1885.] 
Notes. 
245 
woollen factory near Aix la Chapelle, was found alive, though 
much emaciated, and is likely to recover. 
“ Science ” makes some apposite remarks concerning the ordi- 
nary microscopist : — “ The direction of his studies is determined 
not by any natural bond between the objeCts, but by the common 
quality of minuteness. Imagine anyone deliberately setting out 
to study whatever he could cut with a knife. We should pity 
the man who chopped up the sciences according to the instru- 
ments he uses. We cannot be brought to regard anatomy as a 
department of cutlery, nor can we seriously admit histology as a 
department of microscopy. 
Th. Chandelon (“ Ber. Deutsch. Chem. Gesell.”) shows that 
egg-albumen is peptonised by hydrogen peroxide, the intermediate 
products being almost identical with those produced from 
albumen during pepsine and trypsine digestion. Hence he 
suggests that the digestive ferments aCt by forming hydrogen 
peroxide. 
We are requested to mention that the Royal Society of New 
South Wales offers its Medal and a prize of £25 for the best 
Memoir (if of sufficient merit) on each of the following sub- 
jects : — 
Series V. — To be sent in not later than May 1st, 1886. 
No. 16. On the Chemistry of Australian Gums and Resins. 
No. 17. On the Tin Deposits of New South Wales. No. 18. 
On the Iron Ore Deposits of New South Wales. No. ig. List 
of the Marine Fauna of Port Jackson, with Notes on Habits, 
Distribution, &c. 
Series VI. — To be sent in not later than May 1st, 1887. 
No. 20. On the Silver Ore Deposits of New South Wales. 
No. 21. Origin and occurrence of Auriferous Veins and Associ- 
ated Minerals. No. 22. Influence of Australian Climate in 
modifying Diseases. No. 23. Infusoria peculiar to Australia. 
Series IV., for May 1st of the present year, comes too late. 
The subjects are — Anatomy and Life-history of Echidna and 
Platypus; Anatomy and Life-history of Australian Mollusks ; 
and Chemical Composition of Products from the Kerosene 
Shales of New South Wales. 
The yearly consumption of ardent spirits in Norway has fallen 
during the last forty years from 20 litres to between 3 and 4 litres 
per head. Simultaneously the number of criminals in prison 
has decreased from 249 to 180 per 100,000. In Belgium the 
yearly consumption of alcohol has risen during the same time 
from 8 to 12 litres per head, and the convicted criminals have 
increased from 269 to 648 per 100,000. Norway has, per 
100,000 inhabitants, 3300 paupers, 83 lunatics, and 7 suicides ; 
