450 PRIZE QUESTIONS OF SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES. 



able fluids, have in later times been referred to the movements of 

 a perfectly elastic ether, penetrating all things. According to some 

 savans, we must abandon this latter opinion also, and attribute these 

 manifestations of force to movements of matter itself. How is this ? ' ' 

 The solution of this question, or at least evidence conducing to that 

 solution, is required. 



13. Question 124. "Can heat directly produce magnetic pheno- 

 mena ? ' '' 



This question is to be decided by experiment. 



14. Question 125. The society desires to have, as applying to dif- 

 ferent primary chemical compounds, an experimental determination 

 of the temperature at Avhich each of them becomes decomposed, and 

 how this temperature is modified by the presence of other substances, 

 and under other circumstances. 



15. Question 126. The influence which pressure exerts upon fluids 

 through which a galvanic current is passing is still but little known. 

 It has not yet been sufiiciently determined whether the decomposi- 

 tion may be entirely stopped by pressure upon the electrolyte; for 

 instance, by completely confining the latter in a strong vessel in 

 which the electrolysis would, in ordinary circumstances, produce gases. 

 It seems that an examination to this effect would be of some import- 

 ance, both as to voltametric operations and as to the valuation of the 

 work done by the galvanic current. The question, then, is : " What in- 

 fluence has pressure upon decomposition, and how far in this is there 

 a confirmation of the conservation of force V 



This examination should extend to at least three liquids, to be 

 selected at the pleasure of the examiner himself. 



16. Question 127. A mathematical theory is required of the ane- 

 roid barometer of Vidi, as well as of Bourdon's metallic barometer; 

 such theory not overlooking the influence of temperature. — (See 

 Lame's Theory of Elasticity.) 



17. Question 128. A geological description of the Island of Banda. 



18. Question 129. We require a decision of this question: "When 

 steam boilers burst (other causes being left out of view) are we to 

 to suspect a development of hydrogen gas, or a transition of the 

 water into the spheroidal state?" 



This examination must be confirmed by a collection of exact and 

 authentic reports of cases of bursting of boilers, and, if possible, by 

 experiments expressly made to this end. 



19. Question 130. An exposition is requested of the anatomical 

 and microchemical composition, and also of the biography, of one or 

 more species of a family of plants indigenous to the Netherlands, or 

 to some one of their colonies, and previously not satisfactorily ex- 

 amined. 



The reply to this question must be accompanied by the necessary 

 figures upon a scale calculated to give a clear idea of the object. 



