no variation in pulsation; whence he concluded that the phenomena in question are not related as cause and effect, but are results of the same

cause.

Lobes of the Liver in different Animals.-Professor Flower, F.R.S., recently alluded to the great diversities in the arrangement of the lobes of the liver in different animals, which he illustrated by numerous diagrams. He suggested that, in studying these arrangements, the principal thing is to look carefully to the great blood-vessels around which the hepatic substance is grouped, taking the umbilical vein as the central starting-point. Numerous details were given, and suggestions were made, with a view to systematise the arrangement of the lobes in various animals so that the parts may be more accurately described by anatomists than they have hitherto been. In the course of the discussion on the paper, it was stated by Professor Struthers that the liver in the human subject is very unequally divided, the right lobe being much larger than the left, and he suggested that this might have some relation to the strength of the right hand as compared with the left. It was also stated that the old system of tight-lacing often introduced changes of form in the liver, and sometimes an additional fissure was in this way produced.-Brighton Meeting of the British Association.

Cutaneous Absorption.—M. Bernard has recently described very fully to the French Academy his observations on the above, subject. They are also fully translated in the "Chemical News," July 12. He used a bath apparatus in his experiments, which consisted of a furnace, a boiler, a chamber in which the steam coming from the boiler was charged with the substance to be applied, and a wooden cage, in which the patient was seated while enveloped in the vapour. He used iodide of potassium in his experiments -(1) because it is not volatile; (2) because its presence in urine is easily determined by nitric acid and chloroform; (3) because, in seizing the iodine set at liberty by the nitric acid, the chloroform takes a rose colour varying in a marked way with quantity; and thus, by comparing with a graduated scale, one may determine pretty accurately, and without quantitative analysis, the quantity of iodide of potassium in the urine. The skin of the subjects experimented on was intact, without wound or scratch. The urine was examined before the bath was taken, and the absence of iodine ascertained. By a respiratory tube, the patient breathed the external air through his mouth, the nostrils being pinched. A thick sheet of caoutchouc was bound by a T-bandage over the anus; the penis was sheathed in the same material; while the hands and feet were wrapped in cotton and gummed taffeta. The subject was then placed in the cage, and subjected for thirty minutes to vapour from the mixing chamber, into which there had been put 20 grms. of iodide of potassium. The temperature in the cage was gradually raised to 45°; the skin of the subject became wet. He was then wrapped in a woollen covering and put in bed, when profuse perspiration took place. The urine analysed two hours after the bath gave a rose colour; some taken three hours after gave a much more lively colour: thus affording clear proof of the absorption of iodide of potassium through the skin, the only way it could have entered the system. Besides, if it had entered by pulmonary passages, it would have been eliminated immediately after the bath.

Vital Movements and Electricity.—This subject was part of that of a paper by Dr. C. B. Radcliffe, read before the British Association. The paper was entitled, "Whether the Causes of Vital Movement are yet clearly Appreciated." The paper commenced with a resumé of the opinions of ancient and modern writers on the subject of vital movement. He ridiculed the current doctrine which, he said, assumes that vital movements are distinct from those manifested in inert matter, and which can at best be only regarded as a hasty deduction from superficial observations. The highest aspirations of philosophy, he contended, are in direct contradiction to this assumption: and the doctrine of the correlation of physical and vital forces implies a grand centralisation, by which what have been regarded as separate forces are made to appear as various aspects of some central force. Dr. Radcliffe then referred to some investigations which he had recently made with Sir William Thompson's electrometer, and which had tended to confirm the views of Galvani. He mentioned, by way of illustration, a singular experiment that he had made with a strip of india-rubber, coated on the two surfaces with metal, which was elongated by the attraction of two opposite charges; the discharge causing the india-rubber to contract to its original length.

MICROSCOPY.

A valuable Table of Objectives has been published in the "Monthly Microscopical Journal" (August). This Table, by Dr. R. H. Ward, is designed to be complete in regard to American lenses, and to present for comparison, and for the convenience of those who desire a variety of lenses by different makers, such European items as could be obtained at the time of writing. It is believed that the Table will be interesting to others than buyers, as showing the prevailing powers, prices, angular apertures, &c., in different parts of the world. Notwithstanding the general impression, that the prices of American objectives are unreasonably high, it will be seen that they compare favourably with those of the most celebrated English makers. Most opticians prepare, very cheaply, mounted objectives of small angle, and usually second quality, which answer a good purpose where economy is imperative and difficult work is not required. Such lenses are not usually priced and sold separately by the American makers, and are therefore not included in their columns in the "Table of Objectives." They can be obtained, however, at prices proportioned to their angles and quality. The prices and angular apertures given in the Table are generally, though not in every case, official and up to date; but a reasonable allowance must be made for practical variation from the standard angles and powers. There is understood to be a screw-collar adjustment for all objectives of over 50° angular aperture, unless otherwise stated: though, from want of sufficiently distinct description by their makers, this rule cannot be applied to some of the English lenses of medium power and small angle. To persons without great experience in microscopy, the best "test" of an objective is the respectability of its maker.

