Oct 15, 1874] 



NATURE 



at enabling women who can spare a few evenings a week to 

 obtain gradually a liberal education. The fees are very low, and 

 ' the classes numerous. A library and a coffee and conversation 

 room will, it is hoped, promote friendly intercourse amongst the 

 members. Many have promised to leach or occasionally lecture, 

 amongst whom we see the names of Mr. J. G. Fitch, Mr. Thos. 

 IIughes2 Q.C. (Principal of the Working Men's College), Mr. 

 Litchfield, Prof Seeley, Mr.kGeorge Macdonald, Miss Chessar, 

 Miss Keary, and Dr. Morell. 



In connection with the conversazione held at the opening of 

 Owens College, Manchester, there was an interesting loan col- 

 lection brought together through the energy of Mr.W. B. Dawkins 

 and Mr. R. D. Darbishire. A large series of plants of the coal 

 measures was exhibited, with specimens of the nearest known 

 living representatives systematically placed among them to 

 convey an idea of the kind of vegetation from which coal was 

 formed. Near these was a geological model of a boring for 

 coal. A quaint set of stone mining tools from the abandoned 

 workings of the Alderley Edge copper mines, and wooden and 

 iron tools found in Derbyshire, were of especial interest. The 

 local geology was well illustrated, and there was a fine collection 

 of fossil bones which have been recently discovered in a fissure 

 at Windy Knoll, near Castleton, by Mr. Pennington. A well- 

 supported endeavour was made to illustrate the latest stage of 

 vertebrate life in England as known by the remains found in 

 bone caves and river deposits ; and an extensive collection of 

 mammoth, bear, lion, and other bones was the result. Near 

 these were cases containing early implements fashioned by man. 

 A Manchester paper says of these cases : tliey " include all the 

 evidence as to the antiquity of man given by both river and 

 cave, and we ne^d Httle scientific assistance to find out that 

 these constitute the most complete set of stone implements ever 

 got together. To make their evidence^, clearer, illustrated and 

 explanatory diagrams are placed near them. . . . The col- 

 lection of neolithic Hints is wonderfully complete. A case sent 

 by Mr. John Evans carries us from the rough model to the same 

 instrument more exquisitely finished and moulded." 



There is hope for scientific education when a sporting corre- 

 spondent of the Field discourses oir it. The gentleman in ques- 

 tion has recently visited the Mining Academy of Freiberg, which 

 he thus describes: — "Students of every nationality are found 

 here, and there is no doubt that if a man likes to work he can 

 learn a great deal, as some of the most celebrated professors in 

 Germany are teachers. The only requisite for a student entering 

 the Academy is that he should know a little German. This rule 

 is not very strictly observed, and anyone of ordinary intelligence 

 ought to pick up the requisite amount in a month, or six weeks 

 at the outside. There are different courses open to the option of 

 tlie student, such as an assaying course, chemical course, survey- 

 ing and mining course, &c. These arc each charged separately 

 for, the fees ranging from 3/. to 5/. each. The blow-pipe course, 

 given by the famous Prof. Richter, is 6/. Foreign students are 

 charged 5/. yearly extra ; German students are exempt from this 

 tax. Living in Freiberg is excessively cheap. The whole course 

 lasts three years, but I imagine that a man would do far better 

 by picking out a few particular lectures and finishing in eighteen 

 months or two years. Now, after the course, what return has a 

 man for his money? I unhesitatingly answer that a man who 

 has worked hard for two years at Freiberg ought to be able to 

 go anywhere in any mining district in the world and command 

 his yxil. a year. So many people are troubled with questions 

 as to what to do with their younger sons, that I am sure that 

 sending them to Freiberg, and giving them a first-class profession 

 in two years for 375/. or 400/., is well worth their consideration. 

 To such a man, i.e., one well educated at Freiberg, the whole of 

 the American continent, and, indeed, most of the world is open. 

