186 TRANSACTIONS OF THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE. [ Vou. IIE. 
THE BRESSA PRIZE. 
(Translated from the Italian, and read 3rd April, 1892.) 
In the year 1836, Cesare Alessandro Bressa, Doctor of Medicine, died 
at Mortara, Italy, leaving to the Royal Academy of Science of Turin, 
the means for awarding biennial prizes as follows :— 
The net income of the first two years is given as a reward to that 
Scientist of any nation, who during the past four years has made the 
most remarkable and useful discovery, or produced the most celebrated 
work in connection with Physical and Experimental Science, Natural 
History, Pure and Applied Mathematics, Chemistry, Physiology and 
Pathology, not excluding Geology, History, Geography or Statistics. 
The net income of the second two year period is given for the same 
services, but competition is confined to Italian Scientists. 
As the principal is over 100,000 francs, the biennial prize amounts to 
about $2,500. 
The prize for 1891-92 must be given to Italians only. That for 
1893-94 will be open to the world, and the Canadian Institute will give 
to any of its members, all particulars which have been or may be from 
time to time communicated. 
For their information a summary is given of a document recently 
received from the Academy of above mentioned learned body. 
The works for which the prize is claimed, are in the first instance 
considered by a committee of the Academy, and at the end of 1890 the 
following works were by that primary judicial committee referred toa 
second committee for a report: 
1. Bertrand. Calculation of Probabilities. 
2. Heckel, Treatise on Radiolaria, Syphonifera and Deep Sea 
Cornaceous Sponges. 
3. Hertz. Notes on the Transmission of Electrical Impulses. 
4. Lie. Theory of Transformation Groups. 
As to the first, though of the highest value, the committee did not 
think it fulfilled the conditions of the bequest. The report on the others 
s as follows :— 
