ploying one of M. de la Rive's floating spirals, in the centre of which, and parallel with it, is placed a suspended magnetized needle. The moment the plates of an apparatus, so constructed, are dipped into an acid, the needle places itself at right angles to the spiral wire: thus showing one of the principal facts of electromagnetism, although upon a small scale, yet in a very decided manner.-T. G. Phosphorescence of the Sea.-Mr. Finlayson, in his Mission to Siam and Cochin China, thus explains the cause of the beautiful and singular phenomenon of the phosphorescent appearance of the sea by night: In many of the bays, such as the harbour of Prince of Wales's island, the bodies which emit this singular light exist in such vast quantity, that a boat may readily be distinguished at the distance of several miles by the brilliant light, resembling that of a torch, proceeding from the water agitated by her bow and oars. We have seen the sea rendered of a green colour and slimy appearance, by day, so that it might have been taken for the green vegetable matter common on stagnant pools. We have taken up a quantity of this green-coloured water, and, by keeping it till night, have ascertained that the green colour by day, and the phosphorescent appearance by night, were occasioned by the same substance. The causes of this luminous appearance of the sea are, doubtless, various in different parts of the ocean. We know that fish, when dead, afford similar light: and experiments have shown that dead fish immersed in sea-water after a time afford it also. The spawn of fishes is said to afford it, and putrefaction is considered as a very common cause of this appearance. In the present instance it appeared unequivocally to proceed from innumerable small granular gelatinous bodies, about the size of a pin's head: these, when taken upon the hand, moved about with great agility for a second or two, when they ceased to be luminous, and remained immoveable."

Effects of Lightning on the Animal System." In reference to the case described, in vol. xix. Quart. Journal of Science, Dr. Fusinieri writes, that during the winter of 1824, no particular effects were perceived by Sig. Tomiello in the arm struck by lightning, but that, as the spring of 1825 advanced, it again became affected; the same sensation of heat, and want of motion, taking place, when the weather became stormy; the change in the weather being preindicated for several hours, or, at times, even days. Dr. Fusinieri remarks upon the circumstance, that these effects were not perceived in the winter season, though the weather might be

stormy, and the temperature as warm, at times, as on occasions when the arm was affected. He considers the cause as existing in a morbid sensibility of the nerves of the arm to atmospheric electricity."Gior. di. Fisica, viii. 219.

Pyrites. A most brilliant piece of shining yellow Pyrites, with very fine argillaceous substance imbedded, apparently some organic remains resembling much one of the lumbar vertebræ of the spine of the human species, has been found by Mr. T. O. Blackett, at Newcastle, in a heap of iron-stone lying at the mouth of an old staple, which some miners were resinking, situated on the north side of the Spring Gardens, on the road to the artillery barracks. The outer coating bears a fibrous impression, and appears remarkably porous; on submitting a small portion to the action of the blow pipe, a blue dead flame was produced, without that strong sulphureous vapour which generally arises from Pyrites, and burnt to a bright liver-coloured ball of scoria, which was easily reduced to a powder, and from which Mr. B. obtained a most beautiful prussiate of iron.

Loss of Memory.—" A singular remark, and which, I believe, has never been made, is that in cases where the memory has been lost, without any change in the reasoning faculties, it is always the last syllables of the words which are forgotten. It was thus, that Alexander Selkirk, an English sailor, who was found after the lapse of 25 years on a desert island, still spoke English quite well, excepting the last syllabies, which he had forgotten. I have remarked the same phenomenon in a person who was young, but blind for 14 years, to whom, as I shall hereafter relate, I restored the faculty of writing." Madame de Genlis makes this remark, in consequence of a note which had been written by the Duchess of Cerifalco, after confinement in a subterranean cave for nine years in which note she observed, that almost all the last syllables were wanting.-Mem. of M. de Genlis, iii. 37.

