hand be immersed for a short time in icewater severe pain is caused, but that no such pain is produced on immersing the hand in cold alcohol, not even when the temperature of the alcohol is as low as five degrees Cent. Glycerine was found to possess a similar property. Ether occasioned pain, and quicksilver more acute pain still, causing the speedy withdrawal of the finger when plunged into this liquid at a temperature of three degrees. It was next ascertained that, on the finger being held for a long time in alcohol having a temperature of five degrees Cent., no pain was experienced, and, although the finger distinctly perceived the faintest touch, sharp pricks gave no pain. This seems to show that the application of cold alcohol, one of the most simple as well as safe processes, has the effect of depriving the part of the special sensibility to pain without, however, impairing the delicacy of the general tactile sensation which, as is well known, resides in the superficial integument.

HEALTH AND SLOW PULSE.-Some interesting statements are reported to have been made at a meeting of the Clinical Society, London, showing that a slow pulse may in no wise interfere with health. The most remarkable case, perhaps, was that of Dr. Hewan, as related by himself. It seems that, twenty-one years ago, after prolonged study and work, his pulse fell from seventytwo to fifty-five, and he felt very cold; from that time its frequency gradually decreased until about eleven years later, when it was but twenty-four beats per minute. Its prescnt rate is about twenty-eight. Notwithstanding this, he has not suffered from fainting fits, or cold, is capable of great physical exertion -of which evidence is to be found in his ascent of a high mountain-and his digestion remains unimpaired. Another speaker said that Napoleon had a slow pulse, being about thirty to forty per minute; and another member stated the rate of a horse's pulse to be only sixteen.

CONVERSