atmospheres. The resulting liquid is very light and has a high coefficient of expansion. Although this is a convenient method of storing a large quantity of gas in small bulk, it is unsafe, because of the ease and violence with which it explodes. The gas is extremely soluble in acetone; it has been suggested that this property might be used for its storage, but it has been shown that acetylene does not, even when thus dissolved, lose all its explosive properties. Numberless devices for generating acetylene have been invented; its application, however, is more dependent upon the cost than upon the apparatus used in the manufacture. With calcium carbide at 167. per ton, it can compete with coal gas at 25. 6d. per thousand cubic feet, when flat flames are used for the latter, and a light of not less than 30 candles is required. This renders the gas peculiarly suited for buildings in which coal gas is not obtainable. It has been used for lighting a station on the Great Southern and Western Railway of Ireland, and at the Salford Docks of the Manchester Ship Canal. In the latter case, special portable generators are used which can be carried to any part of the docks, and which may be placed on the quay side and the gas led away to lamps placed in the holds of vessels. Amongst many other uses suggested are the lighting of lighthouses, lightships, buoys, military signals, &c., as a standard of light, &c. The price prevents its use for gas-engine driving. This reason also prohibits its use as an enricher of coal gas, as with low percentages the increase is not above 1 candle-power for I per cent. of acetylene. With "blue" watergas it is even less applicable, as more than 10 per cent is required before any illumination is obtained. Methane and nitrogen are claimed to carry the gas without affecting its illuminating power. UNIVERSITY AND EDUCATIONAL INTELLIGENCE. MR. R. T. GLAZEBROOK, F.R. S., has accepted the post of Principal of University College, Liverpool. DR. H. W. M. TIMS has been appointed professor of zoology in Bedford College, in succession to Dr. Benham. MR. AMOS R. ENO, the New York multi-millionaire, who died a few weeks ago, left 50,000 dollars to Amherst College. MISS CATHERINE W. BRUCE, of New York, will give to the Yerkes Observatory, Chicago University, a photographic telescope of 10 inches aperture and 60 inches focal length. THE bequest by Catherine M. Garcelon, of California, to Bowdoin College, Maine, amounting to several hundred thousand dollars, has been confirmed by the Supreme Court of the United States. THE proposal to establish a chair of Anthropology and Anatomy, and also a chair of Physiology, in the University of St. Andrews, has been sanctioned by the University Court, and a scheme will be prepared. THE proposal to create a special degree of Doctor of the University of Paris (as distinct from doctor of a particular faculty) has been approved by the Superior Council of Public Instruction, and will shortly be carried into effect. AMONG the degrees conferred at the annual graduation ceremony of the University of St. Andrews on March 25, was the honorary degree of LL.D., upon Prof. G. B. Howes, F.R.S., and the degree of D.Sc. upon Mr. A. T. Masterman. several neighbouring townships, is conducted from the Blue Lakes, situated near the summit of the Sierra Nevada Mountains; while another installation at Bakersfield derives its power from the Kern River canyon. The "Wild West" is certainly making great strides in the practical applications of electricity. In the current number of the Physical Review, Miss Isabelle Stone writes on the electric resistance of thin films; Mr. Edward B. Rosa describes a new form of electric curve-tracer; and Mr. C. H. Wind propounds a new theory of magneto-optic phenomena, the paper being a translation of one published by the Amsterdam Academy of Science.—Prof. C. Barus describes a method of obtaining pores or capillary canals of specified diameter; and Mr. C. P. Matthews discusses the methods of measuring mean horizontal candle-power of glow lamps, considering more especially the plan of rapidly whirling the lamp. THE latest number of the Mathematical Gazette, published under the auspices of the Mathematical Association, contains papers by Mr. E. Budden, on the conic through any five points; by Prof. Lloyd Tanner, on a class of algebraic functions; and a notice, by Dr. F. S. Macaulay, of an article by Miss C. A. Scott on Cayley's theory of the absolute. The functions to which Prof. Tanner's paper refers are those which involve only the differences of their arguments, and to which the same diaphoric was given by Cayley; and the object of the note is to suggest that an elementary discussion of these functions would be a valuable addition to the usual school course in algebra. Symons's Monthly Meteorological Magazine, March.