356 
NATURE 
| Fed. 8, 1883 
evaporated urine, which had been deprived of the poisonous 
potash-salts. Dr. Schiffer is still engaged in the investigation 
of the isolation of the poison.—The second communication was 
upon his experiments with curare. The striking inoperativeness 
of this violent poison, when introduced into the stomach cannot 
be due, as has up to the present been almost universally 
accepted, to the absorbed poison being quickly eliminated by the 
kidney, because Dr. Schiffer’s experiments showed that the 
elimination of this substance through the -urine is complete, 
although very slow, so that the animal, if it would absorb the 
poison, would have had to succumb long before. When Dr. 
Schiffer introduced a very large dose—about 2 grms.—of curare, 
into a stomach which he had ligatured at the pyloric orifice, 
the animal died in about twenty-two hours, which was far too 
late for curare poisoning, and far too soon as a consequence of 
the ligature of the pylorus. When introduced into the small 
intestine, the continuity of which was interrupted above and 
below by a ligature, the curare was very quickly absorbed ; 
when the small intestine was only occluded above, only a very 
little eurare was absorbed, this absorption taking place slowly. 
The large intestine behaved like the small one. From the 
rectum out, curare was very quickly absorbed. Outside the 
body, curare diffused very well through a stomach wall. To 
sum up, the inoperativeness of curare when introduced into the 
stomach is as yet unexplained. 
Paris 
Academy of Sciences, January 29.—M. Blanchard in the 
chair.—The death of M. Sedillot, Member in the Section of 
Medicine and Surgery, was announced.—Note on the observation 
of the transit of Venus, by M. Janssen, The conditions were 
very favourable at the fort du Chateau-Neuf, Oran. Special 
attention was given to the question as to presence of aqueous 
vapour in theatmosphere of Venus. This wasnot demonstrated. 
Afterwards M. Janssen spent a month at Mecheria, a military 
station on the high desert plateaux, with the same purpose. The 
air was so dry and clear that, ¢.g., Jupiter’s satellites could be 
seen with the naked eye, With very perfect spectroscopic appa- 
ratus applied under extremely good conditions, he is yet con- 
strained to great reserve as to the presence of aqueous vapour in 
Venus’s atmosphere. He studied mirage, photographed it 
several times, and finds its causes, in most cases, to be quite 
different from those commonly supposed.—On the mechanical 
and physical composition of the sun (continued), by M. Faye. 
This relates to spots.—Contributions to the history of the 
reactions between sulphur, carbon, their oxides, and their 
salts, by M. Berthelot. The results have a bearing on 
the reactions produced during explosion of powder.—On 
the morbid phenomena produced in rabbits by introduction 
of hydrate of chloral into the ear, by M. Vulpian. The 
most salient phenomenon is impetuous rotation of the ani- 
mal on its longitudinal axis ; which the author attributes to the 
inflammation produced in the cavities of the internal ear; to 
this inflammation, along with more or less broncho-pneumonia, 
the animals often succumbed. The brain and meninges were 
not affected, as in the experiment of M. Brown-Séquard, who 
poured chloroform into the ear. Though the disorders of 
motility are weakened in time, they are found still to persist in 
some degree, a month after operation.—Observations on the 
occasion of a Report of M. Leon Colm, on the mortality pro- 
duced by typhoid fever in the French army, by M. Vulpian. 
This Report, by a committee of the Academy of Medicine, 
throws doubt on the value ot M. Glenard’s recent statistics (to 
show the efficacy of cold baths),—Note on the state of natural 
sciences and on anthropology in Brazil, by M. de Quatrefages. 
Inter alia, Brazil now devotes, on an average, 16 per cent. of 
her whole revenue to public education ; in one of the twenty-one 
provinces (Goyaz), the proportion reaches 30 per cent. The 
National Museum in Rio, dating from 1817, has been wholly 
reorganised by Dom Pedro, and it is of great value. The Em- 
peror is often present at the lectures there. The Museum has 
its Archives, and M. de Quatrefages indicates the contents of 
the first four volumes sent him; they reveal great scientific 
activity. The successful Brazilian Anthropological Exhibition 
held last year is to be followed by one for the entire Conti- 
nent,—Note on the determination of the phosphoric acid in 
arable land, by M. de Gasparin, He describes an easy and 
rapid method, Arrangements were made in connection with 
a new annual prize of 1000 francs, provided by a widow, Mme. 
