August 2, 1889.] 



SCIENCE. 



75 



bulk. The painted part did not sustain even the slightest blemish, 

 thus apparently proving the ability of this paint to withstand sul- 

 phuric acid, and demonstrating its usefulness where iron piping is 

 laid in acid water, such as is sometimes met with in mines con- 

 taining pyrite or other sulphides, which, under certain conditions, 

 produce acid waters in the form of sulphate solutions, resulting 

 from the decomposition of the sulphide minerals. 



— We learn from Nature that some interesting facts concerning 

 the element tellurium have been brought to light by Dr. Brauner 

 of Prague during the course of a series of atomic weight determina- 

 tions, an account of which is given in the July number of \\\& Jour- 

 nal of the Chemical Society. A determination of the atomic weight 

 of tellurium made by Berzelius in 1832 yielded the number 128.3 '< 

 and a later one in 1857, by Von Hauer, gave the value of 127.9: 

 hence 128 has usually been accepted as the true atomic weight. 

 The properties of tellurium, however, indicate that it belongs to 

 the sulphur group of elements, and that its position in the periodic 

 system lies between that of antimony (of atomic weight 120) and 

 iodine (of atomic weight 127); but, according to the above deter- 

 minations, the atomic weight of tellurium is higher than that of 

 iodine. Hence we are obliged to admit one of two things, — either 

 that the atomic weight of pure elementary tellurium has been in- 

 correctly determined, or that the periodic law of the elements, that 

 grand natural generalization whose distinguished elaborator Eng- 

 lish chemists have recently been delighting to honor, breaks down 

 in this particular case. In view of the overwhelming mass of ex- 

 perimental evidence which has now accumulated in support of this 

 generalization, the latter assumption cannot for a moment be toler- 

 ated. The redetermination of Dr. Brauner becomes therefore of 

 primary importance, and his results partake of the highest interest. 

 The mode of procedure which afforded the most satisfactory re- 

 sults consisted in the analysis of tellurium tetrabromide (TeBr^), 

 purified in the most complete manner by means of silver nitrate 

 prepared from pure silver. The mean atomic weight from these 

 experiments was found to be 127.61 ; the maximum being 127.63, 

 and the minimum 127.59: hence there can no longer be any doubt 

 that the substance we term " tellurium " does possess a combining 

 weight larger than that of iodine. Now comes the question, " Is 

 this substance pure elementary tellurium ? " If it is, then, as Dr. 

 Brauner says, it is " the first element the properties of which are 

 7iot a function of its atomic weight." Dr. Brauner, however, finds 

 as the result of a process of fractionation that it is not pure tellurium, 

 and that it consists of probably three elements, — pure tellurium 

 mixed with smaller quantities of two other elements of higher 

 atomic weights ; and he is at present engaged in studying the 

 nature of these foreign substances, and in the endeavor to iso- 

 late pure tellurium itself. A few of the as yet unpublished results 

 obtained in these latter researches were communicated personally 

 by Dr. Brauner at the meeting of the Chemical Society on June 6, 

 and among them the interesting fact was stated that one of the 

 new elements is probably identical with Professor Mendeleeff's 

 recently predicted dwitellurium (of atomic weight 214), the other 

 new constituent being an element closely allied to arsenic and an- 

 timony. 



— " The principal business transacted at the Literary Congress at 

 Paris, over which M. Jules Simon presided," says the London 

 Athenceum of June 29, " has been the passing of the following 

 resolutions, which it is to be hoped may be imported into the Con- 

 vention of Berne, to which nearly every civilized nation, the United 

 States of America excepted, adhered, and has legislated accord- 

 ingly : I. As an author's title to his work includes the sole right to 

 translate it, or to authorize its translation, the author, his succes- 

 sors, and assigns enjoy the right of translation during the term of 

 copyright, even though they may not have the sole right to repro- 

 duce the work in its original form ; 2. There is no reason for an 

 author notifying in any way that he reserves the right of transla- 

 tion ; 3. There is no ground for limiting the period during which 

 the author of a book or his representatives may translate it." 



— Arrangements are being made by the local committee of the 

 American Association at Toronto for an e.xcursion, starting Sept. 

