82 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 



new check list to the second edition is far more complete and accurate than the former, 

 and justifies the delay of nearly twelve months in the publication of the volume. 

 The number of periodicals noted is about 3,160 out of the 8,600 in the catalogue. 



"The material for this work has been gathered from all available bibliographies 

 and by personal examination of the shelves and of the printed and manuscript cata- 

 logues of many libraries in the United States, England, France, Belgium, Germany, 

 and Italy. As a last resort circulars were sent out through the Smithsonian Insti- 

 tution to publishers in several countries asking for specimen numbers of their jour- 

 nals; the titles were then transcribed from the numbers received." 



No. 1084. Bibliography of the Metals of the Platinum Group: Platinum, Palladium, 

 Iridium, Rhodium, Osmium, Ruthenium. 1748-1896. By Jas. Lewis Howe. City of 

 Washington. Published by the Smithsonian Institution, 1897. 8-\ 318 pp. (Forms 

 part of Vol. XXXVIII, Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collections.) 



No. 1087. A Catalogue of Earthquakes on the Pacific Coast, 1769-1897. By 

 Edward S. Holden, LL. D. City of Washington. Published by the Smithsonian 

 Institution. 1898. 8°. IV + 253 pp., with 5 plates and 6 text figures. (Forms 

 part of Vol. XXXVII, Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collections.) 



This paper is an exhaustive list of earthquakes recorded on the Pacific coast from 

 1769 to 1897 and includes a complete account of the earthquake observations at 

 Mount Hamilton during the years 1887 to 1897, together with an abstract of infor- 

 mation which has beeu collected regarding Pacific coast earthquakes during that 

 period. 



No. 1090. Review and Bibliography of the Metallic Carbides. By J. A. Mathews, 

 M. S., M. A., F. C. S. City of Washington. Published by the Smithsonian Insti- 

 tution. 1898. 32 pp. (Forms part of Vol. XXXVIII, Smithsonian Miscellaneous 

 Collections.) 



In general plan the work gives a condensed account of the methods of prepara- 

 tion, and the physical and chemical properties of the carbides, arranged in alpha- 

 betical order, following each descriptive portion with references to the literature 

 bearing thereon. The author says : 



"Within the last five years the renewed attention of chemists has been turned 

 toward this class of compounds, and new carbides have been produced in rapid suc- 

 cession. Experiments upon the reduction of metallic oxides by means of carbon in 

 an electric furuace have resulted in the production of many of the newly discovered 

 carbides. In studying the literature of these compounds the work of one man is 

 especially noticeable. More than to all other chemists together is praise due M. 

 Henri Moissan for the untiring energy with which he has investigated the carbo- 

 metallic compounds. So often has he astonished chemists with the results of his 

 electro- chemical experiments that new discoveries by him are likely to be considered 

 as a matter of course. M. Moissan's work upon artificial diamonds is one of the 

 greatest achievements of science in imitating nature's methods. 



"In conducting his experiments Moissan makes use of an electric furnace of very 

 simple construction. It consists of a limestone block, in the upper surface of which 

 is chiseled a rectangular cavity, which is lined with a coating of magnesia and of 

 carbon. Through opposite sides of the block are inserted stout carbon electrodes, 

 and through one of the other sides is an opening through which a carbon tube is 

 inserted. In this tube the materials to be heated are placed and thus inserted into 

 the arc. It is estimated that a temperature of 4,000° is obtained in ihis furnace. 

 Before using the furnace it is covered with another piece of limestone, on the lower 

 side of which are layers of magnesia and carbon, which fit into or cover the cavity 

 of the lower block. So poorly do these materials conduct heat that the hand may 

 be kept on the outside of the furnace for several minutes after the current is started." 



No. 1125. An investigation on the Influence upon the Vital Resistance of Animals 

 to the Micro-organisms of Disease brought about by Prolonged Sojourn in Impure 

 Atmosphere. By D. H. Bergey, M. D. City of Washington. Published by the 

 Smithsonian Institution, 1898. 8°. 10 pp. (Forms part of Smithsonian Miscella- 

 neous Collections, Vol. XXXIX.) 



This is a report of an investigation outlined by and conducted under the super- 

 vision of Drs. John S. Billings and S. Weir Mitchell, in which an attempt has been 

 made to determine whether impure atmosphere produces detrimental influence upon 

 the animal organism, as shown in greater susceptibility to certain diseases. The 



