Proceedings of Learned Societies. 385 



author had used ozone, artificially produced by the action of phos- 

 phorus, as a disinfectant in localities tainted with the products of 

 putrefaction. 



Dr. DAUBENTread a paper " On the last Eruption of Vesuvius :" 

 Vesuvius appears during the last few years to have entered upon a 

 new phase of action. Its eruptions are more frequent but less vio- 

 lent than they were formerly ; they proceed from a lower level than 

 they did at an earlier period, and they give gaseous principles, such 

 as the vapour of naphtha and light carburetted hydrogen, never before 

 detected. The last eruption caused an elevation of the coast to the 

 height of three feet seven inches above the level of the sea, which 

 has not been observed on any preceding occasion. Dr. Daubeny 

 suggested that Vesuvius was passing into the condition of a mud 

 volcano, the products issuing from it being simply owing to the action 

 of volcanic heat on the contiguous beds of Apennine limestone con- 

 taining bituminous matters ; hence the carbonic acid and carburetted 

 hydrogen and naphtha vapour emitted, which were to be regarded 

 as mere secondary products, to be distinguished from the muriatic 

 and sulphurous vapours indicating primary volcanic action. 



An interesting discussion took place " On Colour as a Test of 

 the Races of Man," by Dr. Crawfurd. The author stated that he 

 considered colour in different races to be a character imprinted 

 upon them from the beginning, because, as far as our expe- 

 rience goes, neither time, climate, nor locality has produced any 

 change. He contended that climate had no influence in determin- 

 ing colour in different races. Finns and Laps, though further north, 

 are darker than the Swedes ; and within the Arctic circle we find 

 Esquimaux of the same colour and complexion as the Malays under 

 the Equator. Yellow Hottentots and Bushmen live in the imme- 

 diate neighbourhood of Black Caffres and negroes. Sir C. Nichol- 

 son opposed Mr. Crawfurd's conclusions. The variety of the human 

 races, as they now are, had, doubtless, existed for a long time. Tombs 

 of very great antiquity showed this. But there is now in India 

 a race of Jews perfectly black ;* and in China the Jews had long 

 become the same in physiognomy as the Chinese, and the Jews 

 never intermarry. Among the natives of America there was an evi- 

 dent approximation to the Red Indian in physiognomy ; they were 

 assuming the hatchet face and losing the beard. The same effect 

 could be discerned among the European population of Australia. 



Dr. Gray read a paper on the " Remarkable change of form of 

 the Head which occurs during the growth of certain species of 

 Crocodiles." It is found that when first hatched all the crocodiles 

 have the front of the face shortened and rounded ; even those in the 

 adult state have an elongated beak. During growth the nose 

 gradually lengthens and assumes the form characteristic of the 

 particular species ; and when the animal attains its adult size, the 

 bones of the head dilate so as to be competent to the support of the 

 large teeth the animal requires in its adult stage. This change of 



* The black Jews of India are proselytes, not even claiming to be regarded 

 o f Hebrew origin. — Ed. I. O. 