 3 or 4, to the Huronian district. Particulars will be given in a 

 circular to be issued by the American Geological Society. Ar- 



rangements are also being made for an excursion to the Pacific 

 coast. During the week, two popular lectures, complimentary to 

 the citizens of Toronto, will be give'n by prominent members of 

 the association. The Canadian Railway companies have made the 

 following concessions to members from the United States who 

 may wish to make local excursions during or after the meeting : 

 Return tickets at single fare from Toronto to any station in Cana- 

 da. Montreal and return, going and returning all rail, §8 ; going 

 boat, returning rail, or vice versa, gio ; or rail to Ottawa, river to 

 Montreal, returning rail, $10. Quebec, going and returning all 

 rail, $10 ; going steamer, returning rail, or vice versa, $t3 ; rail to 

 Ottawa, river to Quebec, returning rail, §12. Niagara Falls, going 

 and returning all rail, S^-So ; going rail and returning lake, or vice 

 versa, %i ; going lake and returning lake, $1.50. 



— The Entomological Club of the American Association will 

 meet at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 28, in the room of Section F, 

 University Buildings, Toronto, where members of the club will 

 register and obtain the club badge. Members of the club intend- 

 ing to contribute papers will send titles to the president, Mr. James 

 Fletcher, Government Experimental Farms, Ottawa, Can. The 

 Botanical Club will hold a meeting as usual on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 

 in the room of Section F, University Buildings. Communications 

 should be sent to the president. Professor T. J. Burrill, Champaign, 

 111., or to the secretary, Douglas H. Campbell, 91 Alfred Street, 

 Detroit, Mich. During the week, members will be conducted by 

 local botanists on excursions to points of interest in the neighbor- 

 hood of Toronto. The Society for the Promotion of Agricultural 

 Science will hold its tenth annual meeting in Toronto, beginning 

 on Monday evening, Aug. 26, in the room assigned to Section I in 

 the University Buildings, and continuing on Tuesday. For further 

 information address Professor W. R. Lazenby, secretary, Ohio 

 State University, Columbus, O. The American Geological Society 

 will hold its meeting apart from Section E, in one of the halls of 

 the university, on Aug. 28 and 29 ; Professor James Hall, Albany, 

 N.Y., president, and Professor J. J. Stevenson, University of City 

 of New York, secretary. For all matters pertaining to member- 

 ship, papers, and business of the association, address the perma- 

 nent secretary, at Salem, Mass., up to Aug. 20. From Aug. 20 until 

 Sept. 9 his address will be A.A.A.S., Toronto, Ont. 



— One of the most interesting features in the rapid approach of 

 Cossack and Sepoy towards each other is the extensive planting of 

 trees that is being carried on by the engineering branches of both 

 countries, as reported in Engineeri?ig. Wherever stations are 

 established in the Quetta district, trees, flowers, and vegetables are 

 planted ; and the same is the case with the new Russian settle- 

 ments along the course of the Transcaspian Railway and the Oxus 

 River. Of the two, the Russians have been more systematic than 

 the English, and have spent considerably more money. This is 

 due to the interest taken in the matter by Gen. Annenkoff, who is 

 a born founder of colonies, and takes as much interest in all that' 

 appertains to the Transcaspian settlements as Robinson Crusoe 

 did in his " desert island." At a recent meeting at St. Petersburg, 

 Gen. Annenkoff gave an account of some of his operations in this 

 direction. He admitted very frankly that the tree-planting of the 

 last three years had not been altogether a success, many imported 

 trees and shrubs having perished ; but experience had shown what 

 would and would not thrive, and seeds were being obtained from 

 various parts of the world that would thrive in the sandy soil of the 

 Kara Kum, exposed to the widest possible variations of heat and 

 cold, or in the irrigated clayey expanses of the Merv, Tejend, and 

 Atak oases. Meanwhile the Russian authorities are looking well 

 after the local flora. Orders have been given that no bushes are 

 to be cut down within ten miles of the line, and that the existing 

 forests of saxaul are to be preserved. Saxaul is a kind of hea\y, 

 extremely knotted brier-wood, attaining a forest growth in places, 

 and provides most of the fuel hitherto used in the country. It 

 grows readily in sand, which it moreover serves to bind together 

 by its long, trailing, clumsy roots. Plantations of this are to be 

 made along the line, with camel thorn and other native bushes that 

 thrive well, and it is expected that in time there will be a sufficient 

 growth of vegetation not only to protect the line, but also to provide 

 shelter for weaker trees and bushes of foreign origin. In the mean 



