instances before the travellers had left home, so that it was competent for the recipients to inform themselves thoroughly on Australian topics before reaching the country. Members joining locally in Australia received the Commonwealth volume and that relating to their own State. The volumes are not uniform in style, though they were all prepared on an approximately uniform plan, specially for the occasion, with the exception of the Queensland volume, which was that originally issued in 1909, by authority of the Government, under the title of Our First HalfCentury," in commemoration of the jubilee of the State.

The volumes form a fine monument to the scientific achievements of Australian workers, for they contain chapters by acknowledged experts in every department of science-natural, economic, social, and political. Thus the Commonwealth volume, edited by Mr. G. H. Knibbs, the Commonwealth statistician, and published at the charge of the Federal Government, contains chapters on the history of Australia, by Prof. Ernest Scott, of Melbourne; the aborigines, by Prof. Baldwin Spencer; physical and general geography, by Mr. Griffith Taylor; climate, by Mr. H. A. Hunt; vegetation, by Mr. J. H. Maiden; animal life, by Prof. W. A. Haswell; geology, by Prof. Edgeworth David, Prof. E. W. Skeats, and Messrs. T. S. Hall, W. S. Dun, and F. Chapman; astronomy and geodesy, by Mr. P. Baracchi; pastoral and agricultural development, by Mr. G. A. Sinclair; mining fields, by Mr. E. F. Pittman; manufactures, etc., by Mr. Gerald Lightfoot; education, by Prof. F. Anderson; political systems, by Prof. Harrison Moore; and miscellaneous notes, by the editor. This is in itself a very notable list, and while some of the names in it reappear among those of the contributors to the States volumes, we find also in these the names of other well-known workers in special fields, too many to detail here.

It is the purpose of the Commonwealth volume to provide a general scientific survey of Australia, while the States volumes give details each for each. While absolutely perfect co-ordination between the various volumes was scarcely to be expected, the many writers have clearly received and acted upon very precise editorial instructions as to their different fields, and duplication has been avoided as far as possible. Thus, even if the visit of the association had effected no other good, it has brought into existence a remarkable compendium of present knowledge of the continent of Australia and its resources, and a record of progress in human endeavour to make use of those resources, such as exists probably for no other country which is at a similar stage of development. These volumes, therefore, apart from their intrinsic interest and value at the moment, will become a valuable historical record. Frequently throughout them all writers are found to look forward to fields of future work, whether in the direction of pure scientific research or of economic development in which science will play a leading part.

In most of the volumes there are many excellent photographic reproductions, though the New South Wales book is less satisfactory than the rest in this respect. Particular mention may be made of a coloured plate in the Western Australia volume representing some of the wild flowers for which the State is famous. When photographic illustration is so successfully carried out, it is the more notable that the draughtsmanship and reproduction of maps is generally not so, and the valuable material which is available in the departments of geology, meteorology, and others suffers to some extent, though not always, in its representation by this means.

These handbooks were supplemented by booklets dealing with many of the excursions undertaken by members from different centres, so that the scientific interests of the visitors were provided for at almost every step, even if the guidance and verbal demonstrations given by their leaders on the spot had been less efficient than it was. The subject-matter of each State handbook is arranged under headings broadly similar to those of the Commonwealth book detailed above, with the exception of the Queensland volume, which, having been prepared, as has been seen, for a different purpose originally, deals more exclusively with historical, economic, and social topics than the others. From the point of view of the natural sciences this is unfortunate, but with such a book already in existence it was perhaps not to be expected that another should have been compiled.

It may be well to make clear that the British Association is not concerned in the issue of these books, which were compiled and issued by the Australian authorities; it is not stated whether they will be made accessible to the public.

CHEMISTRY AT THE BRITISH
ASSOCIATION.

MEETINGS of the Chemistry Section were held

only in Melbourne and Sydney, but in each of these cities they extended over three days. There were two joint discussions with other sections, and a number of locally contributed papers showed that in both Victoria and New South Wales a considerable amount of chemical research is being carried out, some happily on lines of special interest and value to Australia. It is to be regretted that such local features as the natural products of the characteristic Australian indigenous flora and the important problems connected with soil should not earlier have attracted local chemists, but as two sectional committees of the association are now engaged in examining the natural plant products we may hope that much will be recorded before the ever-increasing destruction of native trees and plants precludes any attempts at completeness.

