Notes. 
SIS 
1879.] 
He observed that whilst Helix aspersa, of the mean weight of 
6 to 670 grms., succumbed to a dose of strychnin sulphate or 
0-025 grm., Zonites algirus of 8 grms. and Helix pomatia of 
9 70 grms. perfectly resisted doses of 0-045 g rm * He concludes 
that the Gasteropods enjoy a remarkable immunity from the 
effects of strychnin : that with them, as in case of the Verte- 
brata, the degree of hurtfulness of the poison is inversely as the 
weight of the animal, and that upon them as upon higher ani- 
mals strychnin is tetanising. 
Chemistry and Technology. 
A writer in “ Reimann’s Farber Zeitung ” points out that 
tartar emetic, as used in cotton-dyeing, serves not to fix the 
aniline colours themselves, but merely to fasten the tannin, thus 
playing the part of an indirect mordant. Several experiments 
have been instituted at the Farber Akademie in order to ascer- 
tain whether this application of antimony can be pronounced 
injurious to public health. It was found that water, in which 
cotton yarns dyed with aniline colours on a mordant of tannin 
and tartar emetic had been steeped, or especially boiled, gave 
distindl indications of antimony when tested in ordinary manners. 
The quantity of the metallic compound fixed on the fibre seems, 
indeed, far too trifling to have any effeCt upon human health. 
Still, in view of the panic which has seized upon the public 
mind, and of the tendency of the literary and political press to 
attribute all mysterious attacks of sickness to the influence of 
poisonous dyes, &c., Dr. Reimann — in our opinion very judi- 
ciously — advises dyers to dispense with the use of antimony, 
which will doubtless be found by no means necessary. 
The effedts of inhaling oil of turpentine have been described 
to the Academy of Sciences by M. Poincare. He has examined 
282 workmen who use this oil in their trades, and has kept 
animals for several months in a medium strongly charged with 
its vapour. Among the workmen the symptoms were headache, 
dizziness, watery eyes, weakness of sight, especially in artificial 
light, cough, and troubled digestion. In most cases the consti- 
tution became habituated to this agent, but sometimes a change 
of employment was necessary. The animals experimented upon 
remained in a normal condition if good ventilation was main- 
tained. In confined air death ensued in consequence of con- 
gestion of the brain, lungs, &c. 
Physics. 
Dr. Henry Draper, the eminent American physicist who is 
now on a visit to this country, has addressed recent meetings of 
the Astronomical and Physical Societies on his alleged discovery 
of oxygen in the sun by bright lines in the solar speCtrum. He 
said that hitherto he had not been able to find these lines pro- 
jecting from the limb of the sun like hydrogen, and his impression 
