Societies and Academies

Abstract

PARIS. Academy of Sciences, July 12.—M. Ed. Perrier in the chair.—J. Boussinesq: Reflections on the principles of the dynamics of Aristotle and their agreement with experiment in the case of uniform phenomena.—B. Boulyguine: The representation of an integral number by a sum of squares.—J. Deprat: The mode of formation of two Japanese volcanic centres, Aso-San and Asama-Yama, compared with the volcanic centres of ancient geological periods. The structure of the volcano of Aso-San is exactly comparable with the great volcanic centre of Anglona, in Sardinia. Asama-Yama has another type of structure, and in its mode of working recalls Mt. Pele.e. It compares exactly with the trachyte dome of Monte Ferru, in Sardinia.—D. Eginitis: The geological phenomena oBserved during the two last earthquakes at Leucade and Ithaca. The dislocations due to seismic phenomena can be traced historically from the first century right up to the present time, and represent a continuation of the great geological phenomena which have separated the island of Leucade from the mainland of Greece. There is no conclusive evidence of volcanic manifestations, the appearance of clouds on the Leucade mountains, observed during the last earthquake, being most probably due to dust arising from the fall of rocks.—F. Bordas and S. Bruere: Contribution to the study of the phenomena of putrefaction. It is the custom in France, in the country, to bury small animals which have died on the farm in the manure heap. It is shown that complete resolution of the organic elements of the body takes place very rapidly under these conditions, the organisms present in the manure assisting the rapidity of the decomposition.—Marc Tiffeneau: Comparison of the various adrenalines and their homologues, measured by their action upon the arterial pressure in a dog under the influence of atropine. The dogs used in these experiments were placed under the influence of chloral and atropine, and the advantages of this method are described. Laevorotatory adrenaline,. either natural or synthetic, was proved to be from 15 to 20 times more active than its dextrorotatory isorner. This is in accordance with the fact already known, that the synthetic racemie compound has about half the activity of the natural adrenaline.—P. Petit: Some observations on malt amylase. Extracts with water or dilute alcohol contain a large proportion of foreign material and do not keep. By the use of aqueous acetone in the manner described a solution of diastase can be prepared the activity of which remains constant for several weeks. This solution can be precipitated by a mixture of ether and acetone, giving a disastase which can be dried, and which is of high activity.-Em. Bourquelot, M. B ridel, and A. Aubry: Researches on the preparation of glucosides from glycerol with the aid of a-glucosidase.