- A pharmaceutical journal in the German language has just been started in New York by Dr. F. Hoffmann, analyst to the State board of health. It is to be published monthly; and the January number, which has just reached us, contains original papers on Rhus cotinoïdes, by Prof. K. Mohr; on The position of pharmacy in regard to mysterious remedies in North America, by Prof. Dr. Maisch; a Report of the changes of the state of the pharmacopeia, by Dr. A. Tscheppe, besides two unsigned articles. Eight pages are given up to a monthly classified rundschau of pharmacy, excellently done.

- Dr. S. M. Burnett spoke at the meeting of the Washington philosophical society, Jan. 13, on Refraction in the principal meridian of a triaxial ellipsoid; regular astigmatism and cylindrical lenses; and was followed by Prof. William Harkness on the Monochromatic aberration of the human eye in aphakia. Jan. 27, Mr. H. H. Bates read a paper on the Nature of matter.

-At a meeting of the section of mechanics and engineering of the Ohio mechanics' institute, Jan. 23, papers were presented on Governors and fly-wheels, by Mr. James B. Stanwood; The wastage of water, by Mr. Thomas J. Bell; Saving of fuel, and smokeprevention, by Mr. J. P. Kilbreth. A report on Pumping-engines for public water-supply was presented by John W. Hill, M.E.; and Prof. R. B. Warder made some remarks on The duty of steamengines.

-At the Philosophical society of Washington, Feb. 10, Dr. A. F. A. King read a paper on the 'Prevention of malarial diseases, illustrating, inter alia, the conservative function of ague.' Mr. E. J. Farquhar and Dr. J. S. Billings took exception to the theories advanced. Capt. C. E. Dutton exhibited a series of oil-paintings illustrative of the volcanic phenomena of the Hawaiian islands.

- At the meeting of the American academy of arts and sciences, Feb. 14, the following papers were presented: Quantitative researches in photography, by Mr. W. H. Pickering; Photography as a means of determining the light and color of the stars, by Messrs. E. C. and W. H. Pickering; The historical hydrography of the west coast of North America, by Mr. J. Winsor.

-At the meeting of the Biological society of Washington, Feb. 16, Dr. Coues' paper on zoölogical nomenclature applied to histology was discussed, and papers were read on Biology and classification, by Mr. Newton P. Scudder; On the structures of protoplasm and karyokinesis, by Mr. John S. Ryder; The human fauna of the District of Columbia, by Prof. Otis T. Mason; Section cutting and mounting of hard woods, with illustrations, by Dr. Thomas Taylor.

-A lecture on the development of civilization was delivered in the U.S. national museum by Prof. E. A. Fay of the National deaf-mute institute, on Jan.

-A course of ten lectures on zoology is being given by Prof. A. S. Bickmore in the American museum of natural history, Central Park, New York, on Saturday mornings. The lectures commenced on Jan. 20, and are almost wholly upon the higher vertebrates, those in March being upon monkeys and the different races of men. We understand the course is very well attended; but the small lecture-room is a disgrace to such an institution if it contemplated such courses at the outset.

- In recognition of their scientific services at the international geological congress held last year at Bologna, the Italian government has created Prof. James Hall of Albany a Commander of the ancient order of Sts. Mauritius and Lazarus, and given Dr. T. Sterry Hunt of Montreal the rank and decoration of Officer of the same order.

-The first half of the second course of scientific lectures delivered in the National museum, under the auspices of the biological and anthropological societies of Washington, now completed, has met with the most remarkable and flattering success. The audiences increased in size from the first; the number of persons attending lectures far exceeding the seatingcapacity of the hall, and in one instance exceeding two thousand. The first lecture by Capt. Clarence E. Dutton, on Rivers, although brief and not illustrated, contained a clear, and in many respects original, exposition of the rôle of rivers in the great drama of the globe. Prof. Otis T. Mason, who delivered the second lecture on the 20th ult., took for his topic The races of men, and gave a brief but succinct summary of the present condition of knowledge in this branch of anthropology. The lecture was illustrated by busts and casts of different races of men, from the museum collection, and by diagrams. Mr. George Kennan, who was third in the course, delivered an eloquent lecture on the Mountains and mountaineers of the Caucasus, and was listened to with closest attention during the two hours occupied in its delivery. Dr. D. W. Prentiss happily selected for his theme, Mesmerism in animals, - a topic which, although attracting much attention among French sarants, is familiar to the

American public almost exclusively through the insufficient medium of the newspapers. Dr. Theo. Gill, who lectured on the 10th inst. on Mythical animals, departed from the consideration of animals which exist in fact, and gave his audience an account of some which exist in fancy. Dr. John S. Billings closed the first half of the course, taking for his theme, Germs and epidemics. He gave a concise account of the results of the latest investigations of Pasteur and others, regarding the relations of microscopic organisms to disease; weaving in, to a greater or less extent, his own views upon the matter.

