silicium may be fused and run into moulds.

Combined with iron, it produces several

kinds of cast-iron and steel, which are exceedingly fusible, and in which the silicium takes the place of carbon.

The history of medical science furnishes us with many illustrations of the groping manner in which great general truths are cominonly arrived at. Only a few years ago, the ordinary cure for bronchocele (goitre, or Derbyshire neck) was a preparation from the ashes of seaweed, or a lozenge of burned sponge, What there was in sponge and sea-weed to make it so efficacious no one knew; but, when from a solution of their ashes the curious substance called iodine was discovered, a generous suspicion fell on that as the remedial agent to which so many sufferers had from time immemorial been indebted for relief. Experiment immediately decided the question; and to this day no remedy has been found to supersede the iodine ointment, ever since in universal use.

An analogous discovery has been lately male in reference to that subtle element known under the name of Fluorine. We recorded, several months ago (Vol. xxiv., p. 148), M. Nicklés' attempts to determine to what extent it existed in the animal economy:. it will be remembered that he found it in the bones, the blood, the bile, in albumen, in gelatine, in saliva, and in the hair: the whole organism, as he said, appeared to be penetrated by it, and he promised to lay before the Academy the result of his future investigations as soon as he had completed them. That communication was made to the Academy a few weeks since, and was inserted in a late number of the 'Comptes Rendus,' from which we make the following summary:—

From the ensemble of my researches the following conclusions may be drawn:1. There is fluorine in the blood in small quantities. 2. Ilyen a dans l'urine. 3. It is found in the bones, but in much smaller quantities than was formerly supposed: according to Berzelius, 100 grammes of calcareous matter from the bones, contained 3 grammes of the fluoride of calcium: but, with our new means of investigation which I have laid before you, it is certain that there are scarcely 5 centigrammes of the fluoride in a kilogramme of the bony substance. 4. The Sources whence the animal organism

draws the fluorine of which it has need,

are:

(a) The potable waters.
(b) Vegetable substances.

Both of these sources yield fluorine in proportions so small, that, in order to obtain traces of it, it is necessary to operate upon at least a kilogramme of ashes in the latter case; and upon the residuum of the evaporation of some hundreds of gallons, in the former.

(c) Accidentally also, the organism derives fluorine from several of the mineral waters; which contain fluorides in large proportions, if compared with common potable waters. This circumstance seems to explain the efficacy of certain mineral waters, which are but feebly mineralised: such as those of Plombieres, du Mont Dore, de Soulzbad, &c.

(d) The water of the Seine, near Paris, and that of the Rhine near Strasburg, are those which contain least of fluorine.

(e) One of the river waters of France most rich in fluorides is that of the Somme near Amiens.

(f) The various mineral waters are not equally rich in fluorides; the richest of those I have examined are, the waters of Contrexé ville, of Autogast, and of Châtenois (Bas Rhin). A single litre (less than a quart) of these waters is sufficient to give unequivocal marks of the presence of fluorine.

(g) On the contrary, sea-water taken from the Atlantic yielded no sensible proportion, when 300 litres (about 70 gallons) were operated upon. This fact establishes a very striking difference between sea water and mineral waters, which in some respects greatly resemble each other.

(h) As to the difference of fluorine in the earth's crust. it may be said generally that the fluoride of calcium may be found in those waters which contain bicarbonate of lime; and it would probably be found also in most sedimentary rocks and alluvial soils.

From this resumé of M. Nicklés' experiments, it is obvious that he has made a discovery which at no distant period may enable chemists to place all the essential benefits of mineral and medi

cinal waters within the reach of the poorest classes of society. If fluorine be the principal curative agent they contain, it certainly can be supplied in any quantity, without going to a watering-place

for it; just as carbonate of iron is at the present time administered to those who are unable to visit Tunbridge Wells or Cheltenham, to partake of it from the springs in those localities.

The duty-certainly not a disagreeable one-of bringing forward the name of Dr Vogel once more, devolves upon us in consequence of a communication having been made to the Foreign Office, which renders it very doubtful whether the doctor is dead, after all. The communication to which we refer is in the form of an official despatch from H.M. Consul at Tripoli, who states, that a courier having been sent to inquire about the doctor's fate, brought back a letter from the Sheikh of Borgou. In this letter it was asserted that Dr Vogel had been invited to visit the Sultan of Wadai, at his capital, Wara and his continued absence was accounted for, on the supposition that he was detained there for a time, and on his having stated his intention of proceeding thence towards Darfur. Additional couriers had therefore been despatched to Wadai, to ascertain the truth of this statement. The accuracy of the report of poor Corporal Maguire's murder is unhappily placed beyond doubt.

