94 



NA TURE 



[May 28, 1908 



a- and (8-naphlhols in alcoholic media, but under similar 

 conditions these salts do not combine with monohydric 

 phenols. The dihydric phenols, resorcinol and orcinol, 

 behave like the naphthols in alcoholic solution, but in 

 aqueous solution only diazonium salts, with a preponder- 

 ance of halogen atoms in the benzene nucleus, couple with 

 the two dihydric phenols. — The condensation of benzoin 

 with methyl alcohol : J. C. Irvine and D. McNicoll. — 

 The mutual solubility of 2-methylpiperidine and water : O. 

 Flaschner and B. MacEwen. — The melting points of the 

 anilides, /i-toluidides, and a-naphthalides of the normal 

 fatty acids : P. W. Robertson, The irregularities in 

 melting points in the series of anilides and /i-toluidides 

 seem to tend always in the reverse direction to those 

 observed in the case of the amides. The disturbing factor 

 appears to be a function of the lack of symmetry of the 

 molecule, and is to a great extent eliminated on taking 

 the mean melting points of the amides and anilides and 

 of the amides and /)-toluidldes. In the fatty a-naphthalides, 

 where the substituent group is heavier, irregularities tend 

 to disappear. — The absorption spectrum of camphor : 

 \\". N. Hartley. The author confirms Baly, Marsden, and 

 Stewart's statement that strong solutions of camphor in 

 alcohol show, a band in the spectrum due to the CO and 

 CH, groups, but otherwise the substance is remarkably 

 diactinic. — The viscosity of solutions : C. E. Fawsitt. A 

 continuation of work on colloidal and alcoholic solutions. 

 — The action of fused potassium iivdroxide and of livdrog'en 

 peroxide on cholesterol (preliminary note) : R. H. Pickard 

 and J. Yates. — The volumetric estimation of silver : W. R. 

 Lang and J. C. Woodhouse. — .V criticism of Werner's 

 theory, and the constitution of complex salts : J. \. N. 

 Friend. — The action between potassium sulphite and 

 potassium pentathionale : E. Divers. The author points 

 out that the accuracy of Debus 's investigation of the action 

 between a sulphite and a pentathionate (Trans. Chem. 

 Soc, liii., 278) is not affected by Colefax's quite recent 

 work (ibid., 1908, xciii., 79S). — Note on phenolic thetines 

 and their action with benzoyl chloride : E. de B. Barnett 

 and S. Smiles. — The relation between dielectric constant 

 and chemical constitution, part i., stereoisomeric com- 

 pounds : A. \V. Stewart. Examination of active and 

 racemic compounds, and also of geometrical isomerides, 

 shows that the influence of the spacial arrangement of 

 atoms on the dielectric constants of isomeric substances is 

 not clearly marked. In one case the active isomeride had 

 a stronger absorptive power than the racemic form. — An 

 apparatus for determining the specific inductive capacity 

 of organic liquids : A. W. Stewart. — The influence of 

 solvents on the rotation of optically active compounds, 

 part xii.. ethyl tartrate in aromatic halogen derivatives: 

 T. S. Patterson and D. P. McDonald. — A new test for 

 silver : A. W. Greg:ory. A solution of a silver salt to 

 which has been added a mixture of aqueous ammonium 

 salicylate with ammonium hydroxide furnishes on further 

 addition of ammonium persulphate an intense brown colour. 

 Lead does not give this reaction. — The spontaneous 

 crystallisation of substances which form a continuous series 

 of mixed crystals ; mixtures of naphthalene and g-naphthol : 

 H. A. Miers and F. Isaac. 



Linnean Society, May 7.— Prnf. W. A. Herdman, F.R.S., 



president, in the chair. — Exhibits. — Fruits of the 

 " Buddha's Claw " variety of Citrus mcdica obtained at 

 Easter from the gardens at La -Mortola, formerly belong- 

 ing to the late Sir Thomas Hanbury, also a normal fruit 

 for comparison : Prof. F. E. Weiss. — Representation of 

 the movements of Perlpatus and other invertebrate animals 

 by means of the Newman fire-proof kinematograph : 

 F. Martin Duncan. The special feature of the apparatus 

 used was that It enabled one to analyse all movement, 

 picture by picture, instead of having to run the whole 

 film through from end to end without a stop, as in ordinary 

 kinematograph projectors. The effect of concentrated light 

 upon different species of invertebrate animals had proved 

 of interest and frequently a difficulty, so that colour filters 

 and isochromatlsed negative film had in some cases to be 

 used to obtain a satisfactory record. — Papers. — Colony- 

 formation as a factor in organic evolution ; H. M. 

