REPORT—1896. 
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The reason that phase No. 1 is not shown at Shide—and it can only be 
seen in the Carisbrooke record with the help of a strong magnifying-glass 
—is apparently due to the fact that the Shide lamp gives a light which is 
smaller and therefore feebler than that at Carisbrooke. The photograms 
from the latter station have therefore a definition sharper than those from 
Shide. Carisbrooke records are also freer from ‘tremors’ than those at Shide. 
Phases 2 and 3 respectively differ by 4 and 17 seconds ; but inasmuch as 
the Carisbrooke time was regulated by comparisons with an ordinary watch, 
it is remarkable that these well-defined periods are so closely coincident. 
The difference in duration at the two stations is also probably due to 
difference in definition of the photograms. 
I do not know where this shock originated, but because the daily 
papers tell us that there was a severe earthquake in Japan on August 31, 
and because the preliminary tremors have outraced the principal motion 
by 34 minutes—which indicates an origin at a distance of about 6,000 
miles—the inference is that the above records refer to an exceedingly 
violent adjustment of crumpling strata, probably in Japan. If this 
inference is correct, then in that country, in its own time, a violent earth- 
quake took place on August 31 at a few minutes past 5 p.m. 
Electrolysis and LElectro-Chemistry.—Report of the Committee, con- 
sisting of Mr. W. N. Saaw (Chairman), Rev. T. C. Firzpatrick, 
W. C. D. WHetHam (Secretary). 
THE parts of the original scheme for a report on the present state of 
electrolysis and electro-chemistry which remain to be dealt with are as 
follows :— 
III. (d) Electro-chemical thermo-dynamics. 
(e) Electric endosmose. 
(f) The theory of ionic migration and ionic velocities. 
(7) Relations between numerical values of the electrical and 
other physical properties of electrolytes. 
IV. A discussion of experimental methods and apparatus. 
V. Electro-chemical phenomena not usually included as ‘ electrolytic.’ 
VI. Some miscellaneous electrolytic phenomena. ~ 
The Committee divided the work of Sections III. and IY. among its 
members. Electro-chemical thermo-dynamics and electric endosmose were 
assigned to Mr. Shaw, the theory of migration and ionic velocities to Mr. 
Whetham, and the discussion of apparatus and methods to Mr. Fitzpatrick. 
Mr. Whetham has completed the account of the theory of migration, 
&ec., and Mr. Fitzpatrick has dealt with the methods of measuring electrical 
resistance of electrolytes. With regard to the section upon the numerical 
relations of electrical conductivity with other properties of electrolytes 
the Committee are of opinion that very valuable results would be obtained 
by carrying out measurements of the several properties upon identical 
solutions with special precautions to protect the experiments against the 
effects of small impurities. They have learnt that Mr. E. H. Griffiths 
intends, in the course of the coming year, to make a series of observations 
on the freezing-points of solutions, and it is thought that the opportunity 
of making electrical measurements upon the same solutions should not be 
allowed to pass. Mr. Whetham will undertake the electrical portion of 
the work, and it is proposed to apply for a grant of 50/. towards the cost 
of the special apparatus necessary for it. 
