It was proved by Salmon (Geom. of three dimensions (1882), p. 331) that the chords of the curve of intersection of two algebraic surfaces of order m and n. which can be drawn from an arbitrary point,meet the curve upon a surface of order (m — 1) (n — 1); it was proved by Valentiner (Acta Math. 2 (1883), p. 191), and by Noether (Berlin. Abh. (1882), Zur Grundlegung u.s.w., p. 27), that the surface of order (m — 1) (n — 1) is a cone, with vertex at the point from which the chords are drawn; and a converse theorem was given by Halphen (J. de l' école Polyt. 52 (1882), p. 106). But the proofs given by Valentiner and Noether have not the elementary character that seems desirable, Noether's proof in particular depending on the theory of the canonical series upon the curve.