Societies and Academies

Abstract

PARIS Academy of Sciences, October 16.—M. Daubrée in the chair.—The following papers were read:—On the development of the perturbative function, &c. (continued), by M. Tisserand.—On artificial laurite and ferriferous platina, by MM. Sainte-Claire Deville and Debray. Laurite is got by heating to a bright red a mixture of ruthenium and iron pyrites. The sulphur from the pyrites combines with the ruthenium; the sulphide is dissolved in protosulphide of iron, and crystallises, on cooling, in regular octahedra, like natural laurite, or even in cubical crystals, easily separated from the iron by hydrochloric acid. A crystallised alloy of platina and iron is obtained by heating a mixture of platina and pyrites with borax, and treating with certain acids and potash.-Studies on the effects and the mode of action of substances employed in antiseptic dressings, by MM. Gosselin and Bergeron. The imputrescence of I gr. of blood is secured by a dose of 0.010 gr. to 0.015 gr. of carbolic acid; with smaller doses the putrefaction is retarded, but not prevented (at least if the dose be not gradually increased). As to the mode of action, the authors consider it is not exclusively by destruction of atmospheric germs (as Lister represents), but by the contact of the antiseptic producing coagulation of albumen. What the authors call the antiseptic alteration of the blood (by addition of a considerable proportion of carbolic acid or alcohol) consists (1) in thickening and yellowing (to the naked eye), and (2) in replacement of the globules by granular masses. This very rapidly-produced imputrescence could not be realised in wounds, the dose of antiseptic being too large; one can merely retard or diminish the putridity, and hope the blood will be absorbed before being altered in septicæmic degree.—On a sporadosideric meteorite that fell on January 31, 1879, at Becasse, Commune of Dun-le-Poelier (Indre), by M. Daubree. The detonation was heard (about midday) at 20 km. distance. A sound as of a distant train preceded it, and it was followedby rumbling as of thunder. The meteorite (only one) was dug out from about 0.30 m. depth; it must have reached the ground almost vertically, while its trajectory seems to have been from south-south-east to north-north-west. It weighed 2.800 kg., and its form was roughly that of a pyramid with quadrangular base. It seemed to be chiefly formed of peridot and bisilicates (such as pyroxene or enstatite). The metallic grains consisted of nickelised iron, accompanied by tröilite. It belongs to the sub-group of oligosideres in the sporadosideric group.—On the mathematical theory of changes of brightness of double stars, by M. Gyldén.—The mildew, or false American oidium in the vineyards of France, by M. Planchon.—Extract of a letter to M. D'Abbadie, on the operations for junction of the triangulation of Algeria to that of Spain, by M. Perrier. These have been quite successful, and the meridian of France is now extended to the Sahara. The electric light was used in signalling.—On the synthesis of diphenylpropane, and on a new mode of formation of dibenzyl, by M. Silva.—Reaction of the cyanamide with the chlorhydrate of dimethylamine, by M. Tatarinoff.—On the cleistogamic state of Pavonia hastata, Cav., by M. Heckel. Physiologists who, like Pontedera and M. Bonnier, represent the rôle of nectaries to be that of organs of nutrition of embryos, have to give account of the fact that in the same cleistogamous plant, the close flowers, without nectar, are as fertile as the perfect flowers, sometimes more so, and sometimes fertile to the exclusion of these others.—Upper sands of Pierrefitte, near Etampes, by M. Meunier. He calls attention to some new species of molluscs represented there.—On the mineral associations contained in certain trachytes of the ravine of Riveau-Grand, in Mont Doré, by M. Gounarcl.—M. Chasles presented the first part of a memoir on the history of geodesy in Italy from the most ancient times to the middle of the ninteenth century, by Prof. Riccardi.—M. Larrey presented an English work by Mr. Longmore, on wounds by fire-arms.