SCIENCE A WEEKLY JOURNAL DEVOTED TO THE ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE, PUBLISHING THE OFFICIAL NOTICES AND PROCEEDINGS OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1904. CONTENTS: The American Association for the Advance- mient of Science:- Section B, Physics: PROFESSOR DAYTON C. MILLER. ...................................... 201 Section F, Zoology: PROFESSOR C. JUDSON HERRICK ............................... 210 The American Society of Zoologists, Central Branch: PROFESSOR FRANK SMITH..........221 Scientific Books:- Morgan's Evolution and Adaptation: PRO- FESSOR BASHFORD DEAN ..................221 Scien tific Journals and Articles ............. 22 Societies and Academnies:- The Washington Academy of Sciences. The Phiilosop/hical Society of Washington: CHARLES K. WXEAD. Section of Astron- onmy, Physics and Chemistry of the New York Academiy of Sciences: DR. CHARLES C. TROWBRIDGE. The New York Section of the American Chemnical Society: DR. H. C. SHERMAN. ............................ 225 Discussion and Correspondence:- Convocation Week: PROFESSOR JAS. LEWIS HOWE, DR. H. W. WILEY, DR. JOHN M. CLARKE, PROFESSOR 0. T. MASON. Soil WIork in the United States: PROFESSOR E. AWN. HILGARD ............................. 228 Special Articles:- The Classification of the Rocks of the Wat- kins G(len: H. S. V ..................... 234 Cnrrent Notes on Meteorology:- Meteorological Society of Japan; Protec- tion of Peach Tr ees from Frost; The Mle- teorology of the Sintis; South African Metleorology: PROFESSOR R. DEC. WARD... 236 The Missouri Botanical Garden .............237 The Department of Economics and Sociology of the Carnegie Institutio ...............238 Scientific Notes ad News .................238 University and Educational News ...........240 MSS. intended for publication and books, etc., intended for review should be sent to the Editor of SCIENCE, Garri- son-on-Hudson, N. Y. AMERICAN ASSOCIATION I-OR THE AD- VANCEMENT 01F SCIENCE. SECTION B, PHYSICS. THE annual meeting of Section B, Physics, of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, in affiliation with the American Physical Society, was held in St. Louis, from December 28 to 31. The sessions. were universally pro- nounced successful and enjoyable. The attendance varied from forty to seventy- five, and was representative of the middle west, while there was also present a num- ber of the prominent members from the east, and a few from the Pacific coast. The retiring vice-president, Professor E. F. Nichols, of Columbia University, was unable to be present. The section passed a resolution expressing its disappointment in not having the opportunity of listening to the expected vice-presidential address. The presiding officers were Professor E. H. Hall, of Harvard University, vice-presi- dent of Section B, and Professor A. G. Webster, of Clark University, president of the American Physical Society. The other officers of the section who were in attend- ance were Dayton C. Miller, secretary; D. B. Brace, councilor, and the following menibers of the sectional committee-E. H. Hall, D. C. Miller, Ernest Merritt, D. B. Brace, A. G. Webster and F. E. Nipher. For the next meeting to be held in Phila- delphia, from December 28 to 31, 1904, the vice-president is Professor W. F. Magie, of Princeton University. The other officers for the Philadelphia meeting, so far as now determined, are: retiring vice-presi- on August 18, 2018 http://science.sciencemag.org/ Downloaded from
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SCIENCEA WEEKLY JOURNAL DEVOTED TO THE ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE, PUBLISHING THE
OFFICIAL NOTICES AND PROCEEDINGS OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATIONFOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1904.
