432 



NA TURE 



[SlCPTKMBEK 3, 1896 



remarks, for expeditious tests on the applicability of Caiichy s 

 multiplication rule to powers of semi-convergent series higher 

 than the second power, has given rise to the present investiga- 

 tion, which begins with alternating semi-convergent series, and 

 ends with certain trigonometric series. — Analytic functions 

 suitable to represent substitutions, is an interesting following-up 

 of a theorem due to llcrmite [Comptes rcmiiis, vol. Ivii. p. 750), 

 by L. E. Dickson. Further generalisations are promised in a 

 dissertation by the author.— S. Kantor contributes an elaborate 

 memoir, " Theorie der Transformationen im R„ welche sich 

 aus quadratischen zusammensetzen lassen," which has as head- 

 ing, " Boldness is caution in these circumstances."— Tactical 

 Memoranda, i.-iii., by E. H. Moore, is the opening one of a 

 series of papers which the author proposes to publish, on certain 

 more or less closely connected topics of tactic. He starts from 

 Cayley's division of algebra into tactic and logistic. This 

 instalment bears upon the work of Reze (Geometrie der Lage), 

 S. Kantor, Klein, and many others ; it also gives a generalisation 

 of the fifteen-schoolgirls arrangement, and considers whist tour- 

 nament arrangements, which are in ultimate formulation purely 

 tactical. 



convection following the lines of force —The utility in 

 radiography of a screen coated with phosphorescent sulphide of 

 zinc, by M. C. Henry. The zinc sulphide screen, wrapped in 

 carbon paper, is covered with the object to be examined and 

 exposed to the radiation of a Crookes' tube for some minutes. 

 On removal to a darkened room the image shines for at least a 

 quarter of an hour, so that the smallest details of the image can 

 be made out. The light emitted by glow-worms was found to 

 be capable of penetrating blackened paper, and aflfecting a 

 sensitive plate underneath.— The quaternary beds of the Micoque, 

 by MM. O. Chauvet and E. Riviere.— Note on magnesium 

 sulphide, by M. N. Bignan. 



SOCIETIES AND ACADEMIES. 



Paris. 

 Academy of Sciences, August 17.— M. Marey in the 

 chair.— On the coijper mines of Sinai, worked by the ancient 

 Egyptians, by M. Berthelot. These mines are near the coast of 

 the Gulf of Suez, and are undoubtedly the most ancient known to 

 history, having been worked at least 5000 years before the 

 Christian era. They were abandoned about 3000 years ago, on 

 account of the small amount of copper present in the ores. The 

 reduction appears to have been carried out by methods not 

 differing essentially from those in use at the present day, wood 

 being used as the reducing agent, together with fusible silicates. — 

 On the subject of a preceding communication, relating to some 

 properties of primitive roots and secondary roots of prime 

 numbers, by M. de Jonquieres.— On an apparatus for aerial 

 navigation, by M. Honore. — Abstract of solar observations made 

 at the Royal Observatory of the Roman College during the first 

 half of 1S96, by M. P. Tacchini.— Combination of argon with 

 water, by M. P. Villard. When argon is compressed to 150 

 atmospheres in the presence of water cooled to o", local cooling 

 at a point in the tube causes the separation of crystals, probably 

 a hydrate, the dissociation tension of which at 0° is 105 atmo- 

 spheres. Nitrogen and oxygen also combine with water under 

 similar conditions, but at much higher pressures.— On the reti- 

 cular structure of central nervous cells, by Mdlle. Wanda 

 Sczawinska.— Contribution to the study of the coagulation of 

 the blood, by MM. J. Athanasiu and J. Carvallo. It is con- 

 cluded that in the normal state the blood and lymph contain 

 elements, perhaps leucocytes, which supply the fibrin ferment 

 necessary for the coagulation of these liquids, and that when 

 thes; elements are prevented by any means, such as peptone, 

 from fulfilling this function, the tissues are capable of replacing 



them. Influence of certain substances upon the bactericidal 



properties of the blood, by M. London. The bactericidal power 

 of the blood is markedly reduced by want of food, but increased 

 by small repeated do.ses of sodium bicarbonate. — On the extra- 

 ordinary refractions observed in the neighbourhood of lakes, and 

 known under the name of Fata Morgana, by M. Andre 

 Delebecque. The apparent enlargement of objects on the 

 opposite bank of the lake is really due to the superposition 

 of a number of images which, although not distinguishable by the 

 unaided eye, are clearly separable by the aid of a telescope.— On 

 the resolution of the general equation of the fifth degree, by 

 M. L. Mirinny. 



August 24.— M. A. Cornu in the chair.— M. Tisserand gave 

 an account of the results of the observations made of the total 

 eclipse of August 9. The results obtained by M. Deslandres at 

 Yeso, and by Mdlle. Klumpke, at Vadso, were unfavourable, but 

 M. Backlund, of the Observatory of Pulkowa, was able to make 

 some good observations at NovayaZemlya.— On the transforma- 

 tions of the equations in dynamics, by M. P.aul Painleve.--On a 

 proposition in mechanics, by M. F. Siacci.— On a doubly 

 recurring series of points always homocyclic, by M. P. Serret. 