 Bernard. — -^ntipatharla from the voyage of H.M.S. Sea- 



NO. 2013, VOL. 78] 



lark : C. F. Cooper. — Fresh-water fishes, batrachians, and 

 reptiles obtained by Mr. J. Stanley Gardiner's expedition 

 to the Indian Ocean : G. A. Bouleng:er. — The madrc- 

 porarian corals, part i., the family Fujigidse, with a re- 

 vision of its genera and species and an account of their 

 geographical distribution : J. S. Gardiner. 



Faraday Society, May 12. — Mr. L. Caster in the chair.— 

 Apparatus for determining the boiling points of verv small 

 quantities of liquids : L. O'Dowd and Dr. F. Mollwo 

 Perkin. This consists of a capillary tube which is placed 

 In about 1/5 c.c. of the liquid the boiling point of which 

 is to be determined. The liquid is contained in a small 

 test-tube, which passes through a hole in the cork in such 

 a way that the end containing the liquid comes in close 

 contact wi.:h the thermometer also passed through the 

 same cork. A stirrer is also provided. The heating liquid 

 Is cocitained in a flask capable of holding from 100 c.c. to 

 120 c.c, and may be either sulphuric acid, glycerin, or 

 other suitable liquid. One end of the capillary tube Is 

 sealed, and the open end is so arranged as to be at the ^ 

 bottom of the liquid. On raising the temperature bubbles 

 commence to give off from the end of the capillary tube, 

 and when a constant stream of bubbles comes off the 

 source of heat is removed. The thermometer is read at 

 the moment the bubbles cease to be given off, that 

 Is, the temperature at which the temperature of the vapour 

 In the capillary is equal to the atmospheric pressure and 

 Is the boiling point of the liquid. Numbers were given, 

 showing for high boiling substances, and also for low 

 boiling substances, that accurate results can be obtained. — 

 Ozone, particularly In connection with water purification : 

 Dr. F. Molhvo Perkin. After a historical introduction, the 

 apparatus of Messrs. Siemens and Halske was described 

 in detail. It consists of two concentric electrodes, the 

 inside one of aluminium and the outside one of glass. Thi' 

 inner electrode is hollow, and Is kept cool bv a circulation 

 of water. The outer one is also surrounded by water in 

 order to prevent heating. The aluminium electrode is con- 

 nected with one pole of the high-tension current (8000 

 volts). The containing vessel, which is filled with water, 

 is of iron, and Is earthed. This is thus the negative pole, 

 and as water surrounds the glass pole it becomes electrified. 

 Dried air is passed up an annular space between the two 

 electrodes, and by means of the silent electric discharge 

 becomes ozonised. From the ozonlser the air passes up 

 towers filled with pebbles, over which water trickles. By 

 this means a large surface of water is exposed to the 

 action of the ozone ; It thus becomes sterilised, and from 

 here passes over cascades in order to remove any dissolved 

 ozone. Messrs. Siemens and Halske have large install.i- 

 tlons dealing with the purification of water supply at 

 Wiesbaden and at Paderborn. Other uses of ozone, such 

 as the preparation of vanilla, the bleaching of flour, and 

 other purposes of oxidation, were also mentioned. .As 

 apparatus for laboratory use was exhibited in working. — 

 Dr. Veley showed an apparatus for the determination 0/ 

 dielectric constants of non-conducting liquids. 



Royal Meteorological Society, May 20. — Dr. H. R. 



Mill, president, in the chair. — LTpper air observations in 

 Egypt : B. F. E. Keeling;. The whole prosperity of Egypt 

 is connected with the weather of the neighbouring country 

 of Abyssinia. As the summer rainfall Is greater or less 

 in Abyssinia, so is the Nile flood, and in consequence the 

 area of land cultivated and the general prosperity is greater 

 or less. In years when a bad, low stage of the river is 

 to be expected, following on a bad flood, the early spring 

 showers in Abyssinia are then of very great importance. 

 .\s, unfortunately, there is no meteorological service in 

 Abyssinia, it is not possible to obtain information about 

 the rainfall over that region, so steps have recently been 

 taken to obtain observations on the upper air over Egypt 

 by means of pilot balloons and kites. Mr. Keeling gave 

 an account of the methods employed, and of the directions 

 In which it was hoped in the near future to develop the 

 work. He also stated that the observations of the anti- 

 trade winds made by M. Teisserenc de Bort and Mr. A. L. 

 Rotch have been confirmed. At Helwan the anti-trade 

 wind is reached at a height of about 6500 feet above sea- 

 level. The greatest height so far reached by a balloon 



