PRIZE QUESTIONS. 457 



schopnoprasum,) of different cabbages (brassica oleracea,) of parsley (fctrOse- 

 linum sativum,) of chervil (anthriscus cerefoUum,) of pimpernel fjwt.erium san- 

 guisorha,) of tarragon (ariemisia dracunculus,) of sorrel (rumcx acetosa,) of 

 Bpinacli (sjjinacia oleracea,) of herbaceous glasswort (salicornia fierbacca,) of 

 the white beet (beta cicJa,) of purslane (portulaca oleracea,) of corn salad 

 (Valeriana olitoria,) of rampion (camimimla rapunculus ;) the stalks of celery 

 (ainum graveolens, sweet variety,) of turnip celery, (a variety of the preceding,) 

 of angelica (angelica arzhangelica,) of rhubarb (rheum ribes,) of cardoons 

 (cynara cardunculus ;) the flower tops of sarietta (satureia Itortensis ; ) the re- 

 ceptacles or bottoms of artichokes (cynara scolymus ; ) the young shoots of 

 asparagus (asparagus officinalis,) of the hop (liumulus bqmlus ; ) the green pods 

 of peas (-pisuni sativum,) of beans (j^haseolus vulgarus ;) cucumbers (cucumis 

 sativus) gherkins (a variety of the preceding ;) the fruit of the egg-plant (sola- 

 num melongena,) oi i\\c tomato (lycoj^ersicuin esculentum; ) the fig (ficus carica ; ) 

 the date (j^hoinix dactylifera ;) the carob (ceratonia siliqu a ;) common and 

 French chestnut (castanea vcsca;) the sweet acorn (quercus ballota ;) water 

 chesnut, or caltrop, (trata natans.) 



It would be interesting to determine, in these different edible substances, tbe 

 relntive proportions of water, of organic matters, nitrogenous or otherwise, of 

 succulent matter, of salts, (particularly phosphates and alkalies,) of the total 

 nitrogen. 



ir. MEDICAL SCIENCES AND PHYSIOLOGY. 



Questions proposed for the competition o/'lSGG. — 1. To determine, according 

 to the present state of science, the chemical and mechanical influences which 

 gases absorbed by the intestinal and pulmonary mucous surfaces exert on the 

 circulatory current. To inquire what affections and effects are produced on the 

 animal economy by the passage of the principal gaseous substances in the san- 

 guineous system. 



The Society of Sciences, while leaving full liberty to competitors in arriving 

 at the solution of this important question, desires that the works of Nysten, 

 of Vidal, of MM. Andral and Gavarret, &c., shonld be consulted, and that 

 efforts should be made to ascend to the etiology of certain affections, the 

 oa-igin and nature of which are still unknown. 2. To inquire into the disturb- 

 ance introduced into the functions of nutrition and relation by the use of to- 

 bacco ; to determine, by recourse to numerous observations, what mode of 

 smoking is most injurious to health. 3. The physiological and therapeutic 

 action of quinine is known : to study and show by experiments the physiologi- 

 cal effects of the other principles contained in the quinquinas. 4. To perform 

 the same study as regards tobacco. 



Question p)roposcd for the competition of 1867. — The mode in which eels are 

 reproduced is entirely unknown to naturalists ; it is not known what organs are 

 productive of the elements which serve for generation, and we are ignorant 

 whether eels produce eggs or young eels. Several kinds or varieties of eels 

 are known, and some naturalists have thought that these different forms might 

 be only sexual. It . is proposed that these problems, important as regards 

 physiology and pisciculture, should be examined and resolved. 2. To study 

 the cadaveric phenomena which precede the period of putrefaction, to the effect 

 of determining by positive researches at what epoch rigidity appears and ceases 

 both in the adult and new-born infant. To draw from this study applications ' 

 for the use of legal medicine. 



III. SCIENCES APPLIED TO INDUSTRY. 



Questions prop>osed for the competition o/" 1866. — 1. To indicate an indus- 

 trial means for the direct preparation of oxalic acid in aid of the mangel-wurzel 

 in nature. 2. To compose a technological history of flax, and show the im- 



