September 17, 189 1] 



NATURE 



475 



molecular processes concerned in the formation of a rain- 

 drop to attempt anything like a complete theory. 



In conclusion, while we cannot but recognize the 

 high interest of General Dyrenfurth's results, with 

 the imperfect information at present before us we 

 cannot regard them as conclusive. It is the cha- 

 racteristic weakness of all experiments of the kind 

 that many of the essential circumstances are scarcely 

 ever recorded, or perhaps even capable of being brought 

 within the limits of observation : and thus the logical 

 conditions of a proved conclusion cannot be fulfilled. 

 For instance, it is very unlikely that anything is known 

 of the state of the atmosphere in respect of its humidity 

 and its vertical temperature decrement at the elevation 

 at which the balloons were exploded, and yet, as we have 

 seen, these data lie at the very root of the whole matter. 

 However, arrangements are being made for further 

 operations at El Paso and in Western Kansas, so that 

 it will not be long before the highly interesting and prac- 

 tically important problem of stimulating the precipitation 

 of rain will receive a more satisfactory solution. 



H. F. B. 



NOTES. 



The Permanent Committee of the International Committee 

 of Weights and Measures is now holding its meeting at Sevres, 

 near Paris. The Committee includes : Dr. Foersler (Germany) ; 

 M. J. Bertrand (France); Dr. Benoit, Director of the Bureau 

 at Sevres ; Mr. H. J. Chaney (Great Britain) ; Prof. Govi 

 (Italy); Prof. Krusper (Hungary); Prof. Lang (Austria) ; Mr. 

 H. de Macedo (Portugal); M. Stas (Belgium); Prof. Thai en 

 (Sweden); Dr. Wild (Russia). The Committee has recently 

 lost its President (General Ibaiiez) ; and one of the objects of 

 the present meeting is to elect a new President ; an election 

 which will doubtless fall on thesenior member of the Committee, 

 Dr. Foerster. 



The members of the Heilprin Expedition, who have lately 

 returned from the west coast of Greenland, give an extremely 

 unfavourable account of the position in which they were obliged 

 to leave Lieutenant Peary. His leg was broken in Melville 

 Bay on July ii. Dr. Hughes, who has recorded in the Phila- 

 delphia Press the adventures of the Expedition, describes how 

 the accident happened. "While we were going astern for the 

 last time," he says, " to make the butt that forced us through a 

 barrier of ice into comparatively clear water. Lieutenant Peary 

 stepped behind the wheel-bouse to see how things were going. 

 With a crash the rudder struck a piece of ice, and the next 

 instant his leg was crushed between the rudder gearing and the 

 side of the wheel-house. He was carried below into the cabin, 

 when an examination showed that his right leg was broken square 

 across just above the knee. Everything possible wasdoneforhim," 

 When he had recovered from the shock, and had thought the 

 matter over, he decided to go on to Whale Sound, trusting that 

 by next spring his leg would be so far mended that he would be 

 able to accomplish the object of his expedition. His friends 

 thought it would be better for him to return, but they could not 

 help admiring his spirit, and resolved to do everything in their 

 power to further his aim. The shores of Whale Sound proved 

 to be completely blocked with ice, so the Kite steamed north to 

 McCormick Bay, on the northern shore of Murchison Sound, 

 which they reached on July 25. Here a space of about two 

 miles was comparatively clear ; and Lieutenant Peary's men 

 went ashore, and reported that the place was well suited for 

 their head-quarters. A site was selected on the south shore 

 of McCormick Bay, in latitude 77° 43', and a wooden house 

 erected, which Lieutenant Peary declared to be "substantial 

 NO. II 42, VOL. 44] 



and warm enough." On July 30 the Heilprin party had 

 to leave him, which they did with sad forebodings. Mrs. 

 Peary bravely insisted on remaining with her husband, and 

 they have six companions. The Lieutenant hopes to start 

 in the spring for the unexplored interior of Greenland, but Dr. 

 Hughes says : " It is the deliberate opinion of all our party — 

 and this opinion is indorsed fully by all the officers of the Kite — 

 that unless a relief expedition be sent to Lieutenant Peary next 

 summer, he and his party will never be seen again alive." It is 

 doubtful whether the food supply is sufficient ; and it is thought 

 most improbable that whalers will take them away next summer. 

 In that case their only resource would be the whale boats, in 

 which they would have to traverse 500 miles of ocean "filled 

 with floes and bergs, and often shrouded with fog or swept by 

 terrible storms." 



An earthquake of great violence caused immense damage in 

 the Republic of San Salvador on September 9. According to 

 reports sent from the capital of the country to the New York 

 Herald, there had been indications for several days that a seismic 

 disturbance of more than usual power might be expected. The 

 volcanoes of San Salvador, San Miguel, and Izalco had been un- 

 usually active, and deep subterranean rumblings with slight 

 earth tremors had been felt. At 1.55 a.m., on September 9, 

 the earthquake began in the city of San Salvador with a slight 

 tremor, which gradually augmented. The duration of the first 

 shock was ten seconds, during which time a frightful subter- 

 ranean noise was audible in every part of the city. While the 

 shock lasted, the earth rose and fell in long waves, and even 

 strong men were unable to keep their feet. The walls of houses 

 cracked, and then tottered and fell. In the capital alone 40 

 persons were killed, and 50 or 60 seriously injured. The ex- 

 perience of towns in the country seems to have been still worse. 

 Of 320 houses at Comasagua only eight remain standing, and 

 the lo;S of life there was great. Analquito has also been almost 

 completely destroyed, and Cojutepeque, Santa Tecla, San 

 Pedro, and Masahuet were so badly shaken as to be practically 

 ruined. It is feared that the earthquake has been even more 

 disastrous than those of 1854 and 1873. 



In the Isle of Fayal, among the Azores, several shocks of 

 earthquake were felt on August 27 and 28. 



Mr. Tuckwell writes to us from Loughrigg, Ambleside, 

 that an aurora was seen there on Friday night, September 11. 

 The arch spanned the heavens from south-west to north-east, 

 passing nearly through the zenith. It was white, with slight 

 coruscations at its south-west base. It was first seen at 9 p.m. : 

 it had faded by lo o'clock. 



A NEW department of physics and electrical engineering 

 will be begun this session at the new branch of the Manchester 

 Technical School in Whitworth Street, where a large well- 

 lighted warehouse is being fitted up for the purpose. The 

 building will be lighted by electricity, the installation being 

 fitted up with especial regard to instruction. For the latter 

 purpose, the electric light installation in the Central School in 

 Princess Street will also be available. 



The Library Association is holding its annual meeting this 

 week at Nottingham. Mr. Robert Harrison, of the London 

 Library, presides. The meeting began yesterday in the large 

 theatre of the Nottingham University College. 



The Industrial Society of Mulhouse has issued a programme 

 of prizes which it proposes to give for work done in the year 

 1891-92. A copy will be sent to anyone who applies for it to 

 the Secretary of the Society. The prizes are very numerous^ 



