March 7, 1890.] 



SCIENCE. 



'59 



to Dr. Regnard, that there is a total absence of putrefaction 

 in the greater depths of the sea. The curious "abysmal" 

 fishes discovered in the "Challenger," and other expeditions 

 appear to rise after death, so that they are sometimes found on 

 the surface; though, as a rule, they go to pieces, as the sur- 

 rounding pressure diminishes, long before they reach the air. 

 Still, there is no proof that bathybial or abysmal micro- 

 organisms do not exist; and, if so, they could cause decompo- 

 sition in the corpses of men as well as in the dead bodies of 

 abysmal fishes. The question is of considerable medico-legal, 

 and yet rather biological, interest, and it is far from settled. 



NOTES AND NEWS. 

 According to Nature, for the purpose of growing plants un- 

 der more natural conditions than those usually afiEorded by the 

 soil and surroundings of ordinary botanic gardens, M. G. Bon- 

 nier, the director of the Botanic Garden in Paris, has obtained 

 from the director for higher education in Paris the grant of a 

 piece of land in the forest of Fontainebleau as an annex for ex- 

 perimental culture. It has been placed under the special charge 

 of M. CI. Duval. 



— A pamphlet published by the Cornell University Christian 

 Association, containing a map of the campus, and giving de- 

 tailed information about the village of Ithaca, the university 

 buildings, examinations, boarding-houses, etc., will be sent free 

 to prospective students. Apply to the treasurer of the Cornell 

 University, Ithaca, N.Y. 



— One of the problems presented by the frightful eruption of 

 Mount Bandai in Japan, two years ago, was the manner in which 

 a large number of holes in the earth in the neighborhood of the 

 mountain were formed. It was suggested, says Nature, that they 

 owed their existence to the falling of rocks and stones cast up by 

 the eruption, while another theory was that they were formed by 

 forces beneath the surface. At the last meeting of the Seismo- 

 logical Society of Japan, Dr. Knott read a paper on the first 

 theory, in which he demonstrated that it was quite insufficient 

 to account for the phenomena. Professor Milne, it may be added, 

 has expressed the same view from the beginning. 



— Mr. A. R. Bonsdorf has conti-ibuted to the Izvestia of the 

 Russian Geographical Society (vol. xxv. 5) an elaborate paper 

 on the conclusions as to the secular upheaval of the coasts of 

 Finland which may be drawn from the accurate measurements 

 made since 1858 under the direction of the Finska Vetenskaps- 

 Societeten It appears from the mathematical analysis to which 

 the measurements have been submitted, as we learn from Nature, 

 that the average upheaval of the coasts of South -West Finland is 

 55 centimetres per century; and that the rate of upheaval in- 

 creases from Ut-o (in the Aland Islands) towards the north, and 

 towards the east as far as Porkala (not far from Helsingfors), 

 whence it decreases again towards the east. The interpolation 

 formulae better correspond to actual measurements if the changes 

 of the level of the Baltic Sea resulting from the changes of at- 

 mospheric pressure are taken into account. 



— An expedition has been despatched by the Peruvian Gov- 

 ernment to the Javary River, on the borders of Peru and 

 Bolivia. The primary object of the expedition, as we learn 

 from the "Proceedings of the Royal Geographical Society," is a 

 military one, being the chastisement of the Indians for the 

 murder of white traders; but, as not less than five scientific 

 men accompany the party, some important results vpith regard 

 to the topography and ethnography of the region may be 

 expected. Among the savants is M. Richard Payer, who, on 

 returning to South America after a hurried visit to Europe, 

 was invited to join the expedition. 



—An industrial exhibition will be held at the Swedish 

 capital during 1892, a remarkably well-positioned site in the 

 proximity of the town having been fixed upon. A committee 

 has been considering the financial question of the matter, and 

 arrived at the result that the expenses would be likely to exceed 

 the profits by 1,200,000 krona. This deficiency is proposed 

 to be covered by a grant from the state of 400,000 krona (half 



to be taken from the industrial manufacture fund) , by a grant 

 of 300,000 krona from the city of Stockholm, and the balance 

 of 500,000 krona it is proposed to raise through a lottery. 

