SCIENGEDITORIAL COMMITTEE: S. NEWCOMB, Mathematics; R. S. WOODWARD, Mechanics; E. C. PICKERINGAstronomy; T. C. MENDENHALL, Physics; R. H. THURSTON, Engineering; IRA REMSEN, Chemistry;

J. LE CONTE, Geology; NW. M. DAVIS, Physiography; 0. C. MARSH, Paleontology; W. K. BROOKS,C. HART MERRIAM, Zoology; S. H. SCUDDER, Entomology; C. E. BESSEY, N. L. BRITTON,

Botany; HENRY F. OSBORN, General Biology; C. S. MINOT, Embryology, Histology;H. P. BOWDITCH, Physiology; J. S. BILLINGs, Hygiene; J. MCKEEN CATTELL,

Psychology; DANIEL G. BRINTON, J. W. POWELL, Anthropology.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1898.

CONTENTS:Chemistry at the Jubilee MIeeting of the American As-

sociation: PROFESSOR CHARLES BASKERVILLE..521Physics at the Boston Meeting of the American Asso-

ciation for the Advancement of Science (I.) : N.ERNEST DORSEY ............................529

The Advance of Psychology: PROFESSOR J. Mc-KEEN CATTELL .............................533

The Senff Zoological Expedition to the Nile Valley:H. F. 0., N. R. HARRINGTON ................541

Fishes New to the Fauna of Southern New Englandrecently collected at Woods IBoll: DR. HUGH M.SMITH .....................................543

Notes on Inorganic Chemistry: J. L. H .......544Current Notes on Anthropology:

Craniological Opinions; Ancient Graves in Maine;Geography and Anthropology: PROFESSOR D. G.BRINTON ...................................545

Scientific Notes and News :-A National Physical Laboratory for Greait Britain;The Franklin Institute; General .............546

University and Educational News ..............550Discussion and Correspondence

Trochosphwra Again: DR. H. S. JENNINGS. ThzeOccurrence in Great Abundance of Insects Ordina-rily Merely Common: DR. F. C. KENYON .........551

Scientific Literature:-Some Recent Literature on Child-study: PROFES-SOR M. V. O'SHEA. liliehnert's Biomechanik:PROFESSOR CHAS. B. DAVENPORT ............552

Scientific Journals ..........................560Societies and Academies:

Geological Conferezee of Harvard University: J.M. BOUTWELL ...............................560

New Books ...............................560

MSS. intended for publication and books, etc., intendedfor review should be sent to the responsible editor, Profes-sor J. XcKeen Cattell, Garrison-on-Hudson, N. Y.

CHEM1IISTRY AT THE JUBILEE MEETINVG OFTHE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION.

THrE1u1ion meeting of Section C of theAmerican Association for the Advancementof Science and the Armerican Chemical So-ciety in Boston during the last week inAugust possibly approximated the desiresexpressed two years ago by the promotersof the joint session. The Jubilee meetingof the American Association dragged manywho have not habitually attended the ses-sions from their seclusion. Those who didcome, either for the first time or only aftera lapse of years, observed an inspiring sightin the progress in the Association, and weare constrained to believe that Section Ccontributed its share to the success of themeeting.Almost three hundred chemists attended

the joint sessions. While Section C hasbeen largely composed of members of theAmerican Chemical Society, many morejoined that Society, and numerous applica-tions, in turn, were sent to the AmericanAssociation. We are inclined to the opinionthat did other of the affiliated societies butunite with the various sections in joint ses-sions only mutual good and benefit wouldresult, as has been the case with Section Cand the American Chemical Society.Some 94 papers were presented before

Section C and the American Chemical So-ciety; 51 in full, 31 by abstract and 12by title, representing the various branches

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of chemistry. While there were many veryinteresting papers, perhaps the one thataroused most comment favorable and con-servat'ive, was that of Dr. Chas. F. Brush'On a New Gas in the Air-Etherion.'*

