730 Transactions of the American Institute. 



the opposite side, which presents nothing but a flat vertical surface, 

 pierced with a hole, bisected by the partition. Each of the two 

 lamps is so placed so as to transmit its light to only one compart- 

 ment, and exactly to the part where the hole is. The hole is 

 covered with a piece of transparent paper, on which the light from 

 the two lamps is contiguously depicted. If their intensity is the 

 same, the observer will perceive no difference. If not the same, 

 Que lamp must be moved back until its light is equal to the other 

 in intensity, and the difference in the distance of the two lamps will 

 make the relative quality of the two oils, which, combined with 

 the quality consumed in a given time, will determine their mar- 

 ketable value. 



ANIMAL ELECTRICITT. 



Mr. Schultz Shultzenstein has lately published his investigations 

 of the relation of electricity to muscular action. His novel and 

 startling conclusions have been thus formulated: 



1. The supposition that living muscle produces electricity is 

 incorrect. K needles be plunged into the foot of a living animal, 

 and be placed in connection with a galvanometer, no deflection of 

 the galvanometer needle occurs. 



2. Muscles removed from the bod}' give evidence of electricity, 

 but this is because of the combination of the decomposing tissue 

 with the oxygen of the air. 



3. Salt water causes the galvanometer needle to be deflected. 

 This explains why salted meat gives evidence of electricity. 



4. The supposed electric current in the human muscle is solely 

 caused by the salt water in contact with the tissue. 



5. In diseased structures the electric current is derived from the 

 decomposing tissues. 



6. The electricity of the secretions is also derived from the decom- 

 posing tissues. 



7. Animal electricity is an illusion. 



The author has requested the French Academy of Sciences to 

 appoint a commission to witness and report on the experiments 

 upon which his conclusions are based. 



MUSHROOMS IX THE EAK. 



Dr. C. Robin, in a paper addressed to the French Academy of 

 Sciences, described two new kinds of mushrooms, of the aspevgillus 

 genus, growing on the membranes of the tympanum. This para- 

 uitical vegetation he had observed in ten patients, four of whom had 