Despite these discouraging facts, another traveller has just set out from France, quite unaccompanied, to visit Central Africa. He proposes Timbuctoo as his destination, and intends to make his way thither by a totally new route.

A treaty for the mutual protection of literary copyrights and artistic property, has been concluded between England and Spain. It is similar in all respects to those signed between England, France, Belgium, and other countries.

Four more planets have been discovered since we last reported progress, Three out of the four are ascribed to M. Goldschmidt of Paris, and one to M. Luther of Bilk. The two last planets having been discovered within a very short period of each other, it has been suggested that they should be called the Twins, and distinguished as No. 1 and No. 2. There are now forty-nine planets in the solar system, the last having been discovered on the night of the 19th of September. It is between the 10th and 11th magnitude.

The expedition under the command of Commodore Perry, in the Chinese and 1 Japanese seas, has resulted in throw. ing much additional light on the resources and capabilities of the kingdom of Japan. Its mineral riches are immense. The abundance of its gold has been known for many years. Holland alone obtained from thence, in the course of little more than half-a-century, gold to the amount of a thousand millions (). Silver is equally abundant, and formed one of the chef articles of export brought away by the Portuguese during their monopoly d the Japanese trade. Copper abounds 1 but these mines have always been very imperfectly worked, and the metal its!! but indifferently purified. This metal and tin, so extensively employed by us the construction of culinary utensils, a but little prized by the Japanese, and. hence the abundance in which they exist is very inadequately known. The arriva of a Dutch mining engineer in the com try will effect a great change in this spect. Mercury has not hitherto be exported from Japan, but is said to exst in tolerable quantity. Iron and coal a found widely diffused. The latter w eventually prove a valuable article of erport, since the want of it has been one the chief obstacles to steam navigation the adjacent seas. The beds of nati sulphur are so rich, that it may be d from them with a spade; it has for many years been a source of revenue to government. Large and costly pearls a found on nearly all the coasts; and throt the Chinese, who offer high prices f them, the Japanese have learned to es mate their value.

From an official report by the Orienta Gas Company's agent, we learn that Cacutta was partially lit up with gas for t first time on the 6th of July last. T success of the undertaking, it is said the report, was complete; not a conte temps of any kind occurring. The la have all been lighted, and have burs steadily every night since; all ceeding as regularly as though C cutta had been lit with gas these twer?

rs.

The wonderment and excitement the natives, however, do not seem to re abated, at least when the despatch s sent off. During the first week the wds who paraded the streets were imnse; and their conjectures as to the ise of the light amusing. Even now, Is the report, crowds assemble at each d, and run along the line of lamps with e lamplighter, setting up a shout of tonishment as he applies his lantern to e burner. Mains are being laid, lampsts and brackets are being fixed, and ditional streets are being furnished with e luxury of gas-light; and it is hoped at before many months have elapsed, e illumination of the town will have be›ine general.

Professor Morse of America, who was n board the Niagara at the time when he accident occurred to the Atlantic teleraph cable, makes the following import nt statement:-We got an electric curent through till the moment of parting, o that the electric connection was perect; and yet the farther we paid out, the eebler were the currents; indicating a ifficulty, which, however, I do not conider serious, while it is of a nature to require investigation.

In connection with the Atlantic failure, t is a consolation to know that the first attempt to lay down the Mediterranean cable also failed, now that we also learn the success of a second attempt. The Messrs Newall have published the following note:-We have the pleasure to inform you that a telegraphic despatch from Cagliari, dated September 9, announces to us that the submarine cable connecting Europe and Africa has been successfully laid between Europe and Africa. The communication between Teulada and Spartivento, a distance of 17 miles, has to be made before a regular telegraphic communication can be opened with Algeria. The cable is a heavy one, with four conducting wires, and has been laid successfully in above 100 nauts of 1600 to 1700 fathoms water. The total distance covered is 124 nauts, or 145 miles.

A valuable addition has lately been made to the antiquarian treasures of the British Museum, in the shape of a complete library of hieroglyphical papyris. They were found in one of the tombs of Memphis; and an Arab, in the pay of the museum authorities, being made ac

quainted with the discovery, bought up the entire lot.