CONTENTS:The American Association for the Advance-
mient of Science:-Section B, Physics: PROFESSOR DAYTON C.MILLER. ...................................... 201Section F, Zoology: PROFESSOR C. JUDSONHERRICK ............................... 210
The American Society of Zoologists, CentralBranch: PROFESSOR FRANK SMITH..........221
Scientific Books:-Morgan's Evolution and Adaptation: PRO-FESSOR BASHFORD DEAN ..................221
Scientific Journals and Articles ............. 22
Societies and Academnies:-The Washington Academy of Sciences. ThePhiilosop/hical Society of Washington:CHARLES K. WXEAD. Section of Astron-onmy, Physics and Chemistry of the NewYork Academiy of Sciences: DR. CHARLES C.TROWBRIDGE. The New York Section of theAmerican Chemnical Society: DR. H. C.SHERMAN. ............................ 225
Discussion and Correspondence:-Convocation Week: PROFESSOR JAS. LEWISHOWE, DR. H. W. WILEY, DR. JOHN M.CLARKE, PROFESSOR 0. T. MASON. SoilWIork in the United States: PROFESSOR E.AWN. HILGARD ............................. 228
Special Articles:-The Classification of the Rocks of the Wat-kins G(len: H. S. V..................... 234
Cnrrent Notes on Meteorology:-Meteorological Society of Japan; Protec-tion of Peach Trees from Frost; The Mle-teorology of the Sintis; South AfricanMetleorology: PROFESSOR R. DEC. WARD... 236
The Missouri Botanical Garden.............237The Department of Economics and Sociology
of the Carnegie Institutio ...............238
Scientific Notes ad News.................238
University and Educational News...........240
MSS. intended for publication and books, etc., intendedfor review should be sent to the Editor of SCIENCE, Garri-son-on-Hudson, N. Y.
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION I-OR THE AD-VANCEMENT 01F SCIENCE.
SECTION B, PHYSICS.
THE annual meeting of Section B,Physics, of the American Association forthe Advancement of Science, in affiliationwith the American Physical Society, washeld in St. Louis, from December 28 to31. The sessions. were universally pro-nounced successful and enjoyable. Theattendance varied from forty to seventy-five, and was representative of the middlewest, while there was also present a num-ber of the prominent members from theeast, and a few from the Pacific coast.The retiring vice-president, Professor E.
F. Nichols, of Columbia University, wasunable to be present. The section passed aresolution expressing its disappointment innot having the opportunity of listening tothe expected vice-presidential address.The presiding officers were Professor E.
H. Hall, of Harvard University, vice-presi-dent of Section B, and Professor A. G.Webster, of Clark University, president ofthe American Physical Society. The otherofficers of the section who were in attend-ance were Dayton C. Miller, secretary; D.B. Brace, councilor, and the followingmenibers of the sectional committee-E. H.Hall, D. C. Miller, Ernest Merritt, D. B.Brace, A. G. Webster and F. E. Nipher.For the next meeting to be held in Phila-
delphia, from December 28 to 31, 1904, thevice-president is Professor W. F. Magie, ofPrinceton University. The other officersfor the Philadelphia meeting, so far asnow determined, are: retiring vice-presi-
dent, E. H. Hall; secretary, Dayton C.Miller, Case School of Applipd Science,Cleveland, Ohio; members of the sectionalcommnittee, E. H. Hall, W. F. Magie, D. C.Miller, D. B. Br,ace, A. G. Webster, G. F.Ilull and F. E. Nipher.
Professor E. Rutherford, of McGill Uni-versity, gave a popular scientific lecture on'Radium and Radio-activity.' The lecturewas illustrated with many experiments anddemonstrations, some exhibiting ProfessorRutherford's recent researches. The lec-ture was greatly appreciated by the largeaudience in attendance.The number of papers read at St. Louis
was thirty-six, twenty-four before SectionB, and tAwTelve before the Physical Society.Of these papers thirteen were upon elec-trical subjects, eleven were optical, fourwere upon heat, t.hree upon radio-activityand five were upon miscellaneous subjects.The abstracts of the papers read beforeSection B are given below; the papersgiven before the Physical Society are de-scribed in the report of that soeiety.
Report of the Committee on the Velocity ofLight: D. B. BRACE, University of Ne-braska.
A Half-Shade Elliptical Polarizer andCompensator: D. B. BRACE, Universityof Nebraska.To be published in full in the Physical
Beview.
On the Effect of a Magnetic Field on theIntterference of Natuzral Light: JOHNMILLS, University of Nebraska.The conception of natural light as an
elliptical vibration and our knowledge ofthe Faraday 'effect' would give as a cri-terion for an analogous rotation of naturallight, the disappearance of interferencefringes, previously observable, upon theformation of a magnetic field capable ofrotating plane polarized light through an
angle of an odd multiple of 90°. The ap-paratus consisted of a Michelson inter-ferometer. In the path of each beam wasplaced a tube of carbon disulphide sur-rounded by a solenoid. Natural mono-chromatic light was used and the currentvaried. Observations were taken at thepoints of disappearance and reappearanceof the fringes. The mean of these cur-rent readings was taken as that for whichinterference was impossible. These valuesof the current would have produced inplane polarized light a rotation of 95.80,256.80, 447.50, 613.60.The apparent invalidation of the results
obtained because of a partial polarizationof the entering light by the reflecting sur-faces is also discussed.