—West of England snowstorm, February 21. The fall commenced, roughly speaking, about 5h. p.m., and lasted until noon on the 22nd. The heaviest storms occurred in Hants, Dorset, Devon and Somerset. The fall reached, or exceeded, 12 inches over the area contained between two lines, the northern one running about E.S. E. from Watchet, through Yeovil to Lymington, and the southern one from Portlock, through Tiverton to Bridport; say about sixty by twenty miles. The greatest depth, about 24 inches, occurred nearly centrally in this belt, between Milverton and Crewkerne.-Results of meteorological observations at Camden Square for forty years (for February). It is interesting to note the exceptional temperature and rainfall of last February in connection with the mean of 1858-97, at Camden Square (N. W. London): maximum temperature in 1898, 56°2; minimum, 24°3. Mean of all highest maxima of previous forty years, 552; mean of all lowest minima, 24°1. Rainfall in 1898, 108 inches; mean of forty years, 1 61 inches. THE Journal de Physique for March contains papers on the following subjects:-On the magnetic torsion of iron and steel, by M. G. Moreau, in which the following laws are established: (1) at a point of a twisted wire outside the magnetic field the mag. netic torsion is proportional to the torsion of the wire, to the square of the intensity of the field if the latter is weak, and independent of the diameter of the wire; (2) for points situated on different sides of the field the magnetic torsion has equal and opposite values if the ends of the wire are symmetrically placed with regard to the field; (3) along the length of the wire the torsion increases in proportion to the distance from the nearest end; it attains a maximum at the edge of the field, and vanishes at points inside the latter. The field in question is supposed to be a uniform field bounded by two parallel planes, beyond which the magnetic force vanishes.-M. Marage contributes a paper on ear-trumpets studied by the use of Koenig's flames.-M. G. Weiss describes an ingenious method, due to Hermann, of expanding any periodic curve in Fourier's series up to the first forty terms. The curve being drawn, forty equidistant ordinates are taken and measured, and corresponding to each ordinate a series of products is obtained from a table prepared by Hermann; and these are entered in columns on quadrillé paper. Finally a series of perforated cards are placed on the table thus formed; and to read off any coefficient in the expansion it is only necessary to algebraically sum the numbers seen through the openings in the corresponding card.—M. G. Charpy discusses entectic alloys, his paper being illustrated by figures showing their microscopic structure.-M. Gerrit Bakker, writing on perfect gases, gives a simple mathematical proof of the theorem that of the three characteristic laws of such gases, Boyle's, Charles's, and Joule's; any one is deducible from the other two. SOCIETIES AND ACADEMIES LONDON. only tried mica for the vanes, but he thought it would be important to observe the result with a substance that did not retain the charges.-Mr. A. Stansfield then read a paper on thermo-electric pyrometers. In obtaining photographic records of the readings of thermo-electric pyrometers, the range of measurement is limited by the size of the photographic plate. For long ranges of temperature, the sensitiveness of the galvanometer must therefore be small. When it is desired to examine the temperature changes in detail-as, for instance, at the meltemploy some device for giving a more open scale for the short ing-points and freezing-points of metals-it is necessary to temperature ranges that include those particular points. For this purpose two galvanometers are arranged in parallel, and so that they have their deflections recorded on the same photo graphic plate. The less sensitive galvanometer covers the entire range of temperature throughout an observation; the other is brought into use for magnifying special portions of the range. In this latter case, part of the electromotive force of force, applied at two points of the circuit, from a battery of the thermo-couple is compensated by an opposing electromotive Clark cells in series with a high resistance. The recording apparatus consists of a photographic plate mounted on a float that rises steadily when water is admitted into a cylinder. The source of light is a glow-lamp, enclosed in a wooden box. A brass tube, with a rectangular diaphragm at the end nearest the lamp, cuts off all light except that from a selected piece of vertical filament. Light from this filament is reflected by the plane galvanometer-mirror, and is focussed upon the photographic plate by a lens in front of the galvanometer; this method was suggested by Prof. Boys. The "cold" junctions of the thermo-couple are both inserted into a hypsometer. Very serious discrepancies exist between the indications of couples having nominally the same composition; they are too great to alloys. Although with platinum alloys, coupled with platinum, 10 per cent. of iridium gives a more powerful couple than 10 per cent. of pure rhodium, the partial substitution of iridium for rhodium very considerably lowers its thermo-electric power. This result suggests that the change in the thermo-electric power of a metal depends upon the extent to which it is saturated with the alloying metal; thus 10 per cent. either of rhodium or be attributed to accidental differences in the constitution of the Physical Society, March 25.