The Sturgeon's Development.-The Acclimatisation Society of Paris lately

100

published in its Bulletin an account of the sturgeon's reproduction (sturgeon of the Volga), by Professor Owsjannikow. It seems that the sterlet (Acipenser ruthenus), the smallest of the Russian sturgeons, spawns in the Volga early in May on rocky bottoms, the temperature of the water being at 10° R. (=541° F.). The eggs are readily fecundated by the artificial method. After they have been in the water a few minutes they adhere to any object which they touch. The development of the embryo can be observed in progress at the end of cne hour. On the seventh day they hatch. At first the young fish are 0.007 (about 2 inch) long. At the age of ten weeks they are nearly two inches long. They feed on the larvæ of insects, taking them from the bottom. Both in the egg and when newly hatched, the sterlet has been taken a five days' journey from the Volga to Western Russia, and in 1870 a lot of the eggs was carried to England to stock the River Leith. This species passes its whole life in fresh water. The other species inhabiting the Baltic, Alcipenser sturio, A. Huso, A. stellatus, and A. Güldenstädtii, are anadromous. These species hybridise, and freely, and from this circumstance some Russian savants have pronounced them only varieties instead of species.

How should Objectives be Named.—Dr. Ward says that the following are some of the more important queries which still remain open. Should the standard 1-inch objective be characterised by magnifying ten diameters as used in the compound microscope, or should it be compared to a simple lens of actually measured focus or foci? Should the objective be named by its equivalent focal length, or by its amplifying power, or both? Should our standard distance of measurement be changed from 10 inches (254 millimètres) to 9 inches (250 millimètres)? From what point in the objective shall the distance to the scale be measured? At what point of screwcollar adjustment shall the objective be placed for rating its angular aperture and amplifying power? Should the name ocular be substituted for "eye-piece" in general use ?-Monthly Microscopical Journal (July).

Various Microscopical Papers.-The following are some of the papers published in the "Monthly Microscopical Journal" for the past three months, July, August, September:-"Micro-Pantograph." By Isaac Roberts, F.G.S. "On Bog Mosses." By R. Braithwaite, M.D., F.L.S. "Remarks on the Homological Position of the Members constituting the Thecated Section of the Class Rotatoria." By Charles Cubitt, F.R.M.S. "Further Remarks on Tolles' th, and Powell and Lealand's Immersion th." By Edwin Bicknell, Cambridge, Mass. "On Uniformity of Nomenclature in regard to Microscopical Objectives and Oculars." By. R. H. Ward, M.D. "Notes on some Microscopic Organisms." By Prof. A. M. Edwards, U.S.A. "Notes on Victoria Mollusca and their Palates." By Charles M. Maplestone. "The Nerves of Capillary Vessels and their probable Action in Health and Disease." By Dr. Lionel S. Beale, F.R.S., Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians, Physician to King's College Hospital. "Remarks on the Nomenclature of Achromatic Objectives for the Compound Microscope." By Dr. J. J. Woodward, U.S. Army. "Our Present Medical and Students' Microscopes." By R. H. Ward, M.D. Euchlanis Triquetra and E. Dilatata." By C. Hudson, LL.D. some Methods for Preparing the Tissues of the Frog Tadpole's Tail."

"On "On

"On the Employment of Coloured Glass in Microscopy." By M. Mouchet. "Note on Silicious Incrustations from the Geysers of the Yellowstone River, Wyoming Territory." By Prof. Arthur Mead Edwards, U.S.A. "On Angular Aperture of Immersion Objectives." By Robert B. Tolles, Boston, U.S.A. "The Minute Anatomy of Two Cases of Cancer." By Assist.-Surgeon J. J. Woodward. "The Theories of Cell Development." By I. N. Danforth, M.D., Pathologist of St. Luke's Hospital, Chicago, U.S.A. "Draw-Tubes versus Deep Eye-Pieces." By M. A.

Prazmowski.

MINERALOGY, METALLURGY, AND MINING.