The programme for the second half of the course is as follows: Feb. 24, Prof. L. F. Ward, the Plant life of the globe, past and present; March 3, Mr. W. H. Dall, Pearls and pearl-fisheries; March 10, Major J. W. Powell, Indian mythology; March 17, Prof. C. V. Riley, Adaptation and interdependence between plants and insects; March 24, Prof. C. A. White, the Teachings of paleontology; March 31, Dr. R. Fletcher, U. S. A., Human proportion in art and anthropometry.

RECENT BOOKS AND PAMPHLETS.

[Continuations and brief papers extracted from serial literature without repagination are not included in this list. Excep tions are made for annual reports of American institutions, newly established periodicals, and memoirs of considerable extent.]

Baltimore-Johns Hopkins university. Studies in historical and political science; ed. by Herbert B. Adams. Baltimore, University. 1882-83. 8°.

I. An introduction to American institutional history; by Edward A. Freeman. 1882. p. 39.

II. The Germanic origin of New England towns; by H. B. Adams. With notes on cooperation in university work. 1882. p. 57.

III. Local government in Illinois; by Albert Shaw: Local government in Pennsylvania; by E. R. L. Gould. Jan., 1883. p. 37.

IV. Saxon tithing-men in America; by H. B. Adams.

1883. p. 23.

Feb.,

Bible myths, and their parallels in other religions; being a comparison of the old and new testament myths and miracles with those of heathen nations of antiquity, considering also their origin and meaning. N. Y., Bouton. 1883. 650 p. 8°.

Bouchon-Brandely. Rapport au ministre de la marine sur la génération et la fécondation artificielle des huîtres portugaises. Paris, 1882. 51 p. 8°.

Brubaker, A. P. Physiology. Philad., Blakiston. 1883. 133 p. 12°.

Buet, Charles. Madagascar, la histoire, moeurs, religion, flore, etc. 391 p. 8°.

reine des îles africaines: Paris, Palmé. 1883. 12+

Cambridge entomological club. Annual reports for 1882. Cambridge, Club. 1883. 31 p. 32°.

Annual

Connecticut agricultural experiment station. report for 1882. New Haven, State. 1883. 114 p. 8°. Conn.-Shell fish commissioners. Second report. Middletown, State. 1883. 44 p., map. 8°.

Davy, Humphry. Les derniers jours d'un philosophe. Entretiens sur la nature, les sciences, les métamorphoses de la terre et du ciel, l'humanite, l'âme, et la vie eternelle. Ouvrage traduit de l'anglais, accompagné d'une préface et de notes, par C. Flammarion. 9e éd. Paris, Didier. 1882. 32+374 p. 18°.

Fabre, J. Henri. Histoire naturelle. Géologie (programme officiel du 3 août 1880 et instructions ministérielles du 18 oct. 1881). 3e ann. Paris, Delagrave. 1882. 260 p. 12°.

Ferris, B. G. A new theory of the origin of species. N. Y., Fowler and Wells. 1883. 278 p. 12'.

Gerhard, W. Paul. House drainage and sanitary plumbing. N. Y., Van Nostrand. 1882. 205 p. 24°.

Girardin, J. Leçons de chimie élémentaire appliquée aux arts industriels. 6e éd. Tom. iii. Chimie organique. Paris, Masson. 1883. 620 p., 330 fig. 8°.

Grand, S. L'industrie huitrière à Marennes; la Seudre et ses rivages; des claires à verdir, soins annuels à donner aux claires, etc. Paris, Michelet. 1883. 31 p. 8°.

Guérin, Victor. Rapports addressés à M. le ministre de l'instruction publique, sur sa mission scientifique dans le Liban. Paris, imp. Levé. 1883. 28 p. 8°.

Hale, P. M. The woods and timbers of North Carolina; a compilation from the botanical and geological reports of Drs. Curtis, Emmons, and Kerr; to which are added information obtained from the census bureau and accurate reports from the several counties. Raleigh, Hale. 1883. 272 p., map. 12°.

-

Indiana. Department of geology and natural history. Eleventh annual report, 1881. John Collett, state geologist. Indianapolis, State. 1882. 414 p., maps, 55 pl. 8°.

