SCIENTIFIC SUMMARY. 
373 
which the nerves of a frog recently killed were excited by secondary voltaic 
currents, and the contraction of the muscles thereby produced was shown by 
magnifying the effects, so that in one case a small flag was raised, in another 
arrangement the effect was seen by releasing a trigger, and in a third case 
lines were stretched on a blackened glass, that were afterwards exhibited by 
the electric lamp. Nerve-force is not rapidly transmitted along the nerves. In 
a creature so long as the whale, the rate of nervous transmission becomes very 
perceptible v hen the extremities have to be moved. The fact of a harpoon 
having been thrust into the tail of a large whale would not be announced in 
the creature’s brain till a second after it had entered, and it would take 
another second to transmit the force required to move the extremity of the 
tail 
Action of Carbonic Oxide on the Pulse. — The researches of Professor 
Traube, reported to the Vienna Academy of Sciences, show that small quan- 
tities of carbonic oxide cause a series of changes in the frequency of the 
pulse and the tension of the arterial system, which may be thus described : — 
With the pneumogastric nerves and the spinal cord uninjured, there is 
observed in a few seconds after the inspiration of the gas a sudden rise in 
the frequency of the pulse, which may even become twice as great as it was 
at the beginning of the experiment. Then there comes a period in which 
its frequency again diminishes till it is no more than the half of what it was 
originally. After this it rises anew, going once more beyond its original 
rate, though not so much as in the first rise. A little before the paralysis of 
the heart there occurs once more a great diminution of the frequency. The 
variations in the frequency of the pulse may therefore be considered in four 
stages : the first and third, in which it rises ; the second and fourth, in which 
it sinks. 
Mineral Waters of Vais. — We have received some of these waters for 
examination, and can report favourably of them. They are agreeable in 
flavour, possessing in part the qualities of soda and seltzer waters, but they 
are not effervescent. Containing as they do small quantities of the alkalies, 
alkaline earths, and non, they will be found’ useful by dyspeptic patients. 
As to the pamphlet which accompanied the specimens we received, we can 
only characterize it as the most ridiculous piece of composition we have ever 
had an opportunity of reading. It is supposed to be written in English by 
Dr. Tourrette, of Arcleche. The subjoined short cutting will give an idea of 
the author’s knowledge of our language : — “ The last four offer a very great 
resemblance in their chymical composition, which by their vicinity is easily 
understood, and which also is seen in the other known springs. In that 
manner their mineralizing substances are especially : soles carbonic acid and 
alkaline bicarbonates associated to sodium, chlorides, sulfates, silicates, and 
some terreous salts {carbonates, phosphates, etc.) ; there are found a little iron 
and traces of iodides, lithine, arsenic or arsenicates, and a very small propor- 
tion of organic substances .” 
TJse of the Bursa Fabricii. — Dr. John Davy has printed a memoir on this 
subject in the Proceedings of the JRoyal Society. The curious organ which 
bears the name of the great anatomist Fabricius is connected with the repro- 
ductive apparatus, but its function has not yet been clearly demonstrated. 
Dr. Davy has examined its structure and function in at least fifty different 
