The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-11-15


Isnoer q scientific society having in view any OF the
ooltcs OF the association and puos be-
en'nss member simply by subscribing the russ and
al ho embraced IA those provisions may become
members by the vote Of majority upon nomination by
!he standing committee. ln short, the Fundamental idea
IS 10 present a form OF organization under which the
friends OF science in America may meet fettered nv a.
lew rules and restrictions consistent with the ma
lare ol an organized body For this purpose the annual
assessment was put al the minimum amount needed for
neifaynk the ordinary expenses oil meeting and the pub
ilcaton OF the ransactions-a circumstance without
s IMPORTANCE to the class OF which the association is in
great part comprehensive professors in colleges-a
Investments TIT M 9177
The second meeting was held at Cambridge in is49
Prof. Joseph Henry presiding, and was largely attended
us proceedings form volume OF 45o pages. full OF inter
esling communications and new contributions to science
Inc meeting continued week, and has been usual-
the case the association subdivded into sections each
bu:yIng itself with the communications which pertsned
70 us own peculiar department OF science. The number
OF these sections depends upon the number OF papers
DC presented and their subjects. and often varies from day
70 day, one section subdviding into two more
II time or multiplicity OF subjects requires; and, the
other hand two kindred sections coaescing, when cir
cumstances seem 10 render such union desirable. Any
great multiplication OF the number OF sections operates
dsadvantageousy by deprving those who in attend
ance upon one section from being present the
nlcaton OF researches upon subjects kindred TO their
especial departments OF study and, indeed often leaves
the scientist under the necessity OF keeping close watch
upon the proceedings OF two different sections,
and vibrating from hall TO another half dozen times
10 day This is especially the when, has often
been necessary section OF physics is organized in ad
ditlon 10 section OF astronomy and mathematics, the
zooosss and paa ,nloosss compelled 10 part company
Un The other hand, division into sections is only
necessity on account OF The physical impossiby OF 9TH
erwse dposng OF the abundance OF papers presented
say nothing OF the time dearable for discussing them.
but 1t also enables members to concentrate their time and
attention npon those subjects to which their studies have
been directed, or their tastes incline them During
considerable part OF the Cambridge meeting four sections
were in sessonyz: those OF mathematics and astrono-
my OF chemistry and mlneraogy OF natural history and
zoology, and OF geology and palaontology i may be
IkpU nf
as well as OF philoIogy have with slight exception,
taken no part and manifested interest the
a,, on in,s remark which s equally applicable 70 .ci-
seems only capable OF explanation by assuming that
these departments of learning have yet assumed
the rank OF sciences in country, in spite OF the
elevated position which they have attained upon the con-
tlnent OF Europe. Even the British Association at kn
early period organized section OF statistics Commune
cations have been made 10 the American Association
pertaining 10 the Indian mounds but chiefly in their &c.
oogca relations, by professional geologss; few, al
so, upon The aborgnes OF continent, chiefly their
geological relaons but the researches OF Prof Halde-
man upon lingnisilc ehnoogy with couple OF other
papers, form the only real exceptions TO statement
may not be too much to hope that before long the
dents OF political economy OF statistical inquiry, of phi
loogy IN all ills mmhca,ons. may be disposed to claim
for their departments OF learning the rank Of sciences,
and TO communicate original Investigations Not only
would they find their abors lighened and their energies
and enthusiasm stimulated, by meeting Oh common
ground, animat0g another by their concourse from
ell the quarters OF our land-noi only would they find
their field OF view enlarged by communion with devo-
tees o Other departments ot inquiry who mpart
suspected light. and aid Qor this is universal hso-
rem)-but by making and asserting the claim OF sther
own studies TO the rank OF Sciences they would both
elevate the standard OF all the philosophical historical
studies in the United States and give 10 the prosecution
OF these studies powerful impulse by enstng la
borers 10 abundance Tor the field. The phloogist has,
or should have. not only investigations OF his own but
also The dignity o his science TO maintain against the in
sidous attacks OF the classical charatan The political
econom'st--a character, TO be sure, somewhat scarce in
our nation OF mere politiciansand the scenfc inves
gator OF philosophy-a parsonage almost equally rare
both OF these in an eminent degree require discussion
and criticism for the advancement of their knowIrdoe
while the statistical investigator who knows how 10 nae
the facts which be complies. ought TO have results At his
command scarcely less reliable less valuable in ind.
eating The existence and determining the character of
laws than those oil the phy scist OF the astronomer
But let us return to the Cambridge meeting None of
the i've subsequent gatherings OF the association fertile
as they have been in and valuable discoveries has
tqualied u IN The combined diversity and importance of
the subjects communicated. II was then that Agassix's
discoveries OF the asso-cels OF the characer oT Tho
circulation OF the fluids in insects and above ali ihs
germs OF his great discovery OF the basis OF classification
in the severalype and classes of the annual kingdom
In presenting fo the inspection OF the association Hp~
oordis from the of Massachusetts which he h.d
dredged up oil Gay head in one of the coast survey
steamers, and which he named Ardngis Danas in hon
or OF The distinguished scientist OF New Haven who m
the anres OF the accomplished geoIogis ineraorist
and chemist has added those of the zoolowiG aso b1o
fsssor Agassz gave the results Of his anatomical and
morpholoeical investigations. embracing variety OF curl
Gus structural relations before unknown. N
know the peculiar singing burning sensation which
they have the faculty OF bestowing upon their enemies
This has been supposed by many TO be electrical in ta
character, and to certain extent analogous to the shock
OF the torpedo or of The electrical eel II had however
lately been ascsrtsned that the organ by which ,his
singing produced was in the form OF lonv ord
slender thread ssusg from bulb and this as the ~
tent OF our inormaoa upon the subject, But strange 10
say, here in this little coral polyp myriads of such
singing organs heaped together in Masses and these
dotted all the surface of every individual
tentsce Of the animals possessing twelve of these
teniacles and others twenty four
Hear what the Professor says
snow, in this coral animal almost the whole surlace Of
the enace il provided with heaps of such netting
lus arranged all over the surface like nearly
There hundreds Of these upon t.nta
cles and " examine their under high power.
we nd that every consists of numerous neinQ cel,
Tbs whols OF these cells scarcely be fuv
recognized by the best microscopes disposai
escaped observation the and II only bv
peaed Observation, after trying several thar
satisfied myself that bad seen correctly what shall now
describe Even OF the microscopes considered auoou
the best do reach the limits which required for sncE
Investigations These heap, Of wsrtke bodies nrs ,ccn
mutations of peculiar cells, aud there Is in each call
thread coied In aspfal form In the the,. i.
OF arrow. with the thread coilei M arouud ~.
Ia others we have cell oil conicsI shape and hsrs
also thread colIed up Upsu watching these ce uhich
from their contens could have doubt wefe he n.
cells have been fortunate enough the uo,nn., -
which these Threads are issued like ia.so I hav. ~
doubt that with this apparatus that hey stnY ,houyh
cannot sey what 70 the acon produces pon the tis,~s
OF oher aninals To cause the painful yh ,c ,h.
create as all this apparatus minute TO be
IN any Other way hsn through high powers the
scope, with transmitted light but tie chenic Al
produce snch sensation upon the skin cannot be dis