336 



NA TURE 



[August 6, 1908 



The apparent dispersion of light in int. ..iellar sp-.c-e" and 

 the hypothesis of M. Lebedew : J. Stein. A discussion 

 of the theory put forward by M. Lebedew to explain the 

 experimental results of Nordmann and Tikhoff. The 

 theory would appear to be insufficient to explain all the 

 phenomena observed with ;8 Aurigie. — A new variable star 

 with very short jx.'riod discovered at the Observatory of 

 Paris : Jules Baillaud. The existence of this star was 

 noted from the photographic charts of P. and Pr. Henry, 

 of 1900. The magnitude varies between i2-8 and 14-3, 

 the passage from the maximum to the minimum taking 

 about I hour 41 minutes. — A left-handed circular sextic : 

 M. Stuyvaert. — The name of Fleurieu in geography : 

 M. de Fleurieu. — A comparison of the different modes of 

 action of imperfect contacts with variation of resistance 

 and thermoelectric contacts as detectors of electric oscilla- 

 tions : C. Tissot. Replying to the criticisms of M. 

 Branly, the author points out an essential difference 

 between the detectors working by imperfect resistance and 

 those depending on thermoelectric power ; the latter require 

 no auxiliary electromotive force in the form of a battery. 

 — The ultra-violet spectrum of silicon : A. de Gramont 

 and C. de Watteville. A comparison of the wave-lengths 

 and intensities of the line obtained in the spark spectrum 

 and in the flame spectrum. — The magnetic susceptibility 

 of solutions : P. Pascal. The author finds that w'henever 

 an aqueous solution of a metal ion of a salt changes w'ith 

 its valency into a complex ion or into a colloidal com- 

 pound, there is a diminution of the magnetic or diamag- 

 netic properties superadded to the diamagnetism of the 

 "water bv the simple metal ion. There may even be an 

 inversion of the magnetic r6\e of the metal on the solu- 

 tion. These phenomena are repeated when the complex 

 ion passes over into a more complex ion. — The gases 

 occluded in a special nickel steel : i'l. Belloc. The chief 

 point of interest was the marked difference between the 

 quantities of gas extracted from the same metal in the 

 form of wire and turnings. The cause of the difference 

 has not yet been ascertained. — A new method of estimating 

 the fixed and volatile acids in wines : Emm. Pozzi-Escot. 

 — The oxidation of isoeugenol. On dehydro-diisoeugenol : 

 H. CoMsin and \\. Herissey. By the oxidation of 

 isoeugenol in alcoholic solution by ferric chloride, a sub- 

 stance having the composition C„„H,;0| is obtained. This 

 corresponds to the formation of a double molecule follow- 

 ing on the removal of two atoms of hydrogen by the 

 oxidising agent. The properties of the new compound and 

 the preparation of three of its esters are described. — .'\ 

 new method of preparing the mi.xed anhydrides of organic 

 acids : J. Bougault. The method of preparation is 

 peculiar in that the reaction takes place in aqueous solu- 

 tion and in presence of sodium carbonate. Phenyliso- 

 crotonic acid, treated with iodine in presence of a con- 

 siderable excess of sodium carbonate, is converted quanti- 

 tatively into benzoylacrylic acid. If the sodium salt of an 

 aromatic acid is present during this reaction the mixed 

 anhydride is precipitated. The mixed anhydrides of 

 benzoylacrvlic acid with benzoic, cinnamic, phenylacetic, 

 and benzovlpropionic acids have been obtained in this way. 

 — The constitution of vicianine : Gabriel Bertrand and 

 G. Weisweiller. V^icianine is a glucoside obtained from 

 the seeds of Vicia angustifolia and of several other species 

 of the same genus. Under the hydrolvsing action of 

 diastases it gives hydrocyanic acid. In the present note 

 vicianin is shown to resemble amygdalin in being a 

 derivative of /-phenylglycollic nitrile. — The formation of 

 jadeite in cryst.illine schists : Const. .'\. Ktenas. — Folotsy 

 and Voharanga, two new .Asclepiadea^ from Madagascar ; 

