184 ' Miscellanies. 



sistance to pressure, than is usual, in a body forty eight hours dead. 

 It seems to be peculiarly well adapted for the preservation of the 

 brain, as this organ, although thus kept for some months, will still 

 serve for the demonstrations of the anatomist. This solution has 

 also been used as an injection in anatomical preparations, and with 

 perfect success. — D. 



35. Statue 0/ Cuvier at Montbeliard. (L'Institut, No. 122.) 

 This statue, erected by the Academy of Sciences, is of bronze, and 

 a little larger than nature. Cuvier is represented in a standing 

 posture, with a pencil in his hand, meditating on the remains of dif- 

 ferent fossil animals that lay before him, and appears to have just 

 succeeded in determining a new species, by a union of its parts. 

 The statue has been erected in the public square, before the Hotel 

 de Ville of Montbeliard. On one side, may be seen the College 

 where Cuvier first received his education, and on the other, the 

 house in which he was born, on which is inscribed the date 23 Aout, 

 1769. The erection of the statue took place on the anniversary of 

 this day. — D. 



36. Extraordinary application of Gas. — [From the evidence of 

 Richard Smith, Esq., before the Parliamentary Committee appoint- 

 ed to report upon accidents in mines.] Speaking of the coal mines 

 of Nova Scotia, (observes the Mining Journal,) Mr. Smith says, 

 " When we first struck the coal at the depth of about one hundred 

 and eighty feet, it was highly charged with water ; the w r ater flew 

 out in all directions with considerable violence ; it produced a kind 

 of mineral fermentation immediately. The outburst of the coal, 

 crossed the large river which passed near the coal pit. We were 

 not exactly aware of the precise outcrop, on account of a strong clay 

 paste eight or ten yards thick. It is rather difficult to find the out- 

 burst of coal, when clay paste is thickly spread over a country. At 

 the river, the water boiled similarly to that of a steam engine boiler, 

 with the same kind of rapidity ; so that on putting flame to it on a 

 caFm day, it would spread over the river, like what is commonly 

 termed setting the Thames on fire ; it often reminded me of the say- 

 ing. It is very common for the females, the workmen's wives and 

 daughters, to go down to the river with the washing they have to 

 perform for their families. After digging a hole in the side of the 

 river, about ten or twelve inches deep, they would fill it with pebble 