Northern Expedition. The vessels which have been despatched by Government to carry assistance to Captain Franklin, and which are under the command of Captain Beechey, were met with at Chili by the Blond, Lord Byron, and consort, who were on their return from the Sandwich Islands, having there left the bodies of the King and Queen. From letters which Lord Byron has brought home it appears, that Captain Beechey's ships are at present doing well, though in doubling Cape Horn they had encountered some severe storms and dar gerous seas. Upon leaving Chili, these vessels will touch at the Sandwich Isles, and there

leave, for the principal inhabitants, some magnificent presents from our Government. After this they will proceed immediately to Behring's Straits, to. join Captain Franklin, who, they imagine, will, by that time, have arrived there. It was the intention for them to wait until Captain Parry should have effected his passage through. Of the failure of Captain Parry's expedition they are at present ignorant, but a vessel has been despatched by Government to inform them of it, when Captain Franklin will immediately return by Cape Horn. Captain Beechey has orders to make what discoveries he can in the Pacific Ocean, and to take drawings and charts of parts that are important, but little known, and to collect all information that is likely to be valuable.

The Rectification of Alcohol at common Temperatures.-M. Paget Descharme proposes to rectify alcohol in the large way by exposing to its vapour deliquescent salts: thus he puts into a vessel with a flat bottom a given quantity of weak alcohol; he then puts a portion of pulverized muriate of lime into a dish, and places it upon feet, or otherwise, over the alcohol in the first: this is closed hermetically, or a cover fastened on by pasted slips of paper, and the whole left for four or five days, in which time the alcohol strengthens, and the muriate deliquesces; the muriate is then removed, and a fresh portion introduced, and this is repeated until the alcohol is sufficiently concentrated. This is an operation common enough to our laboratories: it remains to be seen whether it can be economically adopted in the large way."—Ann. de Chim. xxix. 328. Mr. Secretary Peel has consented to become a Vice-Patron of the "Western Literary and Scientific Institution;" and further to testify his approbation of the objects of the Institution, he has given 501. to the library fund, to be expended in scientific works. The Marquises of Lansdown and Hastings, Mr. Farquhar the possessor of Forthill, together with many other noble, literary and scientific individuals, have consented to become honorary officers of this Institution.

Artificial Gold, a new alloy.-Hanover. "M. Dittmer has described in the Hanoverian Magazine the following compound of different metals, prepared by the privy-counsellor Dr. Hermstadt, and which may supply the place of gold, not only as to colour, but also for its specific gravity and ductility. The materials consist of 16 parts, by weight, of virgin platina, 7 parts of copper, and 1 part of zinc, equally pure: these metals are to be mixed together in a crucible, covered with

powdered charcoal, and perfectly fused so as to form a homogeneous mass."Rev. Ency. xxvii. 900.

Ornithology.-Greater Spotted Woodpecker, (Picus Major, Lin.)—A very fine young male specimen of this species was very lately taken in a garden belonging to Mr. G. Armstrong, innkeeper, at the end of Caldew Bridge. It was caught by a cat on one of the trees, and when seized made a loud jarring noise, peculiar to the birds of this species, which attracted the attention of his daughter, who, on opening the door, was astonished to see the cat enter the house with its victim, where it was instantly secured. Apparently it had received little injury, for when placed in a cage it was most surprising to observe with what force and rapidity it struck the bars with its bill, greatly resembling the smart strokes of a small hammer: it refused all food, and soon died. It is certainly a most unusual circumstance that a bird of this description should have been found in such a situation, as they are rarely seen except in extensive woods, and even there but seldom in this country.

Action of Carbonic Acid on Hydrosulphurets. By M. Henry, jun.—“ Although M. Chevreul had shown that carbonic acid is capable of decomposing the hydrosulphurets; yet, when M. Henry advanced the opinion that the sulphuretted hydrogen, disengaged from the mineral waters of Enghien, was owing to the action of free carbonic acid on the hydrosulphurets contained in those waters, it met with considerable opposition: in consequence of which he resumed the subject, and undertook a series of experiments with a view to elucidate it, from which he has deduced the following conclusions:

1. "Carbonic acid, in contact with the alkaline or magnesian hydrosulphurets, is capable of decomposing them completely, if the action be continued for a sufficient length of time.

2. The decomposition is effected either by boiling a hydrosulphuret in water impregnated with carbonic acid; or by placing the mixture, without heat, in the vacuum of an air-pump; or by passing a current of carbonic acid gas through a diluted solution of the hydrosulphuret.