This gas, which is found absorbed bymany substances, is a constituent of theatmosphere. Phosphortis pentoxide whencold absorbs it, but gives it uip on heating.A year and a-halfago Dr. Brush, while look-ing for occluded hydrogen in glass, foundnot only that substance, but this new gas.The presence of the new gas "made itselfknown by its enormous heat conductivityat low pressures. In a paper presentedbefore Section B last year Mr. Brush gavethe results of his experiments on the heatconductivity of variolus gases at low pres-sure. Hydrogen has been regarded the bestgaseous conductor of heat. The occludedgas in powdered glass contained some hy-drogen, but showed a greater heat con-ductivity. In repeated trials at purifyirngthe gas by fractional diffusion, each time anincrease of conductivity was observed untila gas was obtained with a heat conductivityone hundred times that of hydrogen. Theexperiments were not reported as continuedto a point when the conductivity was thesame before and after diffusion, so the im-purity of the substance was readily acknowl-edged.A table of figures was exhibited, showing

the molecular weight, density, specific heat,relative mean molecular velocity and heatconductivity of the gases, whose heat-con-ducting curves appeared in a chart; andattention was directed to the evident closerelationship between heat conductivity andmolecular velocity of the gases.From this relationship some other prop-

erties of the new gas were deduced. Takingthe heat conductivity of the new gas at ahundred times that of hydrogen-a very

* This paper was printed in the last number (page485) Of SCIENCE.-ED. SCIENCE.

conservative estimate-its mean molecularvelocity at freezing temperature was calcu-lated to be more than a hundred miles persecond, and its density only a thousandthpart that of hydrogen; while the specificheat was found to be six thousand timesgreater than that of hydrogen, this sub-stance having the greatest specific heatheretofore known. These figures were ad-duced simply to show the order of magni-tude that may be established by further in-vestigation.

It was shown that -a gas having proper-ties anything like those cited could not pos-sibly be confined to the earth's atmosphere,and hence the new gas, being found here,probably extends indefinitely into spaceand constitutes an interstellar atmosphere,whence its name. The possib-ility thatetherion may be found to he identical withthe so-called ether was touched upon, andDr. Brush expressed the hope that it wouldbe found to account for at least some of thephenomena heretofore attributed to theether. No spectroscopic data were pre-sented.

Dr. Edgar F. Smith's vice-presidentialaddress on 'An Electric Current in OrganicChemistry was a clear-cut history, first, ofthe application of electricity to chemistryin general, then to organic bodies in par-ticular. The difficulties in investigatingchanges in organic substances wrought bythe electric current are great, for no singleline of reaction seems to be followed in-variably and numerous by-products areformed. As this valuable contribution tothe history of Electro-chemistry offered bya pioneer in and authority on the subjecthas been published in SCIENCE, no furtherreference will be made to it in this resumeof the Proceedings of Section C.

All the papers presented at the joint ses-sions were provisionally divided into thefollowing subdivisions: Inorganic, Organic,Analytical, Technical, Physical, Physio-

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OCTOBER 21, 1898.]

logical, Agricultural and the Teaching ofChemistry. Below is given a full list of thetitles, but space will not permit abstracts ofall the papers presented.

Dr. C. L. Reese exhibited some unusualquartz crystals from Alabama, containingpetroleum inclusions.

A- paper ' On the Facilities for Standard-izing Chemical Apparatus afforded by For-eign Governments and Our Own,' read byMr. L. A. Fisher for Mr. H. S. Pritchett,called attention to the work begun by theCoast and Geodetic Survey of the UnitedStates. In comparison with Germany andFrance few facilities are now offered by ourgovernment, practically none were in thepast, so this is an important forward step.

Mr. N. Monroe Hopkins showed draw-ings of a new Electric Furnace for a 110-Volt Current of High Efficiency. It is easyof construction and inexpensive.

' Catalysis,' Dr. J. H. Kastle. Assump-tions regarding catalytic processes fromwork on sulphonic esters involving thequadrivalence of oxygen were given.Briihl, in his work on hydrogen dioxide,prefers to regard water as containingoxygen unsaturated.

