Dec. 31, 1885] 



NA TURE 



213 



varying in diameter from 2 to lo micro-millimetres, usually in seve- 

 ral layers, other endophyllic hyph^e penetrating from them into the 

 root between the epidermal cells, these being still slenderer than 

 those of the envelope. By this structure, the formation by the 

 tree of root-hairs is entirely prevented, and it is through it alone 

 that nutriment is absorbed out of Ihe soil. It makes its appearance 

 first on lateral roots of the young seedling, and is constantly being 

 replaced by fresh formations on older roots. Dr. Frank found this 

 Mycorhiza invariably present on every root examined of trees be- 

 longing to the Cupuliferse, also occasionally on SalicaceEC and 

 Coniferae, but not on woody plants belonging to other natural orders, 

 nor on any herbaceous plant. He also regards the phenomenon as 

 an exam|3le of symbiosis, comparable in all essential points to 

 that of lichen?, the Mycorhiza corresponding to the fungal 

 element, the tree itself to the algal gonidia. Dr. Woronin 

 confirms these statements in relation to Coniferoe, SalicaceiTe, 

 and som ; other trees, and thinks it probable that the fungus is 

 the mycelium of a Boletus. He regards it, however, as truly 

 parasitic. 



In the discussion which took place at Strassburg, Dr. Frank 

 stated that the fact of this phenomenon having been observed 

 especially in the CupuliferEe, was probably due to the partiality 

 of these trees for soil rich in humus. He had observed it also 

 in the Abietinea; among Coniferse, the Salicacea;, the alder and 

 birch among Betulaceas, and in one instance each in the lime and 

 blackthorn. He regards it as probably much more widely 

 diffused than previous observations had suggested. Prof, de 

 Bary, who accepts the explanation of the phenonenon as an 

 example of symbiosis, pointed out that a similar relationship 

 has long been known between Orchideae and fungus hyphs. 

 Observations in the same direction have also been made by 

 Riess anil Janczewski. Alfred W. Bennett 



NORWEGIAN TOADSTOOLS 



A MONG the various interesting facts regarding the history of 

 "^ cryptogamic plants given in the new edition of Prof Schiibe- 

 ler's great work on the flora of Norway, special interest attaches 

 to the results of his experiments on Amanita muscaria, one of 

 the commonest of the Norwegian toadstools. According to Dr. 

 Schiibeler, we have in this mushroom the source whence the 

 ancient Scandinavians derived a preparation whose intoxicating 

 and half poisonous properties induced symptoms of frenzied 

 excitement, similar in all respects to those exhibited by 

 the old northern warriors when taking part in a " Ber- 

 serksgang." which appears to have been very similar to 

 the so-called "running amok." Prof Schiibeler founds his 

 opinion on the evidence given by the Russian writers, Kras- 

 cheninnikow, Erman, and others, as to the elTects produced 

 on the Kamchatkans by a decoction of the Amanita, which they 

 used as an intoxicating drink until they were brought into closer 

 contact with the Russians, from whom they have acquired the 

 practice of drinking spirits. In the present day this use of the 

 Amanita seems to be limited to the nomadic Korjakes, with 

 whom the neighbouring Kamchatkan tribes carry on a profitable 

 trade, giving only one or two of these mushrooms in exchange 

 for a reindeer. According to the testimony of the Kamchatkans, 

 the first symptom noticed after drinking this so-called " Mucha- 

 mor liqueur," one of whose ingredients is said to be the juice of 

 Epilobmm angusti folium, is a trembling in the limbs, followed 

 after a time by great flushing of the face and general excitement 

 and irritability, which in the case of many is accompanied with 

 an abnormal increase of muscular force. Thus an instance is 

 recorded in which a man while under the influence of this 

 stimulant ran 15 versts carrying a sack of flour on his back 

 weighing 120 lbs., which in his ordinai-y condition he could 

 barely lift. On comparing the symptoms of intoxication by 

 muchamor recorded among the nomads of North- E^astern Asia 

 whh the accounts given by Icelandic and other northern 

 authorities of the condition of the Berserkers in their frenzy, Dr. 

