THE MEDITERRANEAN NATURALIST 
383 
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1 0 Mr. A. C. Ran yard, the English astro- 
nomer and editor oi Knowledge , it seems that 
the nebulae we see have a greater analogy 
with the solar corona than with the fiery 
condensing mists conceived of by La Place; 
they are very generally associated with 
stars, and in some cases the nebulous matter 
lias issued from the star, and in sometimes 
from a starless region. The forms of nebulae 
are certainly in general inconsistent with 
the theory that stars are condensing from 
nebulae.” 
About twenty years ago the Government 
of the Maltese Islands went to considerable 
expense for the purpose of clearing out and 
restoring the interesting Phoenician tank, 
known as Shgharet- Medeniet which is situa- 
ted in close proximity to the temple of 
Melcarte at Marsa Scirocco, Malta. The pi- 
lasters were trusssed, the large slabs with 
which the structure was roofed were afforded 
additional supports, and an iron railing was 
built around the steps for the convenience 
of the many visitors who annually went to 
inspect the ruins. Latterly, however, the 
place seems to have been scandalously neg- 
lected and illused; and at the present line it 
is in a condition that reflects but little credit 
upon those who are responsible for the safe 
keeping of these heirlooms of the Maltese 
people. Many of the roofing slabs have been 
displaced, broken, and precipitated into the 
bottom of the tank; several of the supports 
have been damaged; and the iron railing has 
been torn from its place and taken bodily 
away. If the work of demolition continues 
at this rate, Shgharet- Medeniet will not, in a 
few years to come, have one stone left upon 
another. Who is responsible for this van- 
dalism ? 
Hitherto the Maltese Islands have 
invariably felt the effects of tire more severe 
earthquakes that have occurred in the Le- 
vant; and they have been exempt from those 
that have had their origin in and about 
Sicily and Southern Italy. During the east 
five years the islands have, however, expe- 
rienced no shocks from any quarter what- 
ever. No indications of the recent severe 
earthquakes which convulsed Zante have 
been felt. 
Jf HE notion that a fish diet contributes to 
the development of leprosy is upheld by 
the President of the London Medical So- 
ciety, who, however, does not regard this 
diet as capable of starting the disease in a 
healthy person. He has exhibited a patient 
who is recovering from leprosy through 
treatment with small doses of arsenic and 
abstinence from fish. The peculiar patches 
have disappeared from this patient, but the 
hands and feet are insensitive to heat and 
cold and to pain. It is stated that mild 
cases usually recover in the English climate 
under treatment with regulated diet. 
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||llR later science has given us a new che- 
mistry, a new astronomy, and a new geolo- 
gy, Mr. Lester F. Ward urges the impor- 
tance of a new botany. This should not 
only concern itself with existing plants, but 
should seek to trace the origin and deve- 
lopment of vegetable life in past ages. A 
great number of fossil species, extending by 
successive stages through a long range of 
geological time, are now known. Thus far 
these have been studied only in the light of 
geology, and botanists having the facilities 
of great universities at hand may now hope 
to obtain from these ancient forms some- 
thing like a complete history of plant deve- 
lopment. “No grander theme,” declares Mr. 
Ward, present itself to the scientific world.” 
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I, HE belief is gaining strength that the 
model farm of the future will be an" electric 
one. The necessary current can be had bv 
utilizing; the wasted forces of nature — the 
waterfalls being sufficient in many places, 
while in others windmills can be used in 
connection with storage batteries. Inventors 
are undoubtedly capable of adapting electric 
machines to everv kind of farm work. With 
well-made roads, electrically-lighted houses 
and a well-planned equipment of electric 