'Volumetric Apparatus,' G. E. Barton.'Some New Forms of Apparatus,' J. M1.

Pickel.'A New Apparatus for Determining the

Relative Viscosity of Thick Oils and Soft-ness of Plastic Matter,' A. W. Dow.

' Viscosimeter,' P. H. Conradsen.Dr. F. W. Clarke called attention to the

solubility of certain natural silicates in dis-tilled water, in his paper on ' The AlkalineReaction of Certain Natural Silicates. ' Thealkaline reaction is given very quickly bysome and more slowly by others. This isan interesting point for geologists.

Dr. C. Loring Jackon, with I. H. Derby,gave the properties of pure, freshly prepared'Ferrous Iodide.'One of the most interesting sessions was

that set aside for the discussion of themethods of teaching chemistry. Many o-ut-siders were attracted by this part of theprogram. Dr. F. P. Venable, who hadthe leading paper, spoke ' On the Use andAbuse of the Formula in Teaching Chemis-try.' Dalton seems to have been the firstto use a regular system of symbols in mak-ing clear his idea of atoms. Berzelius thentook up the practice, which giives us a uni-versal but short-hand language in chemis-try. While there is no question of the valueof formulas and equations in teaching chem-istry, some of the limitations of their useshould be recognized. Symbols and equa-tions can only partially represent the mathe-matical relations of the science, for there isno mode of indicating the physical forcesalways accompanying chemical reactions.Frequently the best constructed equationrepresents only one of the many reactionsoccurring at the same time, and there is noway to indicate conditions, relation of massand so on. While useful, the dangers maybe classified under fotur heads: methodism,mechanical, mathematical and idolatry.

Dr. Ira Remsen, in his paper on ' Teach-ing Organic Chemistry,' deprecated ' formulaworship ' and insisted upon having thething talked about actually before the stu-dent and allowing him not only to see buthandle the substance -as much as possible.In laboratory work it is more essential tohave the student familiarize himself with afew simple compounds first until a basis isestablished, avoiding the mechanical andacquiring the true spirit and right idea.Mlany teachers make the mistake of talkingover the heads of students. This serveswell to exhibit the professor's own mentaladroitness, but does not aid the pupil much.

Dr. Hart, when speaking on ' The Teach-ing of Industrial Chemistry,' insisted that in-dustrial application of whathad been learnedwas the crowning point of all teaching ofchemistry. He held the idea that only a

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few of the many laboratory students are fitfor manufacturing chemists, whose pre-liminary training should be of the highestorder, especially in mathematics. The stu-dent should have a wide experience inchemical preparations and be able to purifyquickly and study them on a large scale.After such training a man should be sentinto a factory for at least two years asa student. Our hope lies in the funda-mental training in good technical schools.

Dr. W. L. Dudley asserted, in presentinghis remarks upon 'Teaching AnalyticalChemistry,' that a good course in experi-mental work should precede qualitativeanalysis. If only a little time is availableit should be devoted to experimental andnot to qualitative analysis, for fear of turn-ing out men who with only a smatteringwould think themselves real chemists. Hedid not believe in books for special students,but in true qualitative analysis containiingthoroughly accurate methods for the com-mon metals and semi-common ones. Heinsisted upon the absolute necessity foraccuracy and that the course should becomprised of such methods and not ofshorter ones that are inaccurate. In quan-titative analysis it is better to teach manipu-lation and principles and not all the methodsof analysis known.In a paper by Dr. H. W. Wiley, read

by Dr. E. E. Ewell, on ' The Influence ofTemperature upon the Specific Rotary Powerof Sucrose,' it was brought out that, con-trary to the generally received ideas, thereis a marked influence produced by changeof temperature, the specific rotary powerlowering as the temperature rises.Three papers were presented by Drs. W.

A. Noyes, Hillebrand and N. W. Lord uponcoal analysis. The correct determinationof water in a coal seems to be obtained onlyby drying the sample over sulphuric acid ina vacuum dessicator. This is a long methodand scarcely applicable in technical work.

