ueems also every reason to believe that this Bathybius has been existing in all 

 ages and forming chalk, so that the cretaceons is really one great continuoun 

 formation. 



Another of the latest, and at the same time most interesting, scientific 

 discoveries is that made by Professor Tyndall, of the composition of the ordinal y 

 dust floating in our atmosphere. This he conclusively shews to be in great 

 part of organic particles, which can be burnt and so destroyed. His experimenst 

 go to prove that we are habitually lodging this organic dust in our lungs, as 

 the final part of our expirations are invariably free from all dust ; but he also 

 points to a remedy in the shape of a cotton wool respirator, which he finds an 

 efficient filter for the air, and capable of stopping all dust particles from entering 

 the mouth. This kind of respirator will doubtless come into use in hospitals 

 and other tainted atmosjjheres. The Professor believes these discoveries tend 

 to strengthen the theory of germ origin of disease. 



As this society numbers amongst its members several eminent members 

 of the medical profession, it is possible that a notice of the newly-used substance 

 called Chloral may not be uninteresting. This substance is an artificial 

 organic compound, and consists of C2 Ch3 O.H., carbon, chlorine, oxygen, and 

 hydrogen. It was. Sir J. Simpson tells us, discovered by Baron Liebig in 1832 ; 

 but has only recently been brought into use by Dr. Liebreich, of Berlin. Sir J. 

 Simpson says that he uses it as a hypnotic and anc-dyne, and finds it a sure 

 producer of sleep, and free, in nearly all cases, from any after ill-effects, such 

 as opium leaves, and he gives it as his opinion that Dr. Liebreich, in introducing 

 chloral, has proposed a remedy which will yet prove of immense value in the 

 practice of medicine and surgery. Herr O. Liebreich has also found that chloral 

 can be used with good results as a counteractive to strychnine. 



Another interesting chemical discovery is that by Graebe and Liebermann, 

 in the artificial production of Alizarine, the colouring matter of Madder, from 

 Anthracen. This discovery is especially interesting, having been led up to by 

 purely theoretical considerations. It is thought likely, also, to be of soma 

 practical importance, as it will allow a great extent of land now employed for 

 growing Madder to be used for grain. 



Astronomy. — In Astronomical Science some most interesting discoveries 

 have been made during the last eightten months. 



The two total eclipses which have occurred during that period, the one 

 seen in India and the other in America, have given astronomers excellent oppor- 

 tunities of ob.serving the red flames which had been before noticed to exist 

 round the sun. The spectroscope has now decided that these flames consist of 

 hydrogen gas intensely heated. 



It is also interesting to know that these hydrogen flames seem to be 

 intimately connected with the solar spots ; also the lines on their spectra are 

 sometimes slightly displaced from their usual position in the spectrum of 

 hydrogen. 