MELBOURNE.

After the president's address Prof. Masson described an ingenious rearrangement of Mendeléeff's periodic table, by means of which many of the existing difficulties are removed. Instead of writing the elements in their eight groups in a two-dimensional figure throughout, Prof. Masson uses a mixture of two and three dimensions. Suppose the elements (rare earths excepted) be written in the order of their atomic weights on the inside of the covers of a book in horizontal lines, and the rare elements in their appropriate place along an uncut leaf, a fair picture of the arrangement is given. The rare earths follow each other along a horizontal series with little difference between any two members, but the end members of the series approximate to the ordinary elements found on the extreme right-hand side of the left-hand cover and the left side of the right-hand cover in the same horizontal line as the rare earths. Prof. Masson places hydrogen with the halogens, a position that is at least disputable, though by doing so the inactive gases at once form a complete series. Several properties of hydrogen and the hydrides are held to justify this position and the atomic weight of fluorine is almost the mean between those of hydrogen and chlorine.

Mr. F. H. Campbell described a method for the determination of vapour pressures the principle of which is that a liquid saturated with a suitable gas

(usually hydrogen) is allowed to evaporate into an enclosed space filled with the same gas at the same temperature and pressure. After the volume has been restored to its original value the increase in pressure is recorded on an open manometer.

A new method for determining the specific heat of liquids was described by Mr. E. G. Hartung. It consists in measuring the lowering of temperature of a known amount of the particular liquid on the introduction of a definite weight of dry ice contained in a thin glass bulb, and the method claims attention on account of its simplicity, rapidity, and accuracy, except in the case of viscous liquids like glycerine. The formation of nitric and nitrous acids in the rainfall near Melbourne has been correlated with the weather conditions by Mr. G. V. Anderson, and reveals the fact that the nitrous acid attains a maximum in winter, and a minimum in summer. It further varies with the type of weather, the total oxidised nitrogen attaining a maximum with monsoonal and a minimum with Antarctic conditions.

A joint discussion with the Physics Section on the structure of atoms and molecules has been referred to elsewhere in NATURE. It will suffice here to say that there appears to be a gulf between the views of the physicist and chemist, and little attempt made to bridge it. The former concentrates attention on the internal atomic structure, at present of only secondary importance to the chemist, while on the chemically all-important matter why atoms combine in definite ways to form molecules he has little or nothing to say.

The Melbourne programme was completed with papers by Prof. G. T. Morgan on residual affinity and co-ordination, and by Dr. A. Holt on a comparison of the phenomenon of the occlusion of hydrogen by charcoal and by palladium.

SYDNEY.

A joint discussion with the Agricultural Section on metabolism occupied one day, and was a most successful feature of the sectional programme. It was opened by Prof. H. E. Armstrong, and among the various speakers may be mentioned Mr. A. D. Hall, Mr. Darnell-Smith, Profs. B. Moore, Waller, and J B. Wood. The discussion covered a considerable field, and for convenience may be divided into three parts. The earlier part was devoted to what may be called the formaldehyde problem and enzyme action. It cannot be said that any very definite conclusion was reached, but many interesting views were put forward, so that though the photo-synthetic processes associated with assimilation may still be said to demand further attention, great advances have been made along this line of research. Enzyme action is a fruitful field for speculation. It may be true, as suggested in the discussion, that for the metabolic synthesis of protein and fat from carbohydrates a linkage and co-ordination of an endothermic with an exothermic reaction is necessary, and that for such synthesis a colloidal regulating mechanism must be furnished by an adsorption of enzymes into the cell protoplasm, but enormous difficulties are presented to the experimental proof of such views, and when we are told that an enzyme being a colloid has its action determined by its previous history, and hence that two portions of the colloid may act differently, confusion and difficulty of proof becomes greater. This part of the discussion was full of interest, for it showed the keen attention that is being paid to those all-important subjects.

