234 
SCIENCE IN ITALY* 
THE energetic revival of scientific activity in Italy, to which 
attention has been before directed, is still progressing satis- 
factorily. The mere fact that the Transactions of the Royal 
Institution of Lombardy report the proceedings of the sittings of 
the 24th June, of the 4th and 18th of July, of the ‘‘ordinary 
sittings of the 1st August,” and ‘‘ the solemn sittings of the 7th 
of the same month,” afford to any Englishman who has su- 
mered on the Plains of Lombardy, very strong presumptive 
evidence of scientific enthusiasm and industry. Even in our luke- 
warm climate such meetings are suspended during the summer 
months, in spite of the insatiable activity of Englishmen. It 
does not appear that the worship of the ‘‘ dolce far niente” has 
profaned the Milanese shrine of science. 
In the course of these summer meetings thirty-nine original 
papers, besides academical reports and addresses, were read. 
During the year ending August 7, ninety such papers were read 
in the Department of the Mathematical and Natural Sciences, 
including subjects in pure and applied mathematics, hydraulic 
engineering, physical geography, astronomy, experimental physics, 
chemistry, natural history, animal and vegetable physiology, 
geology, agriculture, anthropology, anatomy, pathology, surgery, 
therapeutics, hygiene, medical’ statistics, and the history of 
science. In addition to these a number of original papers were 
read in the Department of Literature and Moral and Political 
Science. This statement of the quantity of work done is a 
sufficient exeuse for my not attempting anything like a complete 
analysis of it. A few of the most interesting papers may how- 
ever be mentioned. 
June, 20.—‘ On the Anthropometry of 400 criminals in the 
Penitentiary of Padua.” This is an analysis and a summary 
of the results obtained by Dr. Pellizzari and Dr. Berretta, 
the full record of which fills a large volume. Some curious 
results come out of the tables of these measurements. The 
tallest and heaviest men are those who have committed murder 
and manslaughter ; the shortest and lightest those who have 
committed rape. ‘The head measurements are very interesting 
and suggestive, sufficiently so to warrant a continuation of such 
investigations over an area sufficiently large to obtain more 
reliable averages than the 400 measurements afford. There is 
another paper of the same date by Dr. Giglioli, that I suspect 
will prove very interesting to comparative anatomists, on 
some remarkable teeth of whales (Cetodonti) that were 
collected by Sig. Corelli, among other things, during a residence 
of forty years at Rio de Janeiro, 
July 4.—“ On the epoch of the upheaval of the sienitic rocks 
of the chain of Adamello, in the Province of Brescia.”—‘* On 
another analogy between electrical and magnetic polarity,” by 
Prof. Cantoni. (Another paper in continuation on the same 
subject was read on July 18.)—Note on the “‘ Heat of Combi- 
nation of Bodies,” by Prof. Cantoni. This contains some sugges- 
tive speculations on the philosophy of thermodynamics, in which 
the author points out experimental difficulties, and goes a long 
way in the direction of atom-splitting, in order to find an expla- 
nation. He compares the combination of two chemical atoms 
or molecules, to a collision between two stellar systems or 
nebulz, where the development of heat would not be merely that 
due to the velocity of each system considered as a whole, but 
in addition to this, to the disturbance of rotatory and orbital 
motion of the planets, satellites, &c., within each system. He 
supposes the ordinary atom or molecule to be a system of minor 
atoms, having orbital and rotatory movements, the disturbance of 
which, when atomic collision occurs, contributes to produce the 
heat of combination. It is not for me, a heretical disbeliever in 
the existence of either atoms or molecules, to make any comment 
on the merits of such a hypothesis. 
‘*On the Drainage of the Lago Fucino” by Carlo Possenti, 
refers to an important undertaking which is proceeding at the 
cost and risk of Prince Torlonia. The author points out the 
difficulties and possible sources of failure of the enterprise. 
‘*On the Prediction of the Movement of Tempests and the 
Phenomena which accompany them,” by M. Harold Tarry, 
Vice-Secretary of the Meteorological Society of France ; com- | 
municated by Prof. Schiaparelli. ‘This is an exceedingly interest- 
ing paper, mainly based upon observations made by the author 
on the great cyclones which have deposited in Italy some of the 
sand uplifted from the desert of Sahara, &c. It is worthy of a 
special and separate abstract. 
