June 22, 1882] 



NATURE 



189 



rately from the fundamental, unless special means be adopted to 

 render them audible, but they add their vibrations to those of 

 the fundamental. 



When two sounds are heard simultaneously, they give a con- 

 cord, or a discoid, but each may be separately distinguished by 

 the ear. Two colours, on the other hand, produce a single 

 impression on the eye, and it is doubtful whether we can analyse 

 them. But smell resembles sound and not light in this particular. 

 For in a mixture of smells, it is possible, by practice, to distin- 

 guish each ingredient, and as I have shown, to match the sensa- 

 tion by a mixiure. 



With regard to the mechanism by which smell is conveyed to 

 the nerve, all that can be said is pure speculation. But as it is 

 supposed that the vibrations of sound are conveyed to the auditory 

 nerve through the small cirrhi, or hairs which spring out of 

 round cylindrical nerve-cells in the superficial layer of connective 

 tissue of the epithelium of the internal ear, and that each is 

 attuned to some particular note of vibrations, so it may be 

 imagined that the hair-like processes connected with the spindle- 

 shaped cells, themselves communicating with the nerve-fibres of 

 the olfactory nerve, are the recipients of the vibrations causing 

 smell. Although the rate of such vibrations is extremely rapid, no 

 less indeed in the case of hydrogen than 4,400,000,000,000,000, 

 or the four quadrillions, four trillionth part of a second, yet the 

 wave-length is by no means so small, for it averages the 2-iooth 

 of an inch, a magnitude quite visible with the naked eye. And 

 hydrogen has no smell ; those bodies which have smell, and 

 higher molecular weight, must necessarily have a slower period 

 of vibration, and possibly greater wave-length. 



It is doubtful whether there exists a lower limit to our sense of 

 smell. The vapours of osmic acid, carbon tetrabromide, sele 

 nium, tellurium, and arsenicous and antimonious oxides are 

 among the heaviest known, and they have a most distinct smell. 

 There appears to be a limit in practice, however, owing to the 

 non-volatility of substances of high molecular weight at such 

 temperatures at which smell may be perceived. The intense 

 perfume of flowers is to be ascribed to the terpenes, of which 

 common turpentine is one, or to their products of oxidation, and 

 these bodies all possess a molecular weight of 136, and the 

 specific gravity 6S, a specific gravity which appears to excite the 

 olfactory nerve most powerfully. 



I bring forward the theory adduced with great diffidence. 

 The problem is to be solved, in my opinion, by a careful measure- 

 ment of the " lines " in the spectrum of heat-rays, and the calcu- 

 lation of the fundamentals, which this theory supposes to be the 

 cause of smell. Such measurements and calculations, even if 

 they proved the theory untenable, would have great value for 

 their own sake, and labour expended in this direction would not 

 be lost. Whether successful or not, it would at least be a first 

 assault on what old John Bunyan called " Nose-gate of the City 

 of Mansoul." William Ramsay 



University College, Bristol 



UNIVERSITY AND EDUCATIONAL 

 INTELLIGENCE 



Cambridge. — A syndicate, on which Dr. Ferrers, Prof- 

 Stokes, Prof. Balfour, Mr. Todhunter and Mr. Trotter may be 

 taken to represent the interests of science, has been appointed to 

 frame regulations for the new degrees of Doctor of Science and 

 of Letters. Candidates for these degrees are required by the 

 new statutes to have made some original contribution to the 

 advancement of science or of learning. 



In the last Mathematical Tripos under the old regulations 

 (January, 18S2) the full marks were 27,150, and the average 

 marks of the first ten wranglers were 6712, of the last ten 2890 ; 

 tirst ten senior, optimes average 2093 ; first ten junior optimes, 

 S18. Out of 1407 marks given to the problems in the first three 

 days, the first ten wranglers gained an average of 255 ; out of 

 S161 given to the problems in the last five days, the same ten 

 averaged 849. 



An important report by Mr. G. II. Darwin, who was the 

 additional examiner in the same tripos, criticises severely the 

 style in which the work of many men was done. Not a few 

 sent up answers in atrocious handwriting, and omitted to define 

 many symbols employed. The subjects which exhibited the 

 average weakness of grasp most flagrantly was thermodynamics. 