 Schiibeler- finds such complete harmony that there can be no 

 doubt of the identity of the causes to which both may be re- 

 ferred. We know, moreover, that while the descriptions of the 



Berserkergang forcibly recall the frenzy induced by the use of 

 hachish, or opium, neither of these stimulants could have been 

 attainable in Iceland in ancient times, nor could brandy have 

 been used by the northraen, since it was not introduced into 

 Norway before 15.II. The employment of mead or ale by the 

 Bersekers is equally negatived by the symptoms recorded, which 



the writer seems to have traced beyond a doubt to their true 

 source. It is worthy of notice that as early as the beginning of 

 the eleventh century the law-givers of Iceland recognised the 

 Berserkergang as a manifestation of frenzy, for which the actors 

 were to be held accountable, while a law was introduced in 1123 

 which ordained that every man who took part in these outbreaks 

 should be banished from the island for three years, and that a 

 simUar punishment should be awarded to all who were present 

 and who did not help to bind the Berserkers and watch over 

 them till their excitement had passed away. 



SCIENTIFIC SERIALS 



Bulletin dc t Academie royale de Belgique, October 10.— 

 Note on the crepuscular lights observed towards the end of the 

 year 18S3, by M. Hirn. A new explanation is here suggested 

 of this phenomenon, which is attributed to a highly electric 

 condition of the upper atmospheric layers in combination with 

 particles of matter floating round the globe, and possibly due to 

 the Krakatoa eruption. — On the notion of force in modem 

 science, by M. Hirn. In this essay force is removed from the 

 almost mystic domain it has hitherto occupied, and brought 

 within the sphere of actual experience. The question to be 

 determined by science is, whether gravitation, electricity, heat, 

 &c., are to be regarded as distinct entities, or difi'erent forms of 

 the same element absolutely distinct from what we call ponder- 

 able matter. But owing to the prevailing confusion regarding 

 the nature of force, it is better for the present to study its various 

 dynamic manifestations, than to attempt to reduce them to one 

 element.— Analysis of some rocks from the "rivers of stone" in 

 the Falkland Islands, by A. Renard. Amongst these specimens 

 is a square prism with regular polyhedric breakage showing 

 a granitoid texture, and altogether typical of the eruptive 

 masses frequently interspersed amongst Palccozoic formations 

 like those of the Falkland Islands. This fragment must be 

 classed in the group of diabase rocks, and may serve to throw 

 some light on the origin of the remarkable "rivers of stone" 

 described by Darwin and Wyville Thomson.— Note on the 

 gemmation of the channels in the planet Mars, by F. Terby. It 

 is suggested that this curious phenomenon may be the beginning 

 of a periodical enlargement of the channels due to causes for 

 which no analogy can be found on the terrestrial globe.— The 

 ancient geography of Western Asia elucidated by means of the 

 cuneiform inscriptions, by M. Delattre. By a careful study of 

 the itineraries and warlike expeditions described in the Assyrian 

 and Babylonian records the author endeavours to determine the 

 position of numerous localities unknown to the Greek and Latin 

 writers.— The origin of the Flemish people, by L. Vander- 

 kinden. In reply to M. Wauters' recent memoir, the author 

 shows conclusively that the Saxon and Frisian elements are 

 largely represented in the present populations especially of 

 Western Flanders. 



Rivista ScuntifiiO-InJuariale, October 31.— Paramagnetism 

 and diamagnetism, by Prof Carlo Marangoni.--On the velocity 

 of the rays polarised round the interior of a body endowed with 

 rotatory power, by Prof. Augusto Righi.— Experiments on the 

 heating of boilers with petroleum, by the editor.— On the native 

 arsenic of the Valtellona district, by D. Bizzari and G. 

 Campani. 



Fendiconti del Reale Istituto Lomhardo, November 12.— 

 Critical and exegetic essays on the sources of !■; >man juris- 

 prudence, by Prof C. Ferrini.— Theoretical treatment of the 

 question of the ventilation of rooms, showing that in all cases 

 the ventilating apparatus should be placed above, by 1 rof. R. 

 Ferrini —On a question of priority of discovery in bacteno- thera- 

 peutics, by E. L. Maggi.— Analytical functions of a smgle 

 variant with any number of periods, by E. F. Casorati.— 

 Meteorological observations made at the Brera Observatoiy, 

 Milan, during the months of August and September. 



SOCIETIES AND ACADEMIES 



London 



Royal Society, December 17.— "An Experimental Investi- 

 gation into the Form of the Wave-Surface of Quartz," by James 

 C. McConnel, B.A. Communicated by R. T. Glazebrook, 

 M.A., F.R.S. , 



The paper contains an account of a number of mci\-.urementsot 



