Abstract
PARIS. Academy of Sciences, July 25.—M. Emile Picard in the chair.—H. Dcslandres and J. Bosler: The phenomena presented by the tail of Halley's comet during the passage of May 19 last. From a discussion of various observations, especially those made by R. T. A. Innes at Johannesburg, it is concluded that the tail of Halley's comet was repulsed by the earth, and the evidence is in favour of this repulsion being due to electrical causes.—P. Villard and H. Abraham: Explosive potentials. A study of the phenomena of the spark discharge. In a previous paper a description was given of the results obtained when the changes of potential were slow; the present note deals with the effects of high-voltage alternating currents.—D. Gernez: The colours arising in colourless solutions of coloured bodies at the moment of the solidification of the colourless solvent. Colourless solutions of mercuric iodide in various solvents (naphthalene, stearic acid, chloral hydrate, phenol, &c.) become yellow on solidification, owing to the separation of 'the dissolved iodide in the unstable yellow modification.—A. Lacroix: Some minerals formed by the action of sea-water upon Roman metallic objects found off the coast of Mahdia, Tunis. A sheet of lead gave crystals of cotunnite (PbCl2); transparent brilliant crystals of phosgenite (PbCO3.PbCl2) were also found. Two copper minerals are also described, covellite (CuS) and chalcosite (Cu2S).—L. Mangin: New observations on callose. This name is applied to a new substance obtained from the membrane in fungi; it is differentiated from cellulose by several reactions, especially by its insolubility in Schweitzer's reagent, and by its rapid solution and destruction by glycerol at 300°.—A. Ladenburg: Racemic and liquid combinations. The results of experiments on the melting points of mixtures of inactive pipecoline containing variable quantities of d- or of l-pipecoline are shown in the form of a curve. The existence of the racemic pipecoline in solution is clearly demonstrated.— A. Calmette and L. Massol: The precipitation reactions of serums from tuberculous subjects, and of the serums from animals hyperimmunised against tuberculosis in presence of the tuberculins.—J. Guillaume: Observations of the sun made at the Observatory of Lyons during the first quarter of 1910. The results are collected in three tables, giving the number of spots, their distribution in latitude, and the distribution of the faculæ in latitude.—Jean Mascart: Photographs of Halley's comet. Reproduction of photographs taken from Mt. Guajura, Teneriffe, at an altitude of 2715; metres.—D. Eginitis: The physical phenomena presented by Halley's comet.—R. Bricard: Concerning a claim for priority by E. Study.—Paul Dienes: A problem of Abel.—Dtienne Mazurkiewicz: The theory of ensembles.—A. Korn: The biharmonic problem and the fundamental problem in the theory of elasticity.—E. Pringsheim: The emission of gases. A reply to some remarks by M. Bauer on some experiments by the author.—Gabriel Sizes and G. Massol: The harmonics of wind instruments.—L. Hackspill: The electrical resistance of the alkali metals. The metals csesium, rubidium, potassium, and sodium were distilled directly in a vacuum into the tubes used for the measurements, and the electrical resistance determined at temperatures ranging from 55° C. to the boiling point of liquid air. —The figures are somewhat lower than those given by previous observers; a trace of oxide appreciably raises the resistance.—A. de Gramont: The place of ultimate lines in spectral series.—G. Reboul: Chemical reactions and ionisation. The experimental results are in general accord with those given by MM. de Broglie and Brizard.—Abel Buguet: The cryoscopy of the naphthylamines and addition compounds.—E. Briner and A. Wroczynski: The action of pressure and temperature upon cyanogen. Prolonged heating at 220° C. under a pressure of 3/4 atmosphere was without effect upon cyanogen; at the same temperature, under a pressure of 300 atmospheres, 10 per cent, of the gas was converted into paracyanogen in six hours. At the ordinary pressure a temperature of 310° C. is required to effect an appreciable change; under high pressures the change commences at lower temperatures, and in the latter case, in addition to para-cyanogen, some carbon and nitrogen are produced by the decomposition of the gas.—Henri Bierry, Victor Henri, and Albert Ranc: The action of the ultra-violet rays upon certain carbohydrates. Under the influence of the ultra-violet rays the molecule of d-fructose undergoes a profound degradation, formaldehyde and carbon monoxide being produced.—Daffy Wolk: Aluminium nitride, its preparation and fusion. The temperature of formation of aluminium nitride from aluminium and ammonia is 820° C. to 850° C.—Miroslaw Kernbaum: The decomposition of steam by the brush discharge. Working at the ordinary temperature, the brush discharge converts water vapour into hydrogen and hydrogen peroxide. At higher temperatures the latter substance is decomposed, and a mixture of hydrogen and oxygen is observed.—V. Grignard: The decomposition of phenol ether-oxides by mixed organo-magnesium derivatives.—Gabriel Bertrand and G. Weisweiller: Researches on the constitution of vicianose. The products of the diastatic hydrolysis of vicianose have been found to be d-glucose and l-arabinose.—G. Friedel and F. Grandjean: The anisotropic liquids of Lehmann.—Leclerc du Sablon: The theory of periodic mutations.—M. Hue: The variation of the gonidia in the genus Solorina.—J. Virieux: The sheaths and mucilages of the fresh-water algæ.—Audebeau Bey: Experiments carried out in Egypt with the view of determining the influence of the level of the underground water of the Delta on the growth of cotton.—MM. de Drouin de Bouville and L. Mercier: The appearance of the furonculose in France. This formidable disease of the trout has appeared at Bellefontaine, near Nancy.—O. Duboscq and B. Collin: The sexual reproduction of a parasite of Cyttarocyclis Ehrenbergii.—J. E. Abelous and F. Bardier: An attempt at the immunisation of animals against urohypotensine: the antitoxic action of the serum of immunised animals.—E. Tassilly and R. Cambier: The abiotic action of ultra-violet rays of chemical origin. The light from a carbon bisulphide flame burning in nitric oxide possesses a distinct, though feeble, sterilising action.—E. Gley: The modes of extraction of secretine. A new stimulant for the pancreatic secretion.—A. Briquet: The genesis of relief forms in the Gallo-Belgian region.
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Societies and Academies . Nature 84, 163–164 (1910). https://doi.org/10.1038/084163b0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/084163b0