On the Velocity of Light in a MagneticField: JOHN MILLS.The experimenter undertook to measure
the acceleration or the retardation ex-perienced by a circular component travers-ing a magnetic field. The apparatus con-sisted of a Michelson interferometer. In thepath of each beam was placed a tube ofcarbon disulphide surrounded by a solenoid.The light passed through a Nicol prism anda Bravais double plate. Half of the fringeswere thus composed of light circularlypolarized in a direction opposite to thoseof the other half. The formation of amagnetic field produced a shifting of thetwo sets in opposite directions. The cur-rent causing a shifting of one full band(corresponding to a difference in phase of3600) was observed. On the assumptionthat the rotation of plane polarized lightis the result of a difference of phase be-tween its circular components, produced byan acceleration of one component and acorresponding retardation of the other, thedifference of phase corresponding to thisvalue of the current was calculated. Itwas 368°. The readings for the current
giving a displacement of three bands (thatis, a differeniee in phase of 10800) corre-sponded to a difference of 11010 calculated.
Hfertzian Waves since Hertz: A. D. COLE.Ohio State University.Hertz's experimental proof of the exist-
ence of electromnagnetic radiation in 1888was the culmination of Maxwell's-work andled to a large output of new research. Inthis Germany took the lead. Arons, Lecher,Boltzmann and Zehnder introduced bettermethods of showing the electrical waves.The coherer canie in 1895, although itsprinciple was discovered by Branly in 1891.Three of the new receivers were strictlyqnantitative; the electrometer of Bjerknes,the oscillation-bolometer of Paalzow andRubens and the thermo-receiver of Klemen-cic. Important improvements in the exciterwere made by Righi in 1893 and by Blond-lot. J. J. Thomnson and Lecher used theHertzian oscillations to mneasure dielectricconstants. Rubens and Arons showed thatthe Maxwellian relation between these andthe refractive index held better with Hertz-ian than with light waves. Cohn extendedthis to the case of water. This was shownto be rigidly true by Drude, by Cole and byCohn and Zeemian. Cole showed thatalcohol possesses anomalous dispersion forelectrical waves. Drude and Lampa provedthis true of many substances. Drude per-fected apparatus for determining refractiveindices. LIecher and also Larasin and dela Rive showed that the velocity along wiresis the same as in air. Blondlot, Trowbridgeand Duane, and Saunders gave more exactproofs that this velocity was that of light.The gap between the wave-lengths ofelectrical and light waves has been nar-rowed from eaeh side. Lebedew reducedthe former to 1 mm., Dubois and Rubensproduced longer infra-red waves.
The essentials of the electromagnetictheory have been established. It remains
to correlate with it our views of corpuselesand the Becquerel rays.
A Simple Alternate Current FrequencyRecorder: E. S. JOHONNOTT, Rose Poly-technic Institute.The instrument may be attached directly
to alternating current mains and a recordof the frequency obtained. To one poleof the electromagnet of an ordinary electricbell is attached a light armature which isheld at sonme little distance from the otherpole by a stiff flat spring. If now analternating current is sent through thecoils the armature vibrates, ordinarily, witha frequency equal to twice that of the cur-rent. If a stylus be arranged on the outerend of the armature to leave a trace on asmoked druni alongside that of a secondspendulum or an electromagnetic tuningfork the frequency may be counted off atonce. The current through two incandes-cent lamps in parallel in 100 volts is suffi-cient to give ample motion.
Iron Losses in Loaded Transformers: E.S. JOHONNOTT, Rose Polytechnic Insti-tute.With the addition of a differential coil
to the Rayleigh phasemeter it was adaptedto nieasure directly the loss of energy inthe iron of a loaded transformer. Thereadings give at once also the magnitudeof the exciting current and its phase withrespect to the induction. A transformerof special design to test the effect of mag-netic leakage was used in the experiments.The conclusions drawn from the work wereas follows: (1) In a transformer havinoggreat magnetic leakage between the prim-ary and secondary, and in which a constantinduced E.1MI.F. is maintained and meas-ured. (a) In the secondary. There isan apparent increase in values of the lossof energy in the iron, the magnitude of theexciting current and the cosine of the angle
of lag between this current and the inducedE.M.F. as the load in the secondary is in-creased. (b) In the primary. There is anapparent decrease in the loss of energy inthe iron, the magnitude of the exciting cur-rent and the cosine of the angle between,as the load increases. (2) If the load isincreased in the secondary of a transformerin which there is little magnetic leakage,not only the loss of energy in the iron, butthe exciting current and its phase with re-spect to the induction remain constant.
