5oo 
Notes. 
[August, 
M. C. Richet (“ Comptes Rendus ”) has made a series of ex- 
periments to determine the proportional “ toxic power ” of the 
alkaline chlorides. The animals operated upon were guinea* 
pigs, and the chlorides were introduced by subcutaneous injection. 
According to his results there is no relation between the atomic 
weight and the physiological activity. Lithium, which has the 
lowest atomic weight, is poisonous in the smallest dose. Rubi- 
dium and caesium, whose atomic weights are highest, are more 
inoffensive than potassium and sodium. 
Prof. E. de Cyon (“ Ciel et Terre ”), having studied the adtion 
of high atmospheric pressures upon animals, concludes that 
oxygen is not a special poison for the organism ; animals die at 
such pressures because the carbonic acid (the chief excitant of 
the vaso-motor and respiratory centres) diminishes sensibly, and 
circulation and respiration are arrested. 
On the West coast of Africa teetotallers die first, hard-drinking 
men second, whilst the temperate live longest. 
Dr. G. Johnson has, in his recent “ Harveian Oration,” effectu- 
ally disposed of the pretensions of Cesalpino to be regarded as 
the discoverer of the circulation of the blood — pretensions ad- 
vanced chiefly by Italians and Anti-Vivisectionists. The latter 
at one time sought to show that Harvey had not been led or 
assisted in his great discovery by experiments upon living ani- 
mals. When this ground became untenable they turned round, 
and denied that Harvey had made any discovery at all ! 
Dr. Niemeyer’s “ Athem-gymnastik,” or breath-gymnastics, is 
calculated to meet a real evil. Brain-workers undoubtedly fall 
into the habit of imperfedt breathing. 
Mr. Wilkie Collins is coming forward as an enemy of Science. 
He is about to attack experimental physiology by tracing the 
effedt of the habitual pradtice of “ cruelty ” on human charadter. 
Mr. J. A. Gotch has lately read before the Architectural Asso- 
ciation an exceedingly able paper on “ Art in Dress.” His views 
being thoroughly rational will be pradtically ignored by the British 
public. 
For the benefit of those who still confound Evolutionism with 
Positivism, we quote the following didtum of M. Charles Robin, 
the positivist leader : — “ Darwinism is a fidtion, a poetical accu- 
mulation of probabilities without proofs, and of seductive expla- 
nations without demonstrations. 
M. Moigno (“ Les Mondes ”) writes : — “ In Germany they 
only accept with great difficulty discoveries which come from 
abroad, especially, perhaps, those coming from France ! ” We 
have always found Germany more prompt to recognise foreign 
merit than France. Witness the case of Darwin, 