* “*Rendiconti del Reale Istituto Lombardo,” for July, August, and 
September, 1872. 
NATURE 
(Yan. 23, 1873 
July 18.—‘‘ On the Velocity of Molecular Movements in 
Aeriform Fluids,” by Prof. Brusotti. This is a contribution to 
the mathematical theory of thermodynamics. 
“On the Origin of Atmospheric Electricity,” a series of ex- 
periments on the electrical disturbances due to the rarification 
and condensation of air, both in its ordinary condition and when 
subjected to artificial dessication with a view to answer the ques- 
tion proposed. ° 
“*On the Burning of Dead Bodies,” by Dr. G. Polli. The 
author points out many sanitary, economical, and sentimental 
objections to the existing customs of burying the dead, and adyo- 
cates a revival of the ancient system of rapid decomposition by 
burning and preservation of the ashes, in order to satisfy sanitary 
requirements of the public, and the affections of friends and rela- 
tives. 
Prof. Corradi contributed a long and interesting account of 
the voluminous manuscripts of Lazzaro Spallanzani, obtained in 
1801 by the communal library of Reggio from Dr. Nicolo Spal- 
lanzani, the brother of Lazzaro. A perusal of this paper shows 
that the industry and attainments of this great naturalist were 
more extensive than we are accustomed to suppose in England. 
His manuscripts in Italian, French, and Latin are collected in 
193 volumes, and include travelling diaries, notes of experiments 
and observations, letters, &c., some of which have been alread 
published. : 
Besides these I may refer to Prof. Stoppani’s observations on 
the eruption of Vesuvius April 24, 1872, and also to Prof. G. 
Cantoni’s researches on the Rust of Wheat ; but cannot attempt 
any account of their contents without extending this notice much 
beyond its proper limits. 
The ‘‘solemn sitting” of the August 7 was chiefly devoted 
to the annual addresses of the Secretaries of the Mathematical 
and Physical, and of the Literature and Moral and Political De- 
partments, Sig. Luigi Cremona, and Sig. Guilio Carcano, and to 
other annual business. 
I should add that a monthly meteorological report is regularly 
published, with the Transactions of this society. 
The papers in the Department of Literature and Moral and 
Political Science are few in number. Passing over the mere 
literature altogether, I may refer to one paper on a strictly scien- 
tific subject which in Italy, as in England, is too commonly left 
in the hands of mere talkers and writers, who discuss many 
things and zvvestigate very few or none. I allude to political 
economy, and to a paper by Prof. Marescotti on Rent and 
Profit. This paper abounds in political argument, rather 
than political science. The author describes the rent of land 
as the remuneration of the landed proprietor for the capital 
which he has invested in rendering the soil productive, and 
although writing for the purpose of justifying the payment 
of rent, appears quite unacquainted with Ricardo’s demonstra- 
tion of the natural and independent origin of rent, as another 
element totally distinct from the reimbursement of the pro- 
prietors’ outlay on the land. 
The summer and autumn numbers of the Gazetta Chemica 
ftaliana, and the Transactions of the Academy of Sciences of the 
Institute of Bologna must be reserved for another notice, 
W. MATtTigu WILLIAMS 
SCIENTIFIC SERIALS 
THE Geological Magazine for the present month (No. 103) 
opens with a note by the editor on fossil remains of insects which 
have been described in previous volumes of the magazine, as an 
introduction to a paper by Mr. A. G. Butler describing a most 
interesting wing of a butterfly belonging to the Nymphalide 
group, found in the Stonesfield slate. This butterfly Mr. 
Butler proposes to name Faleontina oolitica, and, as he re- 
marks, it is the most ancient member of its group yet dis- 
covered.—Mr. R. H. Tiddeman describes the Victoria Cave at 
Settle in Yorkshire, and notices the fossils contained in the 
lowest deposit yet reached in the investigation of this cave.—Mr. 
W. Molyneux notices the occurrence of copper and lead ores in 
the Bunter conglomerate of Carnock Chase ; and Prof. King, of 
Galway, communicates a paper on the microscopic characters of 
a silo-carbacid rock from Ceylon, and notices their bearing on 
the methylotic origin of the Laurentian limestones, methy- 
lotic being a term introduced by the author to express the cha- 
| racter of rocks which have undergone change by the elimination 
eae an ha cae 
