1868. ] Engineering—Civil and Mechanical. 569 
body produced possesses the physiological action of curare, viz. para- 
lysis of the end organs of the motor nerves. Similarly, Brown and 
Fraser have discovered that the toxic properties of brucine, thebaia, 
and codeine are immensely diminished by the addition of methyl; 
and that the bodies produced, instead of being, as all three of these 
alkaloids are, strongly convulsent, possess, on the contrary, the phy- 
siological action of curare. Morphine, as is well known, possesses 
both soporific and convulsent properties; its toxic action is much 
diminished by the addition of methyl; its convulsent action is de- 
stroyed, but its soporific action remains. 
We may appropriately conclude our Chronicles of Chemistry by 
quoting the following very apposite remarks made by M. Dumas, 
the secretary of the Academy of Sciences, and one of the leading 
French chemists :—If every one of us took the fancy of combining 
with his name that of his great-grandfather, of his grandfather, of 
his father, and his mother, a singular complication would be found 
in our registers of births. <A lifetime would be passed in learning 
the names of the persons with whom we were acquainted in our own 
neighbourhood. As to knowing the names of the inhabitants of a 
town, that would be an utter impossibility. This is, however, what 
our savants who pursue organic chemistry have to accomplish, so 
that their language has now arrived at a point of barbarism that 
cannot be surpassed. Now, would it not be desirable, in all points 
of view, to adopt a generic word, and to group around such word 
the names of species in proportion as science extends her conquests? 
I am particularly interested in organic chemistry, but I declare that 
time is entirely wanting to me to peruse, while comprehending them, 
the various memoirs on the science which come under my notice. 
The complication and insupportable length of the names employed 
are the sole causes of this. 
6. ENGINEERING—CIVIL AND MECHANICAL. 
Norwirustanpine the partial revival of trade since the last panic, 
the progress of public works in this country can hardly be said to 
have kept pace with the times; but it need scarcely be here stated 
that the only check has been caused by the unwillingness of 
capitalists to embark in such enterprises. Nevertheless we have, 
during the past year, witnessed a succession of railway loans being 
brought out on account of Russian lines, and other foreign loans 
appear at present to be more in favour than public works at home. 
Shipbwilding.—The revival of commerce has naturally led to a 
demand for ships; but in this branch of industry the Mersey and 
more northern ports have enjoyed almost a monopoly; the high 