[N. S. VoL. YIII. No. 199.

This was a partial report of the Committeeon Coal Analysis.

' The Determination of Water and Cokein Coal,' W. A. Noyes and N. M1. Austin.

'Notes on Determination of Water inCoal, W. E. Hillebrand.

'The Valuation of Coals,' N. W. Lord.'Analysis of MIi:xed Acids,' Chas. E.

Munroe.' A Simple Color Reaction for the Detec-

tion of Methyl Alcohol,' S. P. Mulliken andHeyward Scudder.

' Detection of Nitro Group in OrganicCompounds,' S. P. Mulliken and E. R.Barker.

' Electrolytic Determination of Tin inTin Ores,' E. D. Campbell and E. C.Champion. This depends upon fusing theore with sodium carbonate and sulphur, con-version of the sulpho-stannate into sulphide,then into double ammonium oxalate andelectrolyzing.

' The Determination of Undigested Fatand Casein in Infant Feces,' Herman Poole.

' New Method for the Determination ofZinc,' A. C. Langmuir.

' Note on the Determination of Arsenicin Glycerine,' A. C. Langmuir.

Professor H. L. Wells, in his ' Historyof Double Salts, stated that the laws gov-erning this class of compounds seem veryintricate. The chlorides do not seem tocorrespond to the bromides, and iodides,and halides of closely related mextals oftendiffer.

Dr. J. L. Howe and E. A. O'Neal stated,in their paper on the ' Use of the ElectricCurrent in Forming Alums,' that they hadprepared alums containing the metalsaluminum, iron, cobalt, rubidium andcesium, by means of an electric current, butfailed to get them of manganese andruthenium. These compounds of rubidiumand cesium are next. Dr. Howe, with S. G.Hamner, gave a method for accurately de-termining ' The Color of Sulphur in the

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Gaseous State.' This is variously givenin the different text-books.

Professsr 0. C. Johnson gave ' A NewTest for Nickel,' which consists of the treat-ment of the washed precipitates of nickelicand cobaltic oxides with potassium iodide.The presence of nickel is indicated by theliberation of iodine.

Dr. J. H. Kastle reported 'On the Oc-currence of Barium and Strontium' in alarge number of Kentucky and Ohio lime-stones. He drew out the point that whereone metal of a triad is present 'in largequantities the other members of the seriesare invariably also present.

' The Estimation of Iron and Aluminumin Natural Phosphates,' H. W. Wiley andF. P. Veitch.

'A Study of the Tellurides,' CabellWhitehead.

'Magnetic Ferric Oxide,' W. L. Dudley.'The Action of Various Bases on Me-

tallic Arsenites,' C. Wellington.' The Action of Chromic Acid on Hydro-

gen,' C. L. Reese.'The Action of Soft Waters on Metals,'

Ellen H. REichards and Willis R. Whitney.'A New Method of Standardizing Hydro-

chloric Acid,' F. K. Cameron and J. A.Emery.

Dr. C. Loring Jackson, in his paper en-titled 'Certain Peculiar Reactions of theTribromnitrophenols,' gave an account ofhis worke on the action of sodium malonicester, sodiuim acetoacetic ester and sodiumethylate on tribromnitrophenols and relatedsubstances with a view to determining whythe bromine is replaced by hydrogen. Dr.A. B. Prescott's paper, ' On Certain Alka-loidal Periodides and the Volumetric Esti-mation of Alkaloids as Higher Periodides,gave probably the highest possible period-ides, viz., triodide of morphine hydroio-dide, hexaiodides ofstrychnine, brucine andaconitine hydroiodides, and the octoiodideof atropine hydroiodide. Dr. M. Gomberg

reported on ' A Periodide of Bromtriphenyl-methane,' the only organic perhalide desti-tute of any element of the nitrogen family,except Victor Meyer's iodonium perhalideand Kastle's sulphonperiodide.

' On Tetraphenylmethane,' M. Gomberg.'Hydrazo and Azo. Derivatives of Tetra-

phenylmethane,' M. Gomberg and A.> C.Campbell.