3. "The hydrosulphurets, obtained by converting sulphates into sulphurets by carbonaceous matter, are less readily acted on.

4. "The result of the decomposition of all these salts is the production of carbonates, or rather bi-carbonates; and the quantity of sulphuretted hydrogen disengaged is proportionate to that of the carbonate formed."-Ann. Phil. N. S., vol. x. p. 381.

University of Edinburgh.-A valuable collection of the vegetable Materia Medica of India has been presented to the University of Edinburgh, by Sir Thomas Munro, governor of Madras. Its selection evinces both intimate acquaintance with the subject and very great industry on the part of Dr. Shuter, naturalist and botanist at Madras, to whom it was intrusted; and the whole was received in such excellent condition, that a portion of many of the seeds and some of the roots have been given to the Professor of Botany, with every prospect of their vegetating and increasing the fine collection of tropical plants already in the royal garden. Besides this extensive addition to the Museum of Materia Medica, it has lately been enriched by curious and valuable specimens, presented by John Crawford, Esq. resident at Singapore, the late lamented Dr. Schetky, from Sierra Leone, and other alumni of this University.

Royal Institution.- A course of lectures and demonstrations on State Medicine, commonly called Medical Jurisprudence, has been opened at one P.M. on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, at the Royal Institution, Albemarle Street, by Dr. G. Smith. They promise to be of a most interesting character.

African Expedition.-Extract of a letter from a gentleman at Malta to his friend in Edinburgh :-" My letters from Tripoli are dated 21st of October last. Major Laing had arrived in good health

FRANCE.

and spirits at Gadames, where he was met by Attila, the chief who is to accompany him to Timbuctoo. It may be grateful to you to inform his friends, that every thing foretells a fortunate and successful issue to his mission. The major was received with great hospitality, and treated with great kindness, at Gadames. He proceeds to Timbuctoo under such favourable circumstances, that there can be no doubt of his reaching that celebrated city in the course of December. He was more than a month in reaching Gadames from Tripoli, (a journey of twelve or fourteen days,) in consequence of a rebellion in the mountains. I hope he will meet Captain Clapperton on the Niger."

Geological Society.-A paper was lately read, entitled, "An Account of some Geological Specimens, collected by Capt. P. P. King, in his survey of the Coasts of Australia; and by Robert Brown, Esq. on the shores of the Gulf of Carpentaria, during the voyage of Capt. Flinders; by W. H. Fitton, M.D., V. P. G. S.," &c.

Insects. Amongst other means with which insects are gifted for the annoyance of their foes and pursuers, are the powerful scents which many of them emit when alarmed and in danger. The most remarkable insect for its powers of annoyance in this way, is one, on that account called the bombardier, which can fire from its tail numerous vollies of stinking vapour at its assailants before its ammunition is exhausted.

Royal Academy of Science.-We have before briefly mentioned Mr. Dupuytren's reports on the yellow fever, delivered to the Academy; we now insert his last at some length. M. Dupuytren rose for the purpose of reading his third report on the question of yellow fever. It will be recollected that M. Costa, after having combated the system of contagion, and the sanitary measures which result from it, proposed, conjointly with Messrs. Lassis and Lasserre, to make upon themselves all the experiments which might be judged necessary to throw a light upon the question; and also to put on clothes which had been worn by individuals who had died of the yellow fever, and which could be sent from the Antilles to France, in chests hermetically sealed. M. Dupuytren, after having expressed his admiration at the devotion of the physicians who had made this proposition, referred to the attempts which had at different times been made to accomplish the same object. A considerable number of physiMarch-VOL. XVIII. NO. LXIII,

cians, impelled by their zeal for humanity, had fearlessly put on shirts which had been worn by the sick; injected into their stomachs black matter which had been vomited, either mixed with water, or without it, in portions of from nine to ten ounces, and had even inoculated themselves with it. Dr. Vailly, who arrived at a town where the yellow fever was raging, died of that disorder, eight days after having made similar experiments. His death, however, proves absolutely nothing in favour of contagion, since it may always be doubted whether, when near the fountain head of the malady, it has not been contracted by infection. Others have satisfactorily overcome these trials; but their success does not the more make against the doctrine of contagion, since it may be always supposed that circumstances which were peculiar to those persons preserved them. "It may be added," observed M. Dupuytren, "that these experiments are not conclusive, for another reason; in making them the different means which fol

