6o 



SCIENCE. 



physical forces upon biological phenomena has long since 

 been admitted ; who does not recognize the importance 

 of heat, of light, and of electricity upon the vital mani- 

 festations ? In medicine electricity, under its different 

 forms, is daily employed in the treatment of a multitude 

 of diseases. Why refuse to one physical force that 

 which we accord to all the others ? Why, if all physical 

 agents are only varied forms of the same force, should 

 they not all exert an action upon the organism in a meas- 

 ure different for each of them ? And then why should 

 not magnetism, which possesses in such a high degree 

 this very singular property of influence at a distance, be 

 able in physiological order to produce analogous effects ? 



If from conjectures we pass to the consideration of 

 facts, we are forcibly convinced that this physiological 

 action of magnetism at a. distance does truly exist. 



In physics, experiment leads to a, in some degree, tan- 

 gible result ; it is undeniable ; it forces itself upon us. 

 Bring the poles of a magnetized bar near to some iron 

 filings and you have the conditions for the experiment ; 

 the iron is attracted and there is the result. Discussions 

 may arise upon the theory, upon the interpretation of the 

 fact, but the fact itself is always present. Furthermore, 

 as it is easy to appreciate exactly all of the circumstances 

 of the experiment, we are certain that with the same con- 

 ditions given, we shall always obtain the same result. 

 In a word, the experiment can be easily repeated. In 

 physiology experiment is surrounded by the greatest dif- 

 ficulties, but the result is neither less significant nor less 

 certain. As regards experiments made with the magnet, 

 it can be shown that they fulfill all the conditions of cer- 

 tainty of physical experiments. 



In the first place it is necessary that the application be 

 well done ; that is to say, that the magnet ought to be in 

 good condition and properly placed. It is not necessary 

 that the magnet should be very large, nor endowed with 

 very energetic properties; it is sufficient if the magnetic 

 force exist in an appreciable degree. The experiment 

 has often been attempted with false magnets, that is to 

 say, with bars or horeshoes of variable substance, zinc, 

 copper, wood, etc., not possessing any magnetic action, 

 but having all the appearances of true magnets. In these 

 cases the experiment has always given negative results. 

 Likewise, in making use of the electro-magnet, the action 

 upon the orginism takes place only when the established 

 current gives to the soft iron its magnetic properties. It 

 is necessary also that the magnet should be properly ap- 

 plied ; the poles alone acting, the neutral portion should 

 remain absolutely without effect. This is easily accom- 

 plished when using the magnet in the form of a horse- 

 shoe and by presenting it successively by its open and 

 its closed side. A patient has his eyes bandaged ; the 

 magnet is applied to the region of the back, in such a 

 manner that he shall have no knowledge of its position, 

 and physiological phenomena always follow such appli- 

 cation ol the poles, and never follow the application at 

 the neutral line. 



But is it easy to verify the result obtained ? How does 

 the magnet work ? How is its action demonstrated ? 

 Does it not depend, one will say, upon phenomena of 

 sensibility which are purely subjective and appreciable 

 with great difficulty to the experimenter, who is obliged 

 to trust to the word of his patient ? I will reply at once 

 that it is sufficient to have assisted at a single one of the 

 experiments at the Salpetriere to be convinced that these 

 phenomena, subjective it is true, can be easily rendered 

 objective. A large needle made to pass unawares 

 through the flesh of the subject whose eyes are kept 

 carefully bandaged, shows in an absolutely objective 

 way the profound anaesthesia which the parts have at- 

 tained. But the phenomena of sensibility are not the 

 only ones produced ; the magnet has an influence upon 

 lemperature, as the thermometer distinctly shows. 1 It 



i.M. Broca presented to the Academy of Medicine, at the Session of 



acts also on the molilitd of the parts to which it is ap- 

 plied, provoking contractions of an intensity and of a 

 duration which removes all suspicion of simulation. 

 The physician must be a mere novice who could mistake 

 a prolonged and voluntary contraction for a true con- 

 tracture. Now, the magnet produces in certain cases 

 true contractures. {La Nature.} 



Dr. P. Richet. 



( To be continued.') 



NOTES AND QUERIES. 



To the Editor of Science : 



[i.] In the 3d. July number of Science, under " Notes and 

 Queries," J. H. G desires " reliable information concern- 

 ing the Tuckahoe." 



I will tell him what I know concerning it, in regular 

 sequence with his questions : 



1st. What is its geographical distribution ? 



/ know, from North Carolina to Texas, along the gulf 

 States — presumably elsewhere also. 



2nd. What is the nature of its growth and production ? 



An underground fungus or root, growing under the sur- 

 face like the truffle. Belongs to the gasteromycetous fungi, 

 according to Lindley and Fries. 



3d. Its former use and preparation ? 



Used as bread, by roasting in the ashes, both by Indians 

 and negroes. 



4th. In what soil found ? 



Sandy or loamy surface with sub-soil of clay. 



5th. What authors have mentioned it ? 



Dr. McBride and F. P. Porcher of South Carolina; Clay- 

 ton, Le Conte, M. J. Berkeley, Fries & Lindley. 



6th. By what botanical name is it known? 



Lycoperdon solidum. 



7th. Has it any medicinal virtues? 



I know of none. 



It is considered very nutritious hence its name tuckahce, 

 which is Indian for bread, and is highly prized by the 

 negroes, who eat it to this day. 



There is a district of country in the eastern counties of 

 North Carolina called Tuckahce from the abundance of 

 these subterraneous bodies. 



Although the Tuckahoe has been placed among the fungi, 

 yet there is considerable doubt as to its true position in the 

 vegetable kingdom. 



Analysis shows it to consist almost entirely of pectic acid, 

 which would seem to remove it from the fungi, and yet the 

 entire absence of vascular or cellular structure of bark, etc., 

 would seem to remove it equally as far from the phaeno- 

 gams. 



I hope these few enseignments may help J. H. G., and 

 that he will favor us with the results of his further re- 

 searches. 



Mrs. M. J. Young, 



Houston, Texas, July 19th. 



The Rev. W. Cowell Brown, Wesleyan minister of Shef- 

 field, has patented an invention which appears to be a 

 simple and practical means of lessening the number of 

 deaths by drowning. A chemical preparation is inserted in 

 a portion of the coat, waistcoat or dress. It does not add 

 to the weight, or in any way alter the appearance of the gar- 

 ment. The preparation is inserted between the lining and 

 the cloth ; in the case of a coat, it is placed on each side of 

 the coat and up the back. The moment a man falls into 

 the water the coat becomes inflated, and he cannot keep his 

 head under the waves. The invention has already been 

 thoroughly tested, and it is stated that it will sustain a per- 

 son in the water as long as he can possibly endure the ex- 

 posure, say forty-five or fifty hours. 



February 7, a note from Dr. Hcnrot (of Reims) upon the action of the 

 magnet in hemihypothermia. Me states that the application of three 

 rn 1 t;ncts to tin- cold liinh raised its temperature from i.8° to 2.3 in twenty 

 minutes, at the same time lowering the temperature of the normal mem- 

 ber two-tenths of a degree. 