' Camphoric Acid; Synthesis of theNeighboring Xylic Acid,' W. A. Noyes.

' The Propyl Phosphines,' Peter Firemaiand E. G. Portner.'The Action of Ethers on Phosphonium

Iodide,' Peter Fireman and Ernestine Fire-man.

' The Oxidation of Formic Aldehyde byHydrogen Peroxide,' J. H. Kastle.

Dr. Charles F. Mabery reported a con-tinuation of his great work on petroleum.In one paper, on the I Unsaturated Hydro-carbons in Canadian Petroleum,' with W.0. Quayle, he stated that he had separatedcompounds containing seven, eight, nineand ten carbon atoms; a regular series ofof sulphur compounds following the type ofC.H ,2S beginning with C(. Some sulph-oxides according to the type CnH2,1SO2 wereformed from, these compounds. In continu-ing his work with E. J. Hndson' On the Con-stituents of California Petroleums ' fromdifferent sources he found in some largeamounts of aromatic hydrocarbons, benzol,toluol, xylols, etc., and smaller amounts ofnapphthenes; in others the reverse was thecase. Dr. Mabery also gave a paper 'Onthe Constituents of Commercial Parafflne'and succeeded in separating, by distillingunder reduced pressure, a series of hydro-carbons according to the type of CnH2n+2beginning with C14 up to CaO. Workingwith H. L. Schrom, he obtained only nega-tive results in his I Efforts to add Hydrogento Acetylene.' Sodium, amalgam, alumi-num, and zinc with sulphuric acid, electroly-sis and passing a mixture with hydrogen

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from zinc and sulphuric acid over heatedplatinum sponge.

' Oxy-induline-a New Blue Dyestu:ff'S. P. Mulliken a'nd W. Kelley. This com-pound, C,,H,8N,O4, is readily formed byheating amidophenol hydro-chlorate. Sub-phonated it is a fast and direct blue dyestuff.

' The Benzaldoxines,' F. K. Cameron.'On True and Bis-Nitroso Compounds,'

E. Kremers.Dr. T. W. Richards gave an interesting

historical review of the 'History of Phys-ical Chemistry.' In one sense we are notwrong in looking on physical chemistry asa modern invention. While many of thefundamental generalizations are by nomeans recent, the sharp line drawn thirtyyears ago between physics and chemistryare but lately erased, and it is well acceptednow that the same laws governing one classof phenomena are applicable as well to theother. Boyle, in the seventeenth century,discovered the law of the contraction ofgases; Lavoisier forced the idea of the con-servation of mass upon the scientific world.Dalton, Avogadro, Ampere, Gay-Lussac,Dulong and Petit, Davy and Faraday madegreat additions to our physico-chemicalknowledge. Julien Robert Meyer andHelmholtz acquired a knowledge of con-servation of energy. There were Hittorif'sresearches on electrolytic conductivity.Wilhelmy, forty years ago, worked on thespeed of reactions along the lines suggestedby Wentzel and Berthollet. The observa-tions of these savants were used as a basis adecade later by Guldberg and Waage, whenthey promulgated the law of mass action asa resuilt of the study of the progress andequilibrium of chemical change. Then whyshould it be regarded as new?The growth of physical chemistry has not

been commensurate with that of the otherdivisions of the science for several reasons,one of which was the necessity for dealingwith the little understood subject of solu-

tions. Van't Hoff having shown that sub-stances in solution follow the same lawsgoverning the a6riform state, and Arrheniushaving explained the difference betweensolutions conducting electricity and non-conductors, the progress has been very rapidin the last ten years. Professor 'Richardsattributed another cause as summed up inthe word 'prejudice."' "' Not only have un-tenable theories been held long after theirtime, but whole fields of study have beenneglected by most chemists and physicistsbecause they lay on the border line betweenthe two sciences."While higher mathematics is a most valu-

able instrument for a physical chemist,there is a serious danger of accurate mathe-matical processes leading to wholly erro-neous conclusions because of incomplete orinaccurate data. One must be an accom-plished physicist, chemist and mathema-tician to obtain the highest results in modernthoretical chemistry, and the number ofmenhaving time to acquire the necessary knowl-edge can never be large. Attention was calledto the excellent laboratories of Nernst atG6ttingen and Ostwald in Leipsic, and it wasregretted that America did not have moremen devoting themselves to pure science.

