Proceedings of the Polytechnic Association. 865 



Dr. J. Y. C. Smith rouiarked that while in Enghuid he was tokl by 

 Dr. Scoresbj, that the display of the aurora borealis in the Arctic 

 regions was superior to any pyrotechnic display he had ever seen, and 

 he stated that the hissing noise spoken of, was distinctly heard. 



Dr. P. H. Yanderweyde said the paper of Dr. Hall was an elabo- 

 rate and able one ; it was, in fact, an able defense of a doubtful 

 ])Osition. All his observations proved tlie opposite of Dr. Hall's 

 tlieory. The compass needle he always found to be affected during 

 the day of an evening display of the aurora. The northern light, 

 when the hissing noise is heard, must be much nearer than fifty 

 miles to the earth. The passing of electricity through the Geissler 

 tubes will mucli resemble the aurora borealis. If the electric current 

 is passed through one of these tubes, filled with nitrogen gas, we 

 have a healthful display. AYe are not certain that the aurora borealia 

 is due to electric action, but it is higlilj^ probable. As this subject 

 woul.d be continued at the next meeting, he would reply more at 

 length to Dr. Hall's theory. 



Adjourned. 



October 21, 1869. 



Prof. S. D. Tillman in the chair; C. E. Emery, Esq., Secretary. 



Tlie proceedings were opened by the presentation, from the chair, 

 of the following items of scientific newsi 



Benefits of Yaccination. 

 Previous to the introduction of vaccination the annual death-rate 

 from small-pox was 3,000 to the million, which has been gradually 

 reduced in Europe, in proportion to its being made compulsory; and 

 last year the rate was only 202 to the million. 



A Kew Cure for Consumption. 

 Dr. Clersoy of Langres, France, gives an account in the Bulletin 

 de Therapeutiqne of several eases of pulmonary complaints accom- 

 panied witli spitting of blood which have been cured by the use of 

 arseniate of soda, administered daily in doses of six milligrammes, 

 i. t'., nearly one-tenth of a grain each. 



]^EW Figures Formed by Electricity. 

 M. Ivundt describes in PoggendorfF's Annalen a kind of figures 

 differing from the well-known Lichtenberg figures which are formed 

 [Inst.] 55 



