838 Transactions of the American Institute, 



the blood, and has found that very cold and dry air taken into the 

 lungs does not lower the temperature of the blood sufficient to affect 

 his apparatus, which will indicate any change of temperature exceed- 

 ing 1-2,000 of a degree Centigrade ; and this may be accounted for by 

 the fact that at low temperatures the air is more condensed and a 

 larger portion of oxygen is inhaled, and by its conversion a larger 

 amount of heat is "generated. 



This item elicited the following remarks : 



Mr. Fisher. — The temperature of the extremities is often a great 

 deal lower than the normal average temperature of the body, and in 

 cold weather people often suffer from this cause. 



Dr. Edwards. — The temperature of the body remains constant 

 under all circumstances. The extremities may become cold, but the 

 interior of the body always maintains an even temperature. 



Mr. Emery. — Perhaps the facts stated by Dr. Tillman may be due 

 to the circumstance that a pound of coal will evaporate more water; 

 that is, it will make more steam on a cold day than on a warm one. 

 This fact is pretty generally known to engineers. 



Prof. Phiu. — I doubt the fact stated by Mr. Emery. Ever^ unit of 

 heat added to the elements before combination serves to increase the 

 ultimate result. If the air and coal were both heated to 200 degrees, 

 they would make more steam than if they were brought together at 

 a temperature of zero. The results obtained by the hot blast serve 

 very fully to establish this. 



Dr. Parmelee. — Is not all this due to the fact that during cold 

 weather we are more active than we are during warm weather? 

 During liot weather we get laz}' ; at least, most of us do. 



Xatoke's Gold Ingot. 

 The greatest nugget of gold yet cTiscovered is that lately found in 

 Victoria, which is said to weigh 200 Troy pounds. 



AkAZGIxV. 



This new alkaloid was found by Dr. Frazer, of Edinburgh, in 

 specimens of the akazgia plant brought from the west coast of 

 Africa, and which he supposed to be a new species of Stryehnos. 

 Akazgia is a crystalline alkaloid, closely resembling strychnia, but 

 differing from it by being precipitated by alkaline bicarbonates. 

 Travelers report that the natives of "West Africa use Akazgia as an 

 ordeal. A supposed sorcerer is compelled to drink an iufusiou of 



