374 



SCIENCE. 



[Vol. XV. No. 385 



merly a wider range than now, and that they are gradually disap- 

 pearing. The physiography of the coast of Acadia was then dis- 

 cussed, the distribution of currents considered, and evidence given 

 to show that the land in all this region is steadily sinking. The 

 effect of this depression on the currents of this coast was discussed, 

 and the views of Verrill and Dawson considered. The conclusion 

 was arrived at, that the known facts as to currents, the sinking 

 of the land, etc., explained the phenomena under discussion. The 

 relation of these facts to post-pliocene conditions was referred to, 

 and a sketch given of what remains to be done in this field. 



At the closing meeting of the society, the follovving officers were 

 elected for the ensuing year in the Geological Section: viz., presi- 

 dent, Professor W. Saunders, director of the Central Experimental 

 Farms, etc. ; vice-president, Professor L'Abbe Laflamme; secretary, 

 Mr. J. F. Whiteaves. For the whole society. Very Rev. Principal 

 George Munro Grant of Queen's University, Kingston, was elected 

 president, and Rev. L'Abbe Laflamme of Laval University, vice- 

 president. The honorary secretary is Dr. J. E. Bourinot. 



known. Many opium and alcoholic cases have an early history 

 of excessive use of coflFee, and are always more degenerate and 

 difficult to treat. A very wide field for future study opens up in. 

 this direction. 



HEALTH MATTERS. 



Sterilizing Water. 



In a paper published in the Medical Record of June 14, 1890, 

 Dr. C. G. Currier of New York states that unless exti-aordinarily 

 resistant, water becomes sterilized if it be at or near tbe boiling 

 temperature for fifteen minutes. If the same degree of heat be 

 maintained for five minutes, all harmful micro-organisms will 

 have been destroyed. Still less time serves to destroy the disease- 

 producing varieties which are recognized as liable to occur in 

 water. Thus merely raising to the boiling-point a clear water 

 containing the micro-organisms of malarial disorders, typhoid, 

 cholera, diphtheria, or of suppurative processes, and allowing it 

 to gradually cool, insures the destruction of these germs. They 

 are also destroyed by keeping the water for from a quarter of an 

 hour to half an huur at a temperature of 70" C. 



Occasionally, however, very resistant but harmless bacteria 

 may get into water. The brief heating renders them safe for 

 drinking- purposes; but, when it is desired to destroy every micro- 

 organism that may be present in a contaminated water, it should 

 be heated for one hour, and allowed to cool slowly. Then it may 

 be used for cleansing wounds or for alkaloidal solutions, which 

 will keep indefinitely if no germs be introduced after the solution 

 has been heated. 



Coffee Inebriety. 



Dr. Mendel of Berlin has lately published a clinical study of 

 this neurosis, his observations being made upon the women of the 

 working population in and about Essen. He found large num- 

 bers of women who consumed over a pound of coflfee in a week; 

 and some men drank considerably more, besides beer and wine. 

 The leading symptoms were profound depression of spirits, and 

 frequent headaches, with insomnia. A strong dose of coffee 

 would relieve this for a time, then it would return. The muscles 

 would become weak and trembling, and the hands would tremble 

 when at rest. An increasing aversion to labor and any steady 

 work was noticeable. The heart's action was rapid and irregular, 

 and palpitations and a heavy feeling in the preecordial region were 

 present. Dyspepsia of an extreme nervous type was also present. 

 Acute rosacea was common in these cases. These symptoms con- 

 stantly grow worse, and are only relieved by large quantities of 

 coffee, generally of the infusion. In some cases the tincture was 

 used. The victims suffer so seriously that they dare not abandon 

 it, for fear of death. 'Where brandy is taken, only temporary re- 

 lief follows. The face becomes sallow, and the hands and feet 

 cold; and an expression of dread and agony settles over the coun- 

 tenance, only relieved by using strong doses of coffee. In all 

 these cases, acute inflammations are likely to appear any time. 

