312 
Notes. 
M. A. Sanson (“ Comptes Rendus ”) describes avenine, a sti- 
mulating principle present in oats and distincft from vanilline. It 
appears to adt upon the motor cells of the nervous system. 
M. Dieulafait, in a communication to the Academy of Sciences, 
signalises the close relation between zinc and magnesium, and 
shows that the former metal is always found in dolomites and 
other magnesian rocks. Magnesia is always accompanied by 
manganese. 
A great quantity of pre-historical human skeletons, imple- 
ments, &c., have been discovered at the southern extremity of 
Lake Ladoga. 
According to Dr. Fessenger (“ Bulletin Generale de Therap.”) 
aerobic vibrios can vegetate in phenic solutions, whilst the 
anaerobic forms are absent. 
A new journal is announced under the title of “ Tabooed 
Topics,” which, amongst other subjects, is to discuss vegeta- 
rianism, teetotalism, vaccination, and vivisection ! We do not 
see in what sense the discussion of these topics has been 
“ tabooed,” and on one of them at least much more has already 
been said than is necessary or beneficial, save perhaps to pro- 
fessional agitators. 
“ Light ” gives narratives of the appearances of the spirits of 
deceased cats, horses, and birds. 
We regret to learn the sudden death of Prof. Zeller, editor of 
the “ Stettiner Entomologische Zeitung,” and acknowledged for 
many years as the facile princeps of modern Micro-Lepidopte- 
rists. His first paper appeared in 1838 in Oken’s “ Isis,” and 
stamped him at once as equally acute and thorough in observa- 
tion and clear and accurate in description. 
According to M. Ball (“ Revue Scientifique ”) original thought 
borders closely upon insanity. 
Dr. C. A. Cameron (“ Medical Press ”), in a memoir read be- 
fore the Public Health Sedtion of the Academy of Medicine in 
Ireland, pays a tribute to Southwood Smith, Andrew Combe, and 
Chadwick, but by some accident overlooks the true father of 
Sanitary Reform, Dr. G. Walker. 
It is sad to learn that an eminent medical practitioner, formally 
commissioned by the Society for the Advancement of Medicine 
to examine the parasitic theory of phthisis, is obliged to proceed 
to Toulouse and Berlin in order to conduct his investigations, 
owing to the interference of the Anti-Vivisedtion AdL 