-Mr. Shelford Bidwell, President, in the chair.-Mr. A. A. Campbell Swinton read a paper and showed experiments upon the circulation of gaseous matter in a Crookes' tube. The stream-lines within a Crookes' tube are investigated by observing the direction and speed of rotation of a mica radiometer-mill, mounted on a sliding-rod, so that it can be moved along a line at right angles to the line joining the electrodes. The axis of the mill is at right angles to both these lines. If the mill is adjusted to a position between the flat plate and the cup electrodes, with its axis just sufficiently low to prevent equal and opposite simultaneous actions on the top and bottom vanes, it rotates always in the direction indicating a stream from kathode to anode. The speed is greater when the flat plate is the kathode. If, however, the mill is now moved below this line, a point is reached at which rotation ceases, and below this neutral point the rotation is suddenly reversed. Reversal is only to be observed with high degrees of exhaustion; the rotation is never so rapid here as in the first position. The mill rotates, and the reversal may be observed, whether cup or plate is made kathode, and the direction of rotation below the neutral point is always opposite to that in the position above it. A small Wimshurst machine is as effective as an induction coil in producing these effects. The experiments are intended to establish the existence, at high degrees of exhaustion, of a true anode-stream, i.e. a stream that travels from anode to kathode just in the same manner as the kathode-stream flows from kathode to anode. This anode stream is charged positively; it is exterior to the kathode-stream; its velocity is less than that of the kathodestream, but its velocity increases as the vacuum is improved. It seems probable that, in high vacua, some portion of the positive electricity passing through the tube, is carried by the positively charged atoms or particles that constitute the anodestream. At lower degrees of exhaustion, the discharge passes through the tube chiefly by interchange of charges from molecule to molecule-a Grothus chain. At very high vacua, however, when the mean free path is considerable, there may be to some extent a regular and complete circulation of posi-iridium would, per se, more completely saturate the platinum tive and negative atoms, some of which pass from anode to kathode, and vice versa, and deliver up their charges, not by interchange, but by direct convection, to the electrodes of opposite sign. Prof. Boys said he did not feel altogether convinced by the experiments, that the rotation of the mill was due to simple mechanical motion of the particles of matter between the electrodes. The weight of air left in the tube at such high degrees of exhaustion was extremely small; it was difficult to realise that its impact could produce the sudden mechanical effect observed at the moment of the reversal of the rotation of the mill. Mr. Wimshurst thought it important to keep in mind the existence of mercury-vapour in the tube. He also referred to some experiments in which a bar of metal was used to explore a focus-tube, by observation of the changes of luminosity produced in different positions. Dr. Chree said that if the rotations of the mill could be shown to indicate a velocity of the particles, of the same order as that observed in Crookes' experiments, it was safe to assume the existence of a similar cause. This might be important in deciding as to the general truth of the bombardment theory of Crookes. He asked whether the rotation had been investigated within the dark space around the kathode. Mr. Appleyard suggested that in tracing the cause of the rotation it would lead to simpler results if the vanes of the mill were made of some light conducting substance. Mica introduced difficulties owing to its retention of the charges. Prof. Boys pointed out that this could be done by gilding the mica. Mr. Campbell Swinton, in reply, said that the objection raised by Prof. Boys to the mechanical theory of the rotation would apply equally to the whole theory of electro-radiometry, including the case of the mill used originally by Crookes in the direct path of the kathode-stream. But it must be remembered that although the mass of matter present within the tube was very small, its velocity was proportionately great, it was of the order of 9000 kilometres per second; hence the contained matter might be conceived as capable of producing the observed