Notwithstanding all that has been done to diminish the deleteriousness of the materials employed in the lucifermatch manufacture, it was found impossible to avoid the exposure of phosphorus, whether amorphous or common, to the influence of atmospheric agency. Phosphorous acid was thus generated, and the air impregnated as people thought-with a virulent poison. Two or three eminent chemists, however, doubted whether phosphorus, or even phosphoric acid, was so injurious as commonly represented; and one of them, M. J. Personne, has put it to a searching test. To determine whether it was poisonous or harmless, he administered it to six dogs, in quantities varying from 6 grammes to 1.45 grammes of anhydrous acid. After the injection of the acid into the stomach, the oesophagus was tied, and to the experimenter's astonishment, the animals lived for six, eight, and even nine days, after the injection of the pretended poison. From these facts, it is difficult, and perhaps impossible, to attribute a poisonous action to phosphorous acid. The death of the animals after so long a time is sufficiently explained by starvation, and the consequences of the operation necessary for the ligature of the oesophagus. M. Personne has also ascertained the harmlessness of phosphatic acid, or the mixture of phosphorous and phosphoric acids, produced by the slow combustion of ordinary phosphorus in moist air.

One day in the course of May last, it was observed by two bee-keepers in the south of France, that their bees showed an unusual amount of activity, and that they returned to their hives with far heavier loads than was common. Their movements were watched, and their directions tracked the next day; when it was discovered that the cause of all this commotion was a heap of tilseed which had been subjected to the oil-press, and afterwards mixed with water, to be used as a manure for potatoes. The avidity with which the bees devoured this substance, induced the agriculturists to procure for them an abundance of it; and the result has been a tenfold produce, and a large increase in the reproduction of the insect.

marry, because he is endowed with ambition and friendship exclusively that is to say, because he has a destiny of devotion and social union to fulfil, and because it does not accord with the interests of the human race, which is sovereign over the globe, that the dog should be distracted from his more important occupations, by having the cares of a family to attend to. The dog must be prepared to follow man, at a moment's warning, to any spot, and to shed his blood for him to the very last drop. Now, a family establishment, especially a divided one of independent members, like the fox's (every one his hole to himself), is the corner-stone of selfishness, and the grave of devotion. Great geniuses do not take a wife, because, in limbic societies, a family is a restraint, and because great discoverers, whose mission it is to enlighten the world, and to perish in the task, ought to begin by getting rid of every burden and impediment which is likely to hinder their onward march. It is acknowledged, even in civilised society, that married military men make bad soldiers. Such was the opinion of the Emperor Napoleon I., who consumed a considerable quantity of that article, and who ought therefore to know something about it. The Roman Catholic religion, which professes to be a religion of devotion and self-sacrifice, has acted consistently with its principles, in condemning its ministers to celibacy. It is possible to wish that there were no Roman Catholic religion; but to require a Roman Catholic religion in which the priests are not compelled to lead a single life, is to require an impossibility, or, what is worse, an absurdity.

The fox gets married; but he is not monogamous and faithful for life. He inhabits the same earth with his wife no longer than is necessary for the proper education of his family. Their union, which begins towards the close of winter, lasts till the month of August following. The hitch-fox goes with young two months, like the shewolf and the bitch; she brings forth in April, and the usual number of the litter is. five. It is remarkable that foxes, both males and females, keep very quiet in the early days of their married life, and do not make them

selves much talked about. The ar rival of the family luxuriantly develops in the father and the mother the plundering and thievish instincts with which Heaven has gifted them. It is just the same amongst civilisés: we often see young merchants' clerks very scrupulous at play before their marriage, but who begin to cheat at dominoes the very day after it. It is also a very common thing for the wives of civilisés to cheat at cards. I am acquainted with a rich Paris merchant, formerly a democrat, who one day lamented to me that he had gained so much money by the labour of poor weavers. That was as good as Nero's despair at being able to write, when a death-warrant was presented him to sign. The same merchant relentlessly pursued one of his friends for a miserable debt. When reproached with this proceeding, so odious in a republican," What would you have me do?' he replied. 'I have wife to maintain, besides a couple o children, and a pair of horses.' A man and his wife who are on the lookout for a porter's lodge, never fail to increase their chance of employment, by declaring that they are 'without encumbrance.'

In the month of May, then, when the earth' has five additional mouths to feed, the most terrible onslaughts are made by these long-tailed marauders on the poultry-yard, the park, and the warren. To the lot of the father falls by right the office of director of diurnal and nocturnal expeditions; to the mother, the task of dividing the booty amongst her offspring. At this period, if a fox once gets into a fowlhouse, he is not satisfied with strangling a single chicken, and straightway carrying it off with him; he makes a general massacre of the entire stud (for, in fowl-stealing, one may as well be hung for a sheep as for a lamb); and then he lays out his victims in order, as a sportsman sorts his game, and coolly proceeds to the methodical packing and transport of his goods. If the lady is there, she gives her assistance. All which cannot be eaten the same day is carefully buried in the earth, at spots which they mark. Every individual of the grand canine family, who are all liable to die of starvation, or to be reduced to eat field-mice and roots, whenever the