﻿486 Miscellaneous Intelligence. 



6. Absorption of coloring matters by the lining protoplasm of 

 vegetable cells. — The following extract from a recent work on 

 Vegetable Physiology expresses in a few words the generally- 

 accepted view relative to the action of dyes on vegetable cells. 

 "It is impossible to stain living protoplasm: it is when proto- 

 plasm is dead that coloring matters can penetrate into it." The 

 first part of this statement requires an important qualification. 



Passing by certain well known facts relative to the transient 

 tinging of animal protoplasm in certain cases, noted by Heidenhain, 

 Brandt, and Dreser, attention is asked to the recent discovery by 

 Pfefferin (Unters. aus dem botan. Inst. Tubingen, Band ii, iv). 

 Professor Pfeffer shows that when living vegetable cells are 

 placed in very dilute solutions of certain coal-tar coloring matters, 

 the protoplasm becomes distinctly colored, and remains tinged for 

 a time. The best results are obtained by placing roots with at- 

 tached root-hairs, in half a liter of pure water to which is added 

 one ten-thousandth of one per cent of almost any of the so-called 

 methyl colors, such as " methyl-green," " methyl-violet," "methyl- 

 orange :" and such colors as safranin, Bismarck-brown, and the 

 like. Nigrosin, and eosin, and two or three others are not well 

 adapted to the purpose. After a short time, especially if the 

 specimen is shaken in the solution, the protoplasm will be found 

 distinctly tinged. But a few colors, notably methylene-blue, do 

 not color the protoplasm at all, but impart to the cell-sap an intense 

 color. In this case, the dye has passed through the protoplasm 

 without tinging it, into the cell-sap which receives it. g. l. g. 



III. Miscellaneous Scientific Intelligence. 



1. The Astronomical Journal.- — It is gratifying that Dr. B. A. 

 Gould has again undertaken the publication of The Astronomical 

 Journal w 7 hich was discontinued in 1861. A real impulse was 

 given to Astronomy in this country by the first six volumes of 

 the Journal. We may hope for a like effect from the renewal of 

 the publication at this time. The object of the Journal is now, as 

 heretofore, the advancement rather than the diffusion of astro- 

 nomical knowledge. 



The first number of the seventh volume is dated at Boston, 

 Nov. 2, 1886. The price is $5 for twenty-four numbers, which, 

 for the present, may be sent directly to Dr. Gould at Cambridge. 

 It is earnestly hoped that a liberal support will be given to the 

 undertaking. 



2. National Academy of Sciences. — List of the papers entered 

 to be read before the Academy at the session in Boston, Nov. 9th 

 and 11th, 1886. 



S. P. Langley: The Solar- Lunar Spectrum. 



E. C. Pickering : Draper Memorial Photographs. 



C. H. F. Peters: A Chart of the Stars in the group Prsesepe. 



C. H. P. Peters : A Catalogue of Stars from positions in various Astronomical 

 Periodicals. 



0. T. Sherman: A Catalogue of Bright Lines observed in the atmosphere of 

 /? Lyrse. 



