4 6 



SCIENTIFIC NEWS. 



[July 13, 1888, 



always ready to give up on first demand. We are able 

 to trace this action, and to see that the period of the 

 primary strychnine fit coincides with the reduction of the 

 haemoglobin. 



Why (you ask) does that kill ? I cannot tell you. It 

 is the highest form of knowledge to see the limits of 

 positive knowledge, and to make that the starting-point 

 for fresh inquiry. 



From what I have said, it will be evident that my 

 object has been to trace toxic energy to the chemical 

 action of poisons on living tissues or fluids. The phrase 

 " physiological action " must not be understood as im- 

 plying any theory re modus operandi. There is a 

 danger lest the phrase " physiological action " should be 

 employed, or regarded, as explanatory. It no more 

 explains (be it remembered) the action of certain drugs 

 on the living body than the word catalysis explains 

 fermentation. 



(To be continued.) 



— »-5»a^>i^5tf-» — 

 CORRESPONDENCE. 



The Editor does not hold himself responsible for opinions expressed 

 by his correspondents, nor can he take notice of anonymous com- 

 munications. All letters must be accompanied by the ?iame and 

 address of the writer, not necessarily for publication, but as a 

 guarantee of good faith. - 



EFFECT OF THE VENOM OF THE RATTLESNAKE 

 ON ITSELF. 

 On page 612 of your paper it is said that " the venom of a 

 viper or a cobra is entirely without effect when introduced 

 into its own system or into that of another of its kind." This 

 rule does not hold good with all snakes. A rattlesnake in 

 the possession of Dr. Dearing is stated by Dr. W. J. Burnett, 

 of the Boston Society of Natural History, to have " acci- 

 dentally struck one of its fangs into its own body, when it 

 soon rolled over and died." E. P. P. 



THE NEW RINGS OF SATURN. 



Your journal of June 29th contains an interesting descrip- 

 tion of the alleged discovery, by Dom Lamey, of several new 

 rings exterior to those already known to gird the planet 

 Saturn. The announcement of these new features will come 

 as a genuine surprise to all those numerous observers who 

 have never discerned a vestige of them, though habitually 

 studying this interesting planet during a long series of years. 

 I have myself obtained many hundreds of careful observa- 

 tions of Saturn, during the last quarter of a century, but 

 never noticed anything of the rings supposed to have been 

 seen by Dom Lamey. My own negative results, combined 

 with the similar experience of hosts of other observers, lead 

 me to the confident assumption that the new rings have no 

 objective existence. They are either imaginative or illusory 

 instrumental phenomena, and it is desirable, for the sake of 

 scientific truth and the necessity of avoiding the dissemina- 

 tion of error, that the presumptive discoverer should critically 

 test his instruments and his vision, and endeavour to trace 

 out the cause of his abnormal seeings. He may depend 

 upon it that he has been misled by non-attention to some 

 simple source of illusion, and that the new rings have no 

 foundation in fact. They are probably false appearances ; 

 the images of the true rings are perhaps reproduced by the 

 bad adjustment of the lenses of the telescopes employed. 



I think we may safely regard these supposed new rings of 

 Saturn as in the same category as the satellite of Venus, the 

 planet Vulcan, the rings of Neptune, and other chimerical 

 discoveries which are more fanciful than real. 



A Member of the Liverpool Astronomical Society. 



RECENT INVENTIONS. 



The following list has been compiled especially for the Scientific 

 News by Messrs. W. P. Thompson and Boult, Patent Agents, of 

 323, High Holborn, London, W.C.; Newcastle Chambers, Angel 

 Row, Nottingham ; Ducie Buildings, Bank Street, Manchester ; 

 and 6, Lord Street, Liverpool. 



Removal of Old Varnish. — A Mr. Myer has just 

 patented in Germany a composition for removing old 

 varnish from objects. It is obtained by mixing five parts 

 of 36 per cent, silicate of potash, one of 40 per cent, 

 soda lye, and one of sal ammoniac (hydrochlorate of 

 ammonia). 



Music. — Mr. J. Sample has patented means for turn- 

 ing over leaves of music. The invention consists of a 

 tassel attached in rotation to the edges of the leaves of 

 music, so that the tassel on the first leaf is at the bottom, 

 the tassel on the second an inch higher, and so on to the 

 end. The tassels or fringe may be fastened to the leaves 

 by gum or other fastener. 



ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. 

 C. W. L. — Kindly send your address. See notice at the head 

 of this column. 



Steam Generators. — Mr. J. Smith and D. Cowan 

 have patented a steam generator. The invention con- 

 sists essentially in the combination and arrangement of 

 tubes and flues whereby a double return of the flame 

 and heated gases from the furnace is obtained, and the 

 area acted upon by them considerably increased. A 

 thorough absorption of all the gases before they reach 

 the chimney is ensured, and thus a great saving of fuel 

 is obtained. 



Electric-energy. — Mr. J. Ross has patented means 

 for the production of electric-energy for lighting purposes. 

 According to the invention, two commutators are 

 mounted on the same spindle, which is driven at a high 

 speed by a small motor. These commutators are each 

 placed in circuit with a dynamo electric machine. They 

 are also each placed in circuit with the inner and outer 

 wires respectively of an induction coil, through which 

 alternating currents of electric-energy are made to pass. 

 The electric-energy produced may be employed for lighting 

 lamps or other purposes. 



Targets. — Mr. W. E. Heath has patented a miniature 

 target for rifle practice at short ranges. The target is 

 constructed as follows : — An iron shield, with wings tc 

 prevent splashing, is provided, having in its upper por- 

 tion an opening through which the target is shown repre- 

 senting the proportion of a target as seen from the firing 

 point on the actual range. The bull's-eye is in all cases 

 at about the same height. Behind the screen is placed 

 an iron plate, forming the segment of a circle, to which 

 are attached all the targets required in their varying sizes. 

 This plate revolves on a centre, so that any target can 

 be shown at the opening by revolving ; provision is also 

 made for marking. 



Speaking Tube. — A speaking tube has been patented 

 by Mr. S. Gratrix, Manchester. This invention is to 

 avoid the necessity of speaking and hearing at the same 

 mouthpiece. The metallic coupling to which the tube 

 and mouthpiece are attached is provided with another 

 opening at the side which is covered by a revolving disc, 

 to which is connected one end of an elastic tube, having 



