144 
Jurassic characters predominate in Nos. 1 and 2; No. 3 is 
rather cretaceous ; hence the divisional line, 7/ drawz. at all, 
will fall between Nos. 2 and 3. But the author is of opinion 
that there is no necessity for drawing this line, and he remarks 
that the whole of the four stages are combined by strong palzon- 
tological analogies. Species pass from 1 to 2, from 2 to 3, and 
from 3 to 4; Nos. 2 and 3 especially, which would be separated 
by the line of demarcation of the two periods have about one- 
third of their species in common, This line would therefore be 
a very feeble one, and we should have to admit that in this 
Tithonian basin at any rate the separation of the cretaceous from 
the jurassic periods is singularly compromised. 
[We have given so long an analysis of the argumentative part 
of Professor Pictet’s paper, that we cannot refer to his concluding 
remarks, except to say that they contain some important ob- 
servations on the method to be followed in geological 
investigations. | 
PHYSIOLOGY 
Reaction of Nerve-Substance. 
FUNKE some years ago affirmed that nerve, like muscle, became 
acid after work, and at death, In this he was supported by 
Heidenhain, and opposed by Ranke and others. He now 
reasserts his former statement, using the delicate reagent cyazzin 
instead of litmus, and finds strong proofs of the correctness of his 
views. The matter is not unimportant, as it is one of the few 
bases on which rests the broad general assertion that nervous 
[and mental] action is accompanied by material changes. [Cen- 
tralbt. med. Wissensch. 1869, No. 46.] 
Action of Muscarin. 
SCHMIEDEBERG and KoppE have published an account of the 
pharmacy and physiological action of mxscavin, the active con- 
stituent of agaricus muscarius (amanita muscaria). This mush- 
room poison seems to be not unlike the Calabar bean in its action, 
and belladonna is in many respects antagonistic to it. 
MAx SCHULTZE’S Archiv fiir Microscopische Anatomie v. 4, 
contains, among other papers : 
‘‘Ueber die Nervenendigung in der Netzhaut des Auges bei 
Menschen und bei Thieren.” Von Max Schultze. Description 
of certain fibrillee ensheathing the rods and cones of the verte- 
brate retina, and believed by Max Schultze to be the real nerve 
endings. An important memoir, tending to harmonise the results 
obtained from the study of invertebrate and vertebrate eyes. 
“‘Untersuchungen iiber den feineren Bau des Pancreas.” Von 
Dr. Giovanni Saviotti aus Turin. Description by a pupil of 
KOllicker’s, of fine intercellular passages in the pancreas, similar 
to those discovered by Hering in the liver. ‘‘Die haaretragenden 
Sinneszellen in der Oberhaut der Mollusken.” Von Dr. W. Flem- 
ming in Rostock. A detailed description of certain fimbriated 
cells in the epidermis of acephalous mollusks, and gasteropods, 
not wholly unlike, and occuring in the midst of, ciliate cells, but 
believed by Flemming to be organs of sense. ‘‘ Ueber Radiolarien 
und Radiolarien-artige Rhizopoden des siissen Wassers.” Von 
Dr. Richard Greeff, Privatdocenten in Boon. Description of 
species of Clathrulina, Acanthocystis, and several species of new 
genera Astrodisculus, Hyalolampe, with discussion of their habits, 
anatomy, &c. 
PFLUGER’s Archiv, ii. 9 and 10, contains :—‘‘ Quecksilberluft- 
pumpe.” Von Ii. Busch. A modification of the mercurial pump 
employed by Pfliiger. The chief novelty is the occlusion of the 
orifices of the various parts by means of mercurial shoulder cups. 
“Das Unterscheidungsvermogen des Geschmacksinnes fiir Con- 
centrationsdifferenzen der schmeckbaren Korper.” Von Fr. 
Keppler in Tiibingen. Keppler found it easiest to distinguish 
by taste variations of strength in ‘‘saline” solutions, less easy 
in ‘facid” or ‘*sweet” liquids, and least easy in ‘‘ bitter” 
liquids, though bitter substances (such as quinine) are those which 
require the smallest quantity to make a definite impression. 
“ Ueber die Abhangigkeit der Leber yon dem Nervensystem.” 