The Datolite from Bergen Hill, N. I., has been described by Mr. E. S. Dana in "Silliman's American Journal" for July. The Bergen Hill tunnel is famous for the abundance, beauty, and variety of the minerals which it brought to light. Datolite, pectolite, calcite, analcite, apophyllite, natrolite, stilbite, and others were obtained there during its excavation in a degree of perfection rarely equalled by the productions of any other locality. The crystallisations of datolite are especially remarkable; some of the surfaces covered with the brilliant crystals being eighteen to twenty-four inches in length. The crystals are in general not over a third of an inch across, though they sometimes have a diameter of one inch. Those of a single specimen have always entire uniformity of habit. The datolite is associated on different specimens with most of the other species found at the same locality, but it was not found possible to obtain any facts which would throw light upon the influence of the associated minerals on the crystalline form. Among the varied forms, four different types may be distinguished.

Ferro-Tungstine. A new Mineral.-Mr. Hugo Tamm describes in the "Chemical News," a mineral, of which he had procured a very small specimen, but had not been able to find out the place where it was originally discovered. He gives the following results of his analysis of it. Ferrotungstine is a dark steel-coloured, heavy, crystalline powder, formed of separate and distinct crystals, presenting exactly the appearance of crystallised silicium. Its specific gravity, which is considerable, is 12.5. It is a very hard substance, which can only be porphyrised with extreme difficulty, and it is almost impossible to reduce it to an amorphous powder; the powder obtained after a prolonged porphyrisation remaining still bright, like the powder of a crystalline metal or alloy, and crystalline.

Heated in the air at a low red heat, ferro-tungstine slowly oxidises, and is converted into a yellow powder of tungstic acid; and when it is thrown in fused nitre, it burns with brilliancy and is thoroughly attacked.

PHYSICS.

Spheroidal State of Water, and Boiler Explosions.—Mr. W. F. Barrett, F.C.S., read a paper on the above subject at the meeting of the British Association at Brighton. He said :-On one occasion, some six years ago, I wanted to cool a red hot copper ball. For this purpose I plunged it into some water in which I had just washed my hands. The hot ball went in without any hissing or visible evolution of steam, and on removing it from the water it appeared as hot as before, in fact it remained brightly incandescent, somewhat below the surface of the water. I was astonished to see this, as I did not know that the spheroidal state of water could be so readily produced and maintained by a body at this temperature. So I tried other red-hot bodies in the same water, and with the same result. I then threw away the soapy water and used plain water; the result was now quite different, the hissing was loud, and the evolution of steam copious. Hence the soapiness of the water was concerned in the phenomenon. Adding a little soap to the water immediately reproduced the result first noticed. Other bodies that dissolved in water were also tried, and the results are briefly these:-Albumen, glycerine, and organic liquids generally facilitate the acquisition of the spherical state, probably by increasing the cohesion of the water, whilst of course bodies such as ammonia, which readily yield vapour, have the same effect but not so marked. Oil shaken up or even placed on the surface of the water has the same effect as the soap. The best method of exhibiting the experiment is to pour a little of Plateau's soap solution into a large beaker of water, and then, by means of a hooked wire, lower into the liquid a white-hot metal ball, some 2 lbs. weight, and of copper is best. The ball smoothly enters the water, and glows white-hot at a depth of a foot or more below the surface. Notwithstanding the considerable hydrostatic pressure it is seen to be surrounded by a shell of vapour, perhaps half-an-inch thick. This vapour shell is bounded by an envelope that resembles burnished silver, and has a most striking appearance. In fact the hot ball blows a soap bubble of steam, from the limiting surface of which the light is totally reflected. As the ball cools (mainly by radiation) the shell of vapour is seen to grow thinner, and finally collapse altogether, when immediately there follows a loud report, volumes of steam are produced, and often the glass is broken. I have heard that traces of oil often get into the boilers of steam engines, and there can be no doubt that dissolved organic matter often finds its way in. If in any way we increase the intensity of the water, we render it possible for a corroded boiler to give way under the pressure of the steam suddenly generated in the way I have indicated.

The Use of Steel Wire for Deep Sea Soundings.-Sir W. Thomson, F.R.S., read a paper on the above at the British Association in Brighton, in which he showed that the great difficulty of deep sea soundings consisted in the resistance of the water to the material used for letting down and raising the weight, and that the only way in which that difficulty had ever been overcome in very deep soundings had been by employing extremely heavy weights. When the depth of three hundred fathoms was passed, the ordi