14 
NATURE 
[Nov. 3, 1870 

Trotter lectures on ‘‘ Electricity,” Dr. Michael Foster on 
“ Physiology,” and Mr. Trotter on ‘* Elementary Botany.” In 
St. John’s, Mr. Main lectures on ‘‘ Chemistry,” and gives prac- 
tical instruction in the College Laboratory ; and Mr. Bonney 
lectures on ‘* Geology.” Most of these College lectures are open 
to all the students of the University. 
Tur Natural Science Demyship of 757. per annum for five 
years, at Magdalen College, Oxford, which was not awarded 
at the last examination, is announced for open competition in 
March next. Further particulars will be sent on application to 
the College. 
Tue splendid Physical Laboratory lately built at Oxford is 
opened this term for practical instruction in Physics, under the 
superintendence of Professor R. B. Clifton, F.R.S., assisted by 
two demonstrators. 
A CHEMICAL society has been established at Zurich under the 
presidency of Dr. Wisliccnus. 
We regret to have to announce the death, on October 26, 
of Dr. Thomas Anderson, Superintendent of the Calcutta 
Botanic Gardens. Dr. Anderson had greatly assisted in the 
establishment of the Cinchona plantations in British India, was 
the author of a large number of papers on botanical subjects, and 
at the time of his death (on sick leave in this country) was 
engaged, in conjunction with Dr. Hooker and Dr, Thomson, on 
the new Flora of India. 
Tue death is announced of the Rev. F. Bancks Falkner, late 
head-master of Appleby Grammar School, a gentleman well 
known from his numerous and elaborate meteorological reports 
and letters, which mostly appeared in the pages of the Standard 
and Scientific Opinion. 
Av the first of the winter sozrées to be held on Monday even- 
ing, November 14, at 8 o'clock, .at © 27, Harley Street, Mr. 
A. R. Wallace will read ‘An Answer to Dr. Hume, Lecky, and 
others, against Miracles.” A discussion will be invited. 
Tue following officers are proposed for election by the Council 
of the London Mathematical Society at the general meeting to be 
held on Tuesday evening next :—President, W. Spottiswoode ; 
Vice-presidents, Prof. Cayley, Prof. Henrici, Prof. H. J. S. 
Smith ; ‘Treasurer, Prof. Hirst ; Secretaries, H. Jenkins, R. 
‘Tucker. 
THE fourth opening conversazione of the Hackney Scientific 
Association took place on the 25th October, at the Meeting 
Rooms, New Tabernacle, Old Street Road, E.C. The objects 
exhibited were lent entirely by the members and some friends, 
and comprised an unusually fine display of microscopes of the 
most powerful description. Geology was well represented by a 
very rare collection of fossil mammalian teeth from the Freshwater 
Post-tertiary beds in the Lea Valley, exhibited by Mr. R. FE. 
Olliver, also a fine series of Coal-measure fossils by Mr. W. 
Appleford. Astronomy was unusually well represented by 
numerous objects, amongst which were two refractor telescopes, 
exhibiting convenient forms of mounting, also numerous sketches 
by Mr. W. R. Birt, exhibiting the most recent progress in seleno- 
graphy. We must not omit to notice a numerous collection of 
astronomical drawings, by Mr. A. P. Holden, amongst which 
were four very fine sketches of the recent great sun-spot. 
A NATURAL History Society was established a year ago in 
King Edward VI. Grammar School, Birmingham, and is now in 
active operation. A school collection has been commenced, 
with a view to a future museum. 
Tue Special Commissioners appointed for the purposes of 
the Public Schools Act, 1868, in virtue of the powers conferred 
upon them by that Act, have made five statutes for determining 
and establishing the constitution of the New Governing Bodies 


of the Schools of Winchester, Harrow, Rugby, Shrewsbury, and 
Charterhouse. These statutes have been laid before Her Majesty 
in Council, and are published in the London Gazette of Tuesday, 
Oct. 25. Notice is giventhat it is lawful for the bodies or persons) 
authorised so to do in that Act, within two months from the date 
of the publication of this notification, to petition Her Maiesty in 
Council to withhold her approval from the whole or any part of 
such statutes. 
Aentin Baine 
As the subject of hereditary deformities is attracting some 
attention in our columns, it may be worth while to call attention 
to Brown-Séquard’s experiments on epileptic guinea-pigs detailed 
at the recent meeting of the British Association. Dr. Brown- : 
Séquard produced epileptic fits in the guinea-pigs either by the 
section of one-half of the spinal cord, or by the division of the 
sciatic nerve on one or both sides. During the fits it sometimes 
happens that the hind foot gets between the teeth, and is bitten. 
The animal, on recovery from the fit, tastes the blood, and if it 
be one in which the sciatic nerve has been divided, proceeds to 
nibbl off the two outer toes, which have entirely lost their sensi- 
bility from the operation on the nerve. In breeding from pairs 
of this kind, the offspring is without the two toes of which the yy 
parents have deprived themselves ; and in these cases all the off- 
spring become, as they grow up, perfectly epileptic ; while in 
ordinary cases epilepsy is only rarely transmitted hereditarily. 
Other peculiarities existing in these epileptic guinea-pigs were 
also found to be transmitted to their offspring ; and in dissection 
of the hereditarily malformed animals, a node was found on the 
sciatic nerve corresponding to that formed after section of the : 
nerve in the parent, 
Ir may interest some readers to know that the Board of Trinity 
College, Dublin, have expended about 2,000/. in draining the 
College park. Situate as the park is, in the very centre of the 
city, its drainage will confer a considerable benefit on the city. 
Dublin will also be much improved by the space of ground 
which the College authorities are giving to the city in College 
Green, as well as ornamented by the new cut stone wall and 
handsome iron railings which take the place of the old irregular 
quadrangle in front of the College, The College share of the 
expenses amounts to 2,000/, 
WE have received the half-yearly Report of the Marlborough 
College Natural History Society, from which it appears that the 
Society has entered on the seventh year of its existence. During 
these years it has undoubtedly greatly strengthened the love of 
Natural Science among the a/ummni of the College, an evidence of 
which is the publication during the last half-year of “The Birds 
of Marlborough” by an old member of the Society, E. F. im 
Thurm, a little volume for which we would wish a greatly 
increased circulation. The officers regret that the number of 
members of the Society is not yet commensurate with the number 
in the College who take an interest in Natural History. Inno 
more practical way can the love of a study of nature be fostered 
than by the encouragement of societies similar to this, 
Ir is stated that the Botanical Gardens at Strasburg were used 
during the siege as a burying-ground. 
THE twentieth part of the late Prof. Schnizlein’s ‘‘ Icono-_ 
graphia familiarum naturalium regni vegetabilis,” is published 
under the superintendence of Dr. Eichler, of Munich. This ~ 
magnificent work, commenced seven and twenty years since, is 
now completed in twenty parts. 
As Colombia in the last year exported about 3,500,000lhs. of Ja 
cinchona bark, valued at 87,000/., the Government there naturally y 
looks with some interest on the trade, and is desirous to improve 
it. It is curious to see in the official report of the Secretary of 
the Treasury a detailed accourt of the successful measures of ~ 
our Government for the cultivation of cinchona in India. 