acceleration, and Crookes' bombardment theory might with safety be adopted as a good working hypothesis. In the tubes used for these experiments, the exhaustion was carried so high that the negative dark space appeared to fill the whole tube. He had, so far, than would 10 per cent. of a mixture of the two metals. The author discusses a series of curves derived from his experiments. He concludes that, thermo-electrically, there may be two classes of metals: (1) the ordinary metals, for which the curve representing the first differential of electromotive force with respect together with a few, such as nickel and cobalt, for which the to temperature is a straight line, and (2) the platinum metals, curve of this differential multiplied by the absolute temperature is a straight line. Dr. Chree discussed the curves, and asked how far stirring affected the results; he was inclined to think that stirring was a mistake. Mr. A. Campbell inquired whether the galvanometer kept its zero sufficiently well throughout the the conclusion that stirring was a mistake; and it was a mistake tests. Mr. Stansfield, in reply, said he had also come to to use a large quantity of metal. The pyrometers were sensitive to about a tenth of a Centigrade degree. He had experienced great difficulty with the zero of the galvanometer. -The President proposed votes of thanks to the authors, and the meeting adjourned until April 22. Chemical Society, March 17.-Prof. Dewar, President, in the chair. -The following papers were read :-The reduction of bromic acid and the law of mass action, by Miss W. Judson and J. W. Walker. The reduction of bromic acid by hydrobromic acid constitutes a bimolecular reaction in presence of much sulphuric acid, and a tetramolecular reaction in absence of sulphuric acid. - The action of ferric chloride on the ethereal salts of ketone acids, by R. S. Morrell and J. M. Crofts. In dry ethereal solution, ferric chloride acts on ethylic ketophenylparaconate with production of a substance, FeCl C1H1105, which is decomposed by water yielding the basic ferric salt of ethylic phenylparaconate, Fe(OH) (С13H11O5); analogous results are obtained with the ethylic salt of the lactone of oxalcitric acid.-Note on the volatility of sulphur, by T. C. Porter. Sulphur sublimes rapidly at 100° in a vacuum.-Cannabinol, by T. B. Wood, W. T. N. Spivey and T. H. Easterfield. Cannabinol, the toxic resinous constituent of Indian hemp, boils at 400°, and its vapour density points to the molecular composition C1HO, ; 11 it contains one hydroxyl-group, and is converted by prolonged boiling into a hydrocarbon of the composition C10H16.-Contributions to the chemistry of thorium, by B. Brauner. The author has investigated the properties of a new salt, ammonium thoroxalate, Th(C2O4)2, 2(NH4)2C2O4, 7H2O, and has obtained a simple method of purifying thorium compounds by aid of this salt; it is shown that the tendency to form complex oxalates amongst the rare earths is inversely proportional to the basicity of the earth.-On the atomic weight of thorium, by B. Brauner. From experiments made on ammonium thoroxalate, the author deduces the atomic weight of thorium as Th=232'44, a result agreeing with the number obtained by Krüss and Nilson.-On the compound nature of cerium, by B. Brauner. From experiments on fractional crystallisation, the author concludes that cerium is associated with an element which possibly has the atomic weight of 110; another earth of lower atomic weight is perhaps present.-On praseodidymium and neodidymium, by B. Brauner. The author contributes a quantity of experimental data concerning praseodidymium and neodidymium, and considers that the eighth series of the periodic system may assume the form La Pr Cs Ba Ce Nd 133 137'4 138.2 139'7 141 143.6. -Action of ammonia and substituted ammonias on acetylurethane, by G. Young and E. Clark. Ammonia and substituted ammonias react with acetylurethane principally in accordance with the equation MeCO.NH.CO,Et+NH2R= MeCO. NH.CONHR+ EtOH, but secondary reactions occur under certain conditions.-Formation of oxytriazoles from semicarbazides, by G. Young and B. M. Stockwell. This paper describes the formation of oxytriazoles according to the equation NHR. NH. CO. NH, + PhCHO+O=RPh. C2N3OH + 2H2O, in which R is an aromatic radicle.-Formation of aa'-dihydroxypyridine, by S. Ruhemann. aa'-Dihydroxypyridine hydrochloride is formed on boiling ethylic aa'-dihydroxydinicotinate with concentrated hydrochloric acid.-Position-isomerism and optical activity; the comparative rotatory powers of diethylic monobenzoyl and monotoluyl tartrates, by P. Frankland and J. McCrae.-The action of di-isocyanates upon amido-compounds, by H. L. Snape.-The action of alkyl iodides on silver malate and on silver lactate, by T. Purdie and G. D. Lander. The abnormally high optical activity of the ethereal malates and lactates prepared by the silver salt method is due to the simultaneous production of ethereal salts of alkyloxysuccinic and alkyloxypropionic acids respectively.