Production of fat and skin temperatures was next considered, and the conclusion was reached that though many factors come into play, fat production

is associated with low skin temperatures. As the air temperature rises the skin temperature may be higher than that of the internal organs, and hence skin temperatures must not be carelessly employed as an indi cation that an animal is a good or bad doer, for fat production and internal temperature must also be related.

The discussion was concluded by papers dealing with cyanogenetic plants and distribution of nitrogen in seeds by Dr. J. M. Petrie. It appears that in New South Wales more than a thousand species of plants have been examined for hydrocyanic acids and cyanogenetic glucosides, sixty of them giving positive results, and of these forty-four were native to the State, and represented seventeen natural orders. Some plants which are cyanophoric in Europe do not appear to be so in Australia, whilst in others, the Australian grown plant retains its glucoside to maturity instead of losing it when half-grown. A series of specialised papers, six of which were contributed locally, were read on another day, but it is only possible here to enumerate their authors and titles. Prof. G. T. Morgan, 'Non-aromatic Diazonium Salts "; Prof. Robinson, "Researches on the Synthesis of isoQuinoline Alkaloids"; Mrs. G. M. Robinson, "Condensation of Cotarnine and Hydrastinine with Aromatic Aldehydes "; Dr. H. McCombie, "Influence of Substituents on the Velocity of Saponification of Phenyl Benzoate"; Dr. A. Holt, "The Colouring Matters of Certain Marine Organisms"; Prof. Fawsitt, "The Corrosion of Iron and Steel by Artesian Waters in New South Wales"; Dr. G. Harker, "The Use of Waste Gases of Combustion for Fire Extinction and Fumigating Purposes"; Mr. S. Radcliff, "The Extraction of Radium from Australian Ores "; Mr. G. J. Burrows, "The Inversion of Cane Sugar by Acids in Water-Alcohol Mixtures."

An experimental lecture by Prof. H. B. Dixon on gaseous explosions and a beautiful demonstration of optical properties of crystals and liquid crystals by Prof. Pope completed the programme. Both were attended by large and appreciative audiences. In conclusion it may be said that the work of the section was in every way successful, and was almost double in amount that at an ordinary meeting in Great Britain. The audiences, too, were good, and though the Australians are so distant from their brother chemists in Europe they exhibit an interest and enthusiasm not always seen in meetings of the section at home.

UNIVERSITY AND EDUCATIONAL
INTELLIGENCE.

GLASGOW.-The University Court has framed an Ordinance establishing the degree of B.Sc. in applied chemistry. The curriculum extends over four years, and includes nine full courses of study, of which five at least must be taken in the University or in the Royal Technical College affiliated thereto. After the usual preliminary examination, courses in mathematics, natural philosophy, and chemistry are prescribed, followed by a first science examination. Thereafter the student may pursue courses of study in advanced chemistry, inorganic, physical, and organic; technical chemistry and chemical engineering; engineering drawing; practical physics; and one of certain special branches, such as fuels, dyeing, oils, sugar, biochemistry, and technicological mycology (fermentation). Or, on the metallurgical side, he may take courses in advanced chemistry (inorganic), geology, and mineralogy; engineering and drawing; metallurgy, including fuels; electrical engineering; and one of certain special branches, such as precious metals,

non-ferrous metals, iron and steel, and alloys, and their treatment for engineering purposes. These courses are followed by a final science examination in which special distinction may be obtained in particular subjects. The degree is to be of an honours standard, and will qualify for subsequent admission to the doctorate, on the production of original work of distinction. The Ordinance will be duly submitted for the approval of his Majesty in Council. The joint resources of the chemical departments of the University and the Technical College will make it possible to provide for a complete scheme of instruction and training in preparation for the degree, which will be a valuable qualification for the chemical industries. The step taken by the University is particularly opportune in present circumstances.

DR. T. H. HAVELOCK, F.R.S., has been appointed to the recently created chair of applied mathematics and mathematical physics in Armstrong College, Newcastle-on-Tyne, in the University of Durham.

SIR ROBERT G. C. MOWBRAY, BART., Prime Warden of the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths, will distribute the prizes at the Sir John Cass Technical Institute on the evening of Wednesday, January 13, 1915, and on the same occasion will open the new metallurgy laboratory for the mechanical testing of metals and alloys, presented to the institute by the Goldsmiths' Company.

