616 
the Association—was that of Professor Nef, 
on ‘The Chemistry of Methylene,’ only a 
portion of which, however, was read. The 
author, as a result of this and former work, 
claims among other things to have proved 
the existence of isomeric acetylenes, one of 
which is characterized by the presence of a 
bivalent carbon atom and should therefore 
be represented by the formula = C: CH,,. 
This substance and its derivatives are re- 
markable on account of their extraordinary 
instability, horrible odor and extremely 
poisonous properties—peculiarities shared 
in Jarge measure by all compounds of biva- 
lent carbon, among which the author in- 
eludes the cyanides. By a continuation of 
the process of removing hydrogen, Professor 
Nef expects to isolate gaseous and liquid 
earbon, with molecular weights of 24 and 
72, respectively! The publication of the 
full text of this remarkable paper will cer- 
tainly be awaited with interest. 
As the result of a careful research, Pro- 
fessor Freer brought forward further argu- 
ments in favor of the view advanced by 
Nef for the constitution of the aliphatic 
ketones and their metallic derivatives. Dr. 
Lehmann reported the production of benzene 
derivatives through the reduction of a 1:6 
diketone formed by the condensation of 
benzil with two molecules of acetophenone. 
A paper on the ‘ Condensation-products of 
Aldehydes and Amides’ was read by Dr. 
Kohn. A report of analyses of pre-carbon- 
iferous coals was presented by Professor W. 
H. Ellis. 
Professor Roberts-Austen exhibited some 
photographs of the ‘splash’ produced by 
objects falling into molten metals, and in- 
tended to show the similarity of behavior 
in these and other liquids. Mr. Ramage 
explained a number of photographs of the 
spectra of minerals and metals, prepared by 
Professor Hartley and himself. Dr. W. L. 
Miller exhibited an apparatus designed to 
determine the vapor-tensions of liquid mix- 
SCIENCE. 
[N. S. Vou. VI. No. 147. 
tures. Mr. W. Ll. T. Addison read a por- 
tion of an interesting paper on the forma- 
tion of crystals. Short papers by Dr. Glad- 
stone and Mr. Hibbert and by Dr. T. Wad- 
dell discussed the absorption of Rontgen 
rays by the light metals. The curious ef- 
fects produced by certain metals upon a 
photographic plate when placed in contact 
with it, or even, in some cases, in its neigh- 
borhood, were discussed by Dr. W. J. Rus- 
sell. In the mutual decomposition of hy- 
drobromiec and bromic acids, Professor 
James Walker finds an interesting case 
where the application of the theory of elec- 
trolytic dissociation furnishes a satisfac- 
tory explanation of the course taken by 
the reaction. 
Two papers remain to be mentioned, that 
of Professor Andrews on ‘ Reform in the 
Teaching of Chemistry,’ and that of Pro- 
fessor Meldola on ‘The Rationale of Chem- 
ical Synthesis.’ The latter was an attempt 
to find a common ground upon which the 
chemist and the physiologist could work, 
each along his own lines of research, and 
where, by united judicious effort, more 
rapid progress could be made into those 
mysterious regions now withholding from 
our eager quest so much of vast importance 
to mankind. 
W. W. BR. 
GEOGRAPHY AT THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION. 
‘Tue geographers of the United States and 
Canada have every reason to feel highly 
pleased with the reception given them at the 
Toronto meeting of the British Association. 
Every effort was made to have the visiting 
geographers feel that their hosts consid- 
ered them, not guests, but fellow-workers. 
Nearly one-half of the general committee — 
was composed of residents of North America, 
and one day was given over to papers con- 
cerning Canada and the United States. In 
all, nearly half of the papers presented were 
by Americans. 
