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NATURE 



{Sept. 20, 1888 



An evening class in organic chemistry, adapted to the 

 requirements of candidates for the second B. Sc. examination of 

 London University, will be held at the Birkbeck Institution in 

 Chancery Lane during the ensuing session, under the direction of 

 Mr. Frank Gossling, B. Sc. This is said to be the first session 

 in which an evening class of this character has been attempted. 



The Times publishes the following interesting letter from Sir 

 William Thomson :— "In the Times of to-day (Sept. 14) I see a 

 slight mistake regarding myself. A British Association correspon- 

 dent says : — ' Sir William Thomson in one paper cautiously made 

 what must be regarded as a somewhat noteworthy admission with 

 reference to Clerk-Maxwell's fundamental theory of electro- 

 magnetic induction for incomplete circuits. He considered 

 Maxwell's fundamental assumption "not wholly tenable." In all 

 his previous utterances on the subject Sir William has described 

 Maxwell's views on this point as completely untenable.' The 

 paper referred to by your correspondent is my very first public 

 utterance on the subject. An uncorrected proof of it in print 

 contained the words 'wholly untenable,' which I altered to 'not 

 wholly tenable ' in reading it to the Section. The fact is, I had 

 always believed in the possibility and probability of Maxwell's 

 assumption (he only gave it himself as probable or possible) until 

 a few months ago, when I saw what seemed to me reasons for 

 wholly discarding it ; but two days of the British Association 

 before my paper was read gave me the inestimable benefit of 

 conversation with others occupied with the same subject, and of 

 hearing Prof. Fitzgerald's presidential address in Section A, by 

 which I was helped to happily modify my opinion. In your 

 leading article of to-day I do not think you quite do justice to 

 the British Association and its objects. Your remarks would be 

 wholly just, and, if I may be allowed to say so, very useful criti- 

 cism, if the British Association were an institution for teaching 

 ascertained scientific results to its members, or ' an annual 

 setting forth of scientific wares.' Its object is the advancement 

 of science. It contributes to this object in a manner altogether 

 peculiar to itself, by bringing together from all parts of the world 

 persons engaged in scientific investigation, and giving them facilities 

 for helping one another in their work, and being helped in it by 

 what they see and hear. No one not following the course of 

 scientific progress, generally or in some particular department, 

 can fully understand how much of practical impulse is owing to 

 the British Association for the contributions made in the course 

 of the year to the scientific societies and magazines, in which 

 achieved results of scientific investigation are recorded and 

 published." 



In the last issue of the Transactions of the Seismological 

 Society of Japan, Prof. Milne discusses the effects of earth- 

 quakes on animals. The records of most great earthquakes 

 refer to the consternation of dogs, horses, cattle, and other 

 domestic animals. Fish also are frequently affected. In the 

 London earthquake of 1749, roach and other fish in a canal 

 showed evident signs of confusion and fright ; and sometimes 

 after an earthquake fish rise to the surface dead and dying. 

 During the Tokio earthquake of 1880, cats inside a house ran 

 about trying to escape, foxes barked, and horses tried to kick 

 down the boards confining them to their stables. There can, 

 therefore, be no doubt that animals know something unusual 

 and terrifying is taking place. More interesting than these are 

 the observations showing that animals are agitated just before 

 an earthquake. Ponies have been known to prance about their 

 stalls, pheasants to scream, and frogs to cease croaking suddenly 

 a little time before a shock, as if aware of its coming. The 

 Japanese say that moles show their agitation by burrowing. 

 Geese, pigs, and dogs appear more sensitive in this respect than 

 other animals. After the great Calabrian earthquake it is said 

 that the neighing of a horse, the braying of an ass, or the cackle 

 of a goose was sufficient to cause the inhabitants to fly from their 



houses in expectation of a shock. Many birds are said to show 

 their uneasiness before an earthquake by hiding their heads 

 under their wings and behaving in an unusual manner. At the 

 time of the Calabrian shock little fish like sand-eels {Cirricelli), 

 which are usually buried in the sand, came to the top and were 

 caught in multitudes. In South America certain quadrupeds, 

 such as dogs, cats, and jerboas, are believed by the people to 

 give warning of coming danger by their restlessness ; sometimes 

 immense flocks of sea-birds fly inland before an earthquake, as 

 if alarmed by the commencement of some sub-oceanic dis- 

 turbance. Before the shock of 1835 in Chili all the dogs are 

 said to have escaped from the city of Talcahuano. The ex- 

 planation offered by Prof. Milne of this apparent prescience is 

 that some animals are sensitive to the small tremors which pre- 

 cede nearly all earthquakes. He has himself felt them some 

 seconds before the actual earthquake came. The alarm of 

 intelligent animals would then be the result of their own 

 experience, which has taught them that small tremors are 

 premonitory of movements more alarming. Signs of alarm days 

 before an earthquake are probably accidental ; but sometimes 

 in volcanic districts gases have emanated from the ground prior 

 to earthquakes, and have poisoned animals. In one case large 

 numbers of fish were killed in this way in the Tiber, and at 

 Follonica, on the morning of April 6, 1874, "the streets and 

 roads were covered with dead rats and mice. In fact, it seemed 

 as if it had rained rats. The only explanation of the phenomenon- 

 was that these animals had been destroyed by emanations of 

 carbon dioxide." 



The Animals' Institute, which was opened this season for the 

 reception of patients, has already more than verified its founders'" 

 fears that much suffering amongst the animals belonging to the 

 poorer classes existed without proper surgical treatment. The 

 gratuitous advice daily given is taken full advantage of, and the 

 hospital accommodation for the worst cases is now too small to 

 admit the great number of horses, dogs, cats, and other animals 

 requiring treatment. A supplementary institution is wanted — a 

 sanatorium in the suburb-; — where cases requiring prolonged 

 treatment can be kept. Such an addition, if the preliminary 

 expenses were forthcoming, can, it is stated, be made quite self- 

 supporting. The scheme is to be placed on a practical basis at 

 a meeting to be held in the Committee-room of the Animals' 

 Institute, 9 Kinnerton Street, Belgrave Square. 



A Committee of the American Association presented a 

 report at the last meeting on the teaching of physics in schools, 

 which was very fully discussed by both the Mathematical and 

 Physical Sections. The following is a summary of the recom- 

 mendations : — (1) It is the opinion of the Committee that in- 

 struction in physics may begin, with profit, in what is generally 

 known as the "grammar school." At the same time it is 

 decidedly opposed to any general recommendation that it must 

 begin there or in the primary school. Here, perhaps more than 

 anywhere else, nearly everything depends upon the teacher. One 

 who has a strong liking for and a good knowledge of physics 

 will be tolerably certain to succeed, while another not thus 

 equipped for the work is equally certain to fail. (2) When 

 taught in the grammar school and by a competent teacher, it 

 should be done mainly by and through illustrative experiments. 

 These may be of the simplest character, involving and exhibit- 

 ing some of the fundamental principles of science ; and they 

 should generally be made by the teacher, the pupils being en- 

 couraged to repeat, to vary, and to extend. (3) In any discus- 

 sion of the character of instruction in physics in the high school, 

 I one fact of the utmost importance must not be lost sight of. It 

 ! h that a large majority of the young people who are educated in 

 ! the public schools receive their final scholastic training in the 

 I high school. Its course of study must be in harmony with this 

 ] fact, such provision as may be made for those who continue their 