THE annual meeting of the Mathematical Association will be held on January 9, 1915, at 2.30 p.m., at the London Day Training College, Southampton Row, London, W.C. The president, Sir George Greenhill, will give an address on mathematics in artillery science, and Dr. W. P. Milne will speak on the teaching of modern analysis, Mr. A. Lodge on circles of curvature, and Mr. R. C. Fawdry on practical work in connection with mathematics.

THE Cambridge University Calendar for the year 1914-15 has now been published. The last issue of the "Calendar had reached unwieldy dimensions; it contained 1547 pages. The size of the present issue is 1064 pages, and this reduction has been effected in two ways, namely, by transferring some Tripos Lists to "The Historical Register," and retaining only the lists for the preceding ten years, and by treating "The Student's Handbook" as a companion volume and omitting from the calendar the information about examinations which the former book already contains. THE annual meeting of the Geographical Association is to be held on January 7, 1915, in the Jehangier Hall, University of London, South Kensington. At the morning session, which will begin at 10.30, a lecture will be delivered by Mr. P. M. Roxby on some aspects of the geography of China, and a discussion on the value of surveying in teaching geography will be opened by Messrs. Ernest Young and J. A. White. In the afternoon at 2.30 Mr. Hilaire Belloc will give the presidential address, and afterwards a discussion on the place of map tests in examinations will be opened by Dr. J. F. Unstead and the Rev. W. J. Barton.

IN the recently published report of the United States Bureau of Education for the year ending June 30, 1913, some interesting statistics are provided relating to the 596 American institutions of higher education from which the bureau receives reports. The total sum received in gifts and bequests, excluding grants by the United States, different States, and municipalities, reported for the year was 4,930,3921., showing a decrease of 26,226Ï. Of this amount 895,3161. was for increase of plant, 825,980l. for

current expenses, and 3,209,0961. for endowment. Forty-five institutions reported gifts above 20,000l. Among the institutions most generously treated, the following may be mentioned: Harvard University, 419,090l.; Columbia University 284,361l.; Yale University, 283,7871.; University of Chicago, 261,586l.; University of California, 249, 192l.; Trinity College, N.C., 240,6391.; and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 214,322l. The income of the 596 institutions was during the year from State and municipal grants, 3,809,9651.; from invested funds, 3,313,962l.; and from fees for tuition and other educational services, 4,183,8351.

THE Council of the London (Royal Free Hospital) School of Medicine for Women has made a public appeal for the sum of 25,000l. to pay for additional buildings urgently needed, and their equipment. The school was the first women's medical school in the kingdom, and since it was opened in 1874 it has been continuously successful. Of the thousand or SO women now on the medical register more than six hundred are former students of the school. For its work in the past and to secure provision of sufficient numbers of medical women in the future, more lecture-rooms are essential, as well as additional laboratory accommodation and new research rooms. A site has been secured and plans have been prepared and approved, but funds are needed to pay for the buildings shortly to be commenced. It is hoped that in national spite of the many demands made upon generosity at the present time, there are yet sufficient people interested in the work and medical education of women to provide the 25,000l. required. Donations or promises should be sent to the London (Royal Free Hospital) School of Medicine for Women, 8 Hunter Street, W.C., addressed to the hon. treasurer, Mr. M. J. Henderson.

ALDERMAN SIR JAMES HENDERSON, of Belfast, occupied the position of chairman of the Library and Technical Instruction Committee, Belfast, from the inception of the committee until the date of his death in May of the present year, and to his memory a portrait in oils was unveiled in the Municipal Technical Institute, Belfast, on Wednesday, December 9. Sir James Henderson was identified in a very intimate manner with the remarkable progress which technical instruction has made in the city of Belfast, and the development of the corporation education scheme owed much to his unceasing efforts. The portrait was presented by the principal, staff, and students of the institute. It is to be hung in the library of the institute, where-as was said by the principal of the institute in his explanatory remarks at the ceremony -it will be a reminder not only to the present generation, but also to future generations, of teachers and students of the magnificent work that was done by the first chairman of the Technical Instruction Committee and of the splendid contribution Sir James had made to the great cause of technical instruction in Ireland. The Lord Mayor of Belfast (Councillor Crawford McCullagh), who unveiled the portrait, made reference to the many civic activities of the late chairman of the Technical Instruction Committee, adding that the Municipal Technical Institute would in itself be a lasting monument to the fine public spirit and enthusiasm of him who was depicted in the portrait. At the conclusion of the proceedings a booklet, containing a reproduction of the portrait, and also an address given by the principal at the meeting of the staff and students at which the memorial was decided upon, was distributed to the members of the audience. The portrait, which is an admirable likeness, was painted by Mr. W. G. Mackenzie.

