Chemistry and Physics. 85 



12 mo., pp. 101. New York, 1994 (John Wiley & Sons).— The 

 topics discussed in this book are " Fixation of Hydrogen Atoms," 

 "Modification of Reactions," "Improvement in Conditions of 

 Reactions," and " Influence of Atoms and Atomic Complexes." 

 These subjects are of importance, and have not received sufficient 

 attention in other works. The simple and entertaining manner 

 in which the book is written should make it of interest not only 

 to the experienced chemist, but also to the beginner in organic 

 research. t. b. j. 



7. Influence of Glass Walls of Geissler Tabes on Stratified Dis- 

 charges in Hydrogen. — E. Gehrcke, of the Reichsanstalt, finds 

 that the o-lass walls exert a marked influence on the length of such 

 stratifications. Not only the curves drawn from measurements 

 but the appearance of the stratifications in suitable tubes show 

 this influence. To make the effect evident to the eye one side of 

 the inner wall of a Geissler tube was covered with silver ; this 

 had the effect of changing the length of the stratifications. The 

 inner walls were also covered in another case with a layer of 

 phosphoric pentoxide, with the same result. The author refers 

 the stratifications observed in open space in flames to an effect of 

 secondary cathodes. The stratifications in Geissler tubes appear 

 to be a chain of cathodes with dark spaces and light spaces ; the 

 potentials of which seem to form an arithmetical series, and each 

 stratification hands on to the next as much negative electricity as 

 it received from the previous one. Foundation for a suitable 

 mathematical theory is discussed. — Ann. der Phys., No. 13, 1904, 

 pp. 509-530. j.t. 



8. Phosphorescence. — P. Lenard and V. Klatt continue their 

 researches on this subject. Among their interesting conclusions 

 is the following: Stokes's law that the waves of excited light are 

 always longer than those of the exciting light has not been sus- 

 tained by analysis of the sixty-four fluorescent bands examined. 

 If the range of the exciting and the produced light are compared, 

 it is seen that the exciting light and the fluorescent bands often 

 approach each other very nearly ; sometimes coincide, but never 

 overleap each other. Study was made of momentary and more 

 or less permanent fluorescence and of their dependence on exciting 

 conditions. — Ann. der Phys., No. 13, 1904, pp. 4-J5-484. j.t. 



9. Color Changes in Gold Preparations. — The theory of elec- 

 trical resonance has been applied by various observers to account 

 for the phenomena presented by colloidal preparations of gold 

 in reference to color. F. Kirchner and R. Zsigmondy have had 

 in view especially Planck's work in this direction. Their results 

 support in general Planck's theory. There were, however, notice- 

 able lacunas between the theory and the observations. — Ann. der 

 Phys., No. 13, 1904. j.t. 



10. Spectra of Hydrogen, Helium, Air, Nitrogen, and Oxygen 

 in the Ultra Violet. — With the aid of a quartz spectroscope, J. 

 Schniederjost has made a study of these gases. Comparison 

 lines of platinum were employed. Two new lines of helium at 



