The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-04-18
FOREIGN SCIENCE.
ETHER VS.. cHLoRoFoRM.

been obviated. DR.. Petrequin says:-
These Inconvenience we're removed by the
etherizing bag, invented by a physician of
Lyons, and also by the improved methods de
vised for obtaining ether perfectly pure At
present the operation of etherizing proceeds in
most satisfactory manner. The patient lies in
horizontal POSTURE with his head slightly
raised in order to prevent his swallowing any
ether; about twenty-four grammes OF ether are
poured at once on the sponges of the bag; the
patient is directed TO inhale copiously: the
orihce of the bag is then closed and the dose
Of ether doubled. The patients eyes are care
fully bandaged, and the profoundest silence is
observed; in this way an@sthesia is promptly
obtained without agitation. 1t Is easy to pre-
vent accidents by closely observing the circu-
lation and breathing. In general the pulse is
first accelerated, then becomes regular again;
were IL TO become concentrated, irregular, or
low, the inhalations should be stopped, and air
administered. As to the breathing, it is at first
subdued, but soon becomes complete. If 1t
were TO become difficult or interrupted the
apparatus should be removed and the ian used.
In this way there has not been a single death at
Lyons by etherization Tor the last fourteen years,
while, according to DR.. Velpeau's own showing,
the use of Chloroiorm is never unaccompanled
by danger.
To this paper DR.. Velpeau replied that there
had indeed been few deaths by chloroform,
but ii was not quite certain that there had been
none by ether. At all events, he Dr. Velpeau)
had for the last fifteen years been administering
chloroform to severrl thousand patients, and
had never seen any die from that cause
1.-THE TEIDEsCoPE.n
At the last sitting of the Academy of Sciences
at the Institute of France, DR.. Jules Cloquet
presented a very interesting optical instrument,
called "Trdescope" by its inventor NJ. r.
Houdin, and by means of which the spectator
may see deeply into the interior of his own ewes,
and follow the movements which take place
during the process of vision. This new discovery
Will be of great service 10 oculists by enabling
them to study the different and numerous mala-
dies which affect the interior of the eve and in
jure the sight. The Academy referred the in
strument and the paper which accompanied
it to MN. Becquerel and Poucault for examina.
lion.
UTILIZING MARSHES.
The Paris AcclImatization Society has pub.
hshed in its last bulletin report from DR.. SAGE
on the means of utilizing the marshes which
still cover so large portion of Central and
Northern Europe, and produce scarcely any
thing but rushes aud peat. According to the
author of the notice, that end might be at
tanned by sowing them with Canada rice and
importing certain number OF beavers. Can
ada rice, which was brought into notice some
years ago, is known to botanlsts as zizdnid
Qqu0tlc0. 1t has the appearance and qualities
ootrye, and differs from that grain solely in pre-
ferring marshy soil. While green, it makes
excellent food for cattle, and when the corn is
ripe, it supplies excellent straw. The grain
itself may be eaten boiled like rice or may be
ground and made into bread.
As for the beaver which would give good
meat and admirable furs, it would remain most
readily III those marshes. This animal, which
lives on grass and the bark of trees, formerly
existed ia all the European streams. but has
long since been everywhere destroyed, except
on few points of the Rhine and the Vistula
The result of this war of determination is that
European turner's annually send large sums to
America TO purchase beaver-skins which might
be produced at home almost without cost, by
keeping these animals in halfdomesticated
state in the marshes, after first planting the
latter with willows. alders beeches, poplars,
and other soft-wooded trees, the bark of which
Is the beavers favorite food Like Canada rice,
these valuable amphioious animals can endure
the most rigorous climate. The Berlin and
Moscow Societies of Acclmatization have every
interest in seconding this attempt, which, if sue
cessful, would give considerable value TO an
immense extent of land at present producing
next TO nothing.
At late meeting of the Paris Academy of
Sciences, paper was received from NJ. Seguin
on aerial navigation or rather GUidtiOn, as it is
termed, because it is founded, not on the prln-
ciple of gas lighter than air, but on that of
the wings of birds, whose bodies, though heavier
than air are easily conveyed through it. Avia-
ton, therefore, depends on more or less cor
rect imitation of the mechanical conditions of
avial organism.
ANIMAL ELECTRICITY.
The number OF fish provided with an electrical
apparatus is not great, being limited to eighteen
species of the torpedo, or two of the Gymnotus,
TWO OF the Mormyrus, and one of the Malapteru-
rus. NJ. Charles Robin announces, in a paper
addressed to the Paris Academy, that the ray
possesses similar apparatus. Thus there are
two kinds of seatish that decidedly electrical
the torpedo and the ray.
NJ. Robins experiments were not of easy exc.
cutlon. The ray is usually caught at an hours
sailing at least from the coast, and it does not
live more than twenty minutes out of its element
Owing to its size and shape, it is not easy to
keep in a vessel with sea water; nor is il possi-
bic to conduct delicate physiological and elec.
trlcal experiments IN fishing boat; so that for
long time NJ. Robins efforts were fruitless,
Fortunately the experimental basins now built
at Concameau under the superintendent of NJ
Coste have removed these difficulties The
aquarla at that place are large basins in which
the sea water is constantly renewed by the tide
and in which fish may live and multiply under
the most advantageous circumstances. Here NJ
Robin carried on his experiments with gal
vanometer and a sufficient number of electro.
scopic frogs. Sometimes the ray, when out of
the water, makes violent muscular efforts, and
flaps its pectoral fms.
During these efforts an electric discharge is
scarcely ever obtained, but after a few seconds
rest there comes a succession of small dis
charges. AT other times the fish remains quiet
tor three or four minutes, and then begins as
before TO make great eXertions, during which
the galyanometer and the frogs give no sign of
electricity, and then comes a short period of
rest, when few discharges are obtained. In
some instances, however, after three or four
minutes OF rest, the animal suddenly and volun-
tar1ly discharges electricity. Discharges may
also be obtained by pricking pinching, or other
wise exciting the fish. But, under whatever cir
cumstances the phenomenon be produced it is
always accompanied by slight motion of the
ocular globes and a contraction of the bronchial
cavity, as also by similar contractions of the
caudal fins. 1t is well known that similar
motions are observed in the torpedo al the
moment of a discharge.
t-Postmaster-G General Dennison is ho,,i,,,.