380 



SCIENCE 



[N. S. Vol. XXX. No. 768 



tively small diameter, the air passing through the 

 tube and thus coming into contact with the arc. 

 The arc tube contains an insulated electrode at 

 one end, which can serve itself as the second elec- 

 trode. " The arc, at its formation, springs from 

 the insulated electrode to an adjacent part of the 

 arc tube which is only a few millimeters away, 

 but the air, which is passing through the tube, 

 being preferably introduced with a tangential or 

 rotary motion, immediately carries the end of the 

 arc along the wall of the tube, so that it either 

 enters the tube at a considerable distance from 

 the electrode, or it ends on a special electrode 

 placed for the purpose, say, at the other end of 

 the arc tube." 



There are some modifications, which need not 

 be referred to here. A column of arc flame of 

 very high temperature is obtained burning quietly 

 in the axis of the tube and surrounded by air, 

 which is being passed through the tube. Large 

 quantities of electrical energy may be driven 

 easily and safely through a comparatively small 

 tube. The experimental furnaces at Christians- 

 sand are fed with about 600 H.P. at 2,400 volts. 

 The larger furnaces of 1,000 H.P. require 40,000 

 cubic feet of air per hour and have arcs over 

 twenty feet long. 



The nitrogen monoxide produced is readily 

 changed to nitrogen dioxid with oxygen and is 

 absorbed by quicklime in the form of briquettes. 



Cheap water power is necessary. A factory is 

 in process of construction at Notodden, Norway, 

 to consume 30,000 H.P. and another, with ten 

 turbines, to develop 140,000 H.P. at Telemarken 

 on the Rjukan. 



It is of sentimental, but essentially practical, 

 interest that these processes do not participate in 

 the destruction of valuable coal deposits in ob- 

 taining the necessary energy, but use " white 

 coal," which with the constant aid of nature, 

 through the principles of evaporation and con- 

 densation, may be used over and over again. 



Aa may be seen from the list of papers pre- 

 sented, the subject of nitrogen availability was 

 one to which great attention was given. In look- 

 ing over the titles of the papers presented it is 

 suggested that the reader later note the forma- 

 tion of international commissions which are to 

 deal with some most important problems. The 

 members of all the various commissions have not 

 as yet been selected. 



On Thursday, May 27, many of the sections met 

 for organization. 



Sections I. and VII. held a joint meeting at 

 eleven o'clock, when Martin Ullmann presented 

 reports of the International Commission for the 

 Analysis of Artificial Fertilizers and Feeding 

 Stuffs. The following questions were dealt with: 



1. " Ueber die Analyse der Rohphosphate." 



2. " International Regelung des Kali-Koeffi- 

 zienten." 



3. " Die Methode Konig zur Bestimmung der 

 holz-faser." 



4. " Ueber Methoden fiir die Analyse von Stof- 

 fen, dienend zur Bekampfung der Kranklieiten 

 des Weins." 



Heinrich Fresenius presented the report " VI. 

 Subkommission der Internationale Analysenkom- 

 mission." 



Section II. The president, Ludwig Mond, de- 

 livered his address on " The Metallic Carbonyls." 



Section III. Sir Hugh Bell, the president, de- 

 livered his address. 



Whit-Sunday, May 30, was given over to rest 

 by many, sightseeing by others and numerous 

 parties upon the Thames, which was seen in its 

 best splendor, yet the 300 seats reserved each at 

 St. Paul's Cathedral and Westminster Cathedral 

 for members were occupied, some of whom later 

 attended the garden parties of Dr. and Mrs. Mond 

 and Mr. Robert Mond at their homes, and Dr. and 

 Mrs. Thorne at Kew Gardens. 



It is interesting to note that sermons were 

 preached from these historic pulpits along the 

 lines of the " Newer Revelation " harmonizing 

 modern scriptural interpretation with the most 

 advanced scientific conceptions. What a jolly lot 

 of excommunications there might have resulted 

 from these eloquent sermons a century ago ! 



Excursions were arranged as follows: 



Friday, May 28 — Laboratories Royal Army 

 Medical College, Millbuth. 



Saturday, May 29 — Excursion to Rothamsted; 

 London County Council Sewage Works; Hampton 

 Urban District Council Sewage Works; Metro- 

 politan Water Board Water Works; London 

 County Council School of Photo-engraving and 

 Lithography; The Photographic Department of 

 the Polytechnic. 



Tuesday, June 1 — National Physical Labora- 

 tory; Laboratories Metropolitan Water Board. 



Wednesday, June 2 — Biscuit Factory of Peek, 

 Frean & Co. at Bermondsey; Laboratories of the 

 Inland Revenue Department; visit to Windsor 

 Castle by permission of His Majesty the King. 

 Special trains transported a large number to- 

 and fro. 



