Abstract
PARIS. Academy of Sciences, October 7.—M. Bouquet de la Grye in the chair.—On the extension of a formula of Euler and on the calculation of the principal moments of inertia of a system of material points, by M. K. Bohlin.—General properties of couples of kinematic elements, by M. G. Kœnigs.—The action of urethane on pyruvic acid, by M. L. J. Simon. Pyruvic acid combines directly with urethane without the use of any condensing agent, thecompound CH3. C(NH.CO2C2H5)2C0.OH being formed. The ethyl ester of this substance can also be obtamed by condensationof ethyl pyruvate with urethane, but in this case a little hydrochloric acid is necessary to assist the reaction Boiling with dilute acid readily regenerates the pyruvic acid.—On monobrmomalonic dialdehyde, by M. R. Lespieau. This substance is formed by the action of bromine in bright sunlight upon the substance CHBr: CBr.CH2OCH3. Owing to its forming a potassium salt it was at first taken for an acid, but its aldehydic nature is clearly established by its reactions with Schiff's reagent, and the formation of phenylbromopyrazol with phenylhydrazine.—On the reducing properties of certain nitric esters, by MM. Leo Vignon and F. Germ. The nitric esters derived from methyl and ethyl alcohols, glycol and glycerol do not reduce an alkaline copper solution. Tetranitroerythritol possesses faintly reducing properties whilst a strong reduction is produced by the nitrates of clulcitol and mannitol.—Experimental researches on the excitability of the spinal marrow, by M. Alex. N. Vitznou. It is shown that, contrary to the results of previous experimenters, the grey matter of the spinal column can be excited by electric currents, and that there is a clear difference between the reactions which are produced as a consequence of the stimulation of the antero-lateral cords and those resulting from the stimulation of the grey matter, the latter producing generally tetanic movements. The grey substance can also be excited by simply mechanical means, if care be taken that there is as little loss of blood as possible during the preliminary operation.—The influence of spermotoxin upon reproduction, by Mile. C. de Leslie. If some spermotoxic serum furnished by a guinea-pig is injected into a white mouse, the latter loses its power of reproduction, the sterility being maintained for from sixteen to twenty days—On the liberoligneous elements of ferns, by MM. C. Eg. Bertrand and E. Cornaille.—Double flowers and parasitism, by M. Mann Molliard. In two cases (Prirnula officinalis and Scabiosa Columbaria) in which a tendency to form double flowers was observed, it was found that the roots were attacked by parasitic fungi, and it appears very probable that it is to these parasites that the changes in the flowers must be attributed. The author points out that these facts may have im portant applications in practical horticulture.—An experimental contribution to the study of the physical signs of intelligence, by M. N. Vaschide and Mlle. M. Pelletier. As the result of measurements made on more than 300 children it was found that the cephalic development of the intelligent subjects was different from an anthropological point of view from the unintelligent subjects. The most marked difference is in the magnitude of the auriculo-bregmatic measurement.
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Societies and Academies . Nature 64, 620 (1901). https://doi.org/10.1038/064620a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/064620a0