Newly-discovered Nervous Energy.-During the past year Dr. Brown-Sequard has often noticed that the irritation produced by a transverse section of the base of the brain produces opposite effects upon the nerves which are before and behind the section. Following the lead of these indications, he finds that some parts of the nervous system are able, when irritated, to produce a sudden notable augmentation of the properties, or of the motion or sensitive activities, of other parts of the system.-Comptes Rendus. C.

Metallic Varnish.-Some years ago workmen at Natal observed that many of the Euphorbiaceae, when cut by iron or steel, leave on the blade a coating of adhesive gum, which it is very difficult to remove, and which is an effectual safeguard against rust. The gum can be dissolved in alcohol and applied as a varnish to the hulls of vessels or other metallic surfaces. The alcohol soon evaporates, and leaves the gum in close adhesion. It is, moreover, so bitter that the white ants will not attack any object coated by it.-Les Mondes. C.

Artificial Wines.-The ravages of the phylloxera have greatly increased the demand for "artificial wines" and brandies, or those made from raisins. E. Martin undertakes the defence of these products, and says that chemical analysis can show no difference between them and those which are made from fresh grapes. He states, however, that it is better to add an equal portion of fresh grapes, so as to quicken the fermentation which has been rendered sluggish by drying. When this is done, he defies the most skillful connoisseur to detect two specimens of artificial wines among eight others of natural wines. -Chron. Indust. C.

Book Notices

LINKAGES; the different Forms and Uses of Articulated Links. By J. D. C. De Roos. Translated from "Revue Universelle des Mines," and reprinted from "Van Nostrand's Magazine," No. 47.

ON THE MOTION OF A SOLID IN A FLUID; and the Vibrations of Liquid Spheroids. By Thomas Craig, Ph.D. Reprinted from "Van Nostrand's Magazine," No. 49.

These two numbers of Van Nostrand's Science Series contain important discussions of their respective subjects. The treatise on link

ages gives a very good summary of the knowledge upon that subject six years ago, and it contains much information that will be new to most American readers. The book might, however, have been made much more valuable if the translator had compiled, from the JOURNAL OF THE FRANKLIN INSTITUTE and other sources, some of the more recent discussions by Prof. Marks and others.

Dr. Craig's volume gives a brief account of several of the great problems of hydrodynamics, the figure of the earth, flow through an orifice, motion of a solid in a fluid, etc. He has greatly added to the value of his own labors by giving full references to many of the most important memoirs, from which further information may be obtained in regard to the various points that are treated. In some of the problems he has simplified the necessary integrations by introducing curvilinear co-ordinates, and transforming the different equations of fluid motion by the aid of such systems of co-ordinates. Some idea of the extent of his research in preparing the volume may be formed from the following partial list of authors whose works are cited.· Todhunter, Dirichlet, Maxwell, Kirchhoff and Boltzmann, Bjerknes, Laplace, Resal, Lionville, Mayer, Sir Wm. Thomson, Tait, Riemann. With the exception of a few typographical inaccuracies the work is worthy of great commendation, containing as it does, a very complete discussion of important problems which are continually recurring in many departments of modern scientific investigation.

C.

WATER ANALYSIS FOR SANITARY PURPOSES; with Hints for the Interpretation of Results. By E. Frankland, Ph.D. 12mo. Philadelphia: Presley Blakiston. 1880.

In this volume the distinguished Vice President of the Institute of Chemistry of Great Britain gives us the leading particulars in the analysis of water, stating that the exhaustive chemical examination of it is one of the most tedious and troublesome operations a chemist is called upon to perform, from the great multiplicity of separate substances which may be present either in solution or in suspension, the minute proportion in which they may exist and the difficulties attending their exact determination; but if the object is only to ascertain the suitability of the water for domestic or manufacturing purposes, many of the most tedious of the operations may be omitted.

The work is divided into two parts and an appendix. In Part 1 the various steps in water analysis without gas apparatus are given, and in Part 2 the processes requiring it. In the Appendix are mentioned the various reagents employed in water analysis, while useful tables, etc., are given. We have been much pleased with this work and the clear style in which it is written by its learned author, who is, evidently, a master of this subject.

N.

A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL CONCRETE; its Varieties and Constructive Adaptations. By Henry Reid. New edition. 8vo. London: E. & F. N. Spon. 1879.

