i88s.] 
Notes . 
183 
A. Woeikoff (“ Zeitschrift filr Erdkunde,”) contends that 
general glaciation, from the Pole to about 45 0 lat., is not 
admissible. If there is sufficient sea it will not freeze, and in 
large continental surfaces the climate is too dry for glaciers. 
** The “ Comptes Rendus ” of last month announces the death 
of the illustrious French botanist G. Devaisne. The deceased 
entered the service of the Jardin des Plantes at the age of seven- 
teen, as a working gardener. He died a Professor at the 
Museum, a member of the Academy of Sciences — of which he 
was at one time President — and a Fellow of the Royal Society. 
M. Harting, of the University of Utrecht (“ Comptes Rendus ”) 
made some years ago many “ mesmeric ” experiments upon 
fowls, pigeons, rabbits, frogs, &c. If the experiments were 
several times repeated upon the same animal its nervous system 
was much shaken. Six hens which had been thus treated were 
seized with hemiplegia and died successively. Hence, the 
Professor gives a caution as to mesmerising human subjects. 
(We suppose that in England, Prof. Harting would be amenable 
to the Anti-vivisedtion Adi. 
M. E. Renan shows that the term “ anti-cyclone ” is not justly 
applicable to such weather as has been lately experienced in 
Western Europe. One of these phenomena is not the other 
reversed : they belong to different orders. 
M. Dareste has presented to the Academy of Sciences a 
memoir on the part played by the amnion in the produdlion of 
monstrosities. His researches show that a great number of 
monstrosities result from the partial compression of the body of 
the embryo, the agent of such compression being the amnion 
arrested in its development. This compression only occasions 
teratological results when it is exerted early. 
Mr. C. E. de Ranee (“ Geological Magazine ”) points out that 
the position of our ancient villages, and the diredtions in which 
our towns have extended, have been determined by the occurrence 
of springs. 
Mr. C. E. Varley, the eminent physicist, has patented an im- 
proved divining rod for ascertaining the presence of metallic 
veins underground. 
The “ Lancet ’’ says women are not fitted for the calling of 
Pharmaceutists, because “ they will talk,” and further, “ there 
is in the mind of woman an inherent disability for work of 
any kind which requires concentration of thought and mental 
isolation. It is not that she will not, she cannot , attend to 
the business in hand so exclusively as it is necessary the prac- 
tical pharmaceutist should attend, if his duties are to be dis- 
charged with credit to himself and safety to the customers.” 