low nature in the transmission of the virus have been too much overlooked. Each species of virus has its peculiar mode of transmission. Some, like syphilis and hydrophobia, do not act by their effluvia, and are only transmissible by inoculation; on the contrary, the measles and the scarlet fever are only transmitted by their effluvia, and all efforts to inoculate for them would be vain; the itch is transmitted by contact and inoculation; others, like the pock virus, are transmissible by effluvia, by contact, and by inoculation. In our absolute ignorance of the modes by which the yellow fever is communicated, in cases where it is transmissible by other means than by infection, it is necessary to try them all. Even that is not enough; it is necessary, in making these trials, to be careful to place ourselves in the conditions which experience has taught us to be the most proper to the developement of endemic disorders, conditions which, unhappily, are but too little known." M. Dupuytren here alluded to a series of questions, which it would be necessary to have resolved before decidedly conclusive experiments could be made. "It is requisite," said he, "to know the influence which heat, humidity, and the greater or less elevation above the sea, exercise. It would be also of importance to make researches as to the effect of crowding together a number of men in the same place-for instance, to see if the emanations from the bodies of negroes are more hurtful than those from whites. Would not the exact proportion of men assembled in the same place be another condition of the problem? Is it not possible that it may be the same with the yellow fever as with certain miasmata, which, concentrated in a room filled with sick, have not a deleterious operation, and which become pernicious almost immediately when a slight augmentation of the number takes place?" M. Dupuytren went on to cite an important fact-"One of your Commissioners," said he, "is a physician to an hospital, one of the wards of which can without inconvenience contain 200 sick. In ordinary cases, this number is not exceeded; but in 1815, the heaping together of the patients having caused the sanitary precautions to be neglected, this number was carried to 300. From that moment the air suffered an alteration, the nature of which could not be ascertained by a chemical analysis, but which was known by a nauseous odour, and by the appearance of rottenness in the hospital, and by fevers of a virulent cha

racter.

What is remarkable is, that it was not necessary that a great augmentation of the sick should take place to

give rise to these effects-a simple increase of twenty patients, that is to say, a tenth more than the customary number, sufficed to destroy the proportion which existed between the mass of air and the sick. Another and a not less important remark is, that several different affections developed in the impure air of the ward found a vent out of the hospital, and were communicated to houses in which the same causes of infection no longer existed as if the proportion, when once broken, developed itself in a virus of a peculiar nature. The conclusions of the report are, first, that the zeal of the physicians who had proposed themselves as subjects for experiment, deserves the highest praise; second, that although the experiments pointed out cannot conduct to any conclusive result, they ought to be considered as the commencement of a series for the purpose of throwing a light upon the subject, and that from this title they ought to be approved and encouraged, whenever they are not of a nature to compromise the security and tranquillity of the public. The Commissioners have not thought it their duty to confine themselves to these conclusions. "Considering that the yellow fever might, in spite of the vigilance of Government, at one time or other makes its appearance in our western provinces, and there exercise the greatest ravages; that in this case the state of uncertainty in which the public mind would be left might be attended with the most lamentable consequences: they are of opinion that too much haste cannot be made to take advantage of the present interval of the absence of yellow fever in Europe, to obtain the most positive information as to its nature, its mode of transmission, and the means proper, either to prevent its invasion, or to cure it when it has declared itself. They, in consequence, request of the Academy to propose a grand prize to him who should throw the greatest light upon these divers questions, the value to be proportioned to the extent of researches and voyages which might be undertaken. They hope that the Government will not refuse to add new funds to those placed at their disposal by M. Montbyon." Upon this proposition a slight discussion arose. M. Geoffroy alluded to a fact which had been communicated to him by M. Dupuytren, and drew from it a conclusion contrary to the system of purely local infection. M. Bosc, who resided a long time at Charleston, where the yellow fever is endemic, cited a number of facts to prove that the disorder had a peculiar operation in the port and in the neighbouring streets; the influence of the temperament was also very sensible there. M. Bosc concluded

by pointing out the results which had been collected on this subject. M. de la Place asked, in reference to the conclusions of the Report, if the Academy would authorise and encourage experiments which might produce disastrous results to those who might attempt them? The conclusions of the Report were put to the vote, and adopted. In reference to the institution of a grand prize, proposed by the Commission, for the best work on this important subject, it was understood that the Academy could not come to any decision until after mature deliberation; and with this view the Report of M. Dupuytren was ordered to be printed.

