
Nov. z; 1870] 
NATURE 
19 

tradicted by Ecker, Vogt, and Callender ; but Broca’s, that it | 
is normally heavier than the right, is confirmed by Dr. Boyd. 
The author then spoke of the possible truth of Brown-Séquard’s 
theory of the left hemisphere presiding specially over animal, the 
right over organic functions. Normal aphasia with right hemi- 
plegia was contrasted with cases cited from Dr. Ogle and Dr. 
Hughlings Jackson, of left-handed persons with left hemiplegia 
and aphasia. The primitive condition was probably one of per- 
fect bilateral structural symmetry and ambidextrous function. 
The normal condition at present is the result of hereditarily 
transmitted specialisation of structure and functions, both the re- 
sul! of some advantage resulting to individuals using the right 
hand, eye, or foot, for the performance of more specialised 
functions than those of swimming, climbing, &c., such for 
instance as carrying weapons or nursing children. Lefthanded- 
ness would then be explained as a more or less complete re- 
version to an ancestral condition, Right and Lefthandedness 
should, therefore, be compared with such deviation in function 
and structure as is observed for instance in the clele of the 
higher Crustacea, while transposition of viscera is to be classed 
with the reversed twist occasionally seen in the skull of 
_ Pleuronectide and the shells and entire bodies of Gasteropoda. 
Professors Burdon Sanderson and S. Stricker read a paper on 
A New Method of Studying the Capillary Circulation in Mam- 
malia, he circulation was studied in the omentum of a 
guinea-pig immersed in a solution of salt and water of a certain 
strength and temperature, the animal being thoroughly chlo- 
ralised. 
Contributions to the Migration Theory.—Richard Caton, M.D. 
This paper contained an account of a number of experiments on 
the capillary circulation of the frog, fish, and tadpole in reference 
to the interesting phenomenon of the migration of blood-cor- 
" puscles out of the vessels. The opinion was expressed that this 
occurrence was chiefly due to congestion, and also that there 
were grounds for considerable doubt as to whether it had any 
connection with the suppurative process, as hitherto supposed to 
be the case. This paper was read immediately after those of Dr. 
Burdon Sanderson and Prof. Stricker, and the three were dis- 
_cussed together. 
On the Antiseptic Treatment of Contagia as Illustrative of 
the Germ Theory of Disease.—Mr. Hope. The anthor gave 
some valuable details as to his treatment of the rinderpest which 
broke out upon his experimental farm in Essex in 1867. The 
majority of between 260 and 270 cows were attacked by that 
disease. He injected carbolic acid through either the mouth or 
rectum, and 111 of those cows so treated recovered. The re- 
mainder not so dealt with died or had to be slaughtered. He 
_also argued that the chemical instead of the medicinal treatment 
a eas 3 
of contagion was much better both in respect to men and the 
lower animals. He also gave illustrative cases of scarlet fever, 
ae the view of showing that the sipping of a very weak solution 
of carbolic acid, sprinkling body, clothes, carpets, &c., was 
highly beneficial in its effects.—Dr. Baylis, medical officer of 
~ health, Birkenhead, agreed with the reader in his views regarding 
-rinderpest, but not entirely with his treatment of fever. He 
(Dr. Baylis), speaking of the unsatisfactory manner in which that 
‘subject was treated by the British Association, expressed a hope 
ated before next year’s meeting they would institute some expe- 
‘timents as to the action of disinfectants. 
: © Department of Ethnology and Anthropology 
Dr. King read a paper On Blight in Man, and the Animal 
and -the Vegetable World, Waving defined the terms blight, 
contagion, and infection, the author proceeded to describe the 
‘Signs by which their presence could be traced, and enumerated 
the various diseases which were supposed to be contagious or in- 
fectious, referring incidentally to small-pox, which could not, in 
is opinion, be averted by vaccination. He thought that disease 
was the result of a local impurity of the atmosphere, and that 
whereas a healthy person might be affected if he went to the 
locally impure spot, the party suffering could not convey it to 
another upon his removal to a different locality. 