The great importance of this subject and the success of the author's previous work, published more than ten years ago, is the reason of the appearance of this handsome volume, in which the most recent knowledge is collected and the whole worthily treated by one who has devoted much attention to it. In tracing the progress of scientific concrete making, the author claims to have shown that the success. achieved by these prosperous industries has been due to the steady adherance of their several adoptors to accurate rules, which should guide all manufacturers, and due acknowledgment is made of the valuable information he has obtained from General Gilmore's treatise on Coignet Beton," as regards the industry in the United States. The table of contents and a full index show the care with which the work has been prepared, while the colored plates and numerous illustrations throughout the text prove that the publishers have spared no expense in making this volume worthy of being considered a practical treatise on a subject destined to become of the greatest importance with the advances that are now being made. We cordially commend the volume to the attention of our readers.

66

N.

HEALTH AND HEALTHY HOMES; a Guide to Domestic Hygiene. By George Wilson, M.D. 12mo. Philadelphia: Presley Blakiston.

1880.

This useful little volume, by the author of the "Handbook of Hygiene and Sanitary Science," will be welcome in many a home, and we trust will find numerous readers, as a concise and practical treatise on a subject upon which information is all-important. The author WHOLE NO. VOL. CX.-(THIRD SERIES, Vol. lxxx.)

5

has wisely avoided technicalities, writing as he does for all classes of readers, and has performed his task in so careful a way as to leave little to his American editor, Dr. J. G. Richardson, to add, excepting a few additions respecting matters wherein variations of climate, sanitary regulations, etc., call for notice. We have been most favorably impressed with the chapters on the "Causes of Disease" and "Food and Diet." Under the head of intemperance he does not hesitate to express his opinion that the moderate use of alcoholic stimulants has not been proved to be detrimental to the health of persons partaking of them daily, but who are careful never to exceed a certain limit; but, on the contrary, that they often prove a valuable aid to digestion, making the wheels of life to run more smoothly without in any way injuring its machinery, an opinion in which temperance people will be sure to differ, although as he adds civilization itself exhibits a strange unison with the consumption of alcohol.

The book, like all Mr. Blakiston's publications, is tastefully got up and of course well printed.

Franklin Institute.

N.

HALL OF THE INSTITUTE, June 16th, 1880.

The stated meeting was called to order at 8 o'clock P.M., the President, Mr. William P. Tatham, in the chair.

There were present 104 members and 17 visitors.

The minutes of the last meeting were read and approved.

The Actuary presented the minutes of the Board of Managers, and announced that 19 persons were elected members of the Institute at their last meeting.

The Secretary reported the following donations to the Library : Report of the Board of Commissioners of the Cincinnati Industrial Exposition. 1879. From the Board. Papers relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States. From the Department of State, Washington. Engravings of Ancient Cathedrals, etc. By John Coney. London. From Dr. Isaac Norris.

Sixth Annual Report of the New Jersey State Board of Agriculture for the year 1878. From the Board.

Life and Work of Joseph Henry. By F. L. Pope.

San Francisco Chronicle: its History, etc.

1879. .

From the Office.

Memoirs of the Yellow Fever. By Wm. Currie. Philadelphia, From Dr. Isaac Norris.

1798.

Annual Report of the Water Department of the City of Philadelphia for 1879. From the Chief Engineer. Eighth Annual Report of the Board of Directors of the Zoological Society of Philadelphia. 1880. From the Society.

Project for a Technological Institute and Museum of Useful Arts in Philadelphia. 1875. From J. W. Nystrom.

Annual Reports of the Wisconsin Geological Survey for 1878 and 1879. By T. C. Chamberlain. From the Survey.

Photometric Researches. By Wm. H. Pickering.

Cambridge Boiler Explosion. Boston, 1878.

From the Author.

From A. Williams & Co.

Engine and Boiler Insurance Company. Chief Engineer's Report. From the Company.

1880. First and Second Annual Reports of Bureau of Statistics of Labor and Industries of New Jersey. 1878-9. Report of J. H. Comstock

1879.

From the Bureau.

upon Cotton Insects. Washington, From the Department of Agriculture.

Statistical Abstract of the United States. 1879. Washington. From the Treasury Department.

Bulletin No. 4 United States Entomological Commission. Introduction to the Study of the Sign Language. By G. Mallery. Washington, 1880. From the Department of the Interior.

Annual Report of the Secretary of the American Iron and Steel Association. 1880. From the Association.

Handbok för beräkning och byggnad af Turbiner och Turbinpumpar. By C. A. Angström. Stockholm, 1880. 2 vols.

From the Author.

Congressional Record of March 4th, 1879; containing Memorial Exercises in Honor of Joseph Henry.

American Ephemeris and Nautical Almanac for 1879.

From Wm. Charlton, Jr., U. S. R. M. Transactions of the Connecticut Academy of Arts and Sciences. Vol. 1, Part 2; Vol. 2, Parts 1 and 2; Vol. 3, Parts 1 and 2. From the Academy.