 An injury of any part of the body is the starting-point for in- 

 flammations of an erysipelatous character. Melancholy and hys- 

 teria are present in all cases. Coffee inebriates are more common 

 among the neurasthenics, and are more concealed because the 

 effects of excessive doses of coffee are obscure and largely un- 



LETTERS TO THE EDITOR. 



*n:* Correspondents are requested to be as brief as possible. The writer's name 

 is in all cases required as proof of good faith. 



The editor loill be glad to publish any queries consonant with the character 

 of the journal. 



On request, twenty copies of the number containing his communication will 

 be fitrnished free to any correspondent. 



Dr. Hann's Studies on Cyclones and Anticyclones. 



In your issue for May 30 I have with much interest noticed a 

 letter by "W. M. D.," entitled "Dr. Hann's Studies on Cyclones 

 and Anticyclones." It contains a passage which I am unable to 

 comprehend; and, with your permission, I should like to ask the 

 writer, through your columns, to enlighten me on the subject. 



Mr. D. declares himself an advocate of the convectional theory 

 of cyclones, and states, "There is unquestionably an ascending 

 component of motion in cyclonic areas, and a descending compo- 

 nent in anticyclones." This is what I do not understand. Tbe 

 question is apparently that of a body of air moving in a certain 

 direction, but in what direction it is moving I don't quite see; 

 and neither do I understand what is meant by a "component of 

 a motion." 



To put my question more precisely, I noticed once, in a book 

 called "Weather," by the Hon. Mr. Abercrombie, that the author 

 had observed that the waves on the North Sea differ in shape, 

 when caused by a north-east wind under high pressure, from that 

 when caused by a south-west wind with low barometer; and he 

 considered this a proof, that the air in an anticyclone is a de- 

 scending current, and the air in a cyclone an ascending current, of 

 air. 



As an engineer, I am in the habit of always making a diagram 

 on paper whenever I have a mechanical or dynamical problem 

 before me; and it is a safe rule in applied mechanics that what- 

 ever cannot be thus represented does not exist. But in this case 

 I came to the result that a supposed descending current of air in 

 an anticyclone, having once reached the surface of the sea, must 

 needs afterwards follow this surface, — that is, blow horizontally, 

 or come to a standstill, — and also that a supposed ascending cur- 

 rent must instantly, the moment it starts, come out of contact 

 with the surface of the sea, and henceforward be unable to ma- 

 terially affect the shape of the waves. In other words, a body of 

 air moving over the surface of the sea must n( cessarily have a 

 horizontal direction; and the only cause I can imagine of the 

 supposed difference in the shape of the waves is the difference in 

 friction between air and water surface when the air-pressure is 

 high or low. 



I therefore beg to ask Mr. D. to give me some kind of a graphi- 

 cal representation showing the direction of the motion of the air 

 in cyclones and anticyclones; say, for example, in the North 

 Atlantic anticyclone at horse latitudes: and if he is unable to do 

 so, he will allow me to believe that his statement is far from be- 

 ing unquestionable. 



Mr. D. further states, "The convectional theory is merely a lo- 

 cal application of a theory that is universally accepted to account 

 for the general cii-culation of the atmosphere between equator and 

 poles." But is it, after all, necessary to account for such a circu- 

 lation? Has there ever been found the faintest actual proof to 

 show that such a general circulation really takes place? 



As to the other parts of Mr. D.'s letter, he will excuse me 

 for saying that I cannot share his apprehension that Dr. Hann's 

 studies will much alter the views held on cyclones and anticy- 

 clones, as the doctor's observations merely deal with temperatures 

 at the earth's surface, which, as is well known, are local, and 

 perfectly independent of the temperatures of the air at some con- 

 siderable distance from the surface; which latter, however impor- 

 tant in this kind of investigations, are unattainable unless by 

 balloon ascents. A body of surface air moving over the ground 

 must necessarily follow the shape of this latter; and consequently 

 the air which is to-day at the summit of the Alps was yesterday 



