144 



SCIENCE. 



[N. S. Vol. VII. No. 161. 



A. Engler ; Vice-Presidents, Robert Moore and 

 D. S. H. Smith ; Recording Secretary, William 

 Trelease ; Corresponding Secretary, Joseph 

 Grindou ; Treasurer, Enno Sander ; Librarian, 

 Gustav Hambach ; Curators, Gustav Hambacb, 

 Julius Hurter ; Directors, M. H. Post, Amaud 

 Ravold. 



Dr. Amand Ravold spoke informally of for- 

 maldehyde gas as a disinfectant, and exhibited 

 several forms of apparatus adapted to its use. 

 It was stated that, although in confined spaces 

 the gas has proved an effective disinfectant, 

 which has the merit of not injuring the most 

 delicate fabrics or polished metal surfaces, its 

 germicide action in dwelling rooms has thus far 

 proved less satisfactory than that of sulphur 

 dioxide and chlorine, so far as it has been 

 tested by the Health Department of the City of 

 St. Louis ; so that, as yet, the Health Depart- 

 ment has not fovind it possible to employ it as 

 a substitute for the older and in some respects 

 more objectionable disinfectants. 



Two persons were proposed for active mem- 

 bership in the Academy. 



William Trelease. 



SCIENTIFIC JOURNALS. 

 The American Geologist, January. Several 

 important changes are to be adopted by this 

 journal during the coming year. Professor N. 

 H. WiNCHELL is now the editor-in-chief, and 

 there are eleven associate editors. A new de- 

 partment has been added, which is not covered 

 by any other geological journal. This is a 

 monthly authors' catalogue of American geo- 

 logical literature. Besides forming a part of 

 the regular magazine, it is proposed to issue 

 this catalogue on separate sheets for the benefit 

 of librarians and investigators. The undertak- 

 ing seems a very commendable one, and will 

 form a valuable index. In the present number 

 G. K. GiLBEET gives a sketch of the life and 

 works of the late Joseph F. James, with a por- 

 trait. N. H. WiNCHELL elucidates the deter- 

 mination of the feldspars in a manner which will 

 be found of much service to petrologists. The 

 Pittsburg Coal Bed, one of the richest mineral 

 deposits in the eastern United States, is described 

 by I. C. White, in respect to its age, area and 



structure. The drilling for petroleum has shown 

 that the coal area belonging to this bed is much 

 smaller than has been estimated. The reviews 

 of recent geological literature, personal and 

 scientific news, and correspondence, are a fea- 

 ture of the magazine as heretofore. 



American Chemical Journal, January. ' On 

 Salts of Nitroparafifins and Acylated Derivatives 

 of Hydroxy lamine,' L. W. Jones. 'The Ac- 

 tion of the Halogenes on the Aliphatic Amines 

 and the Preparation of their Perhalides,' J. F. 

 NOKEIS : A comparison of the action of bromide 

 and iodine and the formation of a number of 

 perhalides containing one or more halides. 

 ' On Acyl Imido Esters,' H. L. Wheeler, P. 

 T. Walden and H. F. Metcalf. ' Notes on 

 Double Salts of the Analides, with Cuprous 

 Chloride and Cuprous Bromide,' W. J. Com- 



STOCK. 



J. Elliott Gilpin. 



NEW BOOKS. 



Lehrbuch der vergleichenden mikroskopischen 

 Anatomie der Wirheltiere. Albert Oppel. 

 Jena, Gustav Fischer. 1897. 2d part. Pp. 

 viii-t-682. M. 20. 



Die Farnkrduter der Erde. H. Christ. Jena, 

 Gustav Fischer. 1897. Pp. xii+388. M. 12. 



V electro Chimie. Ad. Minet. Paris, Gau- 

 thier Villars et Fils. 1897. Pp. 167. 2 fr. 

 50 c. 



Transactions of the Congress of American Physi- 

 cians and Surgeons, 4th Triennial Session. New 

 Haven, Conn., Published by the Congress. 

 Pp. liv+310. 



Ethnological Studies Among the Northwest Central 

 Greenland Aborigines. Walter E. Roth. 

 Brisbane and London, Government Printer. 



1897. Pp. xvi-f 199 and 23 plates. 

 Dissection of the Ophidian. David S. Kelli- 



cott. Columbus, O. 1898. Pp. 72. 

 The Psychology of Suggestion. Boris Sidis. 



With an introduction by William James. 



New York, D. Appleton & Co. 1898. Pp. 



X + 386. $1.75. 

 Evolutional Ethics and Animal Psychology. E. P. 



Evans. New York, D. Appleton & Co. 



1898. Pp. 386. $1.75. 



