602 



NATURE 



[Oct. 16, 1884 



relating to the etiology of tuberculosis. The author repeated the 

 inoculation experiments of Koch, with similar results. The 

 experiments of Formad to induce tuberculosis in rabbits by 

 introducing into the cavity of the abdomen finely powdered inor- 

 ganic material, have also been repeated with entirely negative 

 results. The author held that Koch's bacillus was an essential 

 factor in the etiology of tuberculosis. 



Dr. C. E. Bessey, in a paper on the adventitious inflorescence 

 of Cuscuta glomtrata, stated that the examination of young 

 plants shows that the inflorescence is developed from numerous 

 crowded adventitious buds, and not by the repeated branching 

 of axillary flowering branches as commonly stated. 



In a paper on the hitherto unknown mode of oviposition in 

 the Carabidae, Prof. C. V. Riley records habits of Chltenius 

 impunclifrons, traced from the eggs up. The eggs are laid 

 singly, in cells made of mud or clay, on the under surface of 

 leaves. 



Mrs. A. B. Blackwell read a paper on the comparative 

 longevity of the sexes. The study was exhaustive, and made on 

 statistics from all parts of the world ; and the greater longevity of 

 woman over man was established. In old countries the females 

 preponderate, while males lead in newly settled ones. Up to 

 eighteen years the males are in excess of the females : later the 

 females predominate in numbers. 



THE PRIME MERIDIAN CONFERENCE 



THE Prime Meridian Conference at Washington on Mond.iy 

 adopted the Greenwich line as the universal prime meri- 

 dian. ( inly one vote — that of St. Domingo — was given against 

 its adoption ; but the representatives of France and Brazil de- 

 clined to vote. 



The following details of the session are from the Times 

 Correspondent : — 



To the American resolution for adopting the Greenwich line, 

 Mr. Fleming (Canada) moved an amendment to the effect that 

 the Conference should adopt the 180th degree of longitude east 

 from Greenwich as the prime meridian ; but the other British 

 delegates opposing the proposition it was lost. Senor Valera, 

 the Spanish Minister, said that he had been instructed by his 

 Government, in voting for the meridian of Greenwich, to say 

 that it hoped the metric system of weights and measures would 

 be adopted by England, the United States, and the other 

 nationalities there represented, as recommended by the Con- 

 ference at Rome. Gen. Strachey (Great Britain) said that he 

 was authorised to state that his country had asked to be allowed 

 to join the Metrical Convention, and that the metric system was 

 already recognised by the laws of Great Britain, and was in use 

 for scientific purposes. He could not, however, say that it would 

 be adopted in any circumstances as a popular system of weights 

 and measures throughout England. M. Lefaivre (France) said 

 the Greenwich was not a scientific meridian, and that it implied 

 no progress in any science, but was merely a commercial 

 standard. Since, therefore, nothing would he gained to science 

 by adopting Greenwich, France could not make a sacrifice of 

 her own meridian, and incur the vast expense consequent upon 

 the adoption of a new one, because she would thereby gain no 

 advantage whatever. Sir William Thomson, who was present 

 as a guest, by the invitation of the Conference, spoke in favour 

 of the choice of Greenwich. He said that it was purely a 

 matter of convenience, and that Greenwich answered the 

 world's convenience better than any other standard meridian. 

 Sir Frederick Evans (Great Britain) presented a statement 

 showing that the shipping tonnage controlled by the Greenwich 

 'an. bid of longitude was about 14,000,000 tons, and that con- 

 trolled by the Paris one only 1,735,000 tons. From the state- 

 ment of chart sales, &c, to nations outside England, he showed 

 how largely the Greenwich measure was used. 



The resolution recommending the choice of Greenwich was 

 then adopted, the ayes being 21, and there being but one nay — 

 San Domingo. France and Brazil abstained from voting. 



Mr. Rutherford (United States) moved that from the Green- 

 wich meridian the longitude be counted in two directions, up to 

 180 , the east longitude being "plus," and the west "minus." 

 The Russian Minister advocated this proposal, but Count 

 Lowenhaupt (Sweden) moved the adoption of the fourth reso- 

 lution of the Roman Conference for counting longitude continu- 

 ously through the whole 360 . Heir von Alvensleben (Germany) 

 said that this was a matter of detail, and therefore he should 

 not vote upon it. The British delegates agreed with the Ger- 



man Minister that this was a matter of detail, and held that it 

 would not make any difference which method was adopted. 

