Societies and Academies.

Abstract

PARIS Academy of Sciences, September 30.—M. Emile Picard in the chair.—Edmond Perrier: The skull known as that of Descartes in the museum. Reasons are given for the probable authenticity of this skull.—Pierre Termier: The scientific results of the Alpine excursion of the Geologische Vereinigung; the lepontine strata to the west of Innsbruck.—M. Goiiy: A particular kind of electric currents. A non-electrified body is usually regarded as carrying equal charges of the two kinds of electricity. The latter, according to current views, are carried by particles possessing a certain independence, and under certain conditions may move with different velocities. If this is the case, the movement of a non-electrified body may give rise to an electric convection current, producing its ordinary effects. This view is applied to the case of incandescent gases in motion.—M. Arnaud: Astronomical refraction in the neighbourhood of the horizon.—Em. Bourquelot and Mile. A. Fichtenholz: The presence of quebrachite in the leaves of Grevillea robusta. The fresh leaves contain more than 4 grams of quebrachite per kilogram, or four times the amount extracted from the bark of C. tanret. Details are given of the method of extraction and of the chemical and-physical properties of the quebrachite.—A. Fernbach: A new form of soluble starch. Weak solutions of starch in water, not containing more than 2 per cent, of starch, are poured into a large excess of acetone, and the precipitate extracted with pure acetone, and dried in a vacuum. The starch thus obtained is distinguished by the property of dissolving easily in cold water, and this solution yields with iodine very pure blue colorations.—J. Wolff: Some new properties of the per-oxydases and their mode of working in the absence of peroxide.—Jacques Parisot and M. Vernier: Researches on the toxicity of fungi. Their hsemolytic power. It is shown that the haemolytic power of fungi, when it exists, is very strong, both in vitro and in vivo. This property is possessed by some of the edible fungi, and it is pointed out that a very long exposure to a high temperature during cooking is required to destroy this poisonous property. —Maurice Lugeon: The tectonic of the Morcles strata; arid its consequences: —De Mbntessus de Ballore: Seismo-logical observations made at the island of Pâques.— Henry Hubert: The, aërial currents in western Africa.