Dr. E. C. Franklin, in his paper on ' SomeProperties of Liquid Anhydrous Ammonia,'showed that ammonia resembles waterclosely in all the properties which givewater its unique position as a solvent. Itis next to water as a general solvent forsalts; there is a close resemblance in thepower of dissociating electrolytes, somesalts conducting even better in an ammoniathan in a water solution. It forms am-monia of crystallization. Except water, itsheat of volitization is greater than tha-t ofany other liquid. Its specific heat is asgreat as water.'The Solubility of Di-ionic Salts of Weak

Acids in Solutions of Stronger Di-ionicAcids,' A. A. Noyes and David Schwartz.

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' The Solubility of Di-ionic Acids in So-lutions of Di-ionic Salts of Other Acids,'A. A. Noyes and E. S. Chapin.

'The Solubility of Tri-ionic Bases in So-lutions of Di-ionic Salts of Weak Bases,' A.A. Noyes and E. S. Chapin.

' The Solubility of Iodine in Dilute Po-tassium Iodide Solutions,' A. A. Noyes andL. J. Seidensticker.

Dr. A. A. Noyes, in this series of paperson 'Solubility,' showed that by means ofequations the solubility of a substance inthe presence of another can be calculatedand so predicted.

'The Rate of Reaction between SilverAcetate and Sodium Formate; A Reactionof the Third Order,' A. A. Noyes andGeorge T. Cottle.

' On the Influence of Silicon on the Heatof Solution of Coke in Cast Iron,' E. D.Campbell and W. E. Hartman.

'Passage of Bubbles throuigh Media ofDifferent Densities,' C. Gilbert Parker.'Some Boiling-Point Curves,' F. K.

Cameron and E. F. Thayer.'Photographic Reproduction of Color,'

Romyn Hitchcock.'Sixteenth Annual Report of Committee

on the Bibliography of Chemical Literature,'of which Dr. H. Carrington Bolton is Chair-man. This report has been printed inSCIENCE.The Sub.section of Physiological Chem-

istry met Friday afternoon in Room 8Boylston Hall, Harvard University, a num-ber of visiting physicians being present.

Dr. E. E. Smith, of New York, who was incharge of this division of the subject, gavethe leading paper on ' American Researchin Physiological Chemistry.' The begin-nings of the application of chemistry tophysiological research are twinned with thelife of the American Association. It wasinaugurated in 1842, when Meyer pointedout the valuable discoveries of Joule, Groveand Helmholtz in the domain of physics to

527

the physiologists. Von Liebig's ' AnimalChemistry,' edited for the American pro-fession by J. M. Webster, was the first im-portant publication in America in this line,although in 1825 Dr. Beaumont, U. S. A.,had obtained for the first time pure gastricjuice in treating a gastric fistula from agunshot wound. Dr. Caldwell, of Louis-ville, ridiculed Liebig's material views ofthe body as a ' corporeal stove for burningoxygen.' In the forties animal heat at-tracted the attention of physiologists, manyof whom maintained that if the lungs werethe stove the lungs should be hotter thanthe other parts of the bodv. Austin Flint(1862) found stercorin in human feces andthat it differed from cholesterm by onlytwo hydrogen atoms.

In 1869 Atwater prepared an essay onthe composition of the American maize.Twenty-five years ago this same worker, inan address before the Maine State Board ofHealth, gave out the modern ideas of nutri-tion. All are well aware of the valuablework done now in various parts of thecountry by Dr. Atwater, or under his direc-tion, upon the dietaries of people of differ-ent occupations in various localities. Asidefrom the scientific value of such observa-tions, the economics of the question deservethe most careful consideration. Dr. At-water has concluded that our national die-tary is one-sided, and as the food produc-tion of the United States is out of balance,we should make use of a larger propor-tion of fuel materials, as fats and carbo-hydrates.

