866 
contraction and is the final vital act of the 
dying muscle cell. In connection with his 
studies of muscle fatigue, the author, with Mr. 
C. C. Harrold, has made some observations on 
cat’s muscle, which seem to contradict Her- 
mann’s conclusion. Fasting, which is char- 
acterized especially by a diminution of the free 
carbohydrates in muscle, hastens the on-com- 
ing of rigor mortis. The administration of the 
peculiar drug, phlorhizin, which eliminates both 
the free and the combined carbohydrates, has a 
similar but much more pronounced effect. On 
the other hand, the ingestion of grape-sugar by a 
phlorhizinized animal delays rigor. Hence the 
conclusion seems justified that the absence of 
carbohydrates is favorable, and their presence 
unfavorable, to the development of rigor mortis. 
As regards the ability of the muscle to contract, 
carbohydrates have exactly the opposite effect, 
their absence being unfavorable and their pres- 
ence favorable. Hence, in this respect, con- 
traction and rigor mortis are not analogous 
processes. 
Henry E. CRAMPTON, 
Secretary. 
SECTION OF ASTRONOMY, PHYSICS AND CHEM- 
ISTRY OF THE NEW YORK ACADEMY 
OF SCIENCES. 
THE section met on May 6th, at 8:15 P. M. 
The first paper of the evening was by Mr. C. 
B. Warring, entitled ‘What Theology owes to 
Modern Science.’ The paper was a very inter- 
esting interpretation of the Mosaic cosmogony 
in the light of modern scientific theories. The 
author defended the thesis that the order of 
events given in the cosmogony of Genesis did 
not necessarily contradict the order assumed 
by modern science. The paper was followed 
by a very interesting discussion. 
The second paper of the evening, ‘ A Differ- 
ential Astatic Magnetometer, suggested by Pro- 
fessor Rood,’ was read by Mr. C. C. Trow- 
bridge. The essential part of the instrument 
described is the suspension system, which con- 
sists of two groups of small magnets, set 23 cm. 
apart, rigidly connected by a fine glass fiber. 
The system is suspended by a single raw silk 
fibre 10 cm. long. By making the polarity of 
the two groups of magnets opposite, a system 
that is approximately astatic is obtained. 
SCIENCE. 
[N.S. Von. XIII. No. 335. 
The object of the arrangement employed is 
partly to annul the effects of distant magnetic 
disturbing influences, such as those that arise 
from trolley car motors, etc., and partly to ob- 
tain a sensitive system that will act on the 
differential principle. 
A magnet placed within a meter of the instru- 
ment and outside of the neutral plane between 
the two groups of magnets acts strongly on the 
nearest group, producing a deflection of the 
system. 
The instrument was used in relative determi- 
nations of magnetic moments. 
Mr. Trowbridge also gave a preliminary note 
on some experiments conducted by him on the 
influence of liquid air temperatures on the 
magnetization of steel and iron. 
Magnets made from Crescent Co. and Shef- 
field magnet steels were chiefly tested. 
The magnetic moment of bars magnetized at 
—186°C. and at 20°C. were found to be approxi- 
mately the same, other conditions being equal. 
This was found to be true for both the steels 
mentioned. : 
Three Crescent steel bars magnetized at 
—186°C. were found to lose 38, 30.6, and 30.2, 
per cent. of magnetism when warmed to 20°C. 
A bar of this steel magnetized at 20°C. lost 
9.5 per cent. of magnetism when cooled to 
—186°C. 
These magnets after 9 days of approximately 
constant temperature at 20°C. were found to 
have further lost 6.1, 5.7, 8, and 12 per cent. of 
magnetism respectively. 
Two bars made from Sheffield tungsten steel 
magnetized at —186°C. lost 12.2 and 15.7 per 
cent. magnetism when warmed to 20°C. 
One bar of this steel magnetized at 20°C. 
lost 6.5 per cent. when cooled to —186°C. 
A bar of Stubbs tool steel magnetized at 20°C. 
changed in magnetic moment, when cooled and 
heated between —186°C. and 20°C., as follows : 
at —186°m. —12.7; at 20° —30.5; at —185°, 
+ 18 per cent. 
Mr. Trowbridge stated that results similar 
to that found in the experiment with Stubbs 
steel have already been obtained by Professor 
Dewar. 
F. L. TUFTS, 
Secretary. 