Dr. Hitchman read a paper on the Anatomy of Intellect, 
detailing numerous physiological experiments in regard to the 
nature of life and mind in man and animals. Mental phenomena, 
he maintained, did not always imply the existence of brain, or 
cephalic ganglia, or of nerves conveying impressions to cerebral 
organisation at all. Mind is not invariably dependent upon a 
— condition of brain—this organ being often sound in 
a 
7 








acute and chronic cases of insanity, the seat of disease being 
found, according to statistical observation, at home and abroad, 
in the alimentary canal, liver, uterus, spleen, heart, and lungs, 
in at least a moiety of all cases. This is true, even in the most 
severe mental affection known to the physician, paralytic de- 
mentia, The mental principle is not confined to brain molecules, 
but is equally contained in parts far distant from them, and is 
separable from the body, as mind, in a latent state, as well as an 
immaterial new individual. The whole mental organisation is 
specially operant independently of all molecular changes in gan- 
glious and nervous cords, though the psychical mode of action is 
largely determined in the genus /omo and higher forms of animal 
nature, by the modification of structure and physiological con- 
dition of each anatomical organ ; both healthy and morbid 
changes show there is a certain point in the physical history of 
instinet and intelligence, at once and for ever fatal to the doctrine 
of Professor Tyndall, and other physicists, viz., that thought, 
sense, emotion, nay, every fact of consciousness, are due ex- 
clusively to molecular motions of brain. 
On the Relation of the anctent Moabites to neighbouring Nations, 
as disclosed in the newly discovered Moabite Stone.—Rev. Dr. 
Ginsburgh. This stone was found as recently as the year 1868, 
during researches in Palestine ; the inscription occupied 34 lines, 
and was written in a language which traced its origin to a date 
long prior to the Christian era. The translation looked like a 
chapter of the Bible; and when it was borne in mind that of 15 
cities mentioned in the Old Testament, 11 were referred to on 
the stone, no one could doubt that the Moabites were in a far 
greater state of civilisation than was generally supposed. The 
inscription dated back as far as 900 years before Christ, and was, 
therelore, older than two-thirds of the Old Testament. As the 
result of careful study, he came to the conclusion that an organised 
Temple service was observed amongst the Jews out of Palestine, 
and that that service must have been very much akin to the service 
of the Moabites; that at a period goo years before Christ, the word 
“*Jehovah”—although subsequently avoided with so much per- 
sistency—was so often upon the lips of the Hebrew race, that it 
passed over to a neighbouring nation ; that the simplicity of the 
language was a striking evidence of the advanced stage of civilisa- 
tion of the Moabites, and that in prowess they were superior to 
the Jews. 
The following papers were read relating to the Australians, 
their language, and mental characteristics. The first paper 
was by Mr. C. S. Wake, and was entitled, Zhe Physical 
Characteristics of the Australian Aborigines ; the second was 
sent by Dr. Bleek, and was on Zhe fosition of Australian 
Languages. The author traced certain analogies between 
the several Australian languages, placing them all in Max 
Miiller’s great nomadic or Turanian class; and although 
the Australians have, with few exceptions, no grammatical 
distinctions of gender, the author does not think that this 
necessarily excludes them from the sex-denoting family. The 
use of suffixes in the Australian languages led him to infer 
that they have been derived from the more temperate zones. In- 
deed, the nations using suffix-pronominal languages are found on 
the outskirts of the tropics, and in temperate and cold latitudes, 
while those speaking prefix-pronominal tongues are restricted to 
the tropics ; and again, the suffix-pronominal class are addicted 
to sidereal worship, and the prefix-pronominal to ancestor worship. 
The author, however, carefully showed that the physical descent 
of a race by no means necessarily coincides with the descent of 
its language ; and, in conclusion, the learned doctor expressed 
his belief, based on a study o! the mythology and the present 
customs of the Australians, that these have degenerated from a 
higher state of civilisation. The third and concluding paper in 
this series was by Mr. C. S. Wake, and was on Zhe Mental 
Characteristics of the A ustralian Aborigines. 
SecTion G,—MECHANICAL SCIENCE 
Rolling or Shaping Axles.—Mr. Alfred Bowater. This paper 
embraced a description of a new machine, existing in model, for 
the shaping of railway axles by rolling pressure. Whereas by 
the method of using the steam hammer an axle required half an 
hour in shaping. this rolling process would effect it in a superior 
manner in two minutes. ‘The rolled axle was not only superior 
in quality, but was more uniform in size, and could be produced 
much more cheaply. The machine consisted of three rollers, 
which were regulited so that they might gradually press closer 
together, thus reducing the diameter of the bar and extending 
