VARIETIES. 
177 
local  variations  in  terrestrial  magnetism  are  rare  in  those  regions.  In  the 
Deccan  and  Behar  the  rocks  are  magnetic.  On  the  Himalaya,  at  altitudes 
of  17,000  and  even  20,000  feet,  the  daily  maximum  and  minimum  variations 
of  the  barometer  occurred  nearly  about  the  same  hours  as  in  the  plains 
below.  Again,  at  the  above  altitude,  the  inversion  of  the  curves  of  daily 
variation  which  is  met  with  on  the  Alps  does  not  take  place.  At  the  alti- 
tude of  17,000  feet  the  diminution  of  transparency  produced  by  a  stratum 
of  air  of  the  thickness  of  3000  feet  is  no  longer  distinguishable  by  the  eye. 
During  the  dust  storms  which  frequently  occur  in  India  the  disk  of  the  sun 
is  seen  of  a  blue  color;  if  small  bodies  are  made  to  project  their  shadows 
on  a  white  surface  under  such  circumstances,  the  shadow  is  of  an  orange 
color — that  is,  complementary  to  blue.  The  transparency  of  the  waters  of 
the  Ganges,  the  Burrampooter,  and  the  Indus  was  tested  by  letting  down  a 
stone  into  them,  which  generally  became  invisible  at  a  depth  of  from  12  to 
15  centimetres  (5  to  6  inches,)  showing  that  they  are  overcharged  with 
earthy  particles,  for  in  the  sea  near  Corfu  a  stone  is  visible  to  the  depth 
of  50  feet,  and  in  the  seas  under  the  tropics  it  remains  visible  at  a  depth  of 
30  feet. — London  Pharm.  Journ.,  December  1,  1857,  from  London  Times, 
October  23. 
German  Laboratories. — We  extract  from  an  exchange,  the  following  ac- 
count of  foreign  Chemical  Laboratories  : 
"  The  German  Laboratories  offer,  certainly,  very  superior  advantages  to 
all  who  choose  to  be  diligent ;  and  one  can  stay  with  profit  at  almost  any 
of  them  ;  but  it  is  best  for  the  student  to  spend  some  time  in  more  than 
one.  As  it  is  a  feature  of  German  character  to  investigate  particular 
branches,  so  the  different  laboratories  vary  according  to  the  forte  of  their 
professors. 
"  For  Analytic  Inorganic  Chemistry,  the  laboratory  of  Rose,  of  Berlin, 
has  the  highest  reputation,  but  then  he  takes  but  one  or  two  students  and 
these  places  are  generally  engaged  beforehand.  They  have  been  filled  by 
American  students  for  some  time. 
"  For  Analytic  Organic  Chemistry,  of  course  Liebig's  laboratory,  in 
Munich,  stands  the  highest.  He  takes  about  six  students,  and  his  labora- 
tory arrangements  are  fine.  It  is  not  easy  to  get  a  place  there,  but  an 
American  can  generally  succeed.  His  charges  are  (I  think)  64  florins 
($24)  per  half  year,  and  20  florins  ($8)  more  for  his  lectures. 
"  For  various  kinds  of  Mineral  Analysis,  as  that  of  the  silicates,  for  all 
kinds  of  gas  determinations,  and  for  general  chemistry,  the  laboratory  in 
Heidelburg,  under  Prof.  Bunsen,  stands  decidedly  at  the  head. 
"  Prof.  Bunsen  is  the  best  gas  analyst  in  the  world,  and  his  lectures  on 
general  chemistry  are  said  to  be  as  good  as  any  delivered  in  Germany. 
The  Professor  is  a  most  capital  fellow.  The  laboratory  is  new  and  the 
best  in  Germany.  It  accommodates  fifty  students,  and  has  been  filled  for  the 
12 