 Now that England is so ' blocked ' it has become a necessity to 



go further afield, and probably mining engineering and assaying 

 olTer about the very best openings to an enterprising man. 

 Immense deposits of metal are daily being discovered in Colorado 

 and the south-western States, while Chili and Peru are short- 

 handed." The sporting correspondent is correct as far as he 

 goes, and it is perfectly true that many young Englishmen 

 have gone to Freiberg, but he does not seem to know that the 

 British Government has just fitted up a small cellar in Jermyn 

 Street, and that with such a national metallurgical laboratory as 

 this, of which of course the country should be justly proud, there 

 is no fear that more young Englishmen will seek to perfect their 

 studies in a foreign land. 



From a paper on" Some indigenous Tuscan Remedies," read by 

 Mr. II. Groves before the recent Pharmaceutical Conference, it 

 would seem that plants furnish a considerable portion of the 

 medicinal products in use in that country. Many of th^ plants 

 enumerated are Well known as medicinal plants in other parts of 

 Europe. The Chamomile [Malricaria chamoniilla), for instance, 

 is said to be found in. the cupboard, of every housewife, being 

 used as a calming antispasmodic, and also applied hot externally 

 for relievmg pain. A custom very prevalent in Tuscany seems 

 to be the administration of herb-juice, in spring, which is pre- 

 pared daily by many herbalists, and is, also ordered by medical 

 men. A'asturlium offieiitnle, known as Crescione, is used in 

 conjunction with Cocltkaria offuinalis in the composition of 

 herb-juice. This latter plant, though indigenous, is also culti- 

 vated to some extent. The flowers of the Wallflower {Chciraii- 

 tlins c/teiri), under the name of Viole gialle, or Yellow Violets, 

 are boiled in olive oil and used for eneraata. With regard to 

 products other than plants, the writer remarks that viper-broth 

 is gone out of fashion, and the pharmacist is spared keeping 

 those reptiles and the pincers with which they were handled. 

 Snail poultices are still used in the country. The snails are 

 applied alive, the [shell being crushed or partly removed, and 

 the snails set upside down on a piece of coarse paper ; they are 

 then sprinkled with a little vinegar and applied at once to tlie 

 soles of the feet, on which they produce an irritation greater than 

 mustard, and which is supposed to be efficacious in some cases of 

 fever. 



The British Association partook this year somewhat of the 

 nature of a Church Congress ; the real Cliurch Congress has, en 

 revanche, partaken somewhat of a British Association meeting. 

 Prof. Pritchard having communicated a paper to it giving his 

 view of certain conclusions^to be drawn from our present know- 

 ledge of molecules, and quoting in support of it the honoured 

 names of Herschel and Cleik-Maxwell. As we are informed 

 that the paper will be published in e.xUnso elsewhere, we need 

 not refer to it at any length here ; but there is one bit of it which, 

 coming from a clergyman and a professor at Oxford, we cannot 

 refrain from quoting. lie suggests that it would be a good thing 

 "if in the study of every manse throughout England there were 

 found a well-used microscope, and on the lawn a tolerable tele- 

 scope ; and, best of all, if those who possess influence in our 

 national universities could see their way to the enforcement of a 

 small modicum of the practical knowledge of cbmmon tilings on 

 the minds of those who are to go forth and do battle with tlie 

 ignorance and failings of our poptUation, and to spread light 

 throughout the land. A little knowledge of the ancient elements, 

 fire, air, earth, and water, would save many a young clergy- 

 man from the vanity of ridiculous extremes, and from the sur- 

 prise of the more wisely and widely educated among his flock." 

 Surely no one will think that with regard to the Universities 

 Prof. Pritchard is asking too much ! He then goes on : " De- 

 pend upon it, whatever may be our suspicions or our fears, the 

 pursuit of the knowledge of the works of nature will increase, 

 and increase with an accelerated velocity ; and if our clergy 

 decline to keep pace with it, and to direct it into wholesome 



