142 QUARTERLY CHRONICLE. 
that in Hydrocharis morsus rane the rotating mantle-fluid 
is divided into two regular rotating currents, running down 
separated from each other by a distinct piece traversing the 
cavity of the cellulose capsule,—and, lastly, that by means 
of such impediments at the rounded poles of the cellulose 
capsule reflux movements of the currents of the most various 
kinds may be produced. 
14. Motory phenomena from which the existence of a con- 
tractile activity in the viscid substance, or in the other con- 
stituents of the cell-contents might be deduced, are entirely 
wanting in the plant-cells with currents investigated by me. 
15. With regard to the movements of currents in the cells 
of plants, the first thing to be done is to discover the causes 
by which the rotating movements of the ‘ mantle-fluid”’ are 
produced. But no physical or chemical processes by which 
this rotating movement might be brought about have hitherto 
been detected in the cells of plants. 
FRANCE—Comtes Rendus.—On the Vibrating Corpuscle 
of “ Pébrine,’ considered as an organism producing Alcohol. — 
In a recent Chronicle we noticed Dr. Balbiani’s conclusions 
with regard to the nature of the corpuscles found freely 
floating in the fluids of silkworms attacked with the disease 
called pébrine. He maintained that they were psorosperms 
or pseudo-navicule of Gregarine, and, further, that they 
were vegetable. He appears to have been right im his view 
of their vegetable nature ; but any one who has seen a Grega- 
rina knows that it cannot be considered as anything but an 
animal organism. M. A. Béchamp has removed a quantity 
of the fluid from a worm afflicted with these corpuscles, 
and placed the fluid in a solution of cane sugar. In the 
course of a few weeks alcoholic fermentation was set up, and 
was allowed to continue for six months, when all the sugar 
was completely converted. At the end ofthat time the same 
corpuscles were still to be found in the fermented sugar, and 
M. Béchamp concludes that they are ferment-causing orga- 
nisms. 
* On the Anatomical Arrangement of the Lymphatics in the 
Torpedos, compared with that presented by those of other Pla- 
giostomi,’ by C. Robin.—The organs furnished with lym- 
phatics in these animals are (1) the digestive tube; (2) the 
pancreas and its duct (the spleen is devoid of them); (3) the 
hepatic ducts, the gall-bladder, and ductus choledochus; (4) the 
oviducts, deferent canals, and the cloaca, but the ovary and 
testicle have none; (5) the peritoneum in front of the kidney ; 
(6) the heart and portions of large vessels. The lymphatics of 
the different regions of the body above enumerated discharge 
