SCIENCE 



[N. S. Vol. XLII. No. 1092 



formation is such that the vcater comes in 

 all probability from a considerable depth. 

 Graphite is now being mined near the surface. 

 Several samples of this graphite were powdered 

 and tested qualitatively in an a ray electro- 

 scope. Only slight traces of radioactive con- 

 tent could be found. 



I am indebted to Professor B. B. Boltwood, 

 of Yale University, for the standard solution 

 used in calibrating the electroscope. 



Bkown University, P. B. Perkins 



June 14, 1915 



SOCIETIES AND ACADEMIES 



THE ANTHKOPOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON 



At the 489th meeting of the society, held Oc- 

 tober 19, 1915, Dr. D. S. Lamb read a paper on 

 ' ' The Medicine and Surgery of the Ancient Pe- 

 ruvians. " They used Peruvian bark for fevers. 

 It is doubted whether syphilis, leprosy and tuber- 

 culosis occurred among them, although some infer 

 that skin tuberculosis caused the mutilations rep- 

 resented on their pottery. Three skin diseases pe- 

 culiar to the ancient Peruvians were the mirunta, 

 the verrugas and the uta. Smallpox, measles, sear- 

 let fever and yellow fever were introduced by the 

 whites. Goiter prevailed; also the tabardillo. 

 The heads of their infants were deformed. They 

 let blood and treated dislocations, wounds and 

 fractures, and trephined the skull. Dr. E. L. Mor- 



gan and others who discussed the paper agreed 

 with the speaker in thinking that trephining had 

 probably begun with the idea of getting rid of the 

 evil spirit but was continued for its observed 

 curative value. The idea of ridding the patient 

 of an evil spirit was common to all primitive peo- 

 ples. In the Iroquois language, said Mr. J. N. B 

 Hewitt, the expression used in case of sickness is, 

 "It is biting me." Dr. C. L. G. Anderson held 

 that the megalithic people who preceded the Incas 

 also knew much about medicinal herbs. They 

 made infusions, powders and ointments of them. 

 Sulphur, salty earths and hot springs were used 

 as cures of rheumatism and skin diseases. Sarsa- 

 parilJa, coca and quina were local drugs used. 

 Daniel Folkmak, 



Secretary 



NEW ORLEANS ACADEMY OP SCIENCES 



The regular meeting of the academy was held 

 in Tulane University on Tuesday, October 18. Dr. 

 Gustave Mann presided. The paper of the even- 

 ing was by Professor O. M. Rosen wall on "Some 

 Methods of Offense and Defense among Insects." 



The paper outlined the orders of insects which 

 were to be touched upon and the specific insects 

 which were to be referred to. As far as possible, 

 insects found in the state of Louisiana were used 

 as examples. 



Among all the methods mentioned, those which 

 were ' ' active in defense, ' ' made up the material 

 for the greater part of the paper, and these were 

 mainly the ' ' repugnatorial glands. ' ' This means 

 of defense was possessed by some species of 

 nearly all the important orders, and mainly in 

 C'oleoptera, Hemiptera and Orthoptera. 



In many of the insects the appendages are 

 adapted as means of defense, e. g., mandibles and 

 front-legs. At this point, the "praying mantis" 

 was discussed, being one of the common insects of 

 this region. 



Then followed the use of "stings" in connec- 

 tion with "poison-glands," and the following 

 subjects were discussed briefly: "Poisonous Sa- 

 liva," "The Repellant Fluid of Several Species 

 of Coleoptera, " "Phosphorescence" and "Pro- 

 tective Attitudes"; the paper closing with "The 

 Means of Defense among Insect Larvse. " 



An interesting discussion among members took 

 place after the reading of the paper, and ex- 

 amples of the insects discussed were on exhibition. 

 The academy then adjourned. 



E. S. Cocks, 

 Secretary 



