614 



SCIENCE. 



[Voi-. I., No. 21. 



adopted the theory of a ' mixed polar action for both 

 polarizing and testing currents ; ' that is, at the 

 electrode applied to the nerve, there exist for each 

 current, stimulating as well as polarizing, a 'polar' 

 region of the same sign as the electrode, and a ' peri- 

 polar' region of the opposite sign, the electrical 

 density of the latter being less than that of the 

 former, but still sufficient to act as a physiological 

 stimulus. When an induction current was used to 

 test the 'polar alteration of excitability' produced 

 by the polarizing current, the results were found to 

 differ according as the 'exploring' electrode repre- 

 sented the kathode or anode of both currents, or the 

 kathode of one and the anode of the other. In the 

 first case the effect of the induction shocks are in- 

 creased ; in the second case, diminished. They explain 

 their results in this way. When the electrode is 

 kathode of the induction current, the excitation 

 proceeds from the kathodic polar region. If the 

 electrode is at the same time the kathode of the 

 polarizing current, the polar region is kathodic, and 

 possesses increased irritability. If the electrode is 

 anode of the polarizing current, the polar region is 

 anodic, and ils irritability is diminished. When, on 

 the other hand, the electrode is anode of the induc- 

 tion current, the excitation proceeds from the peri- 

 polar kathodic region, since all contractions with 

 induction currents are make-contractions. If the 

 electrode is at the same time the anode of the polar- 

 izing current, the peripolar region is kalhodic, and 

 therefore of increased excitability. If the electrode 

 is kathode of the polarizing current, the peripolar 

 region is anodic, and therefore of diminished excita- 

 bility. When the testing current is a galvanic cur- 

 rent, and both polarizing and testing currents are in 

 the same direction, it is found that the effect of the 

 kathodic make is increased during the flow of a 

 kathodic current, and of an anodic make during the 

 flow of an anodic current. The excitation proceeds 

 from a kathodic region of increased irritability, in 

 one case polar, in the other peripolar. So the effect 

 of a kathodic break is diminished during the flow of 

 a kathodic current, and of an anodic brea-k during the 

 flow of an anodic current. The excitation arises from 

 the disappearance of an electrotonus in an anelec- 

 trotonic region of depressed irritability, in one case 

 peripolar, in the other polar. With regard to mechani- 

 cal stimulation, it was observed that the effect is 

 increased when the polar region is kathodic, and 

 diminished when it is anodic. They made some 

 experiments upon the after-effects of the polarizing 

 current, the results of which show that there is an 

 after-kathodiC diminution and an after-anodic in- 

 crease of excitability, which are more marked in the 

 polar than in the peripolar region. — (Phil. trcin>t., 

 18S2, 901.) \y. H. H. [1178 



Electrotonus of the sensory nerves of man. — 

 Waller and de Watteville have carried out a series of 

 experiments on the alterations of excitability of the 

 sensory nerves during the passage of a galvanic cur- 

 rent, similar to those made upon the motor nerves. 

 Their method of work was essentially the same as in 

 the preceding investigation. In order to measure the 

 increase or diminution of sensation after polarization, 

 they ascertained the least strength of current which 

 would produce a ' reaction in consciousness,' and 

 then noted the changes necessary to be made after 

 polarization to obtain the same effect. Their general 

 result is, that, "after the passage of a galvanic cur- 

 rent, the alterations hi the excitability of the sensory 

 nerves of man follow a course essentially similar to 

 that observed in the motor nerves." — (Proc. roy. 

 soc, 1882, 222.) w. ii. n. [1179 



ANTHROPOLOGY. 



Smithsonian anthropological papers. — The 



great delay in bringing out the annual report for 

 1881 has induced Prof. Baird to publish the scien- 

 tific summaries and the anthropological papers in 

 separate pamphlets. The summary, as usual, is 

 by Prof. Mason, and the papers were all prepared 

 under his editorial care. The summary is divided 

 into two parts, the discussion and the bibliography. 

 In order to show just where each contribution for 

 the year stands with reference to the whole, he 

 divides anthropology into eleven parts, — anthropoge- 

 ny, archeology, biology of man, psychology, glossolo- 

 gy, ethnology, technology, sociology, mythology, 

 hexiology, and bibliography; the latter term includ- 

 ing all aids to the study of man. By the use of the 

 Greek words ypu^v, yi^oyo^, vo/^oc, and -/svea, the suffixes 

 -ography, -ology, -onomy, and -ogeny, maybe applied 

 to each of the foregoing terms, in order to indicate 

 the observing, the classifying, the discursive, and the 

 philosophic phases of each branch of inquiry. Sep- 

 arate chapters are devoted to each of the leading 

 topics. 



The miscellaneous papers are unusually numerous. 

 Explorations of mounds in Kansas are reported by 

 Mr. Serviss; in Iowa, by Banta and Garretson; in 

 Missouri, by Hardy, Scheetz, and Watkins; in Wis- 

 consin and Illinois, by Moody, Shallenberger, and 

 Adams; in Ohio, by Luther; in Kentucky, by Linney 

 and Evans; in Tennessee, by Haite; in Alabama, by 

 Gesner ; in Georgia, by Whittlesey ; in Florida, by Bell. 

 Other aboriginal works are treated by Wliitcomb for 

 Washington Territory, by Stinson for Indiana, and 

 by Case and MacLean for Ohio. Miscellaneous an- 

 tiquities are reported from Iowa by Dean; from Illi- 

 nois, by Gale, McClelland, French, Farrell, and Sibley; 

 in Texas, by Roessler; in Arkansas, by Jones; in 

 Pennsylvania, by Hayden; in New York, by Sheward; 

 in Connecticut, by Ellsworth; and in Nova Scotia, by 

 Patterson. Besides these are papers on shell-heaps 

 in Alabama, West Virginia, and Massachusetts, by 

 Mohr, Hubbard, and Wing; on inscriptions in Arkan- 

 sas, by Green; on buried flints in Illinois, by Snyder; 

 on silver crosses from a Georgia mound, by Jones; 

 on ancient canals in Florida, by Kenworthy; on rock- 

 carvings on the Susquehanna, by Galbraith; on a 

 sculptured stone from New Brunswick, by Jack; on 

 a perforated tablet from New York, by Tooker; a 

 specimen of aboriginal art, by Matthew; and on the 

 aborigines of Florida, by Walker. — j. w. p. [1180 



Egyptian boomerangs. — Gen. Pitt-Rivers takes 

 the occasion of receiving an Egyptian boomerang as 

 a text for the review of the subject of the spread of 

 that interesting weapon. His description is accom- 

 panied by a plate, giving figures of twelve boom- 

 erangs from the same quarter, which he had seen in 

 different museums. There are four phases in the 

 evolution of the boomerang worthy of notice. 1. 

 All weapons which are thrown by the band, and 

 which are not specially adapted for rotation. 2. A 

 round, curved stick, which would rotate more freely 

 than a straight one. 3. The same weapon made from 

 a split stick, opposing to the atmosphere a thinner 

 edg'e, whereby the rotation and range would be 

 greatly increased. This is the most important stage 

 in the development of the boomerang. In this state 

 it was used by the Australians for purposes of war, 

 after they had further acquired a knowledge of the 

 returning or screw boomerang. It was in this stage 

 that Gen. Pitt-Rivers supposes it was carried by the 

 black races into those distant regions where it is now 

 used. 4. Those weapons to which is imparted by 



