528 



NATURE 



SjSept. 29, 1881 



two muscles, viz., \}aitfli'Xor brnns annularis and ihe. flexor brevis 

 medii. Transverse sections of the ligament render this very 

 evident. 



In the suspensory ligament of the ox a considerable amount 

 of muscular ti-isue is found upon both surfaces, and the trans- 

 verse sections show that this penetrates into its substance in the 

 form of four circu'ar outlines which lie side by side. The fleshy 

 fibres are more aliundant than in the case of the horse, but still 

 a considerable amr.unt of fatty tissue enters into the construction 

 of the outlines, and in this are placed nerves and blood-vessels. 

 These four outlines are the remains of the four fleshy bellies of 

 the two flexores breves which amalgamate and transform so as 

 to constitute the li;.;ament. 



In the sheep not a trace of muscular tissue is to be found, 

 either on the surface or in the interior of the ligament. The 

 f >ur circular outlines are seen on transverse section, however, 

 but they are entirely formed of fatty tissue. What is of peculiar 

 interest in this case is that in this fat the nerves and blood- 

 vessels are still present. 



The camel which the author had an opportunity of examining 

 was a very young specimen, and its foot had been prepared by a 

 rine gelatine and carmine injection. This in some measure 

 obscured the intimate structure of the suspensory ligament. Not 

 a trace of muscular tissue or fatty tissue could be detected either 

 on its surface or in its substance. So complete was its transfor- 

 mation that not a single clue to its origin could be discovered. 

 It is quite possible however that in a fresh uninjected specimen 

 traces might be detected. 



The suspensory ligament in these animals has undoubtedly 

 been called into existence by the need for such a structure in the 

 fjot, and by the comparatively small value of the intrinsic 

 iuuscles from w hich it is developed. The intrinsic muscles of 

 the hand and foot have as their function the production of the 

 nore rapid and precise movements of the digits. In the animals 

 ^vhich possess a suspensory ligament such a function is of no 

 importance, whereas a powerful brace to provide against over- 

 extension at the metatarso-phalangeal joints is an absolute 

 essential. 



But the study of the suspensory ligament of the fetlock 

 suggests other interesting points: i. The process of transforma- 

 tion of muscle to ligament appears to be effected by a fatty de- 

 g'ineration of the nmscular fibres with a coincident multiplication 

 of the connective tissue elements. Here, therefore, is what is 

 usually regarded a pathological change assisting a morphological 

 process. 2. The nerves of supply to the mu cles are apparently 

 unaffected by the change. In the sheep, in which there is not a 

 trace of muscular tissue, they are seen in the substance of the 

 ligament of a size relatively as great as in the ox or horse 

 3. The presence of muscular tissue, where from its small amount 

 ir canno' possibly exercise any appreciable function, is peculiar. 

 To account for its continuous existence we must of course sup- 

 pose that it remains in a state of tonic conti-action. The con- 

 tinuance of nerves in the ligament will enable it to maintain this 

 c jndition. 



SOCIETIES AND ACADEMIES 

 Paris 

 Academy of Sciences, September 12.— M. Wurtz in the 

 chair.— The following paperswere read:— Remarks on amemoir 

 of MM. La!n7 and Perigaud on flexure of telescopes, by M. 

 Villarceau — On the comparative qualities of water of the Isere 

 and of the Durance, as regards irrigation and provision of soil, 

 by M. de Gasparin. He compared the constitution of the liquids 

 at piints where all the affluents were united, and at different 

 epochs. The two rivers are closely alike as to the quality of the 

 slime they deposit, that of the Isere being only a little more 

 argillaceous (which sli ;htly favours the state of suspension). 

 Now the Durance is largely utilised for irrigation, and enriches 

 the departments of Bouches-du-Rhone and Vaucluse especially 

 with fertile soil ; and it is sugijested that a like benefit should be 

 derived from the Isere, in Isere and Drome. — On a new mode of 

 exploitation of mines of sulphur, by MM. de la Tour du Breuil. 

 They apply the principle of raising the boiling point of water by 

 means of a dissolved salt. Chloride of calcium is so used ; the 

 bath containing 66 per cent, of it. The apparatus consists of 

 two rectangular vessels coupled and inclined. When the opera- 

 tion is terminated in one, the boiling liquid is directed into the 

 Cher, which is previously filled with ore. While liquation is 

 going on (which takes about two hours) the first vessel is emptied 

 and re-charged. One furnace suffices. The sulphur produced 



is very cheap (about five francs a ton) and pure. Fusion is 

 possible all the year, as no sulphurous acid is produced ; and the 

 extraction is very complete. — The Secretary called attention to 

 the subscription opened for a statue to Lakanal at Foix (Ariege). 

 — On radiophony produced by lampblack, by M. Mercadier. 

