l88i.] 
t 
V 
75; ) 
NOTES. 
According to “ Light ” Prof. Schlager, of Vienna, has been 
experimenting for three years on the influence of blue light in 
the treatment of the insane. He records a quieting and soothing 
influence in cases of an abnormally excitable temperament. 
The number of persons killed on railways in England is pro- 
portionally twice as great as in France. 
“ Les Mondes ” of Odtober 6th contains an Essay on the 
Alimentary Prescriptions of the Mosaic Law and Modern Science 
which, in the main, agrees with the article on the Sanitary 
Legislation of the Pentateuch contained in our Odtober number. 
Dr. C. Doremus gives an analysis of the milk of the elephant, 
which appears to contain less water, and more fatty matter and 
sugar, than that of any other animal. 
Dr. H. George (“ Les Mondes ”) gives several instances of 
living animals which had penetrated into the human ear, and 
occasioned alarming symptoms. 
A Life of the late Prof, de Morgan, by his widow, is about to 
be published by Messrs. Chapman. 
One of the most curious phenomena of the age is the re- 
crudescence of Asceticism, which seems to be forming an alliance 
with Spiritualism, as but too plainly manifest in the organs of 
the latter. Thus Dr. G. Wyld, in the “ Psychological Review,” 
recommends “ occasional reasonable (sic !) fasts. 
H. Hoffmann (“ Botanische Zeitung), after experimenting for 
twenty-five years on the variation of plants, admits that in the 
course of his researches he has gradually lost the idea of species, 
for which he can find no characteristics. He inclines to the 
opinion that variation takes place in definite directions, and that 
its cause is in a predominating degree internal. 
Mr. A. Agassiz well remarks that “ the pupil studies Nature 
in the school-room, and when he goes out of doors he cannot 
find her.” 
A series of circumpolar stations for simultaneous magnetic 
and meteorological studies is about to be established by a num- 
ber of States. Britain takes no part in the matter. 
According to the experiments of Prof. Forbes and Dr. Young 
the speed of the blue ray of light exceeds that of the red by 
about 1 per cent. 