Probably the greatest problem of interestnow is the study of proteids. The imper-fect methods of separating these complexbodies have been greatly improved by MIal-let and Wiley by the use of various salinesolvents and precipitants, especially phos-phomolybdic acid and bromine. Chitten-den's work for the past fifteen years,Osborne's new nomenclature and crystal-

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lization of vegetable proteids, and Hofmeis-ter's separation of crystalline animal pro-teids, have yielded interesting conclusionsin regard to the physiology of germinationand plant growth in general.Among the earliest metabolism experi-

ments reported were those of Flint, whoconcluded that the secretion of urea wasincreased by muscular exertion. Theseideas have been verified by subsequent in-vestigations.During the last few years the chemical

factors causing certain diseases have beenstudied. Some claim that some complaintsare due to increased presence of nric acidin the blood. Herter says that this acid isthe result rather than the cause. Rach-ford presents evidence to show that thesymptoms of toxicity are expressions ofleucomaine poisoning dependent upon de-fective elimination. The importance of thesubject is exhibited by the foundation andorganization of the Institute of Pathologyof the New York State Commission ofLunacy and the recent establishment of aprofessorship in pathological chemistry inthe University and Bellevue Hospital Med-ical College, New York.American contributions to physiological

chemistry have hitherto been scattered injournals of chemistry, physics, medicineand general science at home and abroad.There are two journals published now inAmerica dealing directly with the subject,The American Journal of Physiology and TheJournal of ExKperimental Medicine.

Dr. S. Bookman, in his paper on ' Studiesin Epilepsy; a Contribution to the Subjectof Metabolism in Nervous Diseases,' gaveconclusions based on chemical examinationof stomach contents, blood and urine, to-gether with urotoxic and serotoxic deter-minations in four cases. His other paperwas on 'Investigations of the Nature ofthe Nissl Granules.' ' Proteids of theBrain ' was Dr. P. A. Levene's paper.

' Experiments on the Metabolism of Mat-ter and Energy in the Human Body,' byW. 0. Atwater and F. G. Benedict.

'Experiments on the Metabolism of Al-cohol in the Human Body,' by W. 0. At-water and F. G. Benidict, provoked not alittle discussion, for, from the experimentsreported, alcohol is a heat-producing food.

' On the Availability of Nutrients of FoodMaterials,' by W. 0. Atwater and A. P.Bryant.'A Dietary Study of a Bicycle Racer,

by W. 0. Atwater and A. P. Bryant. Thesubject studied was Miller, the -six-daychampion racer of the world.

Changes in the ripening of cheese areusually attributed to micro-organisms, butDrs. S. M. Babcock and H. L. Russell, in apaper on ' The Properties of Galactase; aProteolytic Ferment of Milk,' attributedthe conversion of insoluible casein of agreen cheese into peptones and othersoluble proteids in ripened cheese to theimportant enzyme named in the title of thepaper. Galactase appears to be allied totrypsin and is more abundant in cream,being precipitated by absolute alcohol. Itis present in all milks; sheep, goat, horse,hog, buffalo, burro and human.

' Urinary Acidimetry and Alkalimetry,'Heinrich Stern.'The Normal Degree of Urinary Acidity,'

Heinrich Stern.Dr. H. A. Weber, who was in charge of

the subject of Agricultural Chemistry, gavea paper on ' Light: a Factor in Sugar Pro-duction.' The sugar content of plants isdependent upon climatic conditions, loca-tion and proximity to large bodies of water.For plants having short period of vegeta-tion higher latitudes are more favorable,other things being equal.

' The determination of Starch in Agri-cultural Products,' J. B. Lindsey.'A Note on the Growth of Lupins on

Calcareous Lands,' E. W. Hilgard.