-On the optical rotations of methyl and ethyl tartrates, by J. W. Rodger and J. S. S. Brame. Anthropological Institute, March 8.-Mr. F. W. Rudler, President, in the chair.-The Hon. David W. Carnegie exhibited and described a large collection of objects of ethnological interest, which he had recently brought from Western Australia. He gave a description of the natives met with in his remarkable journey across the great sandy desert of the interior, between Coolgardie and Kimberley. Some of the men, not withstanding the miserable character of their surroundings, were upwards of six feet in stature.-Mr. Robert Etheridge, curator of the Australian Museum at Sydney, sent for exhibition a large series of photographs of dilly baskets from North Australia. Many of these objects were highly ornate, and offered curious illustrations of aboriginal decorative art.-A paper on the folk-lore of the native Australians, by Mr. W. Dunlop, was read by Mr. T. V. Holmes. Most of the legends cited were taken down from the lips of the natives nearly half a century ago. Entomological Society, March 16.-Mr. R. McLachlan, F.R.S., Vice-President and Treasurer, in the chair.-Mr. Champion exhibited specimens of Acanthia inodora, A. Dugès, from Guanajuato, Mexico. This insect, a congener with the common bed-bug, was found in fowl-houses, where it attacked poultry. Mr. Wainwright exhibited a locust found alive in broccoli at Birmingham. The insect was identified by Mr. Burr as Acridium @gyptium.-Mr. Tutt showed a series of capcured examples of Calligenia miniata, varying in colour and the amount of black markings, one example being a clear yellow and another orange.-The Secretary exhibited part of a series of holograph letters, &c., which he had discovered among old papers in the Society's library, including communications from Kirby, Spence, Darwin, Hope, Yarrell, and many other entomologists.-A paper by Mr. E. E. Green, of Punduluoya, Ceylon, entitled "Further notes on Dyscritina, Westwood," was read, and illustrated by specimens and drawings. —The author discovered two distinct species of Dyscritina, which he was able to keep in captivity, and rear from the early larval stage to that of the imago.-Dr. Chapman read a paper entitied "Some remarks on Heterogyna penella," giving a full accoun: of its life-history. MANCHESTER. This Literary and Philosophical Society, March 22.-Mr. J. Cosmo Melvill, President, in the chair. -The President read a description and exhibited two specimens of Strombui (Conomurex) belutschiensis, just discovered by Mr. F. W. Townsend off the Mekran coast of Beluchistan, having been dredged at seven fathoms on a sandy and muddy bottom. is a remarkable find, as it is nearly fifty years since any new species of this genus has come to light. It is most akin to S. mauritianus, Lam., but differs in several marked particulars. -Prof. Hickson communicated a paper by Miss E. M. Pratt, entitled "Contributions to our knowledge of the Marine Fauna of the Falkland Islands." The Manchester Museum received last summer a number of marine animals collected on the shores of one of the Falkland Islands by Miss Blake. As they were nearly all in an excellent state of preservation, the author was able to identify them, and to compare this common shore fauna, as a whole, with that of other temperate regions in the northern and southern hemispheres. The bearing of the facts of the geographical distribution of the species identified by Miss Pratt, upon Murray's theory of the bipolar distribution of marine organisms, was also indicated. DUBLIN. Royal Dublin Society, February 16.-Sir Howard Grubb, F.R.S., in the chair.-Prof. J. Emerson Reynolds, F.R.S., and Mr. Emil A. Werner made a communication on Goodwin's system of generating and using acetylene gas for illuminating purposes.-Prof. D. J. Cunningham, F.R.S., described the seventh cranial nerve in the orang, with illustrations by lantern projection.-Dr. W. E. Adeney and Mr. James Carson described the method they have followed in mounting the 215 feet concave Rowland diffraction grating, which has recently been acquired by the Royal University, Dublin. EDINBURGH. Mathematical Society, March 11.-Dr. Morgan, VicePresident, in the chair.-The following papers were read: An analysis of all the inconclusive votes possible with fifteen electors and three candidates, and a suggestion for a shortened table of five-figure logarithms, by Prof. Steggal: Dougall; on the wave surface generalised for space of # dimennote on the centre of gravity of a circular arc, by Mr. Joha sions, Prof. Schoute. PARIS. Academy of Sciences, March 21.-M. Wolf in the chair.-Algebraic solutions of some questions concerning the indeterminate equations of the second degree of three terms, by M. de Jonquières.