8 NOTES BY THE EDITOR 



teristics to the ocean in which they were deposited, we cannot but anticipate 

 many instructive lessons which may be furnished by the points of contrast, 

 as well as of resemblance, which the surface of the moon, viewed through 

 Lord Rosse's telescope, may present to the best judgment we are able to 

 form of what the appearance of the earth would be if similarly viewed, or 

 with -what maybe more difficult perhaps to imagine what we may 

 suppose the earth would appear if it could be stript of its sedimentary strata, 

 which conceal from us for the most part the traces of that internal action 

 which has played so large a part in moulding the great outlines of the 

 present configuration of its surface. It is understood that Lord Rosse him- 

 self participates in the wish that such an examination of the surface of the 

 moon should be made, and, should the desire of the Association be 

 expressed to that effect, is willing to undertake it in conjunction with one 

 or two other gentlemen possessing the necessary physical and geological 

 knowledge. It will be for the Association to determine the form in which 

 a report on the " Physical Features of the Moon, compared with those of 

 the Earth," may most appropriately be requested. 



The German Association for the advancement of Science held its 29th 

 annual meeting at Wiesbaden, commencing September 18th. The attend- 

 ance was very numerous, nearly 800 members being present. Dr. Fresen- 

 ius was President of the Association, and Prof. Sandberger, Secretary. A 

 public address was delivered by Prof. Nees von Esenbeck, of Breslau. 



To be a privileged member of this Association, with the right of speak- 

 ing and voting in the meetings, it is necessary to have written some work 

 bearing on natural history, physics, or medicine ; but to become a temporary 

 associate, with the right of being present as a listener merely at all the 

 scientific meetings, as well as of taking part in all the festive social reunions, 

 is free to every one on the very moderate payment of two Prussian dollars. 

 The next meeting of the Association was appointed to be held at 

 Tubingen. 



A " Hygienic Congress," consisting of gentlemen of different countries, 

 who take an interest in promoting the health of towns and the welfare of 

 the working classes, was held in Brussels, in September About 200 gen- 

 tlemen, Belgians and foreigners, were present, nearly all the Scientific 

 Societies of Europe being represented. The work was done in four differ- 

 ent sections : one, charged to occupy itself with workmen's houses, baths, 

 wash houses, and hospitals ; another, with sewers, &c., the distribution of 

 water, and ventilation the third, with the organization of public health, the 

 maintaining of children, interments, and cemeteries ; and the fourth, with 

 the adulteration of food, the labor of children in work shops, and 

 prostitution. 



The Scientific Congress of France, held its annual session at Toulouse, 





