HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



89 



As a result of numerous observations on under- 

 ground temperatures, and a consideration of the 

 conditions under which they were conducted, Professor 

 Prestwich, F.R.S., suggests i° F. for 45 ft. as the 

 mean rate of increase of temperature below ground. 

 This is a more rapid increase than that hitherto 

 generally accepted, viz. i° F. for 60 ft. 



Mr. A. G. Bell furnishes statistics to "Science" 

 founded on the United States census for 18S0, 

 bearing on the question whether defects of the senses 

 are correlated to one another. He considers that 

 they are, and that instead of a defect in one sense 

 being usually compensated by special excellence in 

 another, the census returns " indicate that the deaf 

 are much more liable to blindness than the hearine, 

 and the blind more liable to deafness than the 

 seeing ; " and he further thinks that there is some 

 correlation between these two defects and idiotcy and 

 insanity. 



We have received a copy of the Guide to the 

 Fossil Fishes in the British Museum of Natural 

 History at South Kensington. It consists of over 

 40 pp. and is profusely illustrated, containing aiso an 

 Introduction by Dr. H. Woodward, a copious index, 

 and a list of some important works of reference. 



Messrs. W. Swan Sonnenschein & Co., will 

 shortly publish a translation by Professor Hillhouse, 

 M.A., of the Mason Science College, of Strasburger's 

 " Das Reine botanische Practicum," a book which is 

 a condensation of a much larger work by this most 

 acute and active of German botanical observers, 

 published in the spring of last year. It is intended 

 chiefly for beginners, both students and amateurs, its 

 great peculiarity being the method whereby, starting 

 with the use of the microscope in the study of objects 

 of the simplest character and needing no preparation 

 (e.g. starch grains), the student is carried by thirty- 

 two successive and easy stages up to work of the 

 greatest difficulty. 



The question of vivisection has been again raised 

 at Oxford, the occasion being a decree for payment 

 °f £S°° a year for three years to Dr. Burdon 

 Sanderson, the Waynflete Professor of Physiology, 

 "for assistance, coal, gas, water and other expenses 

 of his department." The anti-vivisectionists made 

 strong efforts to oppose this grant on the ground that, 

 though Dr. Sanderson had pledged himself not to 

 perform experiments on living animals in his lectures, 

 this undertaking would not be binding on his suc- 

 cessor. The decree was however passed, after a 

 somewhat uproarious discussion, by 412 against 244. 



It appears that even tornadoes have been submitted 

 to the art of the photographer. Woodcuts prepared 

 from photographs of tornadoes may be found in 

 " Science " for February. They are reproduced from 

 other papers, and their authenticity is assumed. 



Incandescent electric lamps are to be used to 

 illuminate the gardens in the coming " Inventories" 

 exhibition, and also in the interior of the shops in 

 " Old London," which attractive feature of last year's 

 exhibition is to be retained this year. 



The Dover Field Club and Natural History 

 Society had, on February 19, a very successful and 

 largely attended conversazione, when many objects 

 of interest in different departments of Natural Science 

 were shown. 



The Society of Amateur Geologists is progressing. 

 Dr. Maybury has become the first president of this 

 society, and will probably deliver his presidential 

 address at the meeting in April. At the last meeting 

 Mr. Allen-Brown, F.R.G.S., read a paper on Fala;o- 

 lithic Man in North-West London. 



It is said that the Skrivanow primary battery has 

 been successfully adapted to the production of 

 portable electric lamps for domestic use. The 

 materials used in the cells are chloride of silver, zinc, 

 and a weak solution of caustic potash ; the light can 

 be continued for twelve hours ; and the cost of main- 

 taining the battery in working order is very small. 



The following has been forwarded to us by an 

 Australian correspondent, Mr. C. Burt, Melbourne, 

 Victoria. "As hydrogen gas is the lightest known 

 element, and as all water contains in its composition 

 eight parts oxygen, and one part hydrogen, it may be 

 concluded that a tremendous amount of these and 

 other gases were liberated at the late Sunda volcanic 

 action of nature, by the decomposition of the water 

 by electric force. Should this have been the case, 

 the hydrogen and other gases would at once ascend 

 to the outside of this planet's envelope of atmosphere, 

 or be suspended in it, and the sunlight shining at an 

 oblique direction at sunset may possibly reflect to us 

 the peculiar tint we see. Hydrogen and other gases 

 have the power of refraction of light. Could this 

 be proved, in 1899, in the month of November, 14, 

 15, or 16, a curious freak of nature may happen, 

 when the belt of meteors pass through this planet's 

 orbit." 



"The Medical Annual and Practitioner's Index " 

 for 1S85, edited by Dr. Percy Wilde (London: 

 Henry Kimpton, High Holborn) is in its second year 

 of issue ; and, successful as it proved last year, there 

 is no doubt the editor has gained by his first year's 

 experience, so as to produce a better and fuller volume 

 for the present year. Practically, it is a Handbook, 

 or Yearly Record of useful information on subjects 

 relating to the medical profession. Dr. J. E. Taylor, 

 F.L.S., contributes an "Annual Review of Popular 

 and General Science," and there are also papers on 

 "Cases of Insanity," by Dr. Robert Jones ; " Sani- 

 tary Memoranda," by C. W. Dymond, C.E. ; 

 " Bandages," by Dr. P. Wilde, &c. &c. 