5

Kuhff, G. A. Les organes génitaux de l'homme et de la femme, structure et fonctions, etc. 2e éd. Paris, Ballière. 1883. 64 p. 8°.

Latteux, Paul. Manuel de technique microscopique, ou Guide pratique pour l'étude et le maniement du microscope. 2e éd. Paris, Delahaye, etc. 1883. 11+477 p., 177 fig. 18°. Lecouteux, Edouard. Le blé, sa culture intensive et extensive. Paris, imp. Chaix. 1882. 8+413 p., 60 fig. 18°.

Marchand, Léon. Botanique cryptogamique pharmacomédicale; programme raisonné d'un cours professé à l'école supérieure de pharmacie de Paris. Tom. i. Paris, Doin. 1883. 481 p. 8°.

Milne-Edwards, Alphonse. Anatomie et physiologie animales. Paris, Masson. 1883. 4+406 p. 311 fig. 18°.

Mortillet, Gabriel de. Le préhistorique: antiquité de l'homme (Bibl. sciences contemp.). Paris, Reinwald. 642 p. 8°.

Transactions.

New York.-Linnaean society. N.Y., Society. 1882. 168 p., portr. 1. 8°.

1883.

Vol. i.

Niox, Comm. Géographie militaire. v. Europe orientale et bassin de la Méditerranée. le partie: péninsule des Balkans. Paris, Baudoin. 1882. 8+231 p. 18°.

O'Donovan, E. The Merv oasis. Travels and adventures east of the Caspian during 1879-81, including five months' residence among the Tekkés of Merv. 2 vol. N.Y. 1883. illustr. 8°. Pharmaceutische rundschau und zeitung für die wissenschaftlichen gewerblichen interessen der pharmacie und verwandten berufs- und geschäftszweige in den Vereinigten Staaten; herausg. von Dr. Fr. Hoffmann. Bd. i. no. i. N. Y. 1883. 28 P., m. 4°.

Pioger, L. M. Dieu dans ses oeuvres; les splendeurs de l'astronomie, ou Il y a d'autres mondes que le nôtre. Paris, Haton. 1883. 18°.

La lune. 4+315 p. Le soleil. 8+373 p.

Poitevin, A. Traité des impressions photographiques. Suivi d'appendices relatifs aux procédés, par M. Léon Vidal. 2e éd. Paris, Gauthier- Villars. 1883. 14+280 p., portr. 18°. Proctor, R. A. The great pyramid, observatory, tomb and temple. N.Y., Worthington. 1883. 8+323 p. illustr. 12°. Rawlinson, G. The religions of the ancient world, including Egypt, Assyria and Babylonia, Persia, India, Phoenicia, 1883. 12+249 p. Etruria, Greece, Rome. N.Y., Scribner. illustr. 12°.

Rochas, Albert de. La science des philosophes et l'art des thaumaturges dans l'antiquité. Paris, Masson. 1883. 220 p. 24 pl. 8°.

Selvatico, Silvestro. Sur le développement embryonnaire des bombyciens. Traduction par J. Pelletan. Paris, Doin. 1883. 31 p., 7 pl. 8°.

Tissandier, Gaston. Les martyrs de la science. 2e éd. Paris, Dreyfous. 1883. 334 p., 34 pl. 8°.

Tyndall, J. Heat as a mode of motion. New enl. ed. N.Y., Appleton. 1883. illustr. 12°.

U.S.-Corps of engineers U.S. army. Professional papers, no. 24. Primary triangulation of the lake survey; by Lieut.. Col. C. B. Comstock, U.S.A. Wash., Government. 1882. 920 p. 4°.

Waldmann, F. Der bernstein im alterthum; historischphilologische skizze. Fellin. 1883. 87 p. 4°.

Wharton, W. J. L. Hydrographical surveying; a description of the means and methods employed in constructing marine charts. London. 1882. 8°.

Yung, Emile. Le sommeil normal et le sommeil pathologique; magnetisme animal, hypnotisme, névrose histérique. (Bibl. biol. intern.) Paris, Doin. 1883. 196 p. 18°.

FRIDAY, MARCH 2, 1883.

THE INTERNATIONAL

CONFERENCE FOR THE DETERMINATION OF THE ELECTRICAL UNITS.

Ar a meeting of the electrical congress, Oct. 5, 1881, it was recommended that the French government should invite the other powers to constitute an international commission to discuss the following points :

1. To determine for practical science the conditions which a column of mercury should fulfil in order to represent the electrical unit of resistance.

