62 NALORE 
| NovEMBER 19, 1896 
‘*On the causes which produce the phenomena of new stars,” 
an historical summary of various theories is given. 
THE COMPANIONS OF PROCYON AND SiR1US.—Prof. Kreutz, 
telegraphing from Kiel on Sunday, has informed us that Prof. 
Schaeberle, of the Lick Observatory, has discovered a companion 
to Procyon. Its position angle was measured as 318°, the distance 
being 4”°6; its magnitude is 13. 
A communication from Prof. Holden tells us that Clark's com- 
panion to Sirius has been also observed at the Lick by Prof. 
Aitken on October 24 (position angle 189°'0, distance 3°81), 
October 29, and October 31, and by Prof. Schaeberle on October 
29 and 31 (position angle 189°'1 and distance 3'°65). Nothing 
was seen of the companion at position-angle 220°, as reported by 
Dr. See. 
‘“BRISBANE ASTRONOMICAL SocreTy.”—Under this title a 
new astronomical society has just been founded ; the formation 
being in this wise. A 6-inch refractor, equatorially mounted, be- 
longing to Mr. F. D, G. Stanley, Toowong, was for sale. To 
keep the instrument in the colony Mr. Dudley Eglinton prepared 
a short subscription list, and obtained sufficient contributions to 
purchase it. Seventy subscribers of £1 were obtained, and their 
Fic. 1. 
subscriptions were sufficient to secure the telescope, the observa- 
tory, and ‘‘all that therein is.” The purchasers then formed 
themselves into an astronomical society. Arrangements have 
been made for different sections of the society to carry out 
distinct branches of work, and certain evenings have been fixed 
when members can use the telescope. We look forward to 
results from this co-operative astronomical observatory. 
** BULLETIN DE LA SOCIETE ASTRONOMIQUE DE FRANCE.” — 
The November number of this journal contains three beautiful 
reproductions of the enlargements made by Prof. Weineck from 
the Lick photographs of the lunar surface. The first of these 
shows the crater Zycho and the mountainous region around it, 
the scale of enlargement from the original negative being about 
eleven times ; this photograph was taken last year in October, 
that is about two days before the moon’s last quarter. The second 
shows the smaller craters around //ammarzon, while the third 
gives one a good view of that enormous crater C/avzus, which 
has a diameter of 230 kilometres, or nearly three times that of 
Tycho. M. Gilbert gives a first contribution on mechanical 
proofs of the earth’s rotation, dealing chiefly, in this number, with 
the different experiments carried out of dropping bodies from 
aigh elevations, and from the top of deep pits. An observer, 
stationed at Li-ka-wei in China, gives a brief description of the 
eclipse of the sun of August 9, which was unfortunately only 
NO. 1412, VOL. 55 | 
partial there. He relates that the atmospheric conditions were 
excellent, which were more than they were on the island at 
Yéso, as our observers can testify. Photographs were taken at 
the most interesting stages of the phenomenon. 
THE WORK OF THE SCIENTIFIC AND 
TECHNICAL DEPARTMENT OF THE 
IMPERIAL § INSTITUTE} 
“THE Scientific and Technical Department of the Imperial! 
Institute has been recently inaugurated in order to provide 
for the scientific investigation of Indian and Colonial natural 
products, especially those which are new or little known, chiefly 
with a view to their utilisation in commerce, in medicine, andi 
the arts, both within the British Empire itself, and also im 
foreign countries. The capacious rooms on the west corridor 
of the second floor have now been equipped as laboratories. 
(Figs. 1 and 2), instrument rooms, and sample preparation 
rooms, to which a small reference library has been added ; 
and a staff of skilled chemists has been appointed to assist in 
investigating problems relating to the utilisation of natural 
products of all kinds which have been 
referred to the Department. by the 
Government of India, or by the Colonial 
Governments. 
The necessary funds for the appoint- 
ment of a skilled staff adequate for the 
commencement of operations have been 
contributed, with far - sighted gene- 
rosity, by H.M. Commissioners of the 
1851 Exhibition, who make an annual 
grant for the purpose ; whilst the Gold- 
smiths’ Company have made themselves- 
responsible for the provision of the whole: 
of the equipment of the laboratories andi 
much of the special apparatus required. 
Besides this, grants are made by the 
Government of India towards the ex- 
penses of prosecuting Indian inquiries 
whilst the Executive Council of the 
Imperial Institute, in addition to setting’ 
aside an annual sum from its general 
fund, on which there are already nume- 
rous and heavy calls (including the enor- 
mous sum of 5000/. per annum for 
Government and parochial rates and 
taxes), undertakes to defray expenses of 
a general character, both in respect of 
equipment and maintenance. The Im- 
perial Government at present renders no 
pecuniary assistance, either directly or 
indirectly, to the Department. Gifts of 
physical and chemical instruments have: 
been made by Dr. Ludwig Mond, 
F.R.S., and by Mr. George Matthey, 
F.R.S. The Salters’ Company have rendered signal assistance 
to the undertaking, by founding, in association with the Depart- 
ment, a Research Fellowship of the value of £150, it being 
understood that the Salters’ Company’s Research Fellow shall 
primarily devote himself to inquiries into the chemistry of 
medicinal plants of Indian and Colonial origin. In another . 
direction, too, the Salters’ Company have assisted the work of 
the Scientific Department by endowing at St. Thomas’s Hospital 
an additional Research Fellowship, the holder of which is 
expected to devote himself to inquiries into the action of drugs; 
so that in this way the medicinal action and remedial value of 
Indian and Colonial drugs, which are being chemically investi- 
gated in the Scientific Department, may be made the subject of 
medical study by the Salters’ Research Fellow in Pharmacology 
at St. Thomas’s Hospital. There is so much important work 
to be done in determining the medicinal value and precise mode- 
of action of both old and new drugs and their constituents, that 
the need is already felt of further assistance in this direction. 
Provision of the same kind will also be needed for conducting 
parallel inquiries in economic botany, particularly in the direc~ 
1 Abstract of a lecture delivered at the Imperial Institute om 
November 9, by Prof. Wyndham R. Dunstan, F.R.S., Sec. Cc. S., 
Director of the Scientific Department; ir Joseph Lister, Bart.. President 
of the Royal Society, in the chair. 