A Method for the Determination of MutualInduction Coefficients: AUGUSTUS TROW-BRIDGE, University of Wisconsin.The method is based on the fact that
when a pair of coils are joined in series sothat the niagnetic tubes of force form onethread through the other in the same direc-tion as those due to it the self-inductanceof the pair is L1 + 2M + L2. When thecurrent is reversed through the one coil butnot through the other the coefficient ofself induction of the pair is L1 - 2M + L2.By a bridge method each of these quan-
tities may be determined in terms of astandard self inductance and thus M (thecoefficient of mutual induction) is obtained.A careful comparison of the results obtain-able with this method with those by otherknown methods seems to be considerably infavor of this method, the probable errorbeing about 1 part in 800.
The Influence of Occladed Hydrogen onthe Electrical Resistance of Palladium:W. E. McELFRESH, Williams College.To be published in full in the Transac-
tions of the American Academy of Arts andSciences.
On Hydrogen-charged Palladium: E. H.HALL, Harvard University.This paper is a review of the main facts
known in regard to the properties of
hydrogen-eharged palladium and an ex-amination of the various suggestions whichhave been made as to the nature of theunion between the two elements concerned.The point is made that previous estimates,by Graham and by Troost and Haute-feuille, of the density of the hydrogen inthe combination gave values very muchgreater than the observed value of liquifiedhydrogen. These estimates practicallyneglected the possibility of spaces betweennolecules of palladium sufficiently large toadmit niolecules of hydrogen with littleexpansion of the solid. The evidence infavor of a definite chemical combinationbetwveen the palladium and the absorbedhydrogen is, on the whole, inadequate.
A New Form of Frequency Meter, Pre-liminary Note: A. S. Langsdorf, Wash-ington University.The paper described a type of instrument
to indicate frequency on alternating-cur-rent circuits, the readings to be independ-ent of fluctuations of voltage on the line,the connections similar to those of an in-dicating wattmeter.
A Remarkable Distribution of Carbon onthe Bulb of a 'Hlylo' IncandescentLamnp: ARTHUR L. FOLEY, University ofIndiana.In the 'Hylo' turn-down incandescent
lamp there are two filaments, one of 16 c. p.(F) and one of 1 c. p. (f), the formerconsisting of two and the latter of threeturns. Whatever be the direction of thecurrent, the filament coils are of oppositepolarity.When f is burning F is in series with it,
but the current is insufficient to render thelatter luminous. When F is burning fis short-circuited. Let P and P' be pointson the globe at the ends of a diameterthrough the plane of the filaments, andNS and sn be points on the globe where
the axes of the filaments F and f meet it.At P there is a deposit from one to twocentimeters wide, while the globe is per-fectly clear on either side. At P' the con-ditions are exactly reversed, the centralregion being dark with clear glass on eachside. At n, also at s, there is a small circu-lar deposit about half the area of a turn off. This deposit is surrounded by anotherin the form of a ring about one centimeterwide and two centimeters in diameter, thering being open next to the base of thelamp. Between the central deposit andthe ring the glass is clear. There is nodeposit within two centimeters of the baseof the lamp, and very little on the crown.The theory of molecular shadows and theEdison effect, so thoroughly worked out byFleming* and others, explains the generalcharacter of the deposit, but seems to failto explain the definiteness of it. In gen-eral the deposit is of uniform density andquite dark, while the clear places are per-fectly clear, the line of separation being asdefinite as if the deposit had been laid onwith a brush. The weak magnetic fieldof the small filament was sufficient to con-centrate the deposit at the ends of its axes,leaving certain regions perfectly clear. Itseems that it should be possible to keepclear any desired part of the wall of avacuum table. The peculiarity of the de-posit above described was noticed but afew weeks since, hence the incompletenessof this investigation. An attempt to agea number of similar lamps by running atan excessive voltage resulted in a prac-tically uniform deposit.
