Ac^ademy of Sciences at Berlin. Sfjj 



Reception can be detected. '2d, What is the essential dif- 

 ference between the American cochineal and the Polish 

 fczerwiec? 3d, For what reasons has the American cochi- 

 neal been preferred in modern times to the Polish ? and by 

 what means can czerwiec be again introduced into com- 

 merce? 4th, Can barren sandy land, useful for no other 

 oeconomical purpose, be employed in the regular cultivation 

 of czerwiec r 5th, In what manner can czerwiec be raised 

 at the least expense, and in the greatest abundance ? 7th, 

 Whether czerwiec possesses any medicinal properties ? 



III. As the plague formerly occasioned great devastation 

 in Poland, the Society requires, 1st, A complete history of 

 the plague in Poland, from the most authentic sources. The 

 author must examine, 2d, Whether this epidemia did not 

 «ometimes originate in Poland, or whether it was brought 

 to these provinces from foreign countries? 3d, In both 

 these cases, what were the regular symptoms by which it 

 was known; and could the place where the disease chiefly 

 originated be determined from these symptoms ? 4th, Whe- 

 ther the disease by passing from one province to. another 

 became more destructive ; or whether its malifrnant nature 

 was thereby moderated ? 3l}i, What means of preventing 

 the infection were employed at different periods in this 

 country with success; and what mode of curiug the disease 



iias been found most effectual ? 6th, Whether the total ex- 

 tirpation of the plague be possible ; and in what manner 

 this is to be accomplished ? 



The papers, written in the Polish, Latin, German, or 



• French languages, nnist be transmitted, post paid, to the 

 secretary of the Society of the Friends of the Sciences, bo- 

 Ibre the end of August 1804. 



The prize for the best essay on each of these subjects w 



.a gold medal of the value of forty ducats. 



One of these prizes only is paid from the funds of the 

 Society. The other tw o are proposed by two worthy mem- 

 bers, actuated by a laudable zeal for diffusing useful know- 

 ledge. 



ACADEMY OF SCIENCES AT BERLIN. 



Tiic follow ing papers were read in this society during the 

 iirst half of the year 1 803 : 



Jan. 6th. A dissertation on the nature, causes, and cure 

 of mania; by Dr. Hufcland. 



Jan. 13th. Professor Bode read an extract from his Jour- 

 nal of Astronomical Observations; with a description of a 

 new sextant by M. KIcngcrt, of I3reslau. 



Jan. 