SOCIETIES AND ACADEMIES.

LONDON.

Physical Society, November 27.-Dr. A. Russell, vicepresident, in the chair.-A. F. Hallimond: Note on the conduction of electricity at point contacts. The "characteristic" or volt-ampere curves given by various "point" contacts when the voltage is slowly varied are dealt with. The curves were plotted by means of a form of rocking mirror galvanometer, which projected the characteristic as the path of a spot of light on the screen, the co-ordinates being respectively proportional to the current and voltage. The first part describes the behaviour of a typical contact, zincite-tellurium. The second part describes the results obtained on examining the characteristics for the forty-five contacts possible between ten chosen substances. The results in all cases are similar to those given by zincite-tellurium. No line could be drawn separating "metallic" contacts from those in which one or both conductors were "crystals." In the third part the conclusion is drawn that in a contact yielding the unilateral (high resistance) curve, the resistance lies within the surface of the member standing higher in the series.-T. Barratt: Thermal conductivity of badly conducting solids. The thermal conductivities of typical solids of low thermal conductivity have been determined by the method employed by the author for pure metals and alloys. The substances tested include electrical insulators, such as glass, fused silica, and ebonite, various kinds of wood, and some partial conductors of electricity-viz., carbon and graphite. It has been shown that the thermal conductivity k is given by

In nearly every case the simpler form of the equation could be used. For the first time in the measurement of thermal conductivity a direct comparison of this quantity in the case of a non-metal has been made with that of a metal-viz., bismuth-the conductivity of which is of the same order of magnitude as those of some of the non-metals. The results agree well with those obtained by Prof. Lees's "disc" method in cases where direct comparison is available.

Geological Society, December 2.-Dr. A. Smith Woodward, president, in the chair.-Prof. T. McKenny Hughes The age and character of the Shippea Hill man. A description of the skeleton, and of the circumstances in which it was found, is given. The mode of formation of the deposit in which the remains occurred is discussed. The Pleistocene deposits of the Fenland were, it is considered, laid down in a depressed river-basin behind a breached seaward barrier. Gravels of the age of Elephas antiquus and Rhinoceras merckii, as well as gravels of the age of E. primigenius and R. tichorhinus, occur within the Fenland; but they are distinguishable from the gravels