-Action of some reagents upon carbon moŋ oxide, in view of its estimation in the air of towns, by M Armand Gautier. A study of the various absorbents proposed for the estimation of carbonic oxide. Of these cuprous chlon and potassium permanganate react also with acetylene an: ethylene; chromic acid is only partial in its action. A one pr cent. solution of gold chloride gives an immediate precipita with the pure gas, even in the cold, and forms a good qualitative test for CO mixed with air.-Observations of the sun, made a the Observatory of Lyons with the Brunner equatorial, during the fourth quarter of 1897, by M. J. Guillaume. Statistics referring to spots and faculæ are given.-New series of photographs of the complete chromosphere of the sun, by M. H. Deslandres. —On the singular transformations of Abelian functions, by M. G. Humber --On discontinuous functions capable of development in series d continuous functions, by M. R. Baire.-On the transformation of the X-rays by matter, by M. G. Sagnac. A metal upo stance. which X-rays from a vacuum tube are falling emits secondary radiations differing in penetrative power from the original rays, and also differing according to the nature of the reflective subThus aluminium gives off secondary rays which are much more penetrating than those of zinc.-Some applications of photographic irradiation, by M. Ch. Féry. On the hypothesis that the upper portion of the sensitive plate when illuminated by a ray acts as a true secondary source for neighbouring portions of the film, the conclusion is drawn that the apparent width of the line due to halation ought to grow in arithmetical progression when the quantities of light increase in geometrical progression, and this conclusion was verified completely by experiment.-Remarks on the preceding communication, by M. A. Cornu. This research throws light upon the divergences obtained in different observatories in the measurement of stellar magnitudes by photographic observations, although part of the observed variation is probably due to aberrations of the mirror.-On a universal magnifier for use in photographic enlargements, by M. J. Carpentier.-Determination of the density of gases with very small volumes, by M. Th. Schloesing, junr. A detailed description of the apparatus used for the determination of gaseous densities by the hydrostatic method, together with the results obtained for air, nitrogen, carbon dioxide and sulphur dioxide. The results are accurate to one part in a thousand.-On neodymium, by M. O. Boudouard. Neodymium forms a double sulphate with potassium, which is more soluble than the corresponding salt of praseodymium, the difference in solubility being sufficiently great to allow of a fairly rapid separation.-On the explosion of mixtures of marsh gas and air by the electric spark, by MM. H. Couriot and J. Meunier. To avoid explosion, it is necessary to join up the two points between which the spark is produced by a secondary conductor.-On the properties of the phosphorescent sulphide of strontium, by M. José Rodriguez Mourelo. -On the oxidation of some amido- and thio-amido-compounds, by M. Echsner de Coninck. A study of the oxidation of acetamide, thio-urea, phenyl-urea, phenyl-thiourea, sarcosine, and carbamic ether by alkaline hypochlorite solution. -On the chlorine derivatives of pheny! carbonate, by M. E. Barral. By the action of chlorine in presence of iodine upon phenyl carbonate dissolved in carbon tetrachloride, the di-chlorderivative, CO(O.CH.Cl), is obtained.-On the cholesterins of the lower plants, by M. E. Gérard.-Study of the anatomy and histology of the rectum and rectal glands of the Orthoptera, by M. L. Bordas.-On the reserve material in Ficaria ranunculoides, by M. Leclerc du Sablon. Estimations of the reducing and non-reducing sugars, dextrin and starch in the tubers of Ficaria were made monthly, and the results expressed in curves.-The tectonic of the secondary and mountainous region comprised between the valleys of the Ouzom and Aspe (Basse-Pyrénées), by M. J. Seunes. -On the phyllogenic classification of the Lamellibranchs, by M. H. Douville.-On the visibility of the X-rays to certain young blind persons, by M. Foveau de Courmelles. Only nine out of two hundred subjects examined were able to distinguish when the Crookes' tube was or was not excited. No sensation was perceived by those totally blind, only those blind by a peripheral lesion, or having a vague perception of light, being sensitive to the X-rays.-Applications of radiography to the study of digital malformations, by MM. Albert Londe and Henry Meige.-Application of radiography to the study of a case of myxedema; development of the osseous system under the influence of the thyroid treatment, by MM. Georges Gasne and Albert Londe. -Experimental paralysis under the influences of venoms, by MM. Charrin and Claude.— On the eruptions of Vesuvius, by M. E. Semmola. --Communication from the Directeur des Services de la Compagnie des Messageries Maritimes, concerning a Dugong captured in the Red Sea, of a species supposed to be extinct. ST. LOUIS. Academy of Science, February 21.