2096 
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NATURE 
BS hh 
MANCHESTER 
Literary and Philosophical Society, Dec. 24, 1872. 
—The president, Dr, J. P. Joule, F.R.S., drew attention 
to the increasing number of cases of hydrophobia. 
There was every reason for believing that this 
dreadful disorder was communicated from one 
animal to another by a bite, and seldom, if ever, 
was spontaneously developed. Inasmuch there- 
fore as the effects of a bite nearly always occurred 
within four months, it would only be necessary to 
isolate all dogs for that period in order to stamp 
out the disease. That was the opinioa of Dr. 
Bardsley, whose elaborate paper will be found in 
the fourth volume of the Memoirs of the Society, 
and probably gave rise to the practice of confining 
dogs at certain periods of the year, which has 
unfortunately been rendered to a great extent 
nugatory in consequence of having been only 
partially adopted. 
Jan. 7.—The president referred to the great 
loss which the Society had experienced by the 
death of one of its most distinguished honorary 
members, Dr. Rankine ; called away in the prime 
of life, his loss is one of the most severe that 
could have befallen science.—Mr. William H. 
Johnson called attention to the action of sulphuric 
and hydrochloric acids on iron and steel. If after 
immersion for say ten minutes in either of these 
acids a piece of iron or steel be tested, its tensile 
strength and resistance to torsion will be found to 
have diminished. Exposure to the air for several 
days, or gentle heat will, however, completely re- 
store its original strength. Prolonged immersion 
“in acid has a tendency to produce a crystalline 
structure in even the best wrought iron. 
January 21.—The president explained a sim- 
ple apparatus by means of which a very high 
degree of rarefaction of air could be produced 
with much facility, and which might in some cir- 
cumstances be found preferable to the common air- 
pump or even the Sprengel. It consists of a glass 
funnel @ surmounting a globe 4, from the lower 
part of which a tubee¢ descends to a jar of mercury 
d, ‘The tube e, in connection with the receiver to 
be exhausted, is furnished with a vulcanised india- 
rubber plug which fits into the neck of the funnel. 
In using the apparatus the stopcock / is shut and 
the funnel filled with mercury. Then by lifting 
the tube e with its plug, the mercury fills the globe 
éand the pipe c. The tube eis then replaced, 
and the stop-cock being opened, the mercury de- 
scends in c, emptying the globe. By returning the mercury into 
the funnel by means of a pump, or more simply, by lifting the 
jar d, the process is repeated until the requisite degree of rare- 
faction is produced. 
PARIS 
Academy of Sciences, Jan. 27.—M. de Quatrefages, presi- 
deat, in the chair.—M. A. Trecul read the second part of his 
paper on the carpellary theory of the Papaveracez. This portion 
of the paper treats of Glaucium and Lschscholtaia.—M. Boussin- 
gault read a note on alimentary substances preserved by cold. 
‘The author exposed-geveral articles of food to a temperature of 
— 20° for several hours in closed flasks ; this was in 1865. he 
substances are now perfectly sound and free from putrefaction. 
—-M. Th. Lestiboudois read the continuation of his paper on 
the structure of the He/erogene.—M. Marés read a note on the 
vine sickness characterised by Phylloxera. The paper was re- 
ferred to the commission on that subject.—A letter from M. I. 
Pierreon the determination of the boiling point of liquid sulphurous 
anhydride was then read. The method coasists in introducing a 
thermometer, through a pierced cork, into a thin tube con- 
taining the anhydride. Another hole in the cork holds 
an exit tube; the apparatus is then suspended in the air, 
the SO, begins to boil, and the thermometer is then read. 
—M. Faye presented M. Heis’s ‘f Atlas ccelestis novus,” and 
made some quotations from it on the number of stars visible 
to the naked eye; the author can see many stars put down 
by other astronomers as of the 7th or 8th magnitude.—M. 
L. d’Henry read a paper on the use of the mono-chromatic 
sodium light in observing the tints of litmus in alcalimetry. The 
author finds that this reaction is much more easily seen by the 
yellow light.—M. Ch. Valson sent a note on the modulus of 
refrigerating power in saline solutions. —MM. C. Friedel and R. 
D. Silva sent a note on a new tertiary alcohol, &c.; M. H.. 
Joulie a note on the commercial estimation {of nitrates; and 
MM. Gayon one on the spontaneous alteration of eggs: the 
author finds the putrid eggs full of yibriones ; he intends to seek 
for the origin of these bodies—M. Gréyhant sent a note on the 
estimation of carbonic oxide combined with hzemoglobin,—M. F. 
Pisani sent a paper on the analysis of Jeffersonite from New 
Jersey, and on the analysis of Arite from Mount Ar (Basses 
Pyrénées).—M. S. Chautrain sent a paper on the reproduction 
of eyes in the crayfish. The author has cut out the eyes of the, 
crustacean, and finds that they grow again in about eleven 
months. 
DIARY 
THURSDAY, Yesruary 13. 
Roy at Society, at 8.30,—On Curvature and Orthogonal Surfaces: Prof. 
cay —On a New Relation between Heat and Electricity: Prof. 
