72 
NATURE 
poison belonged to the class of propeptons. Experiments were 
instituted with representatives of all the vertebrata. They were 
all susceptible of the poison, and died when the dose of the 
poison amounted to 3mg. per kilogramme animal. The time 
when death followed a full dose of the poison was very various. 
Rabbits died after half an hour, pickerels after an hour, frogs 
later, then cats, and lastly pigeons. Stronger doses hastened 
death. Dilutions and the introduction of artificial respiration 
delayed death. The physiological effect extended principally to 
the central nervous system. The muscles and the peripherical 
nerves continued irritable, although paralysis set in very soon. 
Seldom were spasms and compulsory movements observed. The 
poison appeared to have hardly any effect at all on the heart. 
Physical Society, April 24.—Dr. Kayser reported on a 
recent paper of Prof. Bunsen (Wiedemann’s Annalen, 1885, 
Heft 3) in which the differences between the results of the 
speaker’s experiments regarding the absorption of carbonic acid 
on smooth glass surfaces and those published by Prof. Bunsen 
two years ago received their explanation. While, namely, Dr. 
Kayser had found that the absorption of carbonic acid proceeded 
according to definite laws formulated by him, Prof. Bunsen had 
observed that this process of absorption did not terminate even 
after as long a period as three years, but still continued, even 
though at a reduced rate. In his most recent work Prof. Bunsen 
had now established that the glass threads, even after a current 
of dry air had been for a considerable time directed over them, 
still retained a layer of water which was thin in proportion as 
the temperature was high, but did not become entirely dissipated 
till the temperature reached as high as about 500° C. This layer 
of water it was which absorbed the carbonic acid, and all the 
more powerfully the denser was the layer of water. The density 
of the water, however, stood in inverse relation to its thickness. 
From these experiments Dr. Kayser concluded that the absorp- 
tion of carbonic acid on the glass threads which Prof. Bunsen 
had obseived continuing for so long a period was only an absorp- 
tion of the gas by the adhering water and no absorption on the 
smooth glass surface, whereas in the speaker’s experiments, in 
which the glass threads had in boiling oil been freed from all 
adhering matters, the carbonic acid had been absorbed by the 
smooth glass.—Dr. Less spoke of two curves placed before the 
Society, as markings of the barograph on April 22 and 23 during 
the time of the brief thunderstorm in Berlin. The two curves 
presented in general an analogous course, concurring, moreover, 
with curves which Dr. Less had observed last year during the 
severe July storm. Before the outburst of the thunderstorm the 
curves sank slowly, next rose steeply to a considerable height ; 
with the attainment of the maximum of pressure coincided the 
stroke of lightning ; the curve then maintained itself at a level 
for some time, throughout which the thunder-shower or hail was 
wont to fall; on the cessation of rain the curve of atmospheric 
pressure sank steeply to beneath the former minimum. In the 
two April curves a further sudden rise preceded the second 
weaker stroke of lightning, and there then followed several 
smaller jerkings of the curves coinciding with the time of the 
formation of clouds consequent on the short thunder-storm. In 
the curves of the July of last year during the severe storms so 
copiously charged with lightning, the apex of the curves after 
the sudden ascent was not straight, but consisted wholly of short 
indentations each of which appeared to correspond with an indi- 
vidual lightning stroke, so far as it was possible to fix the precise 
times. The sudden steep ascent of the curve on April 22 and 
23 coincided with a sudden increase in the force of the wind, 
which soon, however, fell weaker, and at last sank almost to 
complete stillness. The speaker also reported the corresponding 
numerical values for the variations of atmospheric pressure 
marked by the barograph. 
VIENNA 
Imperial Academy of Sciences, March 5.—Contribution 
to a knowledge of Coniopterigide, by F. Lowe.—On a new 
morphological element of peripheric nerves, by A. Adamkiewicz. 
—On the sensibility to light and colours of some marine ani- 
mals, by V. Graber.—On some propagatory organs of the fruits 
of Composite, by M. Kronfeld.—On the fauna of the Jurassic 
deposits of Hohenstein, Saxony, by G. Bruder.—On mannite 
lead-nitrate, by A. Smolka.—Note on Lowe's lead-nitrate and 
on Morawski’s penta-plumbonitrate, by the same.—On the tem- 
perature of Vienna and its environs, with a study on the action 
of local influences on the mean temperature, by T. Hann.—On 
camphoronic acid, by T. Kachler and F. V. Spitzer.—On the 
daily and yearly course, and on the period of disturbances of 
magnetic declination at Vienna, by T. Liznar. 
