SOCIETY OF PHYSICS AXD NATURAL HISTORY OF GENEVA. 307 



tuembers, M]\r. De Loriol and Lmiel, had repaired to Paris iu order to 

 superintend the packing and transportation, 



M. De Saussure presented us a memoir which he has just completed ou 

 the Ortliopicra of the museum of Geneva. The author thinks that there 

 has been an error heretofore in the appreciation of the segment in the 

 Blattcv described as the first abdominal segment, and that this segment 

 pertains to the thorax. This opinion is not shared by M. Claparede, 

 ■vvho has often observed the soldering of certain segments, and who 

 Ijoiuts out the tlifticulty of determining iu dried insects v\'hether the 

 segments are severed or not. M. De Saussure has, moreover, favored us 

 with a view of sundry specimens of PJiasoni, which have no defense 

 against their natural enemies, and only escape by a complete immobility, 

 which causes them to exactly resemble twigs of dead wood. 



Professor Claparede read to us an interesting memoir on the Lumhrici, 

 which will be printed in the Zciisclirift fur wisscnschaftliche Zoologie. He 

 communicated the recent discovery of an Italian savant Avho has recog- 

 nized in the coloring matter furnished by an Annelid of the Gulf of Na- 

 ples the chemical product lately detected in coal and designated by the 

 name of Aniline. He has verified the j^resence of the same coloring 

 principle iu the Floridece and in the Murex hrandaris ; it was this latter 

 mollusk which supplied the ancients with their purple. 



M. de Candolle presented a i^aper of M. Eeinsch, inspector of mines at 

 Gotha, who states that he has recognized microscopic organic remains, 

 both animal and vegetable, in certain granitic rocks whicli have been 

 reputed until now to be of an igneous or eruptive nature. In connec- 

 tion with this subject, Dr. Miiller mentioned a phenomenon which has 

 some analogy with the preceding ; the existence, namely, of organized 

 living creatures in the water of the geysers of California, at a tempera- 

 ture of 95^, (202^ Fahrenheit.) 



M. De Saussure gave an account of researches into the deep-sea faunas, 

 which M. De Pourtales, who accompanied M. Agassiz iu his voj^age to 

 Brazil, has recently published. 



Dr. WiEiani Marcet communicated his inquiries into the ansestlietic 

 effects of the inhalation of protoxide of nitrogen. He thinks this gas 

 by no means entitled to the name of exhilarating. The aufesthesis is ob- 

 tained in a very marked manner when the gas is respired for one or 

 two minutes, but it does not continue beyond two minutes ; after which 

 every unpleasant symptom ceases completely. If, however, the inhala- 

 tion be unduly prolonged, syncope and very serious accidents supervene. 

 Dr. Sharpey, of Loudon, who was present at the sitting, confirmed these 

 results ; he was confident that the inhalation of the gas for two min- 

 utes at most is completely exempt from danger, and consequently very 

 useful for short operations, such as the extraction of a tooth. But it is 

 very hazardous to prolong the inhalation beyond two minutes. 



The president of the society recounted the results of a scientific in- 

 vestigation, at which he had assisted, having for its object the employ- 

 ment of protoxide of nitrogen as an anoesthetic agent. The recognition 

 of its properties as such was unanimous, and its harmlessness, provided 

 the inhalation be not prolonged, was likewise admitted. But its em- 

 ployment was in'oscribed if the operation should require more than one 

 or two minutes. The persons treated after this method in the presence 

 of Dr. Lombard, presented no grave symptom nor any acceleration of 

 the pidse or respiration. The insensibility appeared to be complete, 

 judging from the representations of those upou whom the operation was 

 performed and who were interrogated with care by several physicians 

 who assisted in the experiments. 



