo tay co SES 
Letters to the Editor :— 
Some Optical Experiments. —Herbert S. Ryland. 554 
Photosynthesis and Stomatal Aperture.—W. Law- 
rence Balls 555 
Curie’s Constant in the Ferromagnetic ‘State. =i R. 
Ashworth . catch et ty SGI 
Elliptic Functions —C. T, Whitmell . fee SG 
The Pygmies of New Guinea. (Zllustrated.) By 
CAG. S: ; 556 
The First International Eugenics ‘Congress. By 
1D, Eh ate a SB 3 ates eo sce! 
INGECSi ani. tei. a «| co eee 561 
Our Astronomical Column :— 
Astronomical Occurrences for August .. . . . 566 
Observations of New Stars . 566 
The Spectroscopic Determination of Aqueous Vapour 
in the Atmosphere cules Save 566 
Personal Errors in Transit Observations ; 566 
The British Medical Association .: 566 
Physiography of the Prairies and North-Eastern 
Australia. By R.L. . Bat 567 
Some English Publications on Agricultural 
Science 568 
Grants for Scientific Purposes from the Develop- 
ment Fund . . she, is ie) oS OS: 
The State Universities of France. meres, 6G Ry! 
University and Educational Intelligence et SP Ree 
Societies and Academies .......... ‘ 573 
Books Received 574 
