NOTES ON SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH. £25 
H. Teudt*) explains the manifestations of the sense of smell by assuming them 
to be caused by the oscillations of electrons within the molecules or atoms. These 
oscillations of the electrons, it is said, set up periodical vibrations in the ether which 
surrounds the aromatic bodies. These vibrations are too faint to be perceptible in 
ordinary circumstances, but they are able, by resonance, to intensify other proximate 
oscillations, provided the latter are vibrating in suitable periods. The new hypothesis 
therefore assumes the existence in the olfactory nerves of electric osciliations, and 
the variance of the periods of these oscillations within the different nerves. When a 
molecule of an aromatic body approaches the olfactory organ, the periodical action 
upon the ether caused by its intramolecular oscillations only provokes a resonance 
effect upon those olfactory nerves which themselves are oscillating in a harmonious 
period. The intensified oscillation of an olfactory nerve induced by this excitement 
then becomes perceptible in the form of the sense of smell, each different nerve pro- 
ducing a different smell. Herice, molecules with varying intramolecular oscillations 
produce different odours, because they set up resonances in different olfactory nerves. 
As, according to the theory described above, the olfactory nerves are excited by the 
intermediary of the ether, it is not necessary for them to be in direct touch with the 
odoriferous corpuscles which happen to be within the nose itself. 
The author also utilises his hypotheses to explain the exertion of the olfactory 
nerves as well as certain other manifestations, such as the compensation of odours, 
but in doing so he is compelled constantly to proceed upon new assumptions. Thus, 
according to his view, the fact that every human being has an individual odour, is 
explicable only on the theory that he produces different oscillations in the molecules 
of the bodies secreted by him, and that these oscillations differ in some way or other 
from the intramolecular oscillations of the secretions of his fellow-humans, the manner 
* of their difference being independent of their chemical constitution. From this the 
author deduces further that it must be possible to set up different odour-oscillations 
in bodies of the same chemical constitution. He does not enter into the question of 
correlation between odour and chemical structure. 
We are disposed to regard Teudt’s explanation of the manifestations of smell as 
somewhat fantastic. The paraphrasing of well-known facts in new and complicated 
conceptions does not bring us nearer to a solution of causes. Moreover, we fail to 
understand why there should not exist bodies which allow the odour-oscillations to 
pass through them, just as there are numerous bodies which allow light to pass through. 
Nor is it clear to us whence the energy is derived which keeps the electrons moving 
in a given direction. 
L. Tchugaeff and A. Kirpitcheff?) report on the rotatory dispersion of free J-bornyl 
xanthogenic acid and of certain derivatives of 8-pinene. The newly prepared ethereal 
solution of /-bornyl xanthogenic acid has been found to possess abnormal powers of 
rotatory dispersion. After some time the dispersion becomes normal, because the 
acid splits up, giving rise to borneol and carbon disulphide, hence the solution 
possesses the normal dispersive power of borneol. 
The rotatory dispersion of nopinic acid is normal. The dispersive power of 
nopinone is much less than that of nopinol, and depends in a high degree upon the 
nature of the solvent. Thus, for instance, [¢]) of the solution of nopinone in methyl 
alcohol = + 38,34° (C 8,073), in chloroform ++ 33,99° (C 8,062), in ethyl iodide ++ 20,85° 
1) Biol. Centralbl. 88 (1913), 716. — 2) Bull. Soc. chim. IV. 18 (1913), 793, 796. 
