
Sept. 7, 1871 | 
3. No powerful machinery is needed as for moving or raising 
heavy materials. 
4. A saving in the levelling of the rock for a foundation for 
the tower. 
5. The ease of landing on exposed rocks small fragments of 
stone, as compared with the landing of heavy and finely-dressed 
materials. 
The erection of an experimental beacon on the plan I have 
suggested would beattended by comparatively small expense. 
Edinburgh, Aug. 29 THOMAS STEVENSON 

Neologisms 
Ir may be something of a bull, but I wish to consult your 
correspondents about a neologism which does not exist. It must 
exist very soon, however, because it is urgently wanted, as will 
be seen from the following considerations :— 
A straight line has a certain divection ; we all know what is 
meant ; it is an inherent property of a straight line. The answer 
to the question what property two parallel straight lines have 
(independently of their being produced) is that they have ‘he 
same direction. Y do not invite discussion on the propriety of 
this definition, but only call attention to the fact that the words 
exist by which this conception of parallels can be expressed. 
Now to speak of planes. A plane has a certain ——; two 
parallel planes have the same ——. The same what? 
Again, here are two theorems, which are, in fact, reciprocal :— 
(1) planes parallel to given straight lines are themselves parallel ; 
and (2) if two intersecting planes are respectively parallel to 
two other intersecting planes, the lines of intersection are 
parallel ; which may be better enunciated as follows :—(1) two 
directions determine one —— ; and (2) two determine one 
direction, 
The German geometers haye no difficulty about it. They say, 
**Durch 2 Richtungen ist eine Stellung, durch 2 Stellungen eine 
Richtung bestimmt.” J. M. WiLson 
Rugby, Sept. 1 

The Nucleus of Adipose Tissue 
WILL you allow me to make one or two observations upon the 
remarks made by the writer of the article on the last part of the 
“Physiological Anatomy and Physiology of Man?” In tew 
words the reviewer has drawn attention to several of the most 
important points advanced in this part, and for this I feel much 
indebted to him. But with reference to adipose tissue, he ob- 
serves that I convey the impression that the adult fat cell ‘‘con- 
sists merely of an envelope containing oily matter—no mention 
being made of the fact that by proper treatment a nucleus also 
can be almost always demonstrated.” This is strange, for I be- 
lieve I was the first to demonstrate the ‘‘ nucleus” in the fat 
cells of adult adipose tissue. In my lectures at the Royal Col- 
lege of Physicians in 1861, I showed specimens illustrating the 
fact, and in the work reviewed I have endeavoured to show that 
the so-called ‘‘nucleus” (germinal matter or bioplasm) is con- 
cerned in the formation of the fatty matter, and in its removal 
from the fully formed fat vesicle (p. 305) whenever we get thin 
from the absorption of fat. In fig. 198, plate xx., fat vesicles in 
various stages of development are represented, the ‘‘nucieus” 
being given in every one, while in fig. 132, plate xv., are shown 
some fat vesicles in cartilage, the nucleus being seen in every in- 
stance. If I have not made this point sufficiently clear in my de- 
scription, it arises from the circumstance that I desired to leave 
as much as possible of the general description given by my pre- 
decessors in the first edition. In the early part of the chapter 
the nucleus has not been mentioned, which is to be regretted, 
but in the latter part, containing the new matter, very frequent 
allusion to it has been made. 
It is this constant presence of the “nucleus” (bioplasm) in all 
tissues, at every period of life, at least as long as their activity 
lasts, to which I have long attached such great importance. I 
have endeavoured to show that this nucleus matter (bioplasm or 
germinal matter) is alone instrumental in the formation and re- 
moval of all textures, and at every period of life. This alone, 
of all the matter of the body, is in a living state, and capable 
of formation. Contrary to the generally received opinion, I have 
proved its presence even in all forms of yellow elastic tissue, and 
have shown that this texture is formed upon the same principles 
as other tissues. 
61, Grosvenor Street LIONEL S, BEALE 
NATURE 

367 

; Eclipse Photography 
From letters I have received, it appears that the table of 
exposures given in my ‘‘ Notes” is not correctly understood. It 
is necessary to explain again that the reason why the plate ex- 
posed 8 secs. gave a better result than the one exposed 30 secs. 
was because the eclipsed sun was nearly covered by cloud during 
the long exposure, and was quite clear during the short. The 
30 secs. plate would have been greatly over-exposed for certain 
details, but the outer corona would probably have been more 
clearly defined. By giving some plates short and others long 
exposures, it was intended to show different effects, as would 
certainly have been the case if we had been favoured with a 
cloudless sky. 
Iam informed that it is proposed to attempt to obtain uni- 
formity of results by using the same kinds of instruments and 
chemicals at all the stations. So far, good. But where is the 
certainty that the hands that will use the chemicals and instru- 
ments will produce equality of results? It is about the same as 
giving to a dozen men pens, ink, and paper, and expecting from 
them twelve specimens of caligraphy all alike. It would be 
preferable to decide beforehand whether negatives, or positives, 
or both are to be taken, and then to allow the operators to 
choose their own methods, A, BROTHERS 
The Museums of the Country 
Ir must be obvious to any scientific person visiting the pro- 
vincial museums of this country, how inefficient they are for the 
purpose of preserving Geological and Natural History collections, 
which are being formed more or less throughout the land. 
Whilst the British Association directs so much attention 
towards the advancement of science by means of investigation, 
and grants money for the purpose, it is short-sighted on its part 
to neglect the subject of Local Museums as means for preserving 
collections for the benefit of science and of posterity. 
To give an illustration of the way in which such museums are 
too often conducted. In a west-country museum there has lately 
been an addition, consisting ofa valuable collection of cave bones, 
and that is well-preserved and arranged, but why? Ina great 
measure because one of the members of the local society happens 
to take an interest in that department, But in what condition is 
the local geological collection? Ina state of neglect and dis- 
order, because in that department no one takes an interest. In 
other museums, where there is nobody to take an interest in the 
subject, the state of the collections may be imagined. 
It is much to be regretted that museums should remain in 
such a condition. The formation and preservation of local col- 
lections ought not to depend upon impulse, or the chance en- 
thusiasm of individuals, but should be the result of a generally 
recognised business-like system ; and it should be the interest of 
the various local societies to provide competent curators. It should 
also be the duty of these societies to preserve for the museum of 
the district the collections which have been formed,by local 
geologists or collectors, and not to permit them to be scattered or 
added to those in the British Museum and to that in Jermyn 
Street, where they may be said to become buried, and where the 
geological collections are already of an unmanageable sue 
ieee Se 

Thunderstorms 
THE prevalence of thunderstorms accompanied by serious 
accidents during the last two months has led me and many 
others to consider whether the phenomena of electrical discharges 
are thoroughly understood. We have heard of several instances 
in which the electric fluid ‘‘came down the chimney, filled a 
room with sulphurous vapour,” and terrified or injured persons 
sitting near the fire-places. One fatal accident took place within 
a few hundred yards of my ownhouse. A gentleman’s coachman 
driving along the turnpike road was instantaneously killed on his 
box, ‘‘ the lightning,” it is said, ‘‘ having struck him on the head 
and passed through his body to the iron work of the carriage, 
and thence to the ground.” From the appearance of the body 
there is no doubt that the fluid did pass through the poor fellow 
and caused his death, but my opinion is that he was killed by an 
ascending current which was attracted to the wheels of the car- 
riage, passed upwards through his body, issued at his head, and 
shivering his hat (made of felt, and therefore a bad conductor) to 
fragments, passed to the cloud above. During the same storm I 
was watching the lightning playing on the hill which is 