Von E. Pfliiger. Nebst Tafel II. und III. An important 
memoir in which Pfliiger extends to the liver, the observations 
already made by him on the salivary glands and pancreas, 
affirming the direct continuation of the nerve fibres with the 
secreting cells. “* The hepatic cell is a nucleated swelling of the 
axis cylinder of a nerve.” Contains also many other points of 
interest, touching the structure of the liver, and strongly 
supports the views of Dr. Beale, “Ueber den Einfluss des 
NATORE 
[ Dec. 2, 1869 
Cyangases auf Haemoglobin nach spectroscopischen Beobach- 
tungen.”” Von E. Ray Lankester. A short note affirming, in 
opposition to some German observers, that cyanogen forms a 
definite compound with Haemoglobin analogous to those of 
carbonic oxide, &c. “ Zur Kenntniss der Wirkungen des Wein- 
geistes.” Von Dr. F. Obernier, Privatdocent und Assistenzarzt 
der medic. Klinik zu Bonn. A somewhat polemic paper con- 
testing the views of Bouvier, &c., noticed in NATURE, No. 2. 
SOCIETIES AND ACADEMIES 
LONDON 
Royal Society, November 30.—Anniversary Meeting. —The 
President delivered his annual address, in which he touched upon 
several points of interest. One of the first subjects to which he 
drew attention was the Royal Society’s Catalogue of Scientific 
Papers, the printing of which proceeds satisfactorily. He 
remarked: ‘;While the aid to be derived to scientific research from 
the index according to authors’ names is fully recognised, there 
can be no doubt that the value of the Catalogue will be greatly 
enhanced by the fulfilment of the second part of the plan 
announced in the preface, namely, by the- publication of an 
Alphabetical Index of Subjects. The preparation of such an 
“Index Rerum” as is contemplated, has been for some time 
a subject of anxious, as well as careful, consideration by the 
Library Committee, and they have at length arrived at what, 
they have reason to hope, will be a most satisfactory solution of 
the question through a communication with Professor Julius 
Victor Carus, of Leipsic, who they found would be willing 
himself to undertake the task. I am happy to announce that 
the Council, acting on the recommendation of the Library 
Committee, have entered into a very satisfactory arrangement 
with Professor Carus, who will be able to commence his labours 
in the ensuing spring. From the well-known scientific accom- 
plishments of Professor Carus, and his extensive experience in the 
peculiar work to be performed, as well as the confidence which 
will be reposed in him by all acquainted with the nature of the 
undertaking and interested in its success, we may consider the 
Society most fortunate in securing his services.” The Meteor- 
ological Department of the Board of Trade, superintended by a 
Committee of the Royal Society, was next referred to ; it is stated 
to be making good progress. Concerning the great Melbourne 
telescope the President remarked: ‘‘Its performance since erection 
does not appear to have given the same satisfaction at Melbourne 
that it did at Dublin; but the defects complained of may arise 
partly from an imperfect knowledge of the principles of the instru- 
ment and inexperience intheuse of so large a telescope, partly from 
experimental alterations made at Melbourne, and partly from 
atmospherical circumstances. Those who are acquainted with 
the difficulties which Sir J. F. W. Herschel experienced at the 
Cape, will not be surprised that they should be felt at Melbourne 
to a much greater extent, on account of the far greater size of 
the speculum. But I have no doubt that if the instrument be 
kept in its original condition and as carefully adjusted as it 
was at Dublin, it will perform as well in ordinary observing 
weather. The high impression of its power produced by the 
trials which were made of it when at Dublin, is maintained by 
a sketch of a portion of the Great Nebula near 7 Argus, made 
by M. Le Sueur during two nights in June last. Some change 
in this nebula from the time when it was described by Sir J. 
F. W. Herschel had been indicated by Mr. Powell and other 
observers, though with instruments so much inferior in power to 
his 20-foot reflector, that little reliance could be placed on them ; 
however, here the evidences of change are indisputable. The 
peculiar opening in the nebula which Sir John Herschel has 
compared to a Lemniscate, is still very sharply marked, but its 
shape and magnitude have altered. Its northern extremity is 
opened out into a sort of estuary; one of the remarkable con- 
strictions seen in 1834 has disappeared, and the other has shifted 
its place. Two stars which were then exactly on the edges ot 
the opening are now at some distance within the bright nebulosity ; 
the nebula has become comparatively faint near 7 Argus. Another 
remarkable change is the formation of a V-shaped bay south and 
preceding the Lemniscate, whose edges are so bright that if it 
had then existed it could not have been overlooked in the 20-foot 
reflector. Another feature, which, however, was perhaps not 
within reach of that telescope, is an oval which M. Le Sueur 
describes as ‘full of complicated dark markings and pretty 
bright nebular filaments.’ The angular magnitude of the 
