AND OF THE PHYSICAL SCIENCES. 



59 



depositions of the (jrcf>, or fi-eestone, and conchyiiferous calcareous stone, which ter- 

 minated with the clay formation, belong, first, a number of massive and terrestrial 

 plants deposited in those strata, too small to give a decided character to the vegetation 

 of that time ; and, secondly, a series of plants found above those same strata, and below 

 the chalk, totally distinct from those which marked the first period, and the remains of 

 which are now to be met with in the calcareous rook of Jui-a and other districts. 

 The Cryptogamic plants prevailed to a great extent at this epoch, and among the 

 remains of that period, no vestige can be traced of any of our recent Palm trees, nor 

 even of the Di-cotyledonous Plants of our times. During this period, no Mammife- 

 rous animal was in existence, whether terrestrial or aquatic. The Reptiles alone 

 constituted the whole range of the existing vertebrated animals, different in kind and 

 dimension from those of the present world, among which may be mentioned those 

 singular beings destined by nature to fly as well as to swim, and since caUed, from 

 the structure of their parts or entire skeletons found by geologists, Pterodactyles, Ple- 

 siosaurus, and Ichthyosaurus. 



The third and last period of Antediluvian vegetation, far more interesting than 

 either the first or second, and separated from the latter by the chalk formation, 

 which contains some traces of marine plants, corresponds to the period when the last 

 marine irruptions took place, between the intervals of which those huge animals were 

 propagated, whose vestiges have been distinctly observed, such as the Palseotherium, 

 Anoplotherium, and other genera now lost; and after them the Antediluvian Ele- 

 phant, the Pthinoceros, and other contemporaneous races. The plants belonging to 

 this period are distributed in two distinct soils — the one resulting from the deposi- 

 tions after marine irruptions, the other from depositions left by fresh water inunda- 

 tions. Their characters are distinct and peculiar ; but they, in a great degree, 

 correspond to the plants of the Postdiluvian world. Animalization was at its highest 

 decree of perfection during the third period of Antediluvian vegetation, but Man 

 formed no part of it. 



Fermekting Po^jds in Massachusetts. ■ — A remarkable pond was discovered not 

 long ago in Sharon, Massachusetts, known by the name of Mash-Bog Pond, from 

 which great quantities of lenticular argillaceous oxide of iron and cake-ore are pro- 

 cured. From about the middle of August to some time in September, this pond 

 presents the singular appearance of working or fermenting, as beer does when new. 



MISCELLANEOUS. 



Effects of Cold on New-Born Ikfakts. — The excessive mortality which 

 prevails among Infants during the first year after birth, has recently led several emi- 

 nent physicians to investigate this 



the 



nportant subject ; and the following are 

 conclusions at which Dr Trevisan arrived, after a most careful investigation : — 



1 In Italy, of 100 infants born in the months of December, January, and Feb- 

 ruary, 66 die in the first month, 15 in the course of the year, and 19 only survive. 



2. Of 100 infants born in the spring of the year, 48 survive the first year. 



3. Of 100 infants born in the summer, 83 survive the first year. 



4. Of 100 infants born in the autumn, 58 sur\'ive the first year. 



The surplus of mortality, during the cold months, is attributed by I\Ii\I. I\Iilne-Ed- 

 wards Fontenelle, Villerme, and Dr Trevisan, exclusively to the practice of exposing 

 the infants to the cold air a few days after birth, in taking them to the church to be 

 baptized; and these distinguished physicians implore the Ecclesiastical authorities to 

 devise some means, consistent with their religious duties, to put a stop to this fatal 

 mistake. 



It is not improbable that a great proportion of tbe numerous deaths which take 

 place in Britain during the first year after birth may be attributable to a similar cause. 