-Dr. R. J. Terry exhibited a specimen of a cervical rib from a human subject, and discussed the occurrence of structural anomalies of this character. March 7.-Prof. C. M. Woodward presented a paper embody. ing an analytical discussion of the efficiency of gearing under friction. Few works on applied mechanics, the speaker stated, give any discussion of the matter. Only spur wheels with epicycloidal and involute teeth were considered. For the sake of comparison, a table was produced giving the efficiency for -Dr. Amand Ravold demonstrated the method, recently intro duced by Hiss, of differentiating the typhoid bacillus from bacillus coli-communis, by the use of semi-solid acidulated media, in which, at blood temperature, the round colonies of the typhoid bacillus assume a peculiar fimbriated form of growth, because of the motility of the bacteria in the slightly yielding medium, which in most cases readily distinguishes them from the more whetstone-shaped colonies of the colon bacillus, which does not produce the peculiar fimbriation in plate cultures. In tube cultures in the same general medium, but prepared with a slighter acidity and somewhat less solidity, a uniform clouding of the entire tube, due to the swarming of the bacteria, was shown to be characteristic of the typhoid bacillus, while the colon bacillus was definitely confined to the immediate vicinity of the thrust. The media in both cases are made up without peptone. The formulæ are: Royal Academy of Sciences, February 26.-Prof. van de Sande Bakhuyzen in the chair.-Prof. Schoute, Necrology of Dr. F. J. van den Berg (1833-1892), Professor of Mathematics at the Polytechnic School of Delft (1864-1884).-Mr. Muller, correspondent of the Academy in the Dutch East Indies, made a communication on the triangulation of Sumatra. When, on the completion of the triangulation of the "Government of the West Coast of Sumatra," the triangulation of South Sumatra triangulation points, determined in 1868 and 1869 in the was to be commenced, the intention was to start from the Lampong districts by the staff of the then Geographical On inquiry being made towards the end of 1895 into the condition of the pillars erected on those points, they were all found to have disappeared, so that the staff of the Triangu lation Brigade of the Topographical Service, appointed to carry out the triangulation of Sumatra, had to effect a new connection across the Strait of Sunda. The Langeiland-G. Radja Bara side of the Sumatra chain was therefore connected by means of three triangles with two sides of the Java chain, viz. G. KarangBatoo Hideung and G. Karang-G. Gede; by means of four triangles the same side was now connected with the point G. Dempoo in the Lampong districts, which had been selected for Service. astronomical station for the orientation of the Sumatra triangu lation. In 1896 the building of pillars was commenced, and in the course of 1897 the angular measurements at the nine stations, besides the determination of the latitude and azimuth at G. Dempoo were completed. The mean error of the result of the determination of the latitude of G. Dempoo is o"21, and that of the result of the determination of the azimuth o" 27. The latitude of the point G. Karang, as calculated from the Sumatra chain, differs 6"5 from that derived from the Java chain, which difference may partly be ascribed to local declination. The azimuths at that point differ 5" 3, which is probably to a great extent due to the accumulation of errors in connection with the great distance of the point Genook in Japara, which served as starting-point for the computations of latitude and azimuth in the Java chain of triangles, and which is 540 km. from Karang. The publication of the determinations of latitude and azimuth carried out by the Geographical Service in West Java, will probably throw more light on the cause of these differences.-Prof. Kamerlingh Onnes communicated on behalf of Mr. N. Kasterin, of Moscow, experiments on, and a theory of, the propagation of sound through a nonhomogeneous medium. The solution given has been rendered general by means of spherical functions for a medium consisting of equal spheres in a state of rest and arranged parallelopipedically. Applications were made to the case when the dimensions of the spheres are small in comparison with the wave-length. Perfect analogy with the dispersion and absorption of light was found; the index of refraction, the dispersion curve, the absorption coefficient and the absorption bands in the acoustic spectrum were determined. The experiments were made with balls, arranged in tubes of quadratic cross section. Complete correspondence between observation and theory was found. The solution was also found for a medium, composed of gaseous spheres. Experiments, relative to this case, were made by placing a series of resonators in a Kundt's tube. Phase retardation on waves passing through impediments