PRIZE QUESTIONS OF SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES. 423 



decide wdiat the present state of astronomy permits us to consider 

 well established or very probable, as to the structure of the universe." 

 The society awarded its gold medal and the additional prize of 

 150 florins to the learned author of this work, Dr. Johann Ileinrich 

 Madler, professor of astronomy and director of the observatory at 

 Dorp at. 



The society has seen fit to repeat the following questions, and re- 

 quires them to be answered before the first of January, 1858: 



1. Is there a well-authenticated connexion between the hypertro- 

 phies of the spleen and a morbid state of the blood, characterized by 

 an abundance of white globules? 



The society desires that this question should be cleared up by 

 anatomico-pathologic researches and by clinical observations. 



2. The society calls for a comparative description of the system 

 of the lymphatic and chyliferous vessels in fishes. It requires: 

 1st, that there be especially an examination of these vessels and 

 of those of the sanguineous system; and, 2dly, that the observa- 

 tions of Fohman and Treviranus be repeated and discussed. 



The society requires that at least three very different families be 

 compared, and that the entire system of these two vessels be described 

 as completely as possible, as regards one species offish; the whole 

 to be accompanied by requisite figures. 



3. The society requests that, b}^ a physiological, experimental, 

 and comparative examination, an endeavor be made to establish the 

 nature of the function of the peculiar substance secreted in the great 

 intestine of many of the mammalia. It desires that this examination 

 include, at least, the carnivora, the ongules, and the rongeurs. 



4. Some savans maintain that a portion of an electric current, 

 passing through an electrolyte, traverses it without exercising any 

 chemical action. The society desires that this opinion be subjected 

 to a rigorous experimental examination. If it be verified, the society 

 requests that then there shall be ascertained, for at least six different 

 electrolytes, what the numerical relation is'which exists between the 

 part of the current which decomposes the electrol3'te and the part 

 for which the electrolyte appears to be endowed with a conducting 

 power similar to that of the metals. 



5. The recent experiments of Faraday, made with long wire of 

 metal covered with gutta-percha and immersed in water, have de- 

 monstrated that the velocit}^ of electricity in metallic or other con- 

 ductors is not always the same. The society desires that this ve- 

 locity, in connexion with the circumstances which modify it, be deter- 

 mined anew by exact experiments. 



6. The existence of what is called the catalytic force, by which 

 heretofore we have sought to explain many phenomena becoming 

 more and more doubtful, the society desires a rigorous examination 

 of the phenomena Avhich some savans still attribute to that force. 



7. In what part of the human body is sugar produced, and when 

 and in what manner does the production take place ? 



