The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-02-13
LYCEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY.

The World OF Civilized Human tmpcrilled
by Arsenicul COlorings-Sapieucc and Sci
ence.
The Chemical Section Of the Lyceum or Natural
History convened In their rooms at No. GA Madison
avenue at eight o'clock last evening. The Rente-
men present numbered about twenty, sitting In Q
circle in front OF and including the platform,
upon which sat the President. AT his
feet three Secretaries were ensconced at q
table that was piled with mysterious documents
and manuscripts, which wore, even externally, the
air of scientific lore. 1t NAV be remarked that the
Lyceum room is walled upon all sides by book
shelves, heavily laden and ases containing speci-
mems of the Lord-knows.what.al. giving 1t the I'M
pressive appearance OF a precinct guarded by only
the sterner spirits Of knowledge and to which the
august shades OF socrates, Esculapius, Pythagoras
PtOlemy and other dead and gone old f0gleS pay
nightly visltatlons, hovering invisiby over their
modern disciples who have acquired the habit OF
expounding from omin0us rolls OF iooscap upon
matters and things that only come within the range
OF the genluses OF men OF such acute brains
asd Oer bss Socos and
watch the proceedings from hign brackets against
the walls; but Immediately behind the reading desk
Is the most suggestive or all the decorations, freez
ing the marrow OF ones bones and making ones
HAIR stand on end with something OF the
same rigdity which characterizes those upon the
fretiul porcupine-an age-bedlmmed painting OF q
grinning skull with the bleacned crOssbones IL Is
singular with what GOODNESS these voaries Of science
gather about them such ghastlv Things rs rafting
skeletons and octave materla medca and sit In the
| midst thereof unmoved.
The members being duly composed the business
| Is begun Dy the minutes beng read by one OF the
secretaries; then the Corresponding Secretary an
nouhces with dry solemnity that he, the sOcietys
humble servant has had the honor OF receiv-
ing several dozen letters from as many
| royal academies. Dr. Walz being called upon,
exhibits specimen OF iron ore, alleged with zinc,
| and the lump Is passed around from hand TO hand,
and supernclay examined through eyeglasses
| brought into fequistlon Tor the purpose out OF
walstcoat pockets. DIR. Walz next EXHIBITS small
pamphlet, with the cover coored with q
| pigment made OF an arsenical compound,
| and asserts that over two hundred Thousand
copies OF the book have been circulated during the
past year. Professor seely exhibits another book
OF like character. and SHOWS that TINS green paper
Is found every where-the works OF one OF the most
popular OF the English poets Is bound In 1t and also
| dozen other pamphlets. The color Is found on
boxes, silks, laces, &c and in fact civilized people
| were surrounded by this substance larsenc)
IN such disguised forms as to endanger health and
| lie. There was enough that book 10 XIII
| several persons, had 1t been resorted to by sui
cldes.
Papers were read on three very dry chemical sub
iects petition was circulated by Professor JOY. and
| received several signatures which recommended
| the replacement OF Waterhouse Hawkins, the cele
brated naturalist In the service OF the Central Park
| Com mission.