312 
Notes. 
Since the virtual repeal of the Contagious Diseases Acft the 
increase in cases of syphilis in the navy (home station) is 2 j‘ 2 g 
per thousand, and that of gonorrhoea i 6-6 per thousand. 
M. Timiarizeff (“ Comptes Rendus ”) sums up the chemical 
and physiological effedt of light upon chlorophyll as follows : 
Chlorophyll adts as a “ sensitiser,” undergoing a decomposition 
and provoking the decomposition of carbonic acid in those regions 
of the spedtrum which it absorbs. The different rays absorbed 
by chlorophyll affedt its decomposition in very different degrees, 
the maximum decomposition coinciding with the maximum of 
energy in the normal spedtrum. The shock given to the mole- 
cule of carbonic acid which effedts its decomposition is due to 
the amplitude rather than to the velocity of the vibrations. 
The “ Lancet,” discussing the increase of suicide, rightly as- 
cribes it to the “ fastness ” of modern life, to “ forced education,” 
and to the increasing difficulty of existence. 
The new “ Poisons’ Bill ” has been referred to a seledt com- 
mittee, and there is pradtically no fear of its becoming law during 
the present season. All persons connected with the chemical 
arts, or engaged in chemical research, should utilise this respite 
for organising resistance. 
According to Professors Sedgwick and Nichols (“ Science ”), 
water-gas contains 30 per cent of carbon monoxide as against 
7 per cent of the same poison in coal-gas. One per cent of water- 
gas mixed with air proved fatal to dogs, cats, rabbits, &c., in 
from five to eight hours. 
Dr. Hellmann (Naturforscher) supports our view that an ex- 
ceptionally mild winter is generally succeeded by an unusually 
warm summer. 
Mr. J. N. Maskelyne, writing to Mr. E. Gurney on the celebrated 
“ matter through matter ” question, remarks that “ it is easier to 
get a ring over the hand than to get it off again,” and thinks that 
it might possibly have been got on “ by well soaking the hand in 
hot water and bending the ring into a pear-shape.” 
Mr. John Hampden in his journal “ Parallax,” instituted to 
prove that the earth is a circular plane, calls Sir Isaac Newton 
“ a fanatical pantheist.” 
2 MAY 138S> 
Errata. 
Page 231, line 22, for lady-birds read aphides. 
,, 26, for does read do. 
„ 244, ,, 26, for Sach read Sachs. 
,, 248, ,, 19, for that read those. 
