14 



NA TURE 



{Nov. 2, 1871 



Assistant-Surgeon Verchere, of the Indian Army, has 

 suggested, says the Medical Times and Gazette, that some ex- 

 periments should be made with reference to meteorological in- 

 fluences on sickness and health. Medical Meteorology in India 

 is still all but an unknown science, and, as at present studied, is 

 useless to medical practitioners. The long range of " readings " 

 tells us nothing ; but a register of the effects of meteorological 

 conditions on the men selected for the purpose, with all con- 

 ditions of exposure, &c., taken into account, and compared with 

 the average sickness of a corps for the same period, would teach 

 us more in a few months than yards of meteorological tables. 

 We understand that the Sanitary Commissioners of India are 

 favourable to the proposal of Mr. Verchere, and it will therefore, 

 probably, be carried out. 



The Wigtonsliire Free Press says that the foundation of a 

 lake dwelling has been discovered by Mr. Charles Dalrymple, 

 Kineliar Lodge, Aberdeenshire, on a small circular island 

 at the south end of the Black Loch, Castle- Kennedy. On 

 removing the surface soil, a circle of stones was discovered, the 

 diameter of which was between 50 and 60 feet. On digging 

 deeper through the stratum of forced earth and stones, three feet 

 thick, what appeared to be a different and older layer of soil was 

 reached. Among this black earth were found wood ashes, bits 

 of calcined bones, and flat stones placed contiguously. Imme- 

 diately below the stones, at the depth of a few inches, an artificial 

 flooring was discovered, formed of the trunks of oak and alder 

 trees. At this point the level of the loch was reached, and the 

 influx of water prevented further excavations in a dovmward 

 direction. In 1865-6, by the draining of Dowalton Loch, in the 

 same county, several lake-dwellings were exposed ; in the spring 

 of this year, when the White Loch of Castle-Kennedy, which is 

 now in connection with the Black Loch by a short canal, was 

 being dragged with a net for trout, the net brought up a canoe 

 of ancient make. In all likelihood it was the ferry-boat, or one 

 of several perhaps, used by the lake-dwellers. 



There is a volcanic eruption going on in the Hawaian 

 Islci-'-ds at Maunalva, but its exact site has not been recognised. 

 From Kowa the lava was seen at night to rise to a height of 

 several hundred feet in a column. The eruption is supposed to 

 be near the locality of that of 186S, while others think it is 

 nearer the summit of the mountain, on the scene of the great 

 eruption of 1S59. On September 6, an eruption took place 

 on the southern slope of Maunalva. 



The Constantinople earthquake is now known to have origi- 

 nated in the southern region of the island of Scio, where it began 

 strongly, growing weaker towards its northern circumference. 

 At the Dardanelles it was much sharper than at Rodosto, while 

 at Boorgas, on the Black Sea, it was very slight, and further on 

 at Varna was not felt. 



Another small place to be marked soon as a big one is 

 Chimbote on the coast of Peru. Its harbour, the finest in the 

 South Pacific, can shelter the navies of the world. It was a great 

 town in the times of the Incas, as remains of a colossal aqueduct 

 will show. Near it are coal mines. It has been abandoned and 

 neglected on account of the difficulties of access, but a railway is 

 now tobeconstructed to the fertile interior at a cost of 6,400,000/. 



To the map of Bolivia must be added the small town of 

 Calama in the new mining district of Caracolas. 



Experimental farms are now being e,xtended in the Madras 

 presidency — a most essential step for agricultural improvement 

 and practical instruction. 



i The Government of Madras has been ordered to furnish 

 special information on the Neilgherry nettle fibre plant. 



On the 5th July a most destructive typhoon attacked Hiogo, 

 in Japan. 



In the same presidency, in the Parambalore district, a man- 

 eating tiger has appeared, and killeil four men, so that the 

 Government has taken him into consideration, and placed a 

 price of 30/. on his head. 



The Island of Gorgona, off the coast of Choco, is much 

 complained of by ship captains for its electric storms, and its 

 irregidar currents. It has held this reputation since the time of 

 Pizarro. 



A VALUABLE discovery of M'orkable lead ore is announced 

 from Jersey. 



The latest report from Tasmania in regard to the experi- 

 ments for introducing salmon and trout into that country, 

 shows that while the success of the cultivation of both is ex- 

 tremely probable, the existence of trout of large size is unmis- 

 takeable. 



Coal has been found in large quantities on the banks of a 

 stream flowing into the Godavery, about 224 miles from Jug- 

 gianet, and ninety-six from Budrachellum. It is close to the 

 surface, and it is extremely probable that fresh deposits will be 

 found in the adjacent British territory. 



It is to be noted that on the night of the 21st of August a 

 very severe earthquake was felt at Callao, in Peru, at S. 32 P.M. 

 The undulations were from N.W. to S.E. The shock was of 

 fifteen seconds' duration. It was also felt severely at Cero, Azul, 

 and Pisco. The sea, which previously had been unusually 

 calm, suddenly became very rough, and a strong southerly wind 

 set in. For two days the sea recnained very rough at Cero Azul. 

 The observations were confirmed by the steamship Colon. The 

 shock severely shook the ship while it lasted. It was felt six 

 miles to the westward of Chala Point at 8.50 P.M. ship time, and 

 the sea almost immediately thereafter became agitated. 



Measures are being taken by the Chilian Congress to pro- 

 hibit the destruction of timber, particularly in the neighbourhood 

 of springs. The timber districts of the provinces of Llan- 

 quihue, Valdivia, Chiloe, ami of the Magellan territory are 

 exempted from the law. 



Cocos Island, in lat. 5° 30' N. in the Pacific Ocean, about 

 600 miles west of the Columbian coasf, has now for some years 

 been occasionally occupied by treasure seekers on a legend of a 

 treasure buried by buccaneers. At present it is again abandoned, but 

 it is alleged a new expedition is organised. The island is not 

 flat, as stated in many newspapers, but is volcanic, and 2,000 feet 

 high. It is covered with timber and scrub, and being visited by 

 frequent and heavy rains is always green. The place is riddled 

 with shafts, some 150 feet deep. It produces nothing eatable. 



The v.aluable timber so abundant in the North Island of New 

 Zealand is deserving of a better fate than to be cut down whole- 

 sale and used as firewood. The rimu, or red pine, is most 

 valuable for furniture and all ornamental work ; the matai, or 

 black pine, is more brittle and heavy than the other, but will 

 take a most beautiful polish ; whilst the totara, another so-called 

 pine (for they are none of them Conifer.-e), is easily worked both 

 green and dry. There is also the rata, " that wonderful vege- 

 table production forming itself out of numberless vines, which 

 first receive their support from some full-grown tree, then 

 enclose it in a deadly embrace, and gradually expel the remains 

 of their foster parent as their own growing demands for space 

 require to be satisfied, then finally uniting themselves form a 

 solid tree, with all [the characteristics of bark, sap and heart, 

 roots, trunk, and branch." This rata is almost the toughest 

 wood known, and is used in many places for the cogs of wheels, 

 &c. Besides these there are many others, especially the makia, 

 which when thoroughly dry would turn or break the edge of the 

 best .axe ever produced in Sheffield, which are now only cut 

 down for firewood as occasion requires. 