Icebergs of the Southern Hemisphere. — In the year 1830, Captain Hors- 

 buro^b turned bis attention to Icebergs which have been met with in the Southern 

 Ocean, and on a strict search through the Journals of the East India Company, he 

 could not meet with any record of the occurrence of these for a whole century pre- 

 vious to 1828, although vessels belonging to the Company, in their passage to and 

 from India, had navigated into the parallels 40", 41°, and 42*^ south; while in the 

 years 1828 and 1829, icebergs had occasionally been met with by various vessels, so 

 near the Cape of Good Hope as between the latitude 30*^ and 39'^. The most strik- 

 ing- instance mentioned by Captain Horsburgh, is that in which the brig Eliza fell 

 in with five icebergs, in 1828, latitude 37° 31' south, longitude 18" 17' east of 

 London. They were prodigious masses of ice, from 250 to 300 feet in perpendicular 

 height above the surface of the ocean, and of the shape of churcb steeples. He ac- 

 counts for them, by the supposition that a large tract of land exists near the Antarctic 

 Circle, somewhere between the meridian of " London and the 20" of east longitude ; 

 and attributes their unprecedented descent, during the years 1828 and 1829, to their 

 disruption from the place of their formation by the violent convulsion of an earthquake 

 or volcano. He mentions as a remarkable fact, that icebergs are met with at the 

 same period of the year, namely, April and IMay, whether in the Northern or Southern 

 Hemisphere, although the seasons are at that time, in each hemisphere, of an oppo- 

 site character. 



Singular Cases of the Effects of Nitrous Oxide. ^ — The following very 

 remarkable cases of tho effects of Nitrous Oxide occurred among Professor Silliman's 

 Students, at Yale College. A gentleman about nineteen years of age, of a san- 

 guine temperament, cheerful disposition, and in the most robust health, inhaled the 

 gas, which was prepared and administered in the usual dose and manner. Im- 

 mediately his feelings were uncoriimonly elevated, so that (as he expressed it) he 

 could " not refrain from dancing and shouting-." To such a degree was he excited, 

 that he was thrown into a frightful te'.iriuin, and his exertions became so violent that 

 he sunk to the earth exhausted; and having there remained till he had in some de- 

 gree recovered his strength, he again rose, only to renew the most convulsive muscular 

 efforts, and the most piercing screams and cries, until, ovei-powered by the intensity 

 of the paroxysms, he Egain fell to the ground apparently senseless, and panting vehe- 



mently. For the space of two hours these symptoms continued; he was perfectly- 

 unconscious of what he was doing, and was in every respect like a maniac. He 

 stated, however, that his feelings vibrated betsveen perfect happiness and the most 

 consummate misery. After the first violent effects had subsided, he was obHged to lie 

 down two or three times, from excessive fatigue, although he was immediately roused 

 upon any person entering the room. The effects remained in a certain degree for 

 two or tliree days, accompanied by a hoarseness, which he attributed to the exertions 

 made while under the influence of the gas. 



The other case was that of a man of mature age, and of a grave character. For 

 nearly two yeai-s previous to his taking the gas, his health had been very deUcate, and 

 his mind so gloomy and depressed, that he was obliged almost entirely to discontinue 

 his studies. In this case of debility, he inhaled about three quarts of the nitrous 

 oxide. The consequences were, an astonishing invigoration of his whole system, and 

 the most exquisite perception of delight. These were manifested by an uncommon 

 disposition for mirth and pleasantry, and by extraordinary muscxilar power. The 

 effects of the gas were felt, without diminution, for at least thirty hours, and in a 

 greater or less degree, for more than a week ; but the most remarkable effect was 

 upon the organs of taste. Before taking the gas, he felt no peculiar choice in the 

 articles of food, but immediately after that event, he manifested a taste for such things 

 only as were sioeetj and for several days ate nothing but sweet cake. Indeed, this 

 singular taste was carried to such excess, that he used sugar and molasses not only 

 upon his bread and butter, and lighter food, but upon his butcher meat and vege- 

 tables ; and continued to do so for some considerable time afterwards. His health and 

 spirits recovered their wonted energy, which could only be accounted for from the in- 

 fluence of the nitrous oxide. He afterwards experienced no uncommon exhilaration, 

 but became habitually cheerful, in place of being habitually grave, before he under- 

 went this experiment. 



