626 



SCIENCE. 



[N. S. Vol. III. No. 6». 



through the air, and finds that the struc- 

 ture of the body is such that equilibrium is 

 preserved, and is even recovered if the bodj"^ 

 is started half way over. Hence these birds, 

 if active, can still often fly reasonably well 

 after the semi-circular canals have been ex- 

 tirpated. But the case is very different 

 with fishes, and they, consequently, exhibit 

 tlie usual efiects of mutilation very perfectly ; 

 after total extirpation of the labyrinth on 

 both sides, they swim with complete ob- 

 livion of the attitude proper to the fish in 

 water. The author also believes that some 

 fishes at least learn to^ guide themselves 

 by their labyrinth sense only after some 

 experience. The subject is one of great 

 interest, and this paper is a distinct con- 

 tribution to our knowledge regarding it. 



C. L. F. 



THK PHYSIOLOGICAL CONCOMITANTS OF SEN- 

 SATIONS AND EMOTIONS. 



The first issue of the Journal of Experi- 

 mental Medicine contains an experimental 

 research from the Physiological Laboratory 

 of John Hopkins University by Dr. T. E. 

 Shields on the effects of odors, irritant va- 

 pors and mental work upon the blood flow. 

 The author regards his chief results to be 

 improvements in Mosso's plethysmograph. 

 With this instrument changes in the volume 

 of the arm are measured and it is assumed 

 that the blood withdrawn from the arm is 

 called to the brain as a result of mental 

 activity. The apparatus is complicated and 

 Dr. Shields has used great care in elimina- 

 ting various sources of error. He finds that 

 odors and mental work cause (presumably) 

 congestion of the brain. Even when the 

 volume of the arm is at first increased, this 

 is due to the acceleration of the heart rate, 

 which would also tend to increase the sup- 

 ply of blood to the brain. Dr. Shields' ex- 

 periments contradict Lehman's view that 

 pleasant sensations decrease the blood sup- 



ply to the brain. The article is admirably 

 illustrated. 



De. F. Kiesow, in a'paper (Philos. Stu- 

 dien, XL, 1) not referi'ed to by Dr. Shields, 

 has used Mosso's new sphygmomanometer 

 for similar purposes. With this instrument 

 the pressure of the blood in two fingers is 

 measured. Strained attention, mental ope- 

 rations, such as multiplying, sudden noises, 

 sudden pains, etc., were used. The results 

 were varied and difiicult to interpret. Some- 

 times there was no alteration in pressure, 

 sometimes there was a decrease, but more 

 commonly an increase. Dr. Kiesow con- 

 cludes that the alterations are not due to 

 the sensations nor to the attention as such, 

 but to the feelings that accompany them. 



In an extended investigation (Philos. 

 Studien XL, 1, 3 and 4) Dr. Paul Mentz has 

 studied the effects of sounds on the pulse 

 and on breathing. A single noise or tone 

 of moderate intensity caused a slower pulse 

 and usually a slower rate of breathing, 

 which the au^thor attributes chiefly to the 

 pleasure accompanying the sensation. If 

 the sounds are intense or long continued 

 the pulse becomes quickened. When mu- 

 sic was listened to passively the rate of the 

 pulse was decreased, but it was quickened 

 when the attention was strained. 



J. McK. C. 



SCIENTIFIC NOTES AND NEWS. 



THE ACTION OF THE HOUSE OF EEPEESENTA- 

 TIVES ON THE METRIC BILL.* 



The Hon. C. W. Stone, Chairmau of the 

 Committee on Coinage, Weights and Measures, 

 received notice ou Tuesday afternoon, April 

 7th, that he would be given an opportunity to 

 call up at once the Committee's Bill in regard 

 to fixing the standard of weights and measures, 

 according to the Metric System of weights and 

 measures. The hour was late, but Mr. Stone 

 promptly made his argument in favor of the 

 Bill, Mr. Stone's speech was a thorough and 



* Based upon the report of the covrespondent of the 

 New York Dry Goods Economist. 