 Senor Juan Pastorian (Spain) stated that he favoured the plan 

 of counting longitude westward continuously round the world. 

 The discussion was here adjourned. 



UNIVERSITY AND EDUCATIONAL 

 INTELLIGENCE 



Oxford. — The beginning of Michaelmas Term shows that 

 the University and Colleges have not been idle in erecting new 

 buildings for the accommodation of students. The new build- 

 ings of Magdalen — to be called the Waynflete Buildings — are 

 ready for occupation, and will be used this term. No one can 

 deny that the most beautiful of Oxford Colleges has added a 

 new ornament to the city in the Waynflete Buildings. The new 

 buildings of Trinity College are rapidly approaching completion. 

 Stretching back from quaint old Kettle Hall in Broad Street, 

 they extend to near the beginning of the Lime Walk in the 

 College Garden. The open space in front of the College — 

 known as Trinity Green — will now be bounded on the east by 

 these new buildings. The Green will thus become one of the 

 largest "quads " in Oxford. On the north side of the Univer- 

 sity Museum the new Physiological Laboratory is rising. Its 

 situation is one of the pleasantest in Oxford. That Prof. 

 Burdon- Sanderson is attracting pupils to physiology is a patent 

 fact in Oxford, and one that will be received outside that city 

 with the strongest feeling of satisfaction. 



Since last Term we have to deplore the loss of Mark Pattison, 

 Rector of Lincoln College. Mr. Merry, Public I Irator in the 

 University, and Fellow and Tutor of the College, has been 



elected his SUCCeSSi '1. 



The following scheme of lectures and classes has been agreed 

 on by the Board of the Natural Science Faculty : — 



In the Department of Physics Prof. Clifton will lecture on 

 the Galvanometer and Methods of Measuring Electric Currents, 

 and on Thermo-Electricity. Prof. Price will lecture on Optics, 

 Physical rnd Geometrical. Prof. Clifton and Mr. Walker give 

 instruction in Practical Physics in the Clarendon Laboratory. 

 Mi, Walki r will give a course on Questions incidental to the 

 Practical Study of Mechanics and Heat. Mr. Baynes will give 

 of lectures at Christ Church on Thermodynamics, and 

 form a class for practical instruction in Magnetic and Electrical 

 Measurements. Mr. Dixon will give a course of experimental 

 lectures, "n Elementary Heat and Light, at Balliol College. 

 Prof. Pritchard will lecture on Spherical Astronomy, and form 

 a class for practical work in the University < observatory. 



In the Department of Chemistry Prof. Odling will give a 

 course of lectures on 3-carbon and 4-carbon compounds. 

 Mr. Fisher will lecture on Inorganic, and Dr. Watts on Or- 

 ganic, Chemistry. At Christ Church Mr. Vernon Harcourt 

 will form a class for Volumetric Analysis. Practical instruction 

 in Chemistry is given daily in the Museum Laboratory, and in 

 the Chemical Laboratories at Christ Church and Balliol College. 

 Prof. Gilbert will complete his course on the Constitution of 

 Plants, and will then lecture on the Effects of Manures, Ex- 

 haustion ami Variations of Season on the Amounts of Produce 

 and on the Composition of Wheat. 



In the Morphological Department Prof. Moseley will begin 

 his course of Comparative Anatomy ; each lecture will be fol- 

 lowed by special demonstrations on the subject of the lecture. 

 Dr. Hickson gives a course on the Morphology of the Verte- 

 brata, each lecture to be followed by special demonstrations. 

 Mr. Barclay Thompson lectures on the Anatomy of the Mam- 

 malia ; Mr. Jackson on the Fundamental Principles of Com- 

 parative Embryology ; Mr. Poulton on the Distribution of Ani- 

 mals ; Mr. Morgan on Odontography and on Human Osteology. 

 Trof. Westwood will lecture on the Insect Skeleton. 



In the Department of Physiology Prof. Burdon-Sanderson 

 will lecture on the Physiology of Circulation and Respiration. 

 Practical instruction will be given in the Laboratory by the 

 Professor, Dr. Dixie, and Dr. Gotch. 



Prof. Bayley Balfour will give a course of lectures in the 

 Botanic Garden, on the General Morphology of Plants. 



Prof. Prestwich will lecture at the Museum on the Principles 

 and Elements of Geology. Dr. Tylor will lecture on the InteL 

 lectual Development of Mankind. 



During the course of the present Michaelmas Term, Scholar- 

 ships will be awarded in Natural Science at the following Col- 

 leges : — At Balliol College, without limitation of age ; at 