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' Some of the Important Results of Re-cent Chemical Investigations of Plant andAnimal Cells,' E. A. de Schweinitz.

'Composition of Ohio Wines,' A. W.Smith and Norman Parks. The ratio ofglycerol to alcohol in native wines isusually taken as 7-14 to the 100. Frompure wines made by the authors it variesfrom 3.9 to 11.8 to the 100 with an averageof 5.

'T he Determination of Turbidity ofWater,' W. P. Mason.

' Efficiency of the Elmira Filtering Plant,'W. P. Mason.

Miss Isabel F. Hiyams and MIrs. Ellen H.Richards, in presenting their paper, ' On theComposition of Oscillatoriia prolifica (Gre.ville) 0. rubeseens (de Candolle) and its Re-lation to the Quality of Water Supplies,'exhibited samples of the blue-green algaefound in Jamaica Pond, Boston, during themonths of May, June and July. The algaeseem to be identical with that found inLake Geneva in 1834-6, and later in LakeM6rat. During the growth of this moss thewater assumes a brownish-red appearance,and on a hot, still day it separates out as acream, which is easily driven by the windsupon the rocks, where it decays, giving offa disagreeable, fetid odor. While numeroussubstances were extracted from the moss,no ill effect is known which may be attrib-uted to this source.

' The Le Seuer Electrolytic Process forthe Production of Caustic Soda and Bleach-ing Powder,' read by Dr. C. L. Parsons,depends upon iron bars supporting a wiregauze as a diaphragm and the use of plati-num-iridium anodes bound up in glass. Inanother paper, 'A Review of the Electro-lytic Processes for the Production of CausticSoda and Bleaching Powder,' by the sameauthor, it was claimed that the process de-scribed would replace the Castner-Kellnerand other processes on account of economyand efficiency.

529

' The Alum Question 'in Water Purifica-tion,' E. G. Smith.

Dr. C. F. MIabery and Mfr. K. Land-grebe stated that ' The Effect of an Electro-lytic Bath on the Tanning of Leather' wasthe reduction of the time consumed, andthey observed that the pereentage of ni-trogen was lower in leather so tanned.

' Some Records in the Year's Progress inApplied Chemistry,' Wim. MIcMIurtrie.

' The Progress in Utilization of CityGarbage, with Special Reference to theNew Plant in Boston,' Bruno Terne.'On the Removal of Hardness from

Water for Boiler Purposes,' C. F. Maberyand E. B. Baltzly. All kinds of hard waterhave from 90-98 per cent. of the lime pres-ent and all suspended matter are precipi-tated cold by treatment for twenty-fourhours with half the calculated amount ofsodium aluminate.'New Process for the Commercial Pro-

dtuction of Oxygen and its Industrial Ap-plications," Romyn Hitchcock.The meeting was most successful in every

way.CHAS. BASKERVILLE,

Secretary.UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.

PHYSICS AT THE BOSTON MIEETING OF THEAMIERICAN ASSOCIATJON FOR THE AD-

VANCEMENT OF SCIENCE (I.).SECTION B of the American Association

was organized with Vice-President F. P.Whitman in the Chair. His vice-presi-dential address, on color-vision, printed inthe issue of SCIENCE for September 9th, waswell received and constitutes a re'sume ofthe subject of great value.The program of the section included

fifty titles of papers, of which forty wereread before the section. Many of thesepapers were of very high order and almostevery one of them was creditable and in-teresting.

OCTOBER 21, 1898.]

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CHEMISTRY AT THE JUBILEE MEETING OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATIONCHAS. BASKERVILLE

DOI: 10.1126/science.8.199.521 (199), 521-529.8Science 

ARTICLE TOOLS http://science.sciencemag.org/content/8/199/521.citation

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registered trademark of AAAS. is aScienceAdvancement of Science, 1200 New York Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20005. The title

(print ISSN 0036-8075; online ISSN 1095-9203) is published by the American Association for theScience

Advancement of Science. No claim to original U.S. Government Works.Copyright © 1898 The Authors, some rights reserved; exclusive licensee American Association for the

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