i88 5 .] 
Notes. 
437 
the poison of the scorpion is opalescent, possesses a faintly al- 
kaline reaction, contains in suspension a great number of fine 
rounded granules, and seems analogous to the echidnine of the 
poison of vipers. It seems to be a poison like curare, acfting on 
the nerves of motion, but not on those of sensation. 
“ Cosmos ” raises the question how it comes that so few dead 
elephants, and indeed wild animals generally, are ever found ? 
The same journal refers to a great number of cases of mad- 
ness, said to have occurred some years ago, after spiritualistic 
experiments. 
Anti-vaccinationists will, we fear, be little edified with the con- 
clusions of the German Commission on the Vaccination question 
which have been recently submitted to the Reichstag : — 
1. One attack of smallpox, with rare exceptions, confers im- 
munity from the disease. 
2. Vaccination affords similar protection. 
3. The duration of this protection varies within wide limits, 
but amounts on the average to ten years. 
4. To obtain sufficient protection two developed marks are 
needful. 
5. Re-vaccination should take place after the lapse of ten 
years. 
6. The vaccination of the surrounding population increases 
the relative protection of the individual, and vaccination 
has therefore not merely a personal but a general value. 
7. In vaccination with human lymph the danger of the trans- 
fer of syphilis, though small, is not absolutely excluded. 
8. Since the introduction of vaccination there has been no 
demonstrable increase of diseases which can be regarded 
as a consequence of vaccination. 
Mr. Edward M. Nelson remarks (“ English Mechanic,” No. 
1052, p. 247, May 22, 1885) that “ while the literature of the 
celestial telescope is extensive, and correspondence frequent, that 
somehow or other the terrestrial telescope has been left out in 
the cold.” The paper describes the properties of the telescope 
proper, and how it differs from the Galilean binocular field-glass 
now so much in use. For every purpose, except use at the 
theatre and on board a steamer, — where the vibration renders 
the use of the long telescope difficult, — Mr. Nelson considers the 
latter in everyway superior, and remarks “ that a pair of binocu- 
lars is often given as a present or a prize, quite regardless of the 
fadt that a pair of binoculars is like a pair of boots — to be of use 
they must fit. So important is it that the centres of binoculars 
should exadtly correspond with the centres of the eyes of the 
persons using them that the slight divergence of even i-i6th of 
an inch is quite sufficient to detradt from the pleasure of using 
them. Further, it is stated that the nearest approach to optical 