was previously observed by Kasterin in the case of capillary waves.Prof. W. H. Julius presented a paper on a simple extension of the Gauss-Poggendorffian method of reflector reading, by which it becomes possible directly to read not only tg 2a, but also tg 4a, tg 6a, to Sa, tg a... ad lib. This effect is produced by repeated reflections of the incident rays between the reflector and the slightly silvered back of a small glass plate, placed in front of it. A photograph of the field of vision in the telescope was added, in which the four images of the scale are seen simultaneously, the readings of which yield the various multiples of 2a. DIARY OF SOCIETIES. ROYAL SOCIETY, at 4.30. -Total Eclipse of the Sun, January 1898: Preliminary Report on the Observations at Sahdol: W. H. M. Christie, C.B., F.R.S. (Astronomer Royal) -Preliminary Account of the Ob servations at Viziadrug: Sir J. Norman Lockyer, K.C.B., F.R.S.Polariscopic Results at Sahdol: Prof. H. H. Turner, F.R.S.-Note on Photographs obtained at Ghoglee: Dr. R. Copeland (Astronomer Royal for Scotland).-Observations at Pulgaon: Captain E. H. Hills, R.E., and H. F. Newall. SOCIETY OF ARTS (Indian Section), at 4.30.-The Earthquake in Assam : Henry Luttman-Johnson. ROYAL INSTITUTION, at 3.-Recent Researches in Magnetism and Dia. magnetism: Prof. J. A. Fleming, F. R.S. CHEMICAL SOCIETY, at 3.-Annual General Meeting. CAMERA CLUB, at 8.15.-Prof. Joly's System of Colour Photography: Captain Abney, C. B., F.R.S. FRIDAY, APRIL 1. ROYAL INSTITUTION, at 9.-Liquid Air as an Analytic Agent: Prof. Dewar, F.R.S. GEOLOGISTS' ASSOCIATION, at 8.-Addresses on the Excursion Programme for 1998: H. W. Monckton, Prof. J. F. Blake, and W. Whitaker, F.R.S. MONDAY, APRIL 4. SOCIETY OF CHEMICAL INDUSTRY, at 8.-The Bacterial Treatment of TUESDAY, APRIL 5. SOCIETY OF ARTS, at 8.-The British Empire, its Resources and its Future: John Lowles. ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY, at 8.30.-On the Species of Corals of the Genus Millepora: Prof. Sydney J. Hickson, F.R.S.-On the Perforate Corals collected by the Author in the South Pacific: J. Stanley Gardiner.—On the Geographical Races of the Banting, Bos sondaicus: R. Lydekker, F.R.S. MINERALOGICAL SOCIETY, at 8.-On Sphærostilbite: G. T. Prior. -On the Occurrence of Monasite and Niobates and Tantalates of the Rare Earths in Swaziland: G. T. Prior.-On Sennaite, a New Titanate of Iron, Lead, and Manganese from Brazil: Dr. E. Hussak and G. T. Prior.-On a Cubic Modification of Silver Iodide from Broken Hill, New South Wales: L. J. Spencer.-Crystallographic Notes on Laurionite and Phosgenite: Herbert Smith.-On Peculiar Quartz-Pseudomorphs found at the Owera Mine, Opitonui, North Island, New Zealand: Prof. G. H. F. Ulrich. NSTITUTION OF CIVIL ENGINEERS, at 8.-Extraordinary Floods in Southern India: their Causes and Destructive Effects on Railway Works: E. W. Stoney.-The Electricity Supply of London : [A. H. Preece. RÖNTGEN SOCIETY, at 8.-The Influence Machine and its advantages for Lighting X-Ray Tubes: James Wimshurst. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6. GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY, at 8.-On some Paleolithic Implements from the Plateau-Gravels, and their evidence concerning Eolithic Man: W. Cunnington.-On the Grouping of some Divisions of Jurassic Time: S ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY, at 8. THURSDAY, APRIL 7. MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY, at 8.-An Essay towards the Generating BOOKS AND SERIALS RECEIVED. BOOKS.-A Treatise on Magnetism and Electricity: Prof. A. Gray, Va 1 (Macmillan).-Comité Internationale des Poids et Mesures, Proces Verbaux des Séances de 1897 (Paris, Gauthier-Villars).-Text-Book of Physiology: edited by Prof. E. A. Schäfer, Vol. 1 (Pentland).-Berze Museums Aarbog, 1897 (Bergen).-Die Wettervorhersage: Prof. Dr. W J. van Bebber, Zweite Auflage (Stuttgart, Enke).-Die Fundamentaler Physikalischen Eigenschaften der Krystale: Dr. W. Voigt (Leipzig Veit). Die Energetik: Dr. G. Helm (Leipzig Veit).-Statesman's Year Book edited by Dr. J. S. Keltie 1898 (Macmillan).-Hints on the Management of Hawks, &c J. E. Harting, 2nd edition (H. Cox).-What is Science?: Duke of Argyll (Edinburgh, Douglas) -The Mammals, Reptiles and Fishes of Essex: H. Laver (Chelmsford, Durrant). SERIALS-Memoirs of the Geological Survey of India, Vol. xxvii. Par: 2 (Calcutta)-Ditto, Palæontologia Indica, ser. xv. Vol. 1, Part 4; Vol 2 Part 1; ser. xvi. Vol 1, Parts 2 and 3 (Calcutta).-Astrophysical Journa March (Chicago).-American Naturalist, February (Ginn).—Monthly Weather Review, December (Washington).—Journal of the Anthropologica Institute, February (Paul).-Journal of the Chemical Society, March (Gurney).-Economic Journal, March (Macmillan).-Humanitarian. Apri (Hutchinson) -Longman's Magazine. April (Longmans).-Science stracts, February (Taylor).-Himmel und Erde, March (Berlin, Paete:) Chambers's Journal, April (Chambers). |