Guthrie 
Society or ANTIQUARIES, at 8.30.—On a Brass Bowl of the r2th century : 
'T. A. Gardiner —On Early Deeds and Charters: R. H. Wood. 
MaritemaTicat Society, at 8 —On Systems of Linear Congruences : Prof, 
H. J. S. Smith.—Application of the Hodograph to the Solution of Pro- 
blems on Projectiles : J. Macleod. 
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14. 
ASTRONOMICAL Society, at 8.—Anniversary. 
Roya Institution, at 9.—On Recent Progress in Weather Knowledge ; 
R. H. Scott. 
QueketT Cvvs, at 8. 
SATURDAY, Feervary 15. 
Royat InstiruTIon, at 3.—Comparative Politics : Dr. E. A. Freeman, 
SUNDAY, Frsruary 16. 
Sunpay Lecture Sociery, at 4.—Pre-Historic Fortifications : Lawson 
Tait. 
MONDAY, Frpruary 17- 
Lonpon INstITUTION, at 4.—Physical Geography: Prof. Duncan. 
ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY, at 7. 
Asiatic Society, at 3. 
COLLEGE oF SuRGEONS, at 4.—-Osteology ana Dentition of Extinct Mam- 
malia, with their Geological and Geographical Distribution, &c.; Prof. 
Flower (cluntcrian Lectures) 
TUESDAY, Ferrvary 18. 
ANTHROPOLOGICAL INSTITUTE, at 8.—Note on the Macas Indians: Sir John 
Lubbock, Bart.—On the Relation of the Parish Boundaries in the South 
East of England to Great Physical Features: William Topley. 
ZoOLoGIcAL Society, at 8.30.—Report on the Hydroida collected during 
the Expeditions of H.M.S. Porcupine: Prof. G. J. Allman.—On (igitho- 
gnathous Birds: W. K Parker.—Notes on the Anatomy of the Binturong 
(Arctictis binturong): A, H_ Garrod. 
Royat LInstiruTIon, at 3.—Forces and Motions of the Body: Prof. 
Rutherford. 
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19. 
Society or Arts, at 8. 
MereoroLoGiAt Society, at 7.—Description of an Electrical Self-regis- 
trating Anemometer and Rain-gauge : Fenwick W. Stow.—On the Madras 
Cyclone of May 2, 1872: Capt H. Toyabee.—On the Character of the 
Storm of August 21-23, 1868, over the British Isles: Capt. T. O. Watson. 
—On some Results of Meteorological Teclegraphy : Robert H. Scott. 
Lonpon InstITuTION, at 7.—Paper and Discussion. 
CoLLeGE or SURGEONS, at 4.—Hunterian Lectures. 
BOOKS RECEIVED 
Encuiisu.—On the Miracle recorded in Joshua x.: Rev. E. Biley 
(Hatchard).—Lessons on Elementary Anatomy ;: St. G. Mivart bag ereT 
ForriGn.—Annuaire de l'Academie Royale de Belgique, 1873.—Lehrbui 
der Physik: 2nd part, 1873—Fauna der Kieler Bucht, vol. ii.: H, A. 
Mayer and R. Robins (Englemann: Leipzig). 
CONTENTS 
Pace 
Mopvern AppcicaTions oF THE Doctrine oF NATURAL SELECTION. 
By A. R. Waciace, PUGS. 3 <5 5 + © © ee © (ss eee 
HACKEL ON SPONGES. «es ¢ ¢ + 5 = © = ota) 5) 
Our Book SHELF. . ee Re ni 
Lerrers To THE Epiror:-- 
Inherited Instinct.—CuHarvtes Darwin, F.R.S...°. « © « + « 280 
The Unreasonable.—Prof. W. K. CuirrorpD . . - « « « « . 282 
Prof. Clifford on Curved Space.—Dr. C. M.InNGteBY. . . . . 282 
Earthquake in Pembrokeshire.—Rey. T. W. Wenn, M.A.,F.R.A.S 283 
Meteorology of the Future. —L. TROUVELOT . . « » » © « « 283 
Deep Wells.—W. HOPE = 2 9. 5 « a LSA ree ee 
Tue GRESHAM LECTURES ON PHysic. « - « « « » «+ « « « - 283 
‘Tue Birru or Cuemisrry, VIL. By G, F Ropwett, F.C.S. (With 
Illustrations.) ec Na eR ry or er eee re ye 
GuacreR Morion. By JoHN AITKEN .. 2. 6 + + «© « © « « 287 
Sup-WEALDEN EXPLORATION. «© 2 © . 2 © 8 + «6 © « «se eSB 
Nores . ee ee SCM 
On THE Coat Qugstion, IL. By Sir W. ArmstrRonG, C.B., F.R.S.. 291 
ScreNTIFIc SERIALS. sis 95 6% + «© : oye 
SOCIETIES AND ACADBMIES + + 2 ¢ © «+ + «© « © 6 + =e (204 
Books AND PAMPHLETS RECEIVED. . . - + + « + «© « © © 5 290 | 
DIARY. . . » + + goes sue) > © 5 2 -onste leer 
