Societies and Academies

Abstract

PARIS.Academy of Sciences, September 16.—M. A. Cornu in the chair.—A memoir by M. F. V. Maquaire, on protection against naval collisions, was referred to a Committee.—The perpetual Secretary, in presenting vol. vi. of “Œuvres de Christiaan Huygens,” reminded the Academy of the loss of M. Bierens de Hahn. The Haarlem Society will continue the publication of this work, so ably edited by M. Hahn.—On the “équilatères” included in the equations by M. Paul Serret.—Researches on Algerian phosphates. The case of a phosphatic rock from Bougie, having the composition of a superphosphate, by MM. H. and A. Malbot. The results of a number of analyses of rocks from various sources are tabulated. The Bougie rock is described in detail, as it presents several peculiarities. With regard to the method of analysis, the conclusions are drawn: (I) The presence of organic matter may produce a loss when the phosphoric acid is estimated by direct precipitation as magnesium ammonium phosphate in citric liquor, and this error is not always diminished by a preliminary evaporation with nitric acid on the sand bath. (2) The same error does not occur if the phosphoric acid be first precipitated as ammonium phosphomolybdate. (3) The agreement between the two methods is exact when the organic matter is first destroyed by calcination at a red heat.— The neoformation of nerve cells in the brain of the monkey, following the complete ablation of the occipital lobes, by M. Alex. N. Vitzou, of Bucharest. A detailed account is given of the gradual recovery of the power of perceiving external objects by a monkey after complete ablation of the occipital lobes. An examination revealed the fact that the space formerly filled by the occipital lobes had been filled up by new tissue which was found to consist throughout of pyramidal nerve cells and nerve tissues, the cells being less numerous than in the ordinary occipital lobes of the adult. The new tissue was not due to hypertrophy of the anterior lobes. On repeating the ablation the monkey again lost the power of perceiving external objects, and is still under observation.—M. Ch. V. Zenger records in a note the occurrence of atmospheric disturbances at certain points in Central Europe on September 10 and 11, as predicted by him.