Francceur ; it is to be given ‘‘ to the author of discoveries or works 
useful to the progress of the mathematical sciences, pure or 
applied.”—On wounds from fire-arms, called seton-wounds, by 
M. Guerin. These wounds always contain foreign bodies, from 
crushing of the tissues, and perhaps particles of cloth, &c. ; and 
the conditions are adverse to immediate cicatrisation. The author 
adopts (with success)—(1) antiseptic washings with continuous 
currents, (2) pneumatic occlusion ; simultaneously, alternately, 
or successively, as the case may be.—On a class of functions of 
two independent variables, by M. Ficard.—On the algebraic 
integration of a class of linear equations, by M. Goursat.—On 
a theorem of M. Tchébychef, by M. Korkine.—Application of 
a method given by Legendre, by M. Lipschitz.—Observation of 
a magnetic storm at Cape Horn, by M. Mascart. This was on 
November 17 and 18 last. The principal perturbation was 
simultaneous with that at the Pare St. Maur.—Reply to a note 
by M. Marcel Deprez, by M. Lévy.—M. Deprez presented a 
translation of the official Report at the Munich Exhibition, 
on transport of force by dynamo-electric machines.—Reply to 
M. Lévy, by MM. Mercadier and Vaschy.—New experiment 
in electrolysis, by M. Semmola. In proof of the law that the 
quantity of liquid decomposed in a given time is proportional to 
the quantity of electricity which passes in that time, he uses a 
voltameter with three platina electrodes inserted equally apart’ 
at the bottom. The current coming by one is caused, by a com- 
mutator, to pass either by one of the others or by both.—Re- 
searches on the passages of alcoholic liquors through porous bodies 
(second note), by M. Gal. He investigates the influence of 
temperature, and nature of membrane, and the case in which the 
membrane is exclusively in contact with the liquid or with its 
vapour. An alcoholic liquid in contact with a membrane tends 
to diminish in degree, instead of concentrating, as Scemmering 
affirmed, and as is everywhere taught ; and it is the same with its 
vapour.—On the vapour of carbamide, by M. Isambert.—On 
sulphite of manganese, by M. Gorgeu,—On new ammonio- 
cobaltic combinations, by M. Maquenne.—On the crystalline 
form, specific heat, and atomicity of thorium, by M. Nilson. 
The crystals form a regular combination between the octahedron 
and the tetrahedron: the specific heat is 0°02757 ; the substance 
is quadrivalent.—On the mutual displacements of bases, &c. 
(continued), by M. Menschutkine.—Importance of zoological 
characters furnished by the upper lip in the Syrf/zdes (Diptera), 
by M. Gazagnaire.—On the effects of respiration of air charged 
with petroleum vapour, by M. Poincaré. Dogs, rabbits, and 
guinea-pigs were experimented with. Respiration was increased 
in frequency and amplitude, heart-beats were retarded, (the 
shock was intensified); there was itchiness, sleepiness, and 
inappetence. Guinea-pigs alone succumbed, after one to two 
years. 
CONTENTS Pace 
ZoouocicaL SKETCHES. By Grorce J. RomANES . . . - - « « 333 
THE.GOuD COAST <,. 0, om «) coy 1s a ye sey ote 
Our Boox SHELF :— ’ 
Newell’s ‘‘ Handbook of Vertebrate Dissection’” . . . , . ~ 335 
Williamson’s ‘‘Ferns of Kentucky”. . . - « . Le) « se 9R0 
LxeTTERS TO THE EpiTroR:— 
Hovering of Birds—Husert Artry; Davin CunNINGHAM; 
Witxiam Gatioway; Dr. J. Rak, F.R.S ; C. S. Mippiemiss ; 
W.Larpen . . Bey eo ROR om OG ery 
Science and Theology.x—C. . - - - = © - © « » «+ « « «© 357 
Intelligence in Animals.—J. BIRMINGHAM. . - « . . . «© + 337 
BPlectric Railwaysi—Vi & ee eee 1a) Sache ab nr oy oO OER SB 
The Channel Tunnel.—Prof. W. Boyp Dawkins, F.R.S. . . . 338 
The Great Comet of 1882.—THos. Wm. BACKHOUSE . . . . 338 
Meteor of November 17.—Rev. STEPHEN H. Saxsy . . . . - 
The Sea Serpent.—Wit.1amM BArroor; Prof. W. STHADMAN 
ALDIs . 
Natural Enemies of Butterflies—Hernry H1GGINS. . . . . . 338 
On THE GRADUATION OF GALVANOMETERS FOR THE MEASUREMENT 
oF CURRENTS AND PoTENTIALS IN ABSOLUTE MEAsuRE, IV. By 
Anprew Gray (With [ilustration) . Sam o © of emia a9 
NorwWeGIAN GEODETICAL OPERATIONS «. - «© «© © « + © 5 © 341 
ScrentiFic Heresies IN CHINA. 
Nores OF TRAVEL IN SARDINIA. 
By G. F.Ropwatt. . .. 
MATHEMATICS IN SCANDINAVIA. - + 2 2 « «© «© 2 6 2 « + 343 
Tue FRENCH Mission To Cape Horn (lWith Illustration) . . . « 344 
HEATING BY ACETATE OF Sopa (With lilustrations). . - « + + 344 
NODES. Sieg ce erhs) ance Mn ON eno ee re Ee er 
Our AstRonomicaL CoLtumMN:— 
Denning’s:Comety ©.) 05) | fly cetay ipa ed ee een yc eist ete 348 
The Great Comet of 1882. . . AY oh Wed orve! fer Netvanaie 349 
Astronomical Telegrams . . - + + + + + © © «© «© «© © + 349 
Tur MatTTer or Spacek. By CHaRtes MorRRIS. . . « « + + « 349 
Tue INSTITUTION OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS . . . . + « + + 351 
Tue QuARTERLY JOURNAL OF MICROSCOPICAL SCIENCE . . - + + 353 
ONIVERSITY AND EDUCATIONAL INTELLIGENCE «. « « «© + + + + 353 
ScIENTIFIC:SERIALS: 605. 6 fc) 6 fe) 0) ee ee s"w),2 353 
SocizTrzs AND ACADEMIES « . + - + + «© + © + + <PKe aia 
ne a38 || 