 Not only is lampblack the best thermophonic .agent at 

 present, but it is .su-ceptible, like selenium, of playing the r6U 

 of the electric photophone. Instead of selenising one of the 

 faces of his metallic double-spiral receivers, M. Mercadier 

 covers it with lampblack, and they give good effects with 

 intermittent solar, electric-light, and even gas, radiations. 

 \Vhen exposed in dark to a copper plate gradually heated 

 «ith an oxyhydrogen blowpipe, no sound is heard in the 

 telephone till the plate is raised to a dull red ; then it gra- 

 dually increa-es in intensity. The author is disposed to con- 

 sider the phenomenon photophonic rather than actinophomc. 

 The resistance of these receivers diminishes as the temperature 

 rises (from 2° or 3° to 50°), and the variation (very small) is re- 

 presented nearly by a straight line. — Explanation of a contrast 

 in double circular refraction, by M. CrouUebois. — On the mag- 

 netic metalls, by M. Gaiffe. He experimented with nickel a id 

 cobalt, obtained electro-chemically and variously treated before 

 magnetising ; some bars being kept hard, others annealed, and 

 others annealed and forged. The figures show what a compara- 

 tively great coercitive force these metals (and especially cobalt), 

 may acquire in a pure state, while pure iron, obtained by the 

 same means, gives inappreciable deflections in the magnetometer. 

 The annealed and forged samples produced the greatest effects 

 (the annealed coming next). The weak coercitive force of the 

 metals on issuing from the galvanoplastic bath, is attributed to 

 the presence of hydrogen in combination with them. — On metal- 

 dehyde, by MM. Henriot and Oeconomoides. — On the rotatory 

 power of albuminoid substances of blood-serum, and their deter- 

 mination by circunipolarisation, by M. Fredericq. — On perman- 

 ganate of potash employed as antidote to the poison of .'er- 

 pents, by M. de Lacerda. A solution of snake poison having 

 been injected subcutaneously under the thigh of a dog, and a 

 I per cent, soluion of permanganate of potash a few minutes 

 after, the latter prevented all local lesion (abscess, &c.) ; there 

 was merely a very slight swelling. In othei- cases of injection 

 into the veins the permanganate proved a powerful antidote. — 

 M. Maumene communicated accounts of a new apparatus for 

 fractional distillation, and of one for measuring the alcoholic 

 richness of mixtures of alcohol and water. 



CONTENTS Pagb 



The Struggle of Parts in the Organism. By George J. 



Romanes. F R.S S05 



Our Book Shelf:— 



Pfeffer's " Pflanzenphysiologie. "—Dr. SVDNEV H. Vines ... 506 



"The Norwegian North Atlantic Expedition, 1876-1878 " ... 506 



Onnerod's '"Manual of Injurious Insects " 506 



Reyer's "Zinn" S07 



Letters to the Editor : — 



The Progress of Meteor-Spectroscopy.— Prof. A S. Herschel . 507 



Sun-Spots.— J. B N. Hennessey (IF:M /J/Vjirow) 508 



Pronemiicnia sluiteri. Hubrecht.— P. Herbert Carpenter . . 509 



/'<)/vn'oM/a/ra«<?'oSii.— Prof. Alexander Agassiz 509 



Constancy of Insects in visiting Flowers.— J. T. Powell. ... 509 



Brewing in Japan.— Prof. R. W. Atkinson .509 



Integratins: Anemometer.— Charles E. Burton 510 



Red Rainbows— A. Trevor Crispin 510 



Hay Pever.-W. Mattieu Williams ; M. C 510 



Electric Light in Collieries.— Sesamy 510 



The Origin and Functions of the British Association. By E 



W. Harcourt, M.P Sio 



Thp International Exhibition and Congress of Electricity 



AT Paris S" 



Thr Cause of CoLLiBRY Explcsions 51 = 



The Landslip AT Elm u • „• 5"3 



Phenomena Developed bv Hkliostatic Star-Disks. By Dr. G. 



W. RovsTON-PiGOTT, F.R.S {With Illustration) 5i4 



Notes 5i7 



Our Astronomical Column ; — 



The Satellites of Mars 52° 



The Satellites of Saturn 52o 



The Fourth Comet of 1874 5=" 



Ancient Star-Positions 530 



Physical Notes S^i 



Geological Notes 5=2 



Gmgraphical Notes • 5==! 



Economics and Statistics viewed from the Standpoint of the 



Preliminary Sciences. By P. Geddes, F.R.S.E. ...... s^J 



The Proper Proportions or Resistance in the Working Coils, 

 the Electro-Magnets, and the External Circuits of 



Dynamos. By Sir William Thomson, F.RS. . 526 



Functional MetamO'PHOSis OF Muscles. 13yD. J. Cunningham. 



M.D.. F.R.S.E ^'^\ 



Societies and Academies -^* 



