Notes. 
[April, 
284 
attained by more powerful light centres ; that the carbonic acid 
and nitrogenous compounds generated in the electric. arc produce 
no sensibly deleterious effects upon plants enclosed in the same 
space; that plants do not appear to require a period of rest 
during the twenty-four hours of the day, but make increased and 
vigorous progress if subjected during daytime to sunlight and 
during the night to electric light ; that the radiation of heat 
from powerful electric arcs can be made available to counteract 
the effect of night frost, and is likely to promote the setting and 
ripening of fruit in the open air ; that while under the inflence 
of electric light, plants can sustain increased stove heat without 
collapsing, a circumstance favourable to forcing by electric light ; 
that the expense of electro-horticulture depends mainly upon the 
cost of mechanical energy, and is very moderate where natural 
sources of such energy, such as waterfalls, can be made avail- 
able. Dr. Siemens has since learned from the observations of 
Dr. Sciibeler, of Christiana, on the effects of uninterrupted 
sunlight during the long summer days of the Arctic, that plants 
under the influence of continuous light not merely grow rapidly, 
but develop more brilliant flowers and larger and more aromatic 
fruit than under the alternate influence of light and darkness. 
The formation of sugar depends chiefly upon temperature. . Dr. 
Siemens mentions the interesting fadt that the human skin is 
blistered by the action of the electric light, though without any 
sensation of excessive heat — an effect analogous to that produced 
in a clear atmosphere of the sun’s rays. 
We beg to call the attention of our readers to the arrangements 
of the Royal Institution for the second quarter of the year. 
When we state that Prof. Huxley is announced to lecture on the 
“ Coming of Age of ‘the Origin of Species,’ ” Prof. Tyndall on 
“ Light,” and Mr. G. H. Romanes on “ Mental Evolution,” no 
one can doubt that the Council have provided for the members, 
subscribers, and their friends an intellectual treat of no mean 
order. 
Two of our weekly contemporaries propose a conference of 
curators and other officials of museums. Whilst warmly ap- 
proving of the suggestion, we hope that the curators, should 
they meet, will not fail to protest against the present regulations 
concerning admission into their honourable body. 
The “ Medical Press ” describes and figures a suction instru- 
ment for poisoned wounds, which may prove very useful in case 
of the bites of serpents, rabid dogs, &c. As it is now well known 
that the poison, e.g., of the cobra is dangerous if it comes in 
contact with a mucous membrane, suction with the lips in such 
cases cannot be recommended. 
We learn that a mischievous propensity is springing up among 
local sanitary authorities to remunerate their medical officer of 