On the electric convection following the lines of force 



produced by the Rontgen rays, by M. Aug. Righi. Experi- 

 ments are described which tend to show the existence of a 



NO. 1 40 1, VOL. 54] 



BOOKS, PAMPHLETS, and SERIALS RECEIVED. 



BoOK-i — Britisli Associ.-uion, Liverpool, i8g6 : Handlrook to Liverpool, 

 &c. (Philip).— An Archaeological Survey of the United Kmgdom : Ur. D. 

 Murray (Glasgow, M.-icLehose),-On the Adju,tment and Testing of Tele- 

 scopic Objectives, 2nd edition (York, T. Cooke). -The Principles of the 

 Traii^former : Dr. F. Bedell (Macmillan).— " Made in Germany : E. fc. 

 Williams, wd edition (Heinemann).— Entomological Notes for the \oung 

 Collector; W. A. Morley (E. Stock).-British Butterflies : J. W. Tutt 

 (Gill) —Elements of Astronomy : Sir R. S. Kail, new edition (Longmans). 



PAMi'HLETS.-Les Applications de L'j-.lectrolyse a la M^allurgie : M. 

 U Le Verrier (Paris, Gauthier-ViUars).- Vierter Jahrcs-Bericht des Sonn- 

 hlick-Vereines, 1895 (Wien).— Arithmetic for Promotion, Scheme B : Lock 

 and Macdonald, Part 5 (Macmillan). . 



SEKiALS.-Science Progress, August (Scientihc Press).— Royal Natura 

 History Part 34 (Warne).— Strand Magazine, August (Newnes_),— Journal 

 of the Royal Microscopic-il Society, August (Williams and Norgate).- 

 Quarterly Journal of Microscopical Science, August (Churchill).— Long- 

 mans Magazine, September (Longmans).- GoodWords,September(Isblster). 

 Sunday Magazine, September (Isbister).-Lloyd'sNatura! History. British 

 Birds: Dr. R. B. Sharpe, Parts 3 and 4 (Lloyd).-Humanitarian, September 

 (Hutchinson).— Chambers's Journal, September (Chambers). --Scnbner s 

 Magazine September (Low).— Natural Science, September (Page). --Journal 

 of the Royal Horticultural Society, Vol. xx. P.art 1 (Victoria Street).- 

 History of Mankind : F. R.atzel, translated, Part x.. (Macmillan ).-Modern 

 Astrology, September (Bouverie Street). 



PAGE 



. 409 



. 410 

 ■ 4" 



CONTENTS. 



An American Professor. By Sir J. G. Fitch . 

 Applied Chemistry of Nitro-Explosives. By H 



The Practice of Massage 



Our Book Shelf:— 



Gregory: "Catalogue of the Fossil Bryozoa in the 

 Department of Geology, British Museum (Natural 



History)" ,', V " " '^'^ 



Mason : " Water Supply (considered principally from 



a Sanitary Standpoint) " 412 



Edmonds: " Botany for Beginners " 412 



Letters to the Editor:— „ , „, r, r. 



Utility of Specific Characters.— Prof. W. F. R. 



Weldon, K.R.S / '^'^ 



The Death of Lilienthal.— Prof. C. Runge ; Prof. 



A du Bois-Reymond 4I3 



LaboLitory Use of Acetylene.— A. E. Munby . . 414 

 Co.il-dust.— A (Question of Priority.— Prof. W. Gal- 

 loway . . ". ,,; V "^"^ 



The August Meteor Shower, 1896. By W. F. 



Denning •.' ' ^^'5 



The Liverpool Meeting of the British Association. 



(Ill) By Prof. W. A. Herdman, F.R.S 4'6 



The Total Eclipse of the Sun. II. (I//iistrated.) By 



J. Norman Lockyer, C.B., F.R.S 418 



Professor A. H.Green, F.R.S. By H. B.W 421 



Notes 422 



Our Astronomical Column: — 



Double Star Observations 42o 



Variable Stars 42& 



^■ariable Star Observations 420 



The Cape Observatory , • . ■ 420 



An Investigation on Aberration and Atmospheric 



Refraction 420 



New Feature on Mars „. , • ; ' ,V,; ' ^^' 



The Eclipse at Bodo and North Finland. (Illiis- 



trated ) 427 



On the Rontgen Rays. By SirG. G. Stokes, F.R.S. 42? 



The Ice Voyage of the "Fram" 43° 



University and Educational Intelligence 43° 



Scientific Serial 43^^ 



Societies and Academies ■. • 43^ 



Books, Pamphlets, and Serials Received 432 