 Stockholm is a beautiful town, and the Swedish manufacturers 

 are sure to exert themselves: so the exhibition should become 

 one of some interest, even in these days of excessive exhibitions. 



— The annual report of the trustees of the Lenox Library 

 shows that there has been no change in the condition of the 

 library since their last report to the Legislature. A re-arrange- 

 ment of the various collections of which it is composed, begun 

 during the year and still in progress, was determined on by 

 the trustees with a view to its easier administration in the 

 service of the public, who are freely admitted to its inspection 

 and use. The total number of visitors in 1889 was 8,708. An 

 addition of special interest has been made to the picture-gallery 

 in the gift, by Mr. Alexander Maitland, of the portrait of Van 

 Brugh Livingston, by Sir Henry Raeburn. The chief additions to 

 the other collections have been made by the purchase of the 

 library of the late president, Robert Lenox Kennedy. The Drexel 

 Musical Library, the legacy of the late Mr. Joseph W. Drexel, 

 has been completely arranged in special cases. The completion 

 and publication of the catalogue, which is now in progress, 

 will make available to the musical world what is perhaps the 

 most important collection of the kind in this country. 



— An interesting paper by Major Rogala von Bieberstein, 

 German Army, has appeared in the February number of Colburn's 

 United Service Magazine. Tlie principal deductions derived from 

 the last summer (1889) manoeuvres in the presence of the 

 Emperor, when "extensive use was made of smokeless powder 

 by different divisions of the Guards, as well as by the whole 

 of the Tenth Army Corps," may be summarized as follows. 

 Cast-steel guns were seriously injured; bronze guns were 

 unaffected; steel-bronze guns are recommended. It was found 

 necessary to lubricate gun-barrels from time to time by means 

 of an oily cloth. The cartridges take up less space in the 

 powder-chamber. Whether with guns or rifles, "a better 

 aim is obtained, as also quicker firing; it is easier to judge 

 distances; a better view of one's own troops is obtained; a 

 clearer general view is presented; and a better control in 

 directing an attack or defence is practicable. . . . Troops can 

 suffer great losses from an enemy's fire without knowing 

 whence it comes, and whither they shall direct their fire in 

 defence. . . . The artillery. . . will in future fill their shells 

 with explosives which produce dense smoke, in order the better 

 to observe the" bursts. "Cavalry will suffer more than any 

 other branch of the service by the introduction of smokeless 

 powder, for their best friend was always the smoke which 

 veiled their attack. . . . Their tactical worth in field opera- 

 tions will become much less' ' than formerly. As to the de- 

 fence, defenders "can use their weapons with more compos- 

 ure, especially in the front line, than can the attacking party. 

 . . . The spade will play a more important part than for- 

 merly; as well for the infantry as for the artillery." As 

 regards the attack, the cavalry will reconnoitre a position 

 under great difliculties, they "must be prepared to suffer . . . 

 greater losses than heretofore," and "must develop a more 

 careful reconnoitring activity. . . . The attacking party of 

 to-day must make great use of his artillery to shake the 

 enemy's infantry" before the position is assaulted. Major 

 Bieberstein considers that the "attacking force which leaves 

 its cover to advance will be cut down by a murderous fire, 

 better aimed than formerly. . . . The increased deadly effect 

 of the repeating rifle and smokeless powder on an enemy 

 repulsed after an unsuccessful storm, will tend to annihilation, 

 and probably change an orderly retreat into hopeless flight." 

 Applying these deductions, it appears more than ever necessary 

 that generals in the field should be experts of the highest order. 

 Also it appears that the preponderance of advantages gained by 

 modern inventions lie with the defence, and that troops which 

 may not possess sufficient experience to attack, may neverthe- 

 less defend a good position against the best soldiers in the 

 world, and especially in an enclosed country. 



