SCIENTIFIC SUMMARY. 
83 
globules are supplied with them, almost without exception. Just as there is 
a great resemblance between the seeds, roots, stems and leaves of plants, so 
do the microscopic germs develope themselves into sprouts and shoots which 
resemble those of many other microscopic plants. 
Movements of the Chlorophyll Corpuscles in the Anacharis. — The following 
arithmetical calculation was communicated to Science Gossip by Mr. T. 
Simpson : — He examined twelve leaves from one plant with these results : — 
1. Leaves examined averaged in size T 2 ^ 0 ths of an inch in length, and T ^tlis 
of an inch in breadth. 2. Averaged 9,100 cells to each leaf. 3. 20 average 
cells examined in each leaf, averaged 23 chlorophyll granules to each 
cell. 4. Average of leaves examined shows therefore 209,300 chlorophyll 
granules to each leaf. At another time he examined six leaves from another 
plant, with slightly varying results : — 1. -^ths of an inch by j—ths of an 
inch. 2. 9,750 cells to each leaf. 3. 22 granules to each cell. 4. 214,500 
chlorophyll granules to each leaf. 
CHEMISTRY. 
Alkaline Sulphides in Bleaching. — M. Tessie du Motay, so well-known for 
various processes in technical chemistry, has contributed a paper on the 
above subject to the Moniteur Scientijique for Dec. 1. He supposes that the 
alternate action of reducing and oxidising substances accelerates the bleaching 
of hemp, flax, and cotton, and the tissues made thereof, and that the strength 
of the fibre is less impaired by this process. The substances applied as 
reducing materials are the sulphides of barium or calcium mixed with some 
sulphide of sodium, and the oxidising substance is chlorine water. 
Chemical Science in England. — As a proof either of the want of energy of 
the Secretaries of the Chemical Society, or of the absence of workers in 
chemistry in this country, we may mention the very singular fact that at 
a recent meeting of the Chemical Society there was actually not a single 
paper to be read, and the president had to get up some discussion in order 
to occupy the Fellows during the time of the seance. 
Mow to prevent “ Bumping .” — In a recent number we gave an account 
of a process for the above purpose. The following method, described by 
Schumann in the American Journal of Pharmacy for November, is also of 
interest in this direction. In distilling acids and other liquids, he proceeds in 
the following manner : — The end of an ordinary glass pipe, of about one- 
eighth of an inch opening, is shut at one end, and this end bent into a little 
hook ; the glass pipe is then cut exactly so long as to reach from the bottom 
of a glass retort to within half-inch or one inch of the stopper of the tubulus. 
By means of the hook and a piece of twine, or a little hook of thin wire, 
this glass pipe is placed into the retort, the open end at the bottom, and the 
retort can be filled, or the retort is filled first and the glass pipe entered 
afterwards. If the liquid is warmed, the air in the glass tube is expanded, 
and constantly bubbles out at the open end ; and if the boiling-point is 
reached, vapours of the tension of the atmosphere are formed at the spot 
where the glass pipe stands on the bottom of the retort, and the boiling 
continues regularly and quietly. 
