382 Miscellanies. 



soap, gum, and mucilage of all kinds, and of course plants which 



contain them. 



In the washing of woollens, shawls, and other animal matters, 

 which become stiff and hard by the action of alkalies, mucilaginous 

 matters are preferable to soap. In dyeing, also, mucilages have the 

 property of preventing the precipitation of calcareous salt and ter- 

 rene matters, so important often to the shade, beauty and splendor of 

 colors.— Bull. D'Ertcour. Nov. 1832. 



ANIMAL PHYSIOLOGY. 



Mont yon premiums for discoveries in physiology. — The committee 

 appointed by the French Academy to adjudge the premiums, having 

 received this year, no work which appears to have merited the prize, 

 and considering also that there are other works, not addressed to 

 them, but which have come to their knowledge, which comprehend 

 discoveries either in anatomy or microscopic researches on intimate 

 structure, and the development of organs, that cannot fail, indepen- 

 dently of their particular objects, to enlighten physiology by their re- 

 sults, concluded it right, by way of encouragement, to grant a gold 

 medal of the value of three hundred francs to the following persons: 



1. M. Carus, for his work on the motion of the blood in the larvae 

 of certain species of neuropterous insects. 



2. M. Muller, for his researches on the structure of secretory 



glands* 



3. M. Ehrenberg, for his work on the organization, and system- 

 atic and geographic distribution of infusory animals. 



4. MM. Delpech and Coste, for their anatomical researches on 

 the evolution of embryos. W** 



5. 3VL Lauth, for his anatomy of the human testicle. 



6. M. Martin Saint- Auge, for his researches on the circulation 

 of blood in the embryo and foetus of man. 



The line of conduct pursued by the committee, was approved by 

 the Academy, although the sum necessary for the medals is double 

 that mentioned in the programme. — Rev. Encyc. Nov. 1832. 



DOMESTIC* 



I. Extract from the MS. of an unpublished narrative of travels 

 and observations in South America, furnished by the author, at the 

 Editor's request. — Galloping over the arid and dusty plain of Guachi y 



we suddenly arrived at the edge of the almost perpendiciflar hill 



