628 
Notes. 
[October, 
“ Ciel et Terre ” records an extraordinary fall of hail on July 
13th, at Lombartzyde, near Nieuport. Stones were collected 
weighing 1 kilo. each. The roofs of the houses were completely 
shattered. 
E. Vial (“ Les Mondes ”), discussing the physiological part of 
iron in the animal organism, contends that the aCtive principle 
in the arterial globules is potassium ferrate, which in contact 
with reducing agents is broken up into oxygen, hydrated ferric 
oxide, and anhydrous potassa. The latter compound, after satu- 
rating itself with carbon dioxide, conveys this body into the 
lungs. 
The poisonous character of urea, when introduced into the 
tissues of animals, has been demonstrated experimentally by 
MM. Grehaut and Quinquand. In rabbits the fatal dose is 
661 m.grms. per 100 grms. of blood. 
A letter by one Buissart, a Member of the Academies of Arras 
and Dijon, bearing date August 2nd, 1783, is abstracted in “ Ciel 
et Terre.” The writer speaks of the fogs which prevailed in- 
cessantly in June and July, 1783 : — “ The mixture of terrestrial 
exhalations, which give a variable and unusual colour to the disc 
of the sun, fills the public here with dread ; everyone makes pre- 
dictions, and a panic terror seizes even persons of education.” 
[Mr. Ruskin and the author of the “ Vapour Year ” would do 
well to study old meteorological records.] 
M. A. Certes (“ Comptes Rendus ”) has examined the effedts 
of high pressures upon the baCterium of “ charbon.” He ex- 
posed infeCted blood for twenty-four hours to a pressure of 
600 atmospheres. The blood retained its virulence, and cultiva- 
tion experiments made with it succeeded perfectly. It seems to 
the author that in most cases there is a want of identity between 
the chemical processes, and even the microscopic agents of pu- 
trefaction, according as it takes place in the open air or under 
pressure. 
Sir James Paget states that we lose in England and Wales 
every year, in consequence of sickness, “ as much work as 
twenty millions of healthy people could do in a week.” But 
considering the over-crowding of every trade, business, and pro- 
fession, and the numbers of people unable to meet with employ- 
ment, we may venture to ask could a week’s work for twenty 
million people be found ? 
Complaints of over- work in German schools are abundant, 
and several decrees have already been issued, restricting the 
quantity of home-study required and limiting the classical 
studies. 
