690 



SCIENCE. 



[N. S. Vol. IV. No. 97. 



Journal. ScMflf was born at Frankfort-on- 

 Main in 1823, and was therefore 73 years of 

 age. He studied medicine at Heidelberg (un- 

 der Tiedemann), Berlin (under Johann Miiller), 

 and Gottingen. After taking his degree, be 

 proceeded in 1845 to Paris, wbere be worked 

 under Magendie and Longet. On bis return to 

 Frankfort be was appointed Director of tbe 

 Ornitbological Department of tbe Zoological 

 Museum tbere. During tbe political disturb- 

 ances in 1848 be served as a military surgeon 

 on tbe Eevolutionary side. His Liberalism 

 practically closed tbe doors of tbe German uni- 

 versities against bim, and be was refused a 

 qualification as Privatdocent in zoology by tbe 

 University of Gottingen on tbe ground tbat bis 

 teaching would be dangerous to tbe young. In 

 1854 be was appointed to the chair of compar- 

 ative anatomy in tbe University of Berne, and 

 this post he occupied till 1863, when he ac- 

 cepted an invitation to become professor of 

 physiology in tbe Instituto degli Studii Su- 

 perior! at Florence. Tbere he remained till 

 1876, when he accepted an offer of the 

 chair of physiology in the University of Ge- 

 neva, which be held till bis death. In Jan- 

 uary, 1894, Geneva celebrated tbe fiftieth an- 

 niversary of his medical doctorate and his 

 pupils undertook to publish bis researches in a 

 special edition, tbe last volume of which was 

 completed just before his death. These vol- 

 umes show the great range and importance of 

 Schiff 's physiological researches. These, as is 

 well known, were especially on the nervous 

 system, but be also made important contribu- 

 tions to tbe physiology of digestion and of se- 

 cretion. Earlier in bis life be had published 

 valuable contributions to ornithology. Schiff 

 had been driven from Germany for bis lib- 

 eralism and from Italy on account of his experi- 

 ments on living animals, though, as in the case 

 of Ludwig, bis treatment of these was always 

 most kindly. His character, was not, however, 

 affected by this treatment, and he was greatly 

 beloved by bis students and by all who knew 

 him. 



Several committees made reports in tbe de- 

 partment of meterology at the recent meeting 

 of tbe British Association. The Committee on 

 Meteorological Observations on Ben Nevis gave 



tbe details of tbe year's work. Tbe observers 

 have been investigating in past years the influ- 

 ence of cloud or fog and clear weather respec- 

 tively on tbe daily fluctuations of barometric 

 pressure. For these observations tbe directors 

 have resolved to establish a temporary station, 

 intermediate in height between tbe summit and 

 the low-level station at Fort William. The re- 

 port on solar radiation was presented, also that 

 on seismological observations. The latter stated 

 tbat, now tbat it bad been proved that any im- 

 portant earthquake is felt all over tbe globe, 

 the committee consider that arrangements 

 should be made for the record and study of 

 these movements. The committee believe tbat 

 such records might prove as important as those 

 of, e. g., terrestrial magnetism, and, just as they 

 bad magnetic observatories in various parts of 

 the world, so in its opinion should there be 

 seismological ones. For tbe experimental work 

 of tbe coming year tbe committee bad one in- 

 strument, and could have the use of another 

 (constructed under a grant to Prof, Milne by 

 the Royal Society) ; it wished to purchase two 

 others, and would have to build piers, etc. , and 

 pay for photographic necessaries and an assist- 

 ant to run the instruments, which, altogether, 

 would probably cost £200. In the report of 

 the Committee on Meteorological Photographs 

 full details were given of the method by which 

 simultaneous photographs are taken, at two 

 stations, 200 yards apart, of the same cloud in 

 order to obtain tbe distance of tbe cloud from 

 tbe observer. The sun is included in the photo- 

 graph and serves as a reference mark in tbe 

 measurements. 



A CORRESPONDENT of the N. Y. Evening Post 

 states tbat, to bold tbe new liquid fuel which is 

 to be used hereafter in tbe German navy, large 

 reservoirs holding over 100,000 gallons have 

 been erected at Wilbelmsbaven, and similar 

 arrangements will be made at Kiel and Dant- 

 zic, a credit of nearly $45,000 having been pro- 

 vided for this purpose in the last budget, be- 

 sides $22,500 for pumping plant in connection 

 with tbe basins. After various trials, the 

 authorities have decided to fit all existing large 

 men-of-war with apparatus for beating their 

 boilers partly with oil, and the use of liquid fuel 

 will be provided for in all new constructions. 