Fall of the Dent du Midi. — On the evening of the 25th of August 1835, a 

 violent storm raged all around the Dent du Midi. On the 26th, between the hours 

 of ten and eleven in the forenoon, a considerable portion of the summit of this moun- 

 tain was suddenly dislocated from the eastern ridge, and precipitated towards the glacier, 

 on the southern side of which it carried along with it an enormous quantity. This 

 immense mass of stone, earth, and ice, lodged into a deep ravine, which separates the 

 Dent from the Col de Salenfe, and in which flows the torrent of St Barthelemy. At 

 the straitened pass through which this rapid rushes to the smooth and verdant 

 valley of the Rhone, an extensive mass of black slimy mud was noticed, on the sur- 

 face of which lay fragments of rocks from the dimensions of twelve feet and down- 

 wards. It had all the appearance of a stream of lava, and directed its course towards 

 the Rhone, through the l^ine forest which mantles a part of the valley, carrying along 

 with it every thing which stood in its course. Large trees were prostrated before 

 it and broken like reeds ; large blocks of stone were carried into the Rhone, the 

 waters of which were forced over the opposite bank, and up the channel to a consi- 

 derable distance. The high road was entirely blocked up by this mass of slime and 

 stone, which rendered necessary the construction of a new road across by means of 

 faggots. Every sort of communication between the upper and lower Valals was 

 prevented for several days, until a temporary bridge could be constructed at the neck 

 of the pass. Dense clouds of dust ascended to a great height for several days after 

 this catastrophe, giving it all the appearance of a phenomenon produced by means of 

 volcanic agency, and a deep valley was hollowed out of the mass. 



REVIEWS. 



Xeue Jfirbeltkiere, zu dtr Fauna von Abyssinicn geUorig, entdeckt und heschrielei 

 von Dr E. RuppelL Frankfurt am Maxn^ 1835. Fol. Erste Lieferung — 

 S'dngeihiere. 



(New Vertebratay belonging to the Fauna of Ah!f::i.inia, discovered and described by 

 Dr E. RuppelL Frankfort on the Muiney 1835. Fol. Fir^t Part — Mam- 

 malia.^ 



In this important work, the learned author has commenced by describing six new 

 species of Mammalia, being three Monkeys, two Antelopes, and one Goat. The illustra- 

 tions are got up with great cai-e, and are accompanied by a diagnosis of each species, 

 as well as a circumstantial description ; and it is intended that this work shall be annexed 

 to the celebrated Zoological Atlas of the author. Hitherto he has confined himself to 

 the illustration of species previously unknown, and each class of Vertebrata is intended 

 to form a separate series, any one of which may be purchased separately. 



The first Monkey is a Colobus, to which he assigns the specific name of Guereza. 

 It is quick and hvely, of a harmless disposition, and lives in small families upon lofty 

 trees. Long hair, white as snow, hangs fi-om the side of its body, which is in every 

 other part, except about the throat and the region ai'ounj the eyes, of a di;ep blacl:. 

 Its long tail terminates in a white tuft. 



The second species (Macacus gelada of R.iippell) is very like the Cynocephalus 

 Hamadryas in the colour and quality of its hair, bat in every other respect it is a true 

 Macacus. Its food consists of seeds and roots, and it often makes great devastations 

 among the cultivated fields. It lives in numerous families, among rocky districts co 

 vered with low bushes, and is always seen upon the ground. 



The descriptions of the Antelopes ai"e not less interesting than the preceding, as 

 well from the striking manner in which allied sp'^cies are grouped together, as from 

 the important hght thrown upon the geographical distribution of the separate groups 

 of species found in the south and west of Africa. 



The Antilope Defassa of RUppell attains the size of a full-grown Cow. It lives 

 in small families upon the grassy plains of Western Abyssinia. Its gait is heavy, 

 and its favourite food consists of the leaves and fruit-cups of the Holcus Sorghnm. 

 In general character, it approaches nearly to the Redunca group of JMajor Ilaniii- 

 ton Smith, 



