348 



SCIENCE. 



[N. S. Vol. XXIII. No. .583. 



In pure glucose solutions tested at constant 

 volume with fixed amounts of phenylhydrazine 

 hydrochloride and sodium acetate, the time 

 required for the precipitation of osazone varies 

 with the amount of glucose present and is 

 nearly constant for any given dilution. Pure 

 solutions of fructose show similar variations 

 with concentration, but always yield a pre- 

 cipitate of osazone in about one third the 

 time required by the same amount of glucose. 

 Invert-sugar reacts almost as readily as fruc- 

 tose. Maltose retards precipitation of glu- 

 cosazone, interfering much more seriously 

 with glucose than with fructose. Lactose 

 interferes in a similar manner and to a 

 greater degree than maltose. 

 Some Derivatives of Citronellal: F. D. Dodge. 



The paper is a continuation of the author's 

 previous work on citronellal (American Chem- 

 ical Journal, XI., XII.). The preparation 

 and properties of the so-called citronellal- 

 phosphonic acid and a number of its salts are 

 described. 



The decomposition of the sodium salt by 

 heat yielded a secondary alcohol, apparently 

 identical with the iso-pulegol of Tiemann. 

 This reaction, together with the general prop- 

 erties of the acid indicates that it is really a 

 derivative of iso-pulegol, and should properly 

 be called iso-pulegol-phosphonic, analogous to 

 the phosphonic acids of the aromatic series. 



The formation of this acid may be utilized 

 for the identification of citronellal, when the 

 latter is present in large amount, and even 

 small quantities of the acid can be detected 

 by means of the characteristic silver salt. 

 The author was unable, however, to confirm 

 the alleged occurrence of citronellal in oil of 

 lemon by means of this reaction. 



F. H. POUGH, 



Secretary. 



THE SOCIETY OF GEOHYDEOLOGISTS, WASHINGTON. 



A SPECIAL meeting of the society was held 

 on January 29 for the purpose of discussing 

 the significance of the term ' artesian ' and of 

 adopting definitions covering its use. As a 

 result of the discussion the following defini- 

 tions were provisionally adopted, subject to 

 such changes in wording as may be necessary : 



DEFINITIONS OF ' AETESIAN.' 



Artesian Principle. — The artesian principle, 

 which may be considered as identical with what 

 is often known as the hydrostatic principle, is 

 defined as the principle in virtue of which water 

 confined in the materials of the earth's crust 

 tends to rise to the level of the water surface at 

 the highest point from which pressure is trans- 

 mitted. Gas as an agent in causing the water 

 to rise is expressly excluded from the definition. 



Artesian Pressure. — Artesian pressure is de- 

 fined as the pressure exhibited by water confined 

 in the earth's crust at a level lower than its 

 static head. 



Artesian Water. — Artesian water is defined as 

 that portion of the underground water which is 

 under artesian pressure and \yill rise if encount- 

 ered by a well or other passage affording an out- 

 let. 



Artesian System. — An artesian system is any 

 combination of geologic structures, such as basins, 

 joints,- faults, etc., in which waters are confined 

 under artesian pressure. 



Artesian Basin. — ^An artesian basin is defined 

 as a basin of porous bedded rock in which, as a 

 result of the synclinal structure, the water is con- 

 fined under artesian pressure. 



Ai-tesian Slope. — An artesian slope is defined 

 as a monoclinal slope of bedded rocks in which 

 water is confined beneath relatively impervious 

 covers owing to the obstruction to its downward 

 passage by the pinching out of the porous beds, 

 by their change from a pervious to an impervious 

 character, by internal friction, or by dikeis or 

 otlier obstructions. 



Artesian Area. — An artesian area is an area 

 undei'lain by water under artesian pressure. 



Artesian Well. — An artesian well is any well in 

 which the water rises under artesian pressure 

 when encountered. ^_ -^ -EvLT^ER, 



Secretary. 



DISCUSSION AND CORRESPONDENCE. 



THE KELEP EXCUSED. 



Ip Dr. Cook will revert to my paper pub- 

 lished in Science, Vol. XX., 1904, pp. 766-768, 

 he will notice that T did not promise to keep 

 silence till the Greek Kalends, but merely 

 expressed my willingness to wait till that date 

 for the extermination of the cotton boll-weevil 

 by the keleps he had introduced from Guate- 

 mala. And I am still waiting. I did, indeed, 

 promise to let the insect rest, as I supposed 



