172 
above the surrounding plain. The formation con- 
sists of hundreds of layers of white and gray shale, 
one above the other, sometimes being separated by 
small beds of clay of a whitish color, containing rock- 
salt, and sodium and manganese sulphides. It is 
stated that this part of the country strongly resembles 
the paraffine and salt districts of Galicia. It has been 
known for ages that cattle and birds resorted to these 
cliffs to eat the clay containing the rock-salt, but the 
quality of the shale remained unknown until a year 
ago. The paraffine shale is entirely free from bitu- 
minous impurities, it is nearly white in color, and 
has no odor. When heated to about 800° F., it 
takes fire, and burns with a clear, bright, smokeless 
flame, leaving a gray ash behind. The deposits are 
of marine origin and eocene period. LEruptive por- 
phyritic and trachytic rocks are plentiful at a distance 
of five or six miles. In the clay-beds (which are 
peculiarly free from ferric oxide) large numbers of 
the fossil remains of the eocene period are to be 
found. It is thought, that, in the limestone rocks 
which underlie these shale deposits, rock-salt and 
petroleum wells may be found. A sample of the 
paraffine shale yielded, on distillation, 2% of a semi- 
solid hydrocarbon somewhat similar in appearance 
to ozocerite wax, which, on extraction with ‘ ben- 
zoline,’ gave 1.75 % of wax. It also contains 3.02 % 
of water of combination, and 1.18 % of ammonia; 
the remaining ingredients being mineral constitu- 
ents. It is stated that the mineral constituents of 
these paraffine shale deposits would make a useful 
hydro-cement, and could easily be obtained by open 
quarrying: they could be used as fuel with gas- 
retorts. They lie within easy reach of the Danube. 
— The death is announced of Sir Sidney Smith 
Saunders, a leading English entomologist, who had 
made the Strepsiptera—a curious group of minute 
beetles parasitic on Hymenoptera — his special study. 
— The medical congress in Berlin, in April, was 
very well attended, and most of the prominent medi- 
cal questions of the day were discussed. ‘The meet- 
ing opened with a paper on true pneumonia, which 
Professor Jiirgensen considered infectious. Very 
opposite opinions were expressed during the discus- 
sion. Reflex action, and vaccination, followed. On 
the second day, diphtheria was the subject most dis- 
cussed, which Dr. Loffles considered to be a local 
affection, caused by a chemical poison; but the theory 
found an opponent in Dr. Heubner of Leipzig. 
Professor Weber of London read a paper on school 
hygiene in England, and recommended medical in- 
spection of schools. Nervous dyspepsia, and other 
nervous affections, filled up the rest of the discus- 
sions. Professor Rosbach of Jena read the report 
of the commission on the treatment of infectious 
diseases. Next year the congress will be held at 
Wiesbaden. 
— As is well known, the work of excavating in the 
Tigris-Euphrates valley, the seat of the old Babylo- 
nian-Assyrian empire, has been carried on vigorously 
for the last forty years, and a vast mass of material 
has been collected and brought to Europe. Many 
SCIENCE. 
—— ? ee |) Pe ee ee 
“ei 
[Vou. III, No. 72. 
thousand historical and commercial inscriptions, 
copies of ancient epic poems, magic rules and formu- 
las, religious hymns, and specimens of architecture - 
and sculpture, are now to be found in the museums 
of London, Paris, and Berlin. The most of this 
work has been done by the English. The cuneiform 
collection in the British museum is by far the richest 
in the world. Mr. Rassam, a wealthy Syrian gentle- 
man of London, is now devoting all his time to ex- 
cavating: he goes out every year, and brings back to 
England a larger or smaller quantity of tablets and 
other Assyrian remains. Already there is enough 
Assyrian material in the British museum to occupy 
scholars for the next fifty years. But the field is 
large; and there is room for other exploring parties, 
without danger of encroaching on the English domain. 
American Assyriologists have for some time felt the 
desirableness of having a collection of cuneiform ma- 
terial in this country; and last autumn some gentle- 
men interested in the matter held a conference, and 
determined to make the attempt to organize an expe- 
dition to Mesopotamia. It was thought best that the 
first attempt should be in the way of exploration and 
survey of the ground, in order to fix on the best 
points of work, and come to an understanding with 
the English parties now in the field. In spite of some 
unfavorable conditions, the preliminary arrangements 
have now been completed. The money is assured, 
Miss C. L. Wolfe of New York having given the 
whole of the sum which it was computed would be 
required. In accordance with her desire, the expedi- 
tion will be called, in honor of her father’s memory, 
‘the Wolfe expedition ;’ and this name will be, in the 
feeling of the public concerned, a no less fitting trib- 
ute to her most praiseworthy liberality. The gentle- . 
men who have been selected to go out are Messrs. W. 
H. Ward, editor of the New-York independent, and 
J. T. Clarke and J. R. S. Sterrett, lately of the Assos 
expedition, — all proved men. The expedition has re- 
ceived the indorsement of the Archeological insti- 
tute of America, in whose name it will go out. The 
department of state has promised to use its influence 
to procure the necessary firman from the Ottoman 
government. The purpose is to try southern Meso- 
potamia, the old Babylonia, the seat of the oldest 
civilization, and the portion of the country which 
has been less explored than any other. It is believed 
that here, and in the opposite region across the Tigris, 
there is probably abundance of early material. If this 
preliminary expedition should report favorably on its 
return, an effort will then be made to organize an ex- 
cavating party immediately, and begin serious work. — 
In the region had in view there are not only Babylo- 
nian-Assyrian, but also more modern Arabic and 
Syriac treasures to be hoped for; and the explorers 
will be instructed to gather all that they can find. 
The present expectation is that Dr. Ward will sail 
for England about September next. In London he 
will find Mr. Clarke, who is engaged in working up 
his Assos report; and the two will be joined by Dr. 
Sterrett, who is now in Athens, where, during the 
sickness of Professor Packard, he has been in charge © 
of the American school of classical studies. | 