At the sitting of the 7th of January, M. Geoffry-Saint-Hilaire presented a human monster, which has just been discovered in a collection of animal mummies, forming part of a magnificent cabinet of antiquities recently imported from Egypt by that able artist and learned antiquary, M. Passalacqua. This monster belongs to the class known by the name of ancucephalous, characterised by the complete privation of the brain and spinal marrow; and is exceedingly interesting, first as contradicting the doctrine of the Cartesian philosophy, that thought is generated in the brain; and, secondly, as opposed to the more recent theory of the origin of the nerves in the cerebral or vertebral pulp.

A new Opera, called La Dame Blanche, has become quite the rage in Paris. The journals declare that its composer, Boildieu, is equal to Rossini, and his music as fine as the best of the Italian school.

Longevity.-Pierre Huet, the oldest soldier in the French service, died lately, at the Hotel des Invalides. He had reached the extraordinary period of 119 years; and since the inauguration of the statue of Louis XIV., enjoyed a pension of 300 francs per annum from the city of Paris.

A report was made from a committee which had been appointed to inquire whether the oil extracted from the red cornel-tree could (as proposed by M. Lachausée) be advantageously substituted for that usually burnt in lamps. The report stated, first, that the oil in question was not fit for forming part of human food secondly, that it burnt easily, and without smoke or smell. It remains to be ascertained whether it can be procured at an expense so moderate as to render it beneficial.

Fragments of Arabian armour have been dug up in a field near Tours in France. These remains are described as being of very beautiful workmanship in steel and silver, and are conjectured to be

of the time of the Sultan Abderame, defeated by Charles Martel.

M. Kunth has presented to the Academy of Sciences, the last livraison of his great Botanical Work (Nova Genera et Species Plantarum Americæ Æquinoctialis), which includes the description of plants collected by Messrs. Humboldt and Bonpland. This work is one of the most splendid monuments hitherto raised to science: it consists of seven volumes folio, accompanied by 725 plates, and contains an account of about 4200 new species.

ITALY.

The most valuable of all Monsignor Maï's discoveries are unpublished. They consist of ample extracts from Polybius, Diodorus, Diocassius, Deseppus, Ennassius, Menander the historian, and Persius, preserved in those hitherto lost volumes of the eclogue of Constantinus Porphyrogennitus, of which the fortunate librarian found large remnants in the Vatican. Those fragments are really invaluable for ancient history, as much, or more, than those published by Fulvius Ursinus, and Henri Valesius: thus much the writer of these lines may take upon himself to assert, although he has been allowed only a slight look at a first and hasty copy taken by M. Maï. The extracts from Polybius contain the details of the destruction of the Achæans and Corinth; those from Diodorus appear to give a circumstantial narration of the beginning at least of the social war; the contents of the latter historians are quite new. It should appear that whoever is possessed of such a literary treasure would be eager to give it to the world; but it happens, most unfortunately, that the Roman Government requires that Maï should publish at Rome, and that printing at Rome at his own expense, without extraordinary assistance, exposes him to a certain loss, as nobody out of Italy would purchase an edition extravagantly dear and very incorrectly executed, if a cheaper and more correct edition might be had, as would be the case, waiting only a few weeks, after a copy had reached Germany. Now, M. Mai is absolutely master to allow or refuse us the enjoyment of these precious relics. The celebrated Niebuhr has very warmly interested himself to obtain subscriptions for the ingenious Italian. Hitherto his success has been limited to a subscription for a number of fifty copies from the Dutch Institute of Letters and Sciences. But assuredly the publication of these relics, alike interesting to the scholar and the philosopher, should not be delayed on account of the insensibility of the Romans to these memorials of antiquity.