180 M. Pisses on the Andes. 



rabbit. One hour after this last inoculation the rabbit first 

 operated on died, and twenty hours afterwards the rabbit last 

 inoculated died; but the rabbit that was inoculated with the 

 blood in which the bacterium s had not made their appearance 

 remained quite well. M. Davaine considers that no one can 

 doubt the connection between the bacteriums and the disease, 

 and he says "by their presence and by their rapid multi- 

 plication in the blood, they give rise, after the manner of fer- 

 ments, to modifications in the blood, which speedily cause the 

 decease of the infected animal." 



M. Pasteur has shown that different kinds of fermentation 

 and putrefaction are acts correlative with the lives of organisms 

 of analogous character, and it seems probable that the laws of 

 dialysis, investigated by Mr. Graham, are intimately connected 

 with the chemical influence exerted by these creatures upon^the 

 fluids in which they grow. 



M. PISSIS ON THE ANDES. 



M. Pissis, who has long resided in South America, has pre- 

 sented several memoirs to the French Academy on the geology 

 of that country. These papers, having been considered by a 

 commission composed of M.M. Elie de Beaumont, Boussingault, 

 Danbree, and St. Claire Deville, form the subject of a report 

 which will be found in Comjotcs llendus for 6th July, 1863, from 

 which the following particulars are taken :- — 



M. Pissis occupied part of his time in determination of 

 mountain heights, among others those of the elevated peaks 

 surrounding lake Titicaca. The report states, " the altitudes 

 ascribed l>y him to Illiinani and to Nevado de Sorata agree 

 with those deduced from the measurements of Mr. Pentland, 

 toade I luring his second voyage to Bolivia, and with which 

 M. Pissis could not have been acquainted. This fortunate, 

 agreement between two able observers leaves no doubt that 

 Cliimborazo exceeds by some hundred meters tho two colossal 

 mountains of Upper Peru. 



"Jt was also reserved for M. Pissis to determine by a 

 complete geodesi<- operation the height of Aconcagua, tho most 

 elevated of 1 1m- vet, known peaks of South America. Measured 

 by means of two different liases, Aconcagua appears to have an 

 altitude of 6884 meters, ami fchns to exceed Chimborazo by 

 about 300 meters." In a note the commission refer to Mr. 

 I Vnl land's estimation of 7:500 meters for this mountain, which 

 they say differs littler from that of Captains Decency and Fitzroy. 

 They proceed to quoto tho words of M. Pissis, who observes 