On the Charges given to Surfaces by theDiffusion of Ions, and the Earth's Nega-tive Potential: JOHN ZELENY, Universityof Minnesota.* 'Molecular Shadows in Incandescent Lamps,'
Philosophical Magazine, Vol. 20, 1885. 'A Fur-ther Examination of the Edison Effect in GlowLamps,' Philosophical Magazine, Vol. 42, 1896.
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Experiinents are described showing thatneutral ionized air in passing through along tube at first gives a negative chargeto the walls, but as it passes along iteventually gives them a positive charge.In passing through a short tube the ionizedair acquires a positive charge, while thetube itself becomes charged negatively.Similar effects were obtained with dry car-bonic acid, but when the gas was saturatedwith water vapor the effects were all re-versed in sign. The experiments are a.llexplained by supposing the charges to arisefrom the unequal rates of diffusion of thetwo ions. It is shown that Villari's hy-pothesis that charges are given to metalsby the friction of the ionized gas againstthe metal does not suffice to explain all ofthe facts. Simpson's objection to Geitel'sexplanation of the earth 's negative po-tential is next taken up and the results ofthe above experiments are used in refuta-tion of the objection. Other theories ofthe cause of the earth's negative potentialare briefly considered.
The Rate of Propagatio of Smell: JOHNZELENY, University of Minnesota.The propagation of smell through tubes
where the air is free from convection cur-rents was found to be very slow, as hasalready been noted by Ayrton; showingthat the fast propagation ordinarily ob-served in free space is due almost entirelyto convection currents. For example, withammonia diffusing through a tube a meterand a half long, over two hours elapsedbefore the smell could be detected at theother end of the tube. Using differentlengths of tubing, it was found that thetime required for the diffusion of the smellwas roughly proportioned to the square ofthe length. Ammonia and hydrogen sul-phide were used for the above experiments.The presence of ammonia could be detectedchemically at a point in a tube after about
the same time as when the sense of smellwas used for a detector. The rate ofpropagation of the smell of ammonia wasnot markedly different when this had topass along the same tube either horizontallyor vertically upward or verticall.y down-ward. With camphor, however, while therat-es horizontally and downward were.about the same, the speed upward wasabout twice as great. The smell given toiron and brass by rubbing these with thefingers was also tried, but gave no definiteresults.
On thte Theory of the Electrolytic Rectifier:S. R. COOK, Case School of AppliedScience.When aluminum is the anode in an elec-
trolytic cell in which oxygen is set freethere is very quickly introduced into thecell an exceedingly high apparent resist-ance. If aluminum is made the kathodeand carbon or platinum the anode, the re-sistanice is normal and very low. Theanom-lalous action of this cell was noted byProfessor Tait in 1869, but the cell did notattract attention until 1897, when Pollokand Gratz showed t.hat the cell could beused to rectify an alternating current.Since 1897 investigations on the electrolyticrectifier have been published by Wilsonand Norden, Burgess and Hambuecher,Taylor and Ingals, and Dr. Guthe. Eachinvestigator set forth an independenttheory for the high resistance of thealumtinum anode. The object of this in-vestigation was to determine the cause ofthis anomalous action of the aluminumanode, and it was found by a series of meas-ureiuents of the applied electromotive forceand the current, and also of the counterelectromotive force with the same current;that the very high apparent resistancecouild be accounted for on the the6ry thatit was due to the counter electromotiveforce. The potentials were, measured by
methods that were independent of the re-sistance, and curves were plotted showingthe direct and counter electromotive forcewith current. When the electromotiveforce is greater than a certain critical valuedepending on the temperature the high re-sistance breaks down. This was shown tobe due to the crystallization of the filmaround the aluminum anode, which exposedfree metallic surfaces to the ions. It wasalso shown by direct determinations thatfree metallic aluminum conducted asreadily when anode as when kathode, andthe counter electromotive force was due tocharged ions that could not penetrate thefilm formed on the aluminum.
