16 NOTES BY THE EDITOR 



teristics of the various ages and schools of this species of sculpture. 

 The series, Avhich numbers about 170 pieces, embraces examples from 

 periods when monumental illustration from other sources is compar- 

 atively rare, and difficult to obtain ; and, taken collectively, forms a 

 compendious history of the sculptural art. 



Under the authority of the State Medical Society of Vermont, a 

 plan has been adopted for the registration of diseases with a view of 

 thereby deducing general laws, which bids fair to yield most valuable 

 results. A record-book has been prepared, to be used by every phy- 

 sician, and so arranged with printed captions, that an entry of every 

 case in which the physician is called, with all its essential particulars, 

 may be made in a moment's time, and with but little trouble. It is 

 believed that such a collection of records will furnish much valuable 

 aid in the history of epidemics. 



During the past year measures have been taken to put into imme- 

 diate working order the Dudley Observatory in the city of Albany. 

 The history of this Observatory, which we have in a former volume 

 adverted to, is as follows: Some years since, a magnificent donation 

 of land was given in the city of Albany by General Van Rensselaer 

 for the location of an Astronomical Observatory, and for the erection 

 and equipment of the building, Mrs. Dudley contributed $12,000. An 

 equal sum in smaller subscriptions was also made up by the citizens 

 of Albany. 



The Observatory was erected under an understanding with Pro- 

 fessor Mitchell, of Cincinnati, that when completed, he would take 

 charge of it. While it w r as being erected Professor Mitchell embarked 

 so deeply in railroad operations that he was unable to move to Albany. 

 By reason of this event, unexpected to the founders, the Observatory 

 has stood hitherto unoccupied. At the late meeting of the Scientific 

 Association, at Providence, the matter came up for consideration, and 

 the result is that the Observatory is to be fully equipped and placed 

 under the charge of Messrs. Bache, Henry, Pierce and Gould, the res- 

 ident astronomer being Dr. B. A. Gould. In addition to the amount 

 already subscribed, Mrs. Dudley has also given $6,000 for the purchase 

 of a heliometer, the construction of which was thus described by Pro- 

 fessor Pierce at the last meeting of the American Association, "The 

 instrument to be obtained is a heliometer of great peculiarity, its ob- 

 ject-glass being divided into halves, so that each half gives n distinct 

 image of every star to the observer. By separating the halves, there- 

 fore, the image of one star may be made to coincide with that of any 

 other, and the distance of the halves of the object-glass will be the 

 measure of the angular distance of the two stars. The same instru- 

 ment may be applied, as its name indicates, to the sun. Its range is 

 only about a degree. The construction of such an instrument requires 



