The Sun.
London, England, 1858-11-04 00:00:00

ACADEMY OF SCIENCES.

Our professional readers will find an important
paper by Dr. Civiale on lithotomy and lithotrity in
this week's Comptes Rendus. Among the other
contributions we find a paper by M. Partiot, on the
origin of eddies, which he explains as the result of
the waves passing over shallows, and of the swell-
ing of the tide ; a paper by Dr. Montucci, in which
he announces the discovery of a new method for
solving equations of the third degree, and com-
municates certain methods of his for abridging
numerical calculations in such additions. These
consist chiefly of small tables, by one of which he
performs three operations at once; he forms a square,
multiplies it by three, and substracts it from a given
number. He further gives a process for effecting
divisions and extractions of the square root to any
extent, and with any-number of figures by the aid
of the common table of logarithms, with seven deci-
mals. Also a report on a paper by M. Leon Sou-
beiran, on the poison of the viper and the organs
which secrete it. M. Dumenil, the reporter, states
that M. Soubeiran has chiefly turned his attention
to the glands which secrete the poison, and to the
excretive conduit. These glands had hitherto
been but imperfectly studied, owing to the diffi-
culty of separating them from the strong aponev-
rosis which covers them ; M. Soubeiran has em-
ployed a chemical process to soften and render it
transparent; the compound which he has used is
tartaric acid, and with perfect success ; the glands
and vessels being distinctly visible in his dissec-
tions, even without the aid of a magnifying glass.
M. Calliburces communicated his researches on the
effects of caloric in determining the contraction of
certain organs, and the description of an apparatus
for measuring these effects with precision. It con-
sists of a phial in which the membrane to be exa-
mined is subjected to the action of warmth with
moisure. A small glass cylinder is placed on the
membrane, -Which imparts a rotatory motion to it
with the borders of its epithelium ; a dial-plate ex-
ternally marks the number of revolutions performed
by this cylinder. M. de Luca presented a paper on
the existence of iodine in atmospheric air; he con-
cludes from his experiments :-1. That, in order. to
ascertain the presence of iodine in certain sub-
stances, a chemist must prepare the tests himself,
and try them several times, in order to be sure thatd
they are perfectly pure; 2. That the me.thods use.
in laboratories to ascertain the quantity of
.thi.s
metalloid require to be verified! 3. That prelimi-
nary experiments must be made inorderto. aapnpdre4-.
ciate the degree of sensibility of the tests ,
That, by the methods employe. d by himself, he has
been unable to discover the slightest trace of iodine
either in atmospheric air, rain water, or snow.

DIOCESE OF LONDON.—The Bihhop of London
has licensed the Rev. James Sanderson Clarke, M.A.
curate of Lewisham, to the incumbency of All Saints',
Church, Blackheath, consecrated on Monday last; and the
Rev. Win. Cotton, M.A., to the incumbency of St. Paul's
Church, Stepney, consecrated on Saturday last.

STATE CARRIAGE FOR THE LORD MAYOR ELECT.
—For many years past the state carriage for the Lord
Mayor has been manufacturedby Messrs. Laurie and Mar-
ner, of Oxford-street, and-by that firm a similar carriage
has this year. been built for the' Lord Mayor elect (Mr.
Alderman Wire). It is a vehicle of ample dimensions, but
very light in its construction. The carriage has handsome
side lights, and upon the body' which is painted of a beau-
tiful deep blue, is emblazoned the civic arms, those of the
Imiholders' Company, and also the private arms of his
lordship, surmounted by the crest, a demi horse ram-
pant, and supported by the motto, " Vincet qui Patitur."
The whole has elegant reliefs upon the body, wheels, &c.,
of silver and vermillion, with tasteful carvings, foliage, &c.
The roof is decorated with a massive silver cornice, of an
elegant shell pattern. The hammercloth is exceedingly
rich, and constructed with great taste, the centre being of
blue Genoa velvet, surrounded by scarlet cloth, and in the
centre displays the civic arms, composed of massive silver.
The lining of this carriage is of rich satin, the colours of
blue, vermillion, &c., so arranged as to compact with. th..e
us
external prevalent colours, and the entire equipage in
appearance both tasteful and elegant.