March 12.—On nerve-corpuscles, by A. Adamkiewicz.—On 
the use of boiling oxygen, nitrogen, carbon oxide, and atmo- 
spheric air as a freezing-agent, by S. von Wroblewski —Contri- 
bution to a knowledge of the texture of hyaline cartilage, by E. — 
Zuckerkandl.—On the Upper Italic flora of the Lunz strata and 
of the bituminous slate of Raibl, by Dr. Stur. 
March 19.—Crystallographic researches on camphor derivates, 
by V. von Zepharovich.—Experimental studies on the deter- 
mination of the constant of dielectricity of some gases and 
vapours, by T, Klemencie.—On the planes of solution of cal- 
careous spar and arragonite, by V. von Ebner.—On figures 
obtained by corroding arragonite, by the same.—On a meteoric 
explosion observed at a distance of 1000 metres by R. Spitaler 
on March 15, by E. Weiss. 
UPSALA 
Society of Science, April 17,—The foilowing paper, by 
Dr. K. B. J. Forssell, was accepted for insertion in the 
Society’s Fourvnal :—‘‘ Beitrage zur Kenntniss der Anatomie und 
Systematik der Gloeolichenen.” Prof. Lilljeborg described a 
Metridia armata (Boeck) taken in the Antarctie Ocean 
(lat. 54°-5° S.), and suggests that it was probably found near 
both poles. It was taken by Capt. Scheele, of the Swedish 
barque J/onark, an amateur scientist to whom the Society had 
lent instruments, vessels, and apparatus for deep-sea researches. 
He further exhibited Plurxoma abdominale (Iubbock), also taken 
by Capt. Schéele in the South Atlantic. It was remarkable as 
having an appendicular eye on the side of the head.—Prof. 
Hildebrandsson spoke about the twilight phenomenon, specially 
with reference to some observations of the purple glimmer then 
prevailing, made by Dr. Gyllenskjéld.—Prof. Clason gave a 
lecture on the functions of certain parts of the brain. 
CONTENTS PAGE 
The British Museum Catalogue of Lizards .... 49 
The Silver-Lead Deposits of Nevada ...... 50 
Our Book Shelf :— 
Hansen’s ‘‘Den Norske Nordhavs-Expedition, 1876 
tomn8 7872 less a oe coe lemon es 51 
Marshall’s ‘‘ Hunterian Oration” . .... emo 
Letters to the Editor : — 
Notes on the Action of the Wimshurst Induction 
Machine.—G. B. Buckton, F.R:S) > fase ees 
Nesting of Micropternus pheoceps.—Charles Bingham 
(Zllustrated) . eee Go 5 + - 52 
Staminody of Petals.—J. C. Costerus ...... 53 
Catalogue of Fossil Mammalia in the British Museum, 
Part I.—Richard Lydekker. 7 . ) . sae Hee 5153 
Fossil Insects.—Dr. H. A. Hagen 2 <5 see ci SS) 
High-Level Stations.—Dr, A. Woeikof. .... . 54 
Rainbow Phenomena.—Prof. Silvanus P. Thomp- 
SOW ES Gut ce cto oio Gop wu dross o a) Se fo) a eg 
Aurora.—Prof. J. P. O’Reilly ..... 54 
Red Hail: —C. Ewans .. .. 2%. «sn ee 54 
Spectral Images.—Dr. Henry Muirhead ..... 55 
The New Outburst of Lava from Vesuvius. By 
HJ: Johnston-Vavis) 0. 2 <= sue eee «55 
Experiments with Coal-Dust at Neunkirchen, in 
Germany. “By, W. Galloway, ).0-0)-) ieee 5D 
The Fauna of Russian Central Asia. By Rev. Dr. 
Henry Lansdell: — 0s) 7) 3 5 mi +e ee 
Field Experiments at Rothamsted. By Prof. John 
Wrightson ETON DA Doo 0 om 58 
Recent Explorations ofthe Pamir. ........ 59 
Notes? ean a eee oe: Heimer Bare ag eh 
Geographical’ Notes. 2) os ane Mere | Lo: 
Astronomical Phenomena for the Week 1885, 
May 24-30) ee eo Seale qemreltger te sets” teem 65 
The Value of a Marine Laboratory to the Develop- 
ment and Regulation of our Sea Fisheries. By 
Prof. E. Ray Lankester, F.R.S..... . +12 Os 
Meteorological Instruments. ......... 67 
Scientific'Serialssy ee. eee ee 5 PMA uit y (7 
Societiesiand Academies). semen erie eons 68 
[May 21, 1885. 
