MISCELLANY. 



117 



which represent the eyelids. The action 

 of light on the disk is indicated on the gal- 

 vanometer. Not only was this shown to 

 be sensitive to white light, but sensitive in 

 different degrees to different colors. Mr. 

 Siemens suggested it would not be difficult 

 to arrange a contact and electro-magnet in 

 connection with the galvanometer in such a 

 manner that a powerful action of light 

 would cause the automatic closing of the 

 eyelids, and thus imitate the spontaneous 

 brain-action of blinking the eyelids in con- 

 sequence of a flash of light. To physiol- 

 ogists this analogy may be suggestive re- 

 garding the important natural functions of 

 the human frame. 



Effect of Alcohol on Brain-Substance. 



When brain-substance is placed in alcohol, 

 it loses its water and its mobility of parti- 

 cles, and becomes more solid and firm. The 

 question here arises, Is this thing possible 

 with the living brain ? Is it possible that, 

 in cases of delirium tremens, so much alco- 

 hol has been consumed as, by its diffusion 

 through the brain, it has robbed nerve- 

 matter of its mobile character, and conse- 

 quently of its power to throw off the prod- 

 ucts of its life-functions ? That alcohol 

 may, in this way, act upon the brain of the 

 inebriate, is an opinion which, as yet, can 

 hardly be demonstrated directly; but an 

 experiment made by Mr. Charles T. King- 

 zett seems to render it highly probable. 

 He places in a dilute solution of alcohol 

 pieces of brain-substance derived from the 

 ox, at the temperature of the blood, viz., 

 100 Fahr. At this temperature it is di- 

 gested for some hours, and the liquid is 

 then filtered. On cooling, the filtrate throws 

 down a white deposit of matter which the 

 alcohol has dissolved a phenomenon which 

 would seem to indicate some actual truth 

 in Shakespeare's words, " that men should 

 put an enemy in their mouths to steal away 

 their brains ! " 



Foray of an Army of Ants. A writer 

 in Land and Water gives an interesting ac- 

 count of a foray by an army of ants, which 

 he witnessed in South Africa. This army, 

 estimated to number about 14,000 ants, 

 started from their home in the mud walls 

 of a hut, and marched out in the direction 



of a small mound of fresh earth in the vi- 

 cinity. The head of the column halted on 

 reaching the foot of the mound, and the 

 remainder of the force did likewise till the 

 entire army was assembled. Then the forces 

 were divided : one part remained at the foot 

 of the mound and ran round and round it ; 

 the rest mounted to the top, and some of 

 them entered the loose earth and speedily 

 returned, each bearing a young grasshopper 

 or cricket, dead, which he deposited upon 

 the ground and returned for a fresh load. 

 Those who had remained on the outside of 

 the mound took up the crickets as they 

 were brought out of the earth, and bore 

 them down to the base of the hill, returning 

 for a fresh load. Soon the contents of the 

 mound seemed to be exhausted, and then 

 the whole force returned home, each carry- 

 ing his burden of food for the community. 

 Here was a regular foray, planned and exe- 

 cuted with military precision, the country 

 surveyed, and the depot of provisions known 

 accurately before the march was made ; at 

 the mound, prudential division of labor, and 

 care taken that none of the victims should 

 escape. 



Remedy for Cold in the Head. Dr. 



David Ferrier, having used with great suc- 

 cess trisnitrate of bismuth to cure " cold in 

 the head," sends to the Lancet a communi- 

 cation in which he warmly commends the 

 employment of bismuth, either alone or in 

 conjunction with other drugs, in the treat- 

 ment of nasal catarrh. Bismuth of itself 

 being heavy, and difficult to inhale, it is ad- 

 visable, he writes, to combine it with aca- 

 cia-powder, which increases the bulk, and 

 renders the powder more easily inhaled, 

 while the secretion of the nostrils causes 

 the formation of an adherent mucilaginous 

 coating, of itself a great sedative of an 

 irritated surface. The sedative effect is 

 greatly strengthened by the addition of 

 hydrochlorate of morphia, which speedily 

 allays the feeling of irritation and aids in 

 stopping the reflex secretion of tears. He 

 proposes the following formula : Hydrochlo- 

 rate of morphia, two grains; acacia-pow- 

 der, two drachms ; trinitrate of bismuth, 

 six drachms. Of this powder one-quarter 

 or one-half may be taken as snuff in the 

 course of twenty-four hours. The inhala- 

 tions should be commenced as soon as the 