 MM. Constantin and Bous. — The formation of the 

 conidia in the .Aspergillacere : L. ManKin. — Contribution 

 to the study of the scrum of animals whose thyroid 

 glands have been removed : L. Launoy. Poisonous 

 properties have been attributed to the blood serum of 

 animals the thyroid glands of which have been excised ; 

 the experiments of the author here given do not confirm 

 this. — The influence of ferrocyanides and ferricvanides of 

 the alkalis on the coagulation of the blood : J. Larguier 

 des Pancels. — The diastatic hvdrolvsis of lactose, maltose, 

 and their derivatives : H. Bierry and J. Ciaja. — The 



NO. 2023, VOL. 78] 



inequality of the volume of the mammary glands in 

 woman : the physiological consequences : G. Variot and 

 P. Lassabliere. In 550 cases, in only 24 per cent, was 

 there equality in the size of the mammary glands ; in 

 51 per cent, the left predominated, and in 25 per cent, 

 the right. When the inequality is very pronounced the 

 smaller gland appears to atrophy, and can only furnish a 

 very small quantity of milk relatively to the other, and 

 these variations in quantity are accompanied by changes in 

 the composition of the mik. — The experimental study of 

 the transmissibility of tuberculosis by dried sputum : G. 

 Kuss. Petersson, Cad^ac, and Calmette have emphatic- 

 ally denied the possibility of tuberculous infection by dried 

 sputum, Cad^ac affirming that the drying and loss of 

 virulence go together. The author details fresh experi- 

 ments made to settle this important point. It w'as found 

 that when the conditions are favourable to desiccation 

 tuberculous sputum dries readily in a few days, and was 

 easily converted into dust, the virulence of which was 

 proved bv inoculation experiments. The inhalation of these 

 powders caused tuberculous infection with extreme readi- 

 ness, a result diametrically opposed to those of Calmette 

 and Cadi^ac. — The kidney of the bony fishes : Louis Roule 

 and I. Audigre. — Experimental researches on the adipose 

 bodies of the .Amphibia : R. Robinson. — The localisation 

 of the sense of alimentary discrimination in the Limnese : 

 Henri Pieron. — The classification of the Tertiary strata of 

 the Guelma region, .Algeria : J. Dareste de la Chavanne. 

 — The Calabrian e:irthquake of October 23, 1Q07 : <i. 

 Mercalli. 



CONTENTS. PAGE 



The Work of J. S. Budgett 313 



Higher Algebra at Harvard University. By G. B. M. 315 



Meteorological Observations 315 



Some Physical Text-books and Lectures 316 



Our Book Shelf:— 



Anderson : " Refrigeration : an Elementary Text- 

 book."— E. Edser 317 



Willis : " Ceylon. A Handbook for the Resident and 



the Traveller '' 317 



VVallis: " The Royal Gardens, Kew " 31S 



Letters to the Editor:— 



The Cili.iled "Urns" of the Sipunculids.— Sir E. 



Ray Lankest^r, K.C.B., F.R.S 318 



Prominence and Coronal Structure. (Illtislrated.) — 



Philip Fox 318 



Fossil Aphididse from Florissant, Colorado. — Prof. 



T. D. A. Cockerell 318 



The Natural History Museum 319 



Birds, Beasts, and Fishes of North Wales. (Iltiis- 



/raleil) 321 



The Water Problem in Agriculture. By Dr. E. J. 



Russell 322 



Lord Kelvin 323 



The Stature of the Races of Europe 324 



Arthur Lister, F.R.S 325 



Notes 325 



Our Astronomical Column :— 



The Solar Eclipse of December 22-23, '9°S .... 330 



Observations of I'etseids, 1907 330 



Micrometer Measures of Jovian Features 330 



Peculiar Orbit of a Sped ro.scopic Binary 330 



Definitive Elements for the Oihit of Comet 1886 V . 330 



Astronomical Societies in the Provinces ..... 330 



Bolides observed During May 336 



Institution of Mechanical Engineers 330 



Electricity in Agriculture. (Illustrated.) By Sir 



Oliver Lodge, F.R.S 331 



The British Medical Association at Sheffield . . . 33J 



University and Educational Intelligence 334 



Societies and Academies 335 



