58 



SCIENCE. 



[N. S. Vol. V. No. 106. 



how a system similar to that of the Morse code 

 might be used iu signalling to the planets. We 

 now find in a leading daily paper an article 

 with the headline 'Mars is Signalling Us,' in- 

 cluding an account of the method by which the 

 signals are recorded in ' one of the great 

 European observatories. ' 



It is probable that but few people realize the 

 number of ' scientific ' journals published in 

 America. One of these which has now con- 

 cluded its tenth volume is devoted to ' Kore- 

 shanity, ' founded on ' ' Koreshan astronomy, the 

 basis of which makes the sun the center and the 

 earth the circumference of the universe, from 

 which it is conclusive that the earth is a 

 hollow sphere, with its habitable surface con- 

 cave, forming an integral, alchemico-organic 

 structure, which, as demonstrated in the cellu- 

 lar cosmogonic system, perpetuates itself 

 through the eternal and causative forces and 

 functions operating within it." 



A PETITION has been received asking sub- 

 scriptions in aid of those who suffered from the 

 effects of a waterspout on the island of St. 

 Michael, in the Azores. It is stated in the 

 petition that on November 25th a great water- 

 spout broke over the city of Povoacao, of about 

 twenty-five thousand inhabitants. Almost in 

 an instant the deluge mounted above the roofs 

 of the houses, after tearing up the pavement of 

 the streets in its course, and digging trenches in 

 them, in some places fifteen feet below their 

 ordinary level. It was in the night that the 

 waterspout broke, and the great torrent, rush- 

 ing down the slopes to the sea, tore a wide 

 channel through nine miles of country, bearing 

 away the homes of thousands of people and 

 causing great destruction of life. 



A SERIOUS landslide has occurred near Bath- 

 more, County Kerry, Ireland. Part of the earth 

 composing a bog, carrying with it rocks, trees, 

 houses and animals, has been swept into the 

 river Flesk and the lakes of Kilarny. 



Giant's Causeway, in the north of Ireland, 

 from the early part of the last century down to 

 the present day, has been visited by a largely 

 increasing number of persons without let or 

 hindrance, and it is now annually visited by 

 about 80,000 persons. A small limited liability 



company was formed in June last for the pur- 

 pose of enclosing the causeway and making a 

 profit out of it by charging a toll for admission. 

 A few months ago they began to put up an iron 

 fence, and they have brought an action against 

 three gentlemen who persisted in walking over 

 the causeway. To defend the public right of 

 access to it, the National Footpath Preservation 

 Society has issued an appeal for funds to defend 

 the case. 



AccoEDiNG to cablegrams to the London 

 Times, vigorous measures are being taken in 

 South Africa to stop the spread of the rinder- 

 pest. The Premier of Cape Colony has stated 

 that the disease had not advanced towards the 

 colony in the past two months. The govern- 

 ment were utilizing the peculiar geographical 

 advantages of the country, which would enable 

 the border to be fenced from the Atlantic on one 

 side to the Indian Ocean on the other, and they 

 entertained distinct hopes of saving the colony 

 and Pondoland from the ravages of the epidemic. 

 The government, Sir Gordon Sprigg added, 

 were doing everything that was humanly pos- 

 sible to that end, and the farmers and natives, 

 to whom he had fully explained the situation, 

 were anxiously assisting the efforts of the gov- 

 ernment by every means in their power. Major 

 Leutwein, Governor of German Southwest 

 Africa, took measures at the beginning of Oc- 

 tober to prevent the introduction of rinderpest 

 into the colony. The southern border has been 

 entirely closed by means of patrols between the 

 existing stations, and in the Simon Kopper terri- 

 tory, near the Kalahari desert, an additional 

 station has been erected. The eastern frontier 

 is guarded by stations and patrols which, though 

 sufficient to prevent men or cattle from crossing 

 the border, are unable to hinder the movements 

 of game or wild animals. To the north and 

 northeast similar measures are being taken to 

 prevent the introduction of the disease from the 

 neighborhood of Lake Ngami. It is to be hoped 

 that the praiseworthy efforts of the German 

 authorities to prevent the spread of the rinder- 

 pest may be crowded with success. 



The New York Academy of Medicine will 

 celebrate the semi-centennial of its foundation 

 on January 29th. There will be exercises in 