which are sometimes associated with the peat and clay, and pass under them. The fauna also of the peat- and clay-deposits is quite different. In an embayed part of the Fen, close behind the island known as Shippea Hill, the skeleton was found in the peat, a few inches above the clay which is considered to be the equivalent of this Littleport Cockle Bed. When first dug out the skull was in fragments, and the calotte, with its prominent brow-ridges, suggested to many a greater affinity to the Neanderthal type, and a greater antiquity than appeared probable when the rest of the cranium was added to it.-C. Dawson and Dr. A. Smith Woodward: A bone implement from Piltdown (Sussex). Excavations have been continued in the Piltdown gravel round the edge of the area previously explored. Rolled fragments of highly mineralised teeth of Rhinoceros and Mastodon were again found, but no human remains were met with. The most important discovery was a large bone implement now described. This specimen was found in dark vegetable soil beneath the hedge which bounds the gravel-pit, not far from the spoil-heap whence the right parietal bone of the Piltdown skull was obtained two years ago. On being washed away the soil left no stain on the bone, which was covered with firmly adherent yellow clay, closely similar to that of the flint-bearing layer at the bottom of the gravel. The bone itself is highly mineralised, and agrees exactly in appearance with some small fragments of bone discovered actually in place in the clay just mentioned. There can be no doubt that the implement was found by workmen digging gravel from the adjacent hole, and thrown away with other useless débris. It is a stout and nearly straight narrow flake of bone, 41 cm. long, and varying from 9 to 10 cm. in width, with the thicker end artificially pointed, the thinner end artificially rounded. It appears to be a longitudinal strip flaked from a limb-bone by a blow at the thicker end, in the same way as flint implements were flaked from their original cores. Direct comparison suggests that it was taken from a Proboscidean femur as large as that of Elephas meridionalis. In microscopic structure it agrees with Proboscidean bone. The ends of the implement are shaped by cutting, and bear no marks of grinding or rubbing. Most of the cut facettes are small, and many suggest that they were made by a primitive tool, presumably a flint. rounded end seems to have been trimmed for comfortable handling. The thick pointed (or, rather, keeled) end shows signs of battering or scratching by use. Just above the pointed end one lateral edge of the bone is marked by a large smooth groove running across from the inner to the outer face of the bone. It seems to have been originally a perforation from which the outer wall has been accidentally broken away. Within it on the inner face is the beginning of a second similar perforation, as if an attempt had been made to repair the damage. The conclusion is that the implement is unique, and no explanation of its specific use is given.

The

Linnean Society, December 3.-Prof. E. B. Poulton, president, in the chair.-R. C. McLean: An ecological journey in South America.-C. West and Hisayoshi Takeda Isoëtes japonica, A. Br. I. japonica, A. Br., which has a fairly wide distribution in Japan, is the largest known species of this genus; according to Makino, a diameter of 8 cm. is attained by the caudex of very large specimens. The tri-lobed caudex consists of two distinct structures, viz., stem and rhizo phore, to which the leaves and roots are respectively attached. But owing to the stunted growth of the plant, all external morphological differentiation be tween the two organs has been completely lost.

Mathematical Society, December 10.-Sir Joseph Larmor, president, in the chair.-E. H. Neville : Simultaneous equations, linear or functional.-Prof. W. Burnside: Cyclotomic quinquisection.-Prof. D. Buchanan: Oscillations near the isoscles triangle-solution of the three-body problem.-Prof. E. T. Whittaker : Larne's differential equation and ellipsoidal harmonics.

CAMBRIDGE.

If such

Philosophical Society, November 23.-Prof. Newall, president, in the chair.-F. A. Potts: The colour variations of the fauna associated with crinoids. The commensals of the crinoid Comanthus annulatum, which is found in vast numbers on the reefs of Torres Straits, include amongst the Crustacea two species of Alpheids, three Galatheids, a Periciimenes, an Isopod, and an Amphipod. There are also brittle-stars, a polychæt, and many Myzostomids. In most cases the commensals match the host in colour and arrangement of the markings. As the crinoid varies from very light- to dark-coloured types there is also a great variability in the commensals. In the Crustacea there is an alternation of darkly pigmented stripes with non-pigmented areas, and the relative proportions of these vary with the coloration of the host. The phenomenon is best studied in the two species of Synalpheus.-Dr. H. B. Fantham and Dr. Annie Porter: Some insect flagellates introduced into vertebrates. Insect flagellates, e.g. Herpetomonas jaculum, Léger, from Nepa cinerea, and H. ctenocephali, Fantham, parasitic in the dog-flea, Ctenocephalus canis, can live inside certain vertebrates (e.g. mouse and dog respectively), and can multiply therein. This the authors have shown experimentally. flagellates be inoculated intraperitoneally or are fed by the mouth in food, the flagellates can find their way into the blood-stream and internal organs (e.g. liver, spleen, bone-marrow) of the vertebrate host. The insect flagellates are pathogenic to the vertebrates experimented upon, producing symptoms like those of leishmaniasis (kala-azar). The oval, postflagellate forms appear to be more capable of developing in vertebrate hosts than are other stages of the herpetomonad parasite of the insect. It may be expected that the various leishmaniases, occurring in different parts of the world, will prove to be insectborne herpetomoniases.-W. R. Thompson: Some notes on insect parasites. These notes deal with the question of the cuticula of the Arthropods as a means of defence against parasites. An attempt was made to show that by its thickness and resistance, by the cuticular appendages such as spines and hairs, and by the process of the moult which is in strict correlation with the development of the cuticula, a very considerable part of the parasitic invasion is arrested. The heavy parasitism to which the Arthropoda are often subject was held to be due in part to the fact that many of the parasites are also Arthropods inhabiting the same environment as their hosts, in part to the structure and physiology of the Arthropods themselves, which offer as hosts an environment especially favourable to the development of parasitic organisms.-G. L. Purser : Preliminary notes on some problems connected with respiration in insects generally and in aquatic forms in particular. Aquatic insects were separated into two groups, true and false, according as they made use of the oxygen in the pondwater or not. Among the true group were mentioned Sialis, Gyrinus, and the Trichoptera, which have the simplest type of tracheal gill. The Ephemeride and Odonata were shown to have lamellate gills in which a pigment, which has been named Spadicin, is present. No explanation of its function has stood the test of facts except a respiratory one, but evidence