On the Position of Aluminum int the VoltaicSeries and the Use of Aluminum as aPositive Element in a Primary Cell: S.R. CooK, Case School of Applied Science.Wheatstone in 1855, while determining
the position of aluminum in the voltaicseries, found that when immersed in adilute solution of potassium hydroxidealuminum was negative to zinc and positiveto cadmium, tin, lead, copper, iron andplatinum; and in a solution of dilute hydro-chloric acid aluminum was negative to zincand positive to other elements. The ob-ject of the research was to make quantita-tive measurements on the difference ofpotential between aluminum and the otherelements in different solutions. MIeasure-ments were made in several alkaline solu-tions, three acids and several salts. It wasfound that the difference of potential didnot remain constant, but, in general, anysolution the negative ions of which wouldattack the al.uminum producing a solublecompound, the potential was more constantthan in those solutions in which oxygenwas the negative ion forming with thealuminum an insoluble compound. Meas-urements were taken with zinc, cadmium,tin, lead, copper, iron and platinum in solu-
tions of potassium hydroxide, hydrochloric,nitric and sulphuric acid, and ammoniumchloride, potassium chloride, aluminunm andpotassium sulphate. A primary cell com-posed of aluminum, potassium sulphate,aluminum and carbon, was also investi-gated. The peculiarity of this cell wasthat it gradually increased to a maximumand again fell to its normal value whendisturbed. It was also shown that theamount of current that could be taken fromthe cell was very small, and that the tem-perature coefficient was positive.
On the Differential Telephone: WILLIAMDUANE, University of Colorado.Two separate coils are wound on the
bobbin of a telephone receiver, and by suit-able means are adjusted so as to have equalresistance, and equal self-inductances, andso that the magnetizing effect of a currentflowing through one coil would be annulledby that of an equal current flowing in theproper direction through the other coil.To measure a self-inductance the unknowncoil X and a variable self-inductance stand-ard S are placed in series with the tworeceiver coils respectively, and a non-in-ductive resistance box R is inserted in serieswith S or X, according as the resistance ofX is greater or less than that of S. Thetwo entire circuits are joined in parallel,and an alternating E.M.F. is applied tothe branch points. Values for R and Scan be found easily, such that no sound isheard in the receiver, and, when this is thecase, the self-inductance of S equals thatof the unknown coil X. The magnetizingeffects of the twTo receiver coils can be equal-ized by placing a small auxiliary coil inseries with one of the receiver coils and withits plane parallel to the axis of the receiver.Joining the two receiver coils in series andsending an alternating current throughthem, a, position for the auxiliary coil canbe fouind that completely extinguishes the
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sound. With a receiver that will detect10-c amperes, the theoretical accuracy isabout one one-hundredth per cent. Prac-tically an accuracy of one part in five thou-sand is not difficult, as absolute silence canbe obtained, if there is no iron in coil X.The advantages of this method of measur-ing self-inductance are: (a) That the appa-ratus is portable and does not get out oforder easily; (b) that great accuracy canbe obtained and the manipulation is notdifficult; (c) that only one standard is re-quired, and it is not necessary to know thevalue of any resistance or bridge-wirelengths. The disadvantage is that the self-inductance of the standard must equal thatof the unkinown coil. A range from zeroto 150 milli-henrys can be obtained, how-ever, with ordinary laboratory apparatus.
T'he Selective Reflection of Fuchsin: W. B.CARTMEL, University of Cincinnati.Presented by D. B. Brace.This investigation was undertaken in
order to aseertain whether the reflectionfrom substances showing metallic reflectionagreed with the values computed from re-flection formulas. The reflection from afilm of fuebsin was determined for variouswave-lengths. The films of fuchsin weredeposited upon a glass plate, and the re-flection was measured not only from theupper surface of the fuchsin, but alsofrom the interface between the fuchsin andthe glass. The measurements were madeby means of a Brace spectro-photometer.Instead of using the usual method of com-paring the light reflected from the fuchsinwTith the light reflected from some othersubstance, whose coefficient of reflectionwas assumed to be known, the reflectedlight was compared with the direct lightfrom the same source which supplied thereflected light. The work was begun lastsummer at the University of Nebraska andis nowv being continued at the University ofCincinnati.
Primnitive Conditions in the Solar Nebula:FRANCIS E. NIPHER, Washington Uni-versity.The writer has used the equations de-
veloped in his paper forming No. 5, Vol.XIII., of the Transactions of the Academyof Science of St. Louis, for computing thenumerical values throughout the primitivesolar nebula. He finds that the resultingdensity and pressure, if the nebula be as-sumed a gas, filling the volume internal toNeptune's orbit, is incompatible withknown physical conditions. The authorconcludes that the solar nebula was com-posed of discontinuous masses of solid mat-ter duriing most of its early life. It wasonly in its later stages that gravitatingcompression caused the central mass nowcalled the sun to fuse and vaporize.
