Now. 30, 1882 | 
NATURE 
113; 
WE regret to announce the death, on November 24, of Mr. 
Andrew Pritchard, M.R.I., F.R.S. Edin., &c., of Highbury, 
London, whose name will be best remembered in connection 
with several improvements of the microscope, the use of ‘test 
objects,” and as being the author of “ A History of Infusoria,” 
the fourth edition of which, enlarged to nearly 1000 pages, was 
published in 1861. Bom in London in December, 1804, 
he was almost entirely brought up by his grandfather, one 
of the chief cashiers in the Bank of England. On the 
foundation of the Mechanics’ Institution in Southampton Build- 
ings, by Dr. Birkbeck, Mr. Pritchard entered as a student. The 
microscope was then a very imperfect instrument, and Mr, 
Pritchard worked hard at the achromatisation of lense:, and was 
the first to propose to take advantage of the high refracting 
power of the diamond, ruby, and sapphire for the manufacture of 
single lenses, these giving good definition without the coloured 
borders incidental to ordinary flint glass. Between the 
years 1829 and 1837 he published several works on the micro- 
scope, in which he was aided by Dr. Goring, particularly the 
«Microscopic Illustrations,” ‘* Micrographia,” and the ‘‘ Micro- 
scopic Cabinet,” for which several good plates were prepared. 
In the year 1836 Mr. Pritchard was elected a Member of the 
Royal Institution, being proposed by Faraday, and in the pre- 
vious year joined the British Association at Dublin, taking part 
in the deliberations of this body until comparatively recent times. 
In 1873 the Royal Society of Edinburgh -conferred upon him 
their fellowship, in recognition of his scientific attainments, as 
evidenced by his great work, the ‘‘ History of Infusoria,” a 
memorial of patient industry and biological research, 
THE Lancashire friends of the late Prof. Jevons are to hold a 
meeting at the Manchester and Salford Bank on Thursday next, 
to consider a proposal for a Jevons memorial. It has been 
suggested that an appropriate form of the memorial would be 
the establishment of a Professorship of Political Economy at 
the Victoria University, Manchester. Prof. Jevons was a 
Lancashire man, and was associated for many years with the 
Owens College and with the Manchester Statistical Society. 
Mr. BARNARD, of Nashville, Tennessee, and Prof. Wilson, 
of the Cincinnati Observatory, both noticed that the nucleus of 
the comet had separated into three fragments on the morning of 
October 5. While this separation was not observed at other 
oservatories, probably owing to cloudy weather, we learn by 
the last steamer from Central America, that on the same morning 
the comet, as visible to the naked eye, at Escuintla, Guatemala, 
was divided into five distinct bodies, thus leading many to 
suppose that a whole family of celestial visitants had suddenly 
appeared. Subsequent observations in different parts of the 
world have led to the belief that the fragments were re-united. 
This statement appears in the Paxama Star and Herald, 
THE transit of Venus, on December 6, will be observed at Paris 
with the helio stat in several places, to exhibit the phenomenon to a 
large audience. M. Joubert, director of the Ob ervatoire Populaire 
of the Trocadero, is taking steps for that purpose, and will send 
out special invitations. Lectures will be delivered during the 
transit. M. Janssen, before leaving for Oran, left instructions 
for similar observations to be exhibited before a number of 
visitors at Meudon Observatory. A requisition has been sent to 
M. Bouteiller, the president of the Municipal Council, asking 
him to order that the leading pupils of public schools and their 
principal teachers should be invited to Montsouris Observatory 
in order to witness the transit. 
Weare glad to learn that Prof. Mendeleeff has published a 
new edition (the fourth) of his ‘‘ Principles of Chemistry.”” The 
new edition is thoroughly revised, and contains many important 
additions and modifications, bringing it up to the latest data of 
science. ‘Lhe chigh standard of this book is well known. The 
aims the author has pursued may be seen in the following 
words of his preface: ‘‘ By comparing the past of the science 
with the future, the particulars with the generalisations, and our 
necessarily limited experience with our natural tendency towards 
theinfinite, and by refraining from asking the student to accept 
without test any doctrine, however attractive, I tried to 
develop in the reader the faculty of independent judgment on 
scientific subjects which is necessary for a true use of science, 
and for acquiring the possibility of working for its further 
development.” The work may be regarded as not merely a 
text-book of chemistry, but an exposition of the methods of 
natural science altogether. 
ALGERIA is becoming increasingly popular as a winter resort 
for invalids affected with chest disease ; but probably not many 
of our readers are aware that in the same easily accessible country 
gout and rheumatic patients may find what is scarcely to be met 
with in Europe, a comfortable residence with abundance of 
waters adapted to their special complaints. At Hammam R’Irha, 
about sixty miles south-west of Algiers and fifteen miles in a 
direct line from the coast, such patients will find waters both for 
bathing and drinking comparable with those of the best European 
resorts, and in addition a climate which renders outdoor exercise 
a pleasure all the winter through. Hammam R’Irha is beauti- 
fully situated among the hills of an outlying spur of the Lesser 
Atlas, and we understand has every possible convenience and 
comfort that invalids can require. Naturally enough the people 
of Algiers look with some jealousy on this pleasant spot as a 
rival, and attempt we believe to ignore it ; but in the opinion of 
the highest authorities on the subject of climate and waters, no 
place can equal Hammam R’Irha as a winter resort for gout and 
rheumatic patients. As it becomes better known we are sure it 
will grow in favour, especially with Engli-h and Americans, who 
will find on the spot competent medical advice. The station 
is within three or four hours’ rail of Algiers. 
THE remarkable phenomenon which was seen on Friday week 
in several parts of this country, was also seen in Sweden. At Eskib- 
stuna, 54 miles south of Stockholm, it was observed three hours after 
sunset in the western heavens, it being dark at the time, about 
45° above the horizon, and was then hidden ina lurid cloud of 
purple colour. When approaching the zenith an oblong object, 
somewhat resembling a bow, became distinctly visible, which 
gradually passed out of sight. The stars were visible through 
the object. The moon in her first quarter shone faintly in the 
south, 45° elevation above the horizon, while heavy clouds 
covered the eastern and northern skies. Aurorz were frequent 
and intense all over Scandinavia during the week. 
Herr BERNHARD BLECHMANN, a pupil of Prof. Stieda, of 
Dorpat, has been making researches on the anthropology of the 
Jews. He took 100 Jews of West Russia and the Baltic Pro- 
vinces, and as a result of his observations, he finds that there are 
both blonde and dark Jews of the primitive type, that Jews have 
narrower chests than Europeans under similar conditions ; that 
there are two types, Spanish and Germano-Polish ; and that 
they appear to be brachycephalic. 
Tue third German ‘‘ Geographentag” will be held at Frank- 
fort on March 29-31, 1883. As at former meetings, both the 
scientific and educational aspects of geography will receive atten- 
tion, and intending contributors of papers should communicate 
with Prof, Rein, Marburg, before the end of January. There 
will, as usual, be an exhibition of teaching »atérzel in geography, 
which will be open for two or three weeks. 
IMMENSE forest fires are reported from the neighbourhood of 
St. Petersburg. Near Pawlowsk and the villages Skolpino, 
Stepanowka, and Podberesche near Gatchina, then along the 