2. To determine upon a definite standard of light.

3. To arrange a systematic and universal plan for studying atmospheric electricity, terrestrial magnetism, and the exchange of international observations..

In accordance with this recommendation the French government communicated with the other powers; and representatives appointed by the various governments assembled in Paris, Oct. 16, 1882, at the residence of the foreign minister. At the first meeting there were forty-seven representatives present, among whom were Helmholtz, W. Siemens, Wiedemann, Kohlrausch, Fröhlich, Lorenz, Dumas, Mascart, Tacchini, and Weber. The repre

sentatives from Great Britain and the United States had not been notified in time to attend the opening of the conference.

Upon organization, three committees were formed, one upon electrical units, one upon earth-currents and lightning-rods, and another upon a standard of light. At first the time of the conference was largely devoted to discussions of the best methods of determining the unit of electrical resistance. Various suggestions were made in regard to the limits of accuracy, and to the necessity of repeating the observations already made at different places on the earth's surface, in order to eliminate the errors due to locality. M. Broch of Norway suggested that the calorimetric determinations of the ohm should be carefully made; this method being the most direct one, although it required a precise value of

No. 4.-1883.

the mechanical equivalent of heat. Sir W. Thomson and Helmholtz pointed out that the heat method depended upon the measurement of current, and could only be considered as a method of control. MM. Lorenz and Roiti presented papers upon the determination of the ohm, and Wiedemann gave a bibliography of the subject. After hearing the careful and minute discussion of the subject, the following resolutions were adopted:

1. The commission consider that the determinations made up to the present time are not sufficiently concordant to allow the value of the ohm to be fixed.

They believe that it is necessary to continue the researches upon this value. Although they do not advise observers to restrict themselves in the choice of methods, they consider the following methods particularly adapted for exact determinations:

a. Induction of a current upon a closed circuit (Kirchoff).

b. Induction by the earth (W. Weber). c. Decrement of moving magnets (W. Weber).

d. Apparatus of the British association.
e. Methods of M. Lorenz.

It is also desirable to determine the ohm by the quantity of heat evolved by a given current, using this method as a control method.

2. It is thought desirable that the French government should take the necessary steps to prepare certain standards of resistance, which can be placed at the disposal of scientific men, in order to compare their values.

The commission was, at first, of the opinion, that when the results of the different observers reach an approximation of robo of the true value, the value of the practical unit of resistance should then be fixed. After much discussion, it was felt that no decision upon the limit of accuracy could be reached at present. Mascart then described the methods adopted for the study of atmospheric electricity. Sir W. Thomson showed that it was important to make observations upon the air in a definite enclosure, or, in other words, upon the air itself. Helmholtz in this connection remarked,

that one of his students had shown that the electrification of the air in the interior of a laboratory could be readily perceived. Thomson then gave a short description of the kind of room and the disposition of its walls which would be desirable in an observatory for such researches. The commission concluded to recommend to the various governments regular observations on atmospheric electricity.

An interesting discussion upon lightningrods then followed. Helmholtz said, that statistics in regard to strokes of lightning and in regard to the effect of various kinds of lightning-rods were about to be collected in the province of Schleswig-Holstein, the position of this province between two seas being particularly advantageous. It already had appeared that the country is more exposed to strokes of lightning than the cities, and that in villages the public buildings were more frequently struck than the houses. He also remarked, that the academy of Berlin had recommended the employment on telephone-lines, where they enter houses, of a lightning-protector, consisting of two little spheres very near each other, one of which is connected to the line, and the other to the earth. M. Ludewig of Germany gave some statistics in regard to damage to telegraphic and telephonic apparatus in Germany during the period from April 1, 1881, to Aug. 20, 1881. During this time there had been 2,301 storms; and these had produced 2,165 cases of damage, more or less serious.

It was debated whether a set of questions in regard to the perturbing effect of storms upon telegraphic apparatus should be issued. After much discussion, a sub-committee was formed to formulate a set of questions. Among the members of this committee were Helmholtz and Mascart. The question of the observation of earth-currents was then taken up. It was regretted that the existing telegraphlines running north and south, and east and west, could not be utilized for the observation of earth-currents. The pressure of business usually prevented this. M. Blavier pointed out, that the earth-currents are generally too feeble to be observed on telegraph-lines which

are in operation. Moreover, the polarization of the earth-plates of the battery would cause trouble. Mascart, in reply, said that he had noticed that the maximum disturbance was reached slowly, through a period of several days, and died out also slowly. He therefore thought that existing telegraphic lines could be used, notwithstanding the objections of M. Blavier. He proposed that observations should be made upon lines reserved for the purpose, and also on existing telegraphic systems. A question arose upon the length that these lines should have. Helmholtz remarked, that one could make observations on lines from one to two kilometres in length. It would be necessary, however, to shun the effects of polarization of the electrodes. He thought that special plates surrounded by peroxide of manganese might be serviceable.

