168 Miscellaneous Intelligence, 



bivalves, Mr. Gray thinks is the invention of the Chinese. On 

 cutting out the pearls, it would be necessary that the shell should 

 be cut through, so that the mother-of-pearl button may be pre- 

 served in its place, for if the back were removed, as it would be, 

 were not the shell cut through, the basis would fall out, and then 

 the pearl would be brittle. — Ann. Phil. N. S. ix. 27. 



4. Permanency of Human Hair. — M. Pictet has lately made a 

 comparison between a recent human hair and those from the head 

 of a mummy from the Isle of Teneriffe ; with respect to the con- 

 stancy of those properties which render hair important as a hy- 

 grometric substance. For this purpose hygrometers, constructed 

 according to Saussure's principles, were made, one with a recent 

 hair, and the other with hair from the mummy. The ancient 

 hairs were not so strong as the other, or of sufficient length alone, 

 but the latter objection was obviated by tying four together. The 

 results of the experiments were, that in both instruments, the in- 

 terval between extremes of moisture and the dryness of the chamber 

 (about 25°) was passed in three minutes : that the indications, like 

 those of the thermometer, ^c, were rapid on leaving the first 

 term, and became slower on approaching the second : that the 

 hygrometric quality of the Guanche hair is sensibly the same as 

 that of the recent hair. — Bib. Univ. xxvii. 120. 



5. M. Peschier on the Cure of the Goitre. — Being frequently 

 called upon to administer aid in cases of goitre, M. Peschier, in 

 1816, endeavoured to separate from burnt sponge the substance 

 which conferred on it useful properties ; and thinking this might 

 be the alkali, was induced to administer solution of sub-carbonate 

 of soda, more or less disguised by other substances. This attempt 

 was accompanied by complete success which has never yet been 

 falsified. The effect was such, that M. Peschier says, at Aubonne 

 (Canton de Vaud), and the neighbouring places, the remedy soon 

 acquired a, considerable name for its power of dispelling, or con- 

 siderably diminishing, the goitre ; and he refers to the evidence 

 which may be abundantly obtained there, for confirmation. One 

 or two cases are, however, quoted. Jan. 1 . A young girl (Au- 

 bonne Isaline Cretigny), 14 years of age, well formed for her age, 

 was brought to him for assistance. She had a goitre large enough 

 to give the neck the appearance of a cylinder of the diameter of 

 the head. Sub-carbonate of soda was administered in the propor- 

 tion of two gros (118 grains) each day. At the end of the 20th 

 day the goitre was so far diminished, and the girl's appearance so 

 much altered, that she could scarcely be known for the same per- 

 son. This was a particularly favourable case. 



In ordinary cases, when the goitre is not connected with any 

 general or constitutional affection, M. Peschier dissolves from 

 two gros to half an ounce of sub -carbonate of soda in eight ounces 