On the Investigation of the Kinetic Theoryof Gases by Elementary Methods: HENRYT. EDDY, University of Minnesota.This paper establishes some of the prin-
cipal results of the kinetic theory of gases.such as the mean frequency of collision, themean free path, the number of moleculesstriking a given area per second, the ratioof the specific heats, etc., on the assump-tion of a given constant velocity for allmolecules, by simple semi-geometricalmethods.
A Demonstration to disprove the SecondLaw of Thermodynamics: JACOB WAIN-WRIGHT, Chicago.Paper published in full by the author.At the 1902 meeting, at Pittsburg, the
author presented to the members of thesection a demonstration having substan-tially this same title. That particulardemonstration was based upon a phe-nomenon disclosed by the published re-search work of Emile Hillaire Amagat, ofParis, viz., 'At or abqut an absolute tem-perature of 274°, and at pressures abovethe critical pressure, carbon dioxide be-
comes practically or absolutely incom-pressible or inert, as regards the influenceof pressure alone.' The demonstrationwas confronted by the suggestion thatAmagat 's work should be thoroughlyverified before it could be accepted as evi-dence to effect a so important revolutionin physical and chemical science. In orderto overcome such difficulty, the subjectwas presented in a simple manner freefrom all questions of quantitative analysisand unverified matter. The pressure con-dition of a practically perfect gas ismanipulated and transformed, and allpostulations, except the 'first law' of con-servation of energy, which is properly apostulation in a strict sense, but has beenthoroughly verified as it relates to thevarious phenomena which contribute tothis demonstration, are dispensed with.Maxwell questioned the validity of the'second law,' but failed in his attempts todevise a material or real cycle to effect arefutation; and as a last resource, invokedhis demon and kinetic theory combination.This particular problem was solved by de-vising a working medium consisting of acombination of a gas and solid matter; thesolid matter being arranged so as to con-stitute a complete heat engine in itself andhaving the peculiar property of trans-muting heat into work by reason of eithera rise or a fall in temperature. In thismanner is produced a working mediumwhich, taken as a whole, is not amenable tothe 'second law.'The Continuous Method of Steam Calorim-
etry: JOSEPH H. HART, University ofPennsylvania.The continuous method of steam calo-
rimetry here outlined is capable of meas-uring readily latent and specific heats offluids with a degree of accuracy seldom at-tained by other methods, even though theybe made with the greatest refinement inthe method and observations. If a stream
of water at a temperature of T1 be passedthrough a worm immersed in a steam bathand energies at a temperature T2, thequantity of heat absorbed is mS(T2 - T1)where rn is the mass of water passedthrough and S the mean specific heat ofwater between T, and T,¾ If the heat ab-sorbed by the water is obtained by directcondensation of steam alone we have theequation
MLL mS(T2- T1)
when M11 is the mass of the condensedwater and L the latent heat of condensationof steam. If either L or S is taken asknown the other may be readily obtained.Barnes 's values of S were taken and a num-ber of determinations of L made to test theefficieney'of the method. In the practicaldlevelopment of the method, the process wasmade continuous. The water in the wormand the condensed water were drawn oftconstantly and measured. Radiation andconduction entered as important factors inthe construction of the calorimeter, butwere eliminated or a least satisfactorily ac-counted for in the amount of condensedwater by both theory and practice. Re-sults were obtained in consecutive experi-ments which were concordant to the fifthsignificant figure. The value of L whichwas obtained was slightly lower than Cal-lendar's value of 540.2 calories at 20° C.and points to the existence of a slight con-stant error.
On the Thickness of Adsorbed AqueoutsFilmns: L. J. BRIGGS AND A. W. MCCALL,United States Department of Agricul-ture.Parks (Phil. Mag., May, 1903) found
the thickness of the aqueous film adsorbedon the surface of glass wool to be 13.6 X10-6 cm. He also calculated the thicknessof the film on silica by an indirect methodbased upon Martini's calorimetric measure-
ments, and obtained the value 44 X 10-6Cm.The authors have measured the thick-
ness of the aqueous film on glass wool, silicaand quartz when exposed at 30° C. to anatmosphere five sixths saturated. The sub-stances were kept at constant temperaturein a thermostat, and were continuallystirred so as to bring the material into thor-ough contact with the water vapor. Theanmount of water taken up was determinedby drying at 1100 C. The surface areawiTas calculated from microscopic measure-mlents. The following values for the thick-ness of the film were obtained, based uponthe assumption that the density of the ad-sorbed layer is the same as that of theliquid in mass.
