‘kable star 7 Argus, strange clearings up, so to speak, 
or wanings of nebulous light have taken place, and many 
‘stars have come to view, with telescopes far inferior to 
_Herschel’s. 
“And whether we admit this view or not, one thing is 
_ absolutely certain. Under such a material atmosphere 
__we live and make our observations, and we are not yet 
_ prepared to’ say with certainty whether there may not be 
_ such changes going on in it as will suffice for a full expla- 
_ nation of the appearance of these small stars, if not of 
_ the great changes about » Argus.” 
NOTES 
‘THE omission of a word in a note last week referring to the 
_ medals recently granted by foreign Governments to Englishmen, 
makes this journal appear to hold the opinion that itis to be 
- desired that the British Government should thus signalise British 
work. Such, however, is most emphatically of our opinion. 
What we do hold is that if foreign Governments reward English 
__ work, it would be a graceful act for our Government from time 
to time to reciprocate such acts of international courtesy and 
good-will by marking in a similar manner its appreciation of 
JSoreign work. 
In the Russian Official Gazette is an announcement that a 
diploma of honour has been conferred upon Baron Liebig for 
the application of his knowledge of theoretical chemistry to 
‘practical purposes. 
_ THEmorning of Saturday the 21st has been fixed for the 
final despatch of H.M.S. Chaélenger on her long voyage. Her 
_ scientific staff—officers and civilians—are all on board, and the 
ship is busy from end to end, stowing and arranging her un- 
-wonted gear. As might be supposed, every available space is 
_ filled with books. Mr. Macmillan has received the thanks of the 
_ captain and officers and the civilian scientific staff, through Dr. 
_ Wyville Thomson, for a case of about fifty volumes of his 
_ newest publications, which he sent down asa parting gift. 
_ Pror, Huxtey has been elected Lord Rector of the Univer- 
“sity of Aberdeen, by a considerable majority over the Marquis 
of Huntly, a satisfactory evidence of the estimation in which 
“eminence in science is held by the younger minds in Scotland. 
_ WE regret to learn that M. Pouchet, of Rouen, celebrated as 
-aleading champion of the doctrine of spontaneous generation, 
died in Paris on December 6. 
sf 
Tue following are the probable arrangements for the Friday 
evening meetings at the Royal Institution before Easter, 1873 :— 
Jan. 17, On the Old and New Laboratories at the Royal Institu- 
tion, by W. Spottiswoode, F.R.S. ; Jan. 24, On the Analogies 
of Physical and Moral Science, by Rev. Prof. T. R. Birks ; 
_ Jan 31, On the Music of the Future, by E. Dannreuther ; Feb. 
4, On Old Continents, by Prof. A. C. Ramsay, F.R.S. ; Feb. 
14, On Recent Progress in Weather Knowledge, by R. H. Scott, 
_F.R.S. ; Feb. 21, On Action at a Distance, by Prof. J. Clerk 
‘Maxwell, F.R.8. ; Feb. 28, On Livingstone’s Explorations in 
" perature of the Sun and the Work of Sunlight, by J. Dewar; 
March 14, On Steamers for Channel Communication, by E. J. 
NATURAL Science at Rugby is producing its fruits. In the 
recent examination for honours at Oxford, six men were placed 
131 
in the first class ; and of these, four were educated at Rugby— 
Messrs, Baynes, Cleminshaw, Longstaff, and Lupton. 
Dr. Harry Ratny, Emeritus Professor of Forensic Medicine 
in the University of Glasgow, has given a donation of 1,500/. to 
the University for the endowment of bursaries, to be competed 
for by students of Medicine. 
Dr. JOHN STENHOUSE is at present investigating the higher 
iodo-derivatives of the orcines. 
THE Riberi triennial prize of 20,000 lire (800/.) has been 
awarded to Dr. Guiseppe Corradi, director of the surgical clinic 
at Florence, for four works on the diseases of genito-urinary 
organs. 
AT the second meeting of the North British Branch of the 
Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain Prof. Crum Brown gave 
an address on the relation of the science of chemistry to the art 
of pharmacy. He afterwards sketched the career of Scheele, 
the Swedish chemist and druggist, who had contributed a large 
list of facts to science. 
PrRor. FREIRE-MARRECO of Newcastle, and Mr. G. A. Lebour 
will lecture on January 8, and February 5, 1873, at the Roth- 
bury Reading Room, on Artificial Lighting and on Caverns. 
A VERY important paper has been printed by Government, re- 
specting the Phy//oxera vastatrix, or new Vine Scourge. It com- 
mences with a letter from Sir C. Murray, H.M. Ambassador at 
Lisbon, calling attention to the ravages of the disease ; and stating 
that the Portuguese Government has named a Commission ‘‘to 
examine into the progress of this dangerous evil, and to gather 
from all quarters, whether scientific or practical (sic) suggestions 
for the best mode of extirpating it.” A report follows from Mr. 
Crawford, H.M. Consul at Oporto, on the scientific aspects of 
the disease, as well as several others from French authorities, 
including a very important one addressed to the Minister of 
Agriculture and Commerce by the Commission instituted for 
the study of the new disease, M. Dumas, president. The various 
papers having been referred to Dr. Hooker for him to report upon 
them, he states that the only really effectual remedy at present dis- 
covered, and this can obviously be only very partially applied, and 
notin the best districts, is flooding the vineyards in winter. He 
adds “there is reason to believe that on the first symptoms of attack 
in isolated cases, the prompt destruction of the vine, its burning on 
the spot, and the subsequent treatment of the soil with some 
approved insecticide, such as carbolic acid, would be of great 
importance.” Vines of American species appear at present to 
have enjoyed immunity from its ravages in the Rhone district, 
but the disease has undoubtedly appeared in this country on 
vines cultivated under glass. 
THE South London Entomological Society, which, though only 
nine months old, has been extremely successful, held on Thurs- 
day evening last, at Dunn’s Institute, Newington Causeway, a 
very interesting exhibition of collections of insects, chiefly British 
Lepidoptera. The collections were made by the members them- 
selves, all amateurs, and do them the greatest credit. The 
room was densely crowded, and the exhibition was a great 
success. 
A society has been formed under the title of the National 
Health Society, which is to have for its object to help every 
man and woman, rich and poor, to know for himself, and to 
carry out practically around him, the best conditions of healthy 
living. The steps at present proposed are the holding of monthly 
meetings for the reading of papers; the establishing of classes 
for instruction in various branches of sanitary science ; the de- 
livery of free popular lectures ; and the formation of a reference 
library and an information office, 
-? ay 