The commission in general were in accord on the necessity of organizing a systematic study of earth-currents upon telegraphic lines, or at least records of these currents on the days specified for observations by the international polar expeditions (the first and fifteenth of each month, from September, 1882, to September, 1883). In a general discussion which followed, upon lightning-conductors and electrical storms, Helmholtz expressed his doubt about the efficacy of extent of contact of lightningconductors with the earth, and the varied nature of the plates employed. M. Van der Mensbrugghe (Belgium) spoke of the desirability of studying the nature of lightning discharges, especially that termed ball-lightning. Mascart replied, that he did not believe that cases of ball or globular lightning were well substantiated. It might happen that it was an illusion of the senses, and could therefore be relegated to physiology rather than to physics. The commission then discussed the question of studying the best conditions for the establishment of an international telemeteorographic system, which would permit various stations in different countries to communicate continuously with each other. They decided that it did not appear that the time had come for the establishment of such a system; but they ex

pressed the opinion that such a system would be highly desirable.

Then followed a long discussion upon the standard of light. It was generally granted that a white light was desirable. Wiedemann

remarked, that a fine gauze saturated with the spirit of turpentine, burning in oxygen, gave a very white light. Siemens proposed to employ a current of oxygen passing through a carburetted hydrogen, maintained at some fixed temperature. One could thus obtain a constant mixture which would burn with a white flame. Helmholtz thought that it would be extremely difficult to produce a mixture of air and carburetted hydrogen in constant proportion, and to regulate the temperature. Dumas thought that the late experiments of Violle upon the light emitted by melting platinum might solve the problem. The point of fusion of a body seemed to him to be as good a fixed point as could be wished. He invited the commission to view the experiments of Violle.

After witnessing the experiments of Violle, the members of the commission appeared to think more favorably of Dumas' suggestion. Professor Leblanc, who has had charge for many years of the photometric determinations of the lighting-gas of Paris, was invited to explain his methods; and the members of the commission, in turn, were invited to witness the methods in his laboratory. Professor Leblanc stated his preferences for the employment of a Carcel lamp for photometric determinations. He showed that the personal equation could be practically eliminated, and that differences of tint did not influence the results to

the degree supposed. Sir W. Thomson spoke of the advantages of Rumford's photometer. The following resolutions upon this subject were finally adopted:

a. The conference express their hope that the experiments now in process upon the light emitted by melting platinum will lead to a definite standard of light.

b. They recommend the employment of the Carcel lamp as a secondary standard, this lamp to be employed with the precautions adopted by MM. Dumas and Regnault.

Candles can also be employed as a secondary standard, if sufficient care be taken in regard to their construction and constitution.

c. They call attention also to the necessity of the analysis of the different conditions under which comparisons of light are made, and reiterate the opinions, expressed at the meeting of the electrical congress of 1881, in regard to the necessity of taking into account the amount of light radiated from sources of light in different directions.

At the close of the conference, Sir W. Thomson expressed the opinion that the labors of the conference would stimulate researches during the coming year; and he congratulated the conference upon its important work.

On the 26th of October, President Grévy received the members of the commission at the Palais d'Elysées; and, after a reception by Minister Cochéry, on the afternoon of the same day, the conference was adjourned to the first Monday of October, 1883.

ON THE PHYSICAL CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH COAL WAS FORMED.1

THE mode of formation of coal has been much discussed, and various theories have been promulgated in regard to it; but the peat-bog theory, as it is called, has been generally accepted. This is the view, that coal is the residual hydrocarbon of plants which have grown where their remains are found, and that it has been formed precisely as peat accumulates in marshes at the present day.

So great has been the harmony of opinion on this subject, that it would at first sight appear unnecessary to renew discussion on a question that had seemed to be definitely and permanently settled. The calm of geological opinion which has prevailed on the coal-question has, however, been recently disturbed by a very voluminous and painstaking discussion of the mode of formation of coal, by M. Grand'Eury, which occupies nearly 300 pages in the Annales des mines for the present year. In this discussion the theory is advocated, that the carbonaceous matter forming beds of coal has been derived from plants, but plants transported from their places of growth, and deposited at a greater or less distance in the

bottom of water basins.

1 Read before the National academy of sciences at its semiannual meeting in New York, Nov. 14-17, 1882.