for this is indirect only. The blood-gills of Chironomus were mentioned, and the question of the origin of a treacheal system and the problem of ecdysis of the tracheal system in true aquatic forms were discussed.-N. Wiener: The shortest line dividing an area in a given ratio.

PARIS.

Academy of Sciences, November 30.-M. P. Appell in the chair.-Gaston Darboux: The integration of a partial differential equation of the second order with two independent variables.-André Blondel: The calculation of the potential energy of a bobbin through which a current is flowing in the case of winding in place. A bobbin is placed in a magnetic field and a wire, carrying an electric current, is wound on this. No induced E.M.F. is produced, and several theoretical deductions based on this fact are given.-E. Colardeau Method for the exact localisation of projectiles in wounded persons by the radiographic method. The method detailed permits the exact localisation of the projectile within five minutes of the measurement of the photographic plates.-Victoriano F. Ascarza: The total eclipse of the sun of August 21, 1914, observed by the Spanish expedition at Theodosia (Crimea). Observations were possible of the second and third contacts and the total phase, but clouds somewhat interfered with the work. Photographs were taken with two spectrographs, one fitted with a Rowland grating, the other with a prism, special attention being given to the infra-red region (see P. 432).-P. Carrasco: Physical observations made at Theodosia during the total eclipse of the sun of August 21, 1914.-M. Fournier: General conditions of aptitude at high velocities of a hull in navigation.-J. Bougault: Indene-dicarboxylic and hydrindenedicarboxylic acids. A study of the condensation of benzyloxalacetic ester with sulphuric acid. The reaction is not analogous with the condensation of the lower homologue, phenyloxalacetic ester; the ester of a new indene-dicarboxylic acid being formed:

Proofs of this constitution are given.-René Régamey : Cancer in plants. Proofs are given of the existence in plants of a cancerous disease differing from Smith's crown gall, spontaneous in the oak, and inoculable into other plants. It is produced by a bacterium capable of isolation and cultivation in artificial culture media. The parasite is intracellular in the tumours.-P. Carnot and B. Weill-Hallé: Biliculture in typhoid fever. Two alternative methods of obtaining bile from the patient are described. The cultivation of the typhoid bacilli present in the bile is easy, pure cultures being readily obtainable. The course of the discase can be followed, and the method is especially valuable in tracing the persistence of infection in convalescents and typhoid carriers. Paul Godin a premonitory sign of pulmonary tuberculosis.-F. Bordas and M. Brocq: Water supply to armies in the field. It is accepted as fundamental that all water drunk should be previously boiled, and the most practical way of ensuring this is to insist that weak tea should be the ordinary drink. For an army of 1,000,000 men, drinking one litre every twenty-four hours, this implies a daily consump tion of 15,000 kilograms of tea. The problems of making and distributing the tea at the front are discussed. The same boilers can supply not only water for drinking but warm and sterilised water for the treatment of the wounded.-L. G. Seurat: Precocious copulation in Oxyuris.-A. Sartory and Ph. Lasseur : Contribution to the study of a new pathogenic Oospora (Oospora bronchialis). This new organism was isolated from a case in which the most prominent