BY N. DE MIKLOUHO-MACLAY. 695 



Before I close this note, I may add, that since 1857, the root of 

 the Piper methysticum has been recommended in Europe for 

 medicinal xise, and it appears that it will become a valuable medi- 

 cine. (1) The fluid extract made with alcohol as a menstrum, 

 has been used in bronchitis, rheumatism, gout, gonorrhoea, 

 gleet, &c. : the chief medical use of " Kava" is however to cure 

 chronic cysticis and gleet. (2). More investigation and experi- 

 ments on the effects of the " Kava " extract are still desirable. 



NOTES AND EXHIBITS. 



Mr. Brazier exhibited a specimen of Paryphanta Hochstetteri, a 

 shell which he had exhibited at the August meeting, showing the 

 remarkable effect produced by the heat a few days ago. The 

 shell was completely splintered into about 50 pieces, nothing 

 remaining but the whorls and the umbilicus. He said that he had 

 often observed Bulimi throwing off the epidermis from heat, but 

 had never before seen an instance of a shell flying to pieces from 

 that cause. 



Mr. Ogilby exhibited a specimen mounted by Mr. Whitelegge 

 ior the microscope, of Branchiostoma hassanum, Gunther, dredged 

 off North Head. 



Mr. Palmer exhibited a species of Coccinella, which had in a 

 few days cleared his peach trees of an attack of Aphides, which 



(1) I am indebted to Mr. F. Wright for having drawn my attention to 

 this fact. 



(2) Details about the constituents of- the drug and its medicinal use, 

 &c., &c., mde:—T\\e National Dispensatory, by A. Still«5 and J. Maisch, 

 3rd. ed., London, 1884, pp. 964, 965. A companion to the U. S. Phar- 

 macopeia, by Oscar Olberg and Otto Wall. London, 1884, pp. 696, 697. 

 Novel Coi;nter Adjunct bearing chemist's own name and address, with notes 

 •on recent materia medica. Evans Lescher and Webb, 1884. 