 A great many men had read something of it, but very few really 

 understood what they attempted to explain. "Extraordinary 

 muddle and confusion " was sent up in answer to a question on 



the absolute scale of temperature. On another question, while 

 the very elements of the subject were unknown to those who 

 answered, the same men reproduced faultlessly the algebraical 

 calculation of the thermodynamic function for a perfect gas. 

 Mr. Darwin strongly recommends such changes in the style of 

 questions as that half intelligence may be more stringently 

 treated, and men induced to read less and master more, and to 

 gain a comprehension of physical principles. 



The affiliation of University College, Nottingham, to Cam- 

 bridge University has been formally recommended, so soon as 

 the constitution of its governing body has been altered so as to 

 admit a representative of the University. Scientific subjects 

 have full recognition in the college course of study, by which 

 exemption from one year's residence at Cambridge may be 

 obtained, provided the student takes a degree in honours. 



When Statute B comes into operation, the present Board of 

 Natural Science Studies is to be replaced by two Boards — that 

 of Physical and Chemical Studies and that of Biological and 

 Geological Studies. These Boards will include, besides the 

 Professors and Readers belonging to these stud.es, the Tripos 

 Examiners of two years in the respective subjects belonging to 

 the Boards, and three members of the Senate elected to serve 

 for three year-. 



The second part of the Natural Sciences Tripos this year has 

 no name in the first class, a result probably attributable to the 

 transition state of the Tripos. Next June a better result may 

 be anticipated, unless students with one consent let alone the 

 more advanced parts of all the subjects. If this is the conse- 

 quence of the recent changes, it will be much to be regretted. 



Oxford. — The term that has just ended has been chiefly 

 remarkable for the fact that the new Statutes have come into 

 operation in default of obstruction in Parliament. Already at 

 several of the colleges, tutors and lecturers who have vacated 

 their fellowships by marriage, have been re-elected " official 

 Fellows ; " and others who hold fellowships under the old 

 ordinances have transferred themselves to the new official class. 



But little legislation has been effected in Convocation : the 

 only proposal of the Hebdomadal Council which provoked oppo- 

 sition was that to raise the University dues from five shillings to 

 seven and sixpence a term, and to double the fee for Respon- 

 sions (smalls), making it 2/. instead of I/. Both proposals were 

 carried on a division. The new Statute on Private Halls — con- 

 taining provisions for bringing the master and students of such 

 halls under the direct supervision of the University — was passed 

 after being amended in Congregation. A Statute postponing 

 the date of, the University Examinations was also passed ; so 

 that in future the final honour schools will not commence before 

 the last week of term. 



During Michaelmas term, there will be offered two scholar- 

 ships for proficiency in Natural Science. At Balliol there will 

 be an election to a scholarship on the foundation of Miss Hannah 

 Brakenbury, " for the encouragement of the study of Natural 

 Science," worth 80/. a year (55/. and tuition free), tenable during 

 residence for four years : open to all such candidates as shall not 

 have exceeded eight terms from matriculation. This examina- 

 tion will begin on Thursday, November 16, at ten o'clock. Papers 

 will be set in the following subjects : — (i)Mechanical Philosophy 

 and Physics; (2) Chemistry; (3) Biology. But candidates will 

 not be expected to offer themselves in more than two of these. 

 There will be a Practical Examination in one or more of the 

 above subjects, if the Examiners think it expedient. There will 

 also be an optional paper in Mathematics ; and the literary 

 qualifications of the candidates will be tested by an English 

 essay, or by a paper of general questions. 



At Trinity College one Millard and Combe Scholarship, of 

 the annual value of 80/., without limit of age, will be awarded 

 in October next for proficiency in Natural Science if any Candi- 

 date of sufficient merit offers himself. The Scholarship is 

 tenable in the first instance for two years, and will be prolonged 

 for two years more, if the President and Fellows are satisfied 

 with the industry and good conduct of the scholar. For 

 special reasons it may be prolonged for a fifth year. The 

 subjects of examination will be Chemistry and Physics. Candi- 

 dates may also offer Mathematics, if they wish to do so 

 and give notice a week before the examination. Special weight 

 will be attached to excellence in one or two subjects, rather than 

 to a less thorough knowledge of all. Candidates will also have 

 an opportunity of doing one Classical paper. The scholar 

 elected will not necessarily be required to commence residence 