Silica .............. 167 X 10-6 cmii.Glass ............... 18 X 10-6 cm.
Quartz ............. 0.45 X 10- 6 cm.
The great discrepancy in the results ob-tained for silica and quartz indicates thatin the case of silica we have somethinganalogous to a solid solution-a conclusionsupported by the results of Bellati andFinazzi. It is not improbable that in thecase of glass also there is something morethan simple adsorption, and that the meas-urements with quartz give more nearly thetrue value of the thickness of the adsorp-tion film.
Tlhe Circiulation of thte Atmosphere, as in-dicated by the Recenit Abnormal SkyColors: A. LAWRENCE ROTCH, Blue HiliMleteorological Observatory.The author urges upon physicists and
others in various parts of the world theimportance of recording the dates when un-usually brilliant sunset glows and the red-dish corona around the sun, known asBishop's rings, are visible, as has been thecase intermittently during the past year.These phenomena are probably caused bydiscontinuous clouds of volcanic dust in
the upper atmosphere, and the author hasascertained that the analogous opticaleffects were observed in the eastern UnitedStates about twenty days later than in een-tral Europe, which, assuluing a movementfromn the west of the dust-bearing currents,indicates an approximate velocity of thirtymiles an hour, or considerably less thanthat of the highest ice-cloud.s. After theKrakatoa eruption in 1883 the rate of prop-agation of the volcanic dust from east towest, at a height above the equa.tor calcu-lated from the duration of the sunset colors,was determined with considerable accuracyby a committee appointed by the RoyalSociety, and it is hoped that sufficient ob-servations will now be collected to enablethe velocity of the highest currents abovethe temperate regions to be deduced equallywell. DAYTON C. MILLER,
Secretary.ZOOLOGY AT THE ST. LOUIS MEETING.
SECTION F of the American Associationfor the Advancement of Science and theCentral Branch of the American Society ofZoologists met in joint sessions at the St.Louis Meeting for the reading of papers,but held separate business meetings. OniMonday afternoon, December 28, the ad-dress of Vice-President Hargitt before Sec-tion F was read by Professor C. C. Nutting,in the absence of the author, the subjec-cbeing 'Some Unsolved Problems of OrganicAdaptation.' Section F was organizedwith the following officers:
T;ice-President E. L. Mark, Harvard Univer-sity.
Secretary C. Judson Herrick, Denison Univer-sity.Councilor-A. M. Bleile.Sectiontal Conrmittee-E. L. Mark, Vice-Presi-
dent 1904; C. W. Hargitt, Vice-President, 1903;C. Judson EHerrick, Secretary, 1904-1908. Forone year, H. F. Osborn; for tw'o years, S. H. Gage;for three years, C. H. Eigenmann; for four years,H. B. Ward; for five years, Frank Smith.Mem ber of General Comrniittee-Jacob Reighard.Press Secretary-C. Judson Herrick.
Joint sessions for the reading of paperswere held on Tuesday and Wednesday, atwhich the following communications werepresented. Titles preceded by an asteriskwere presented by Section F; others by theSociety of Zoologists.
*The Albatross Rookeries on Laysan: C. C.NUTTING, University of Iowa.An exhibit of lantern slides after orig-
inal photographs taken by the author dur-ing the Hawaiian cruise of the Albatrossin May, 1902.
A Restricted Habitat of Scutigerella im-maculata (Newport), together with someremarks on the Anitmal and its Habits:STEPHEN R. WILLIAMS, Oxford, 0.In the bed of a small branch of Four
Mile Creek, a tributary of the Great MiamiRiver, a comparatively large number ofspecimens of this little centipede have beenfound. As far as ascertained the range ofthis particular group of this species is lim-ited to a part of the bed of this smallbranch perhaps 600 feet in length. A dis-cussion of the surroundings in general, theprecise habitat which the animals seek,some of their observed habits in captivity,and one instance of breeding in confine-ment, were included. Larvae have beenkept through one molt and certain bodieswhich may possibly be eggs have been seen.
On the Analogy between the Departurefrom Optimum Vital Conditions andDeparture from Geographic Life Cen-ters: CHARLES C. ADAMS, University ofMichigan.In a previous paper (Biological Bulletin,
III., 115-131) the writer briefly discussedsome of the criteria which may be used todetermine geographic life centers, and cer-tain functional and structural changes re-sulting from departure from such centers.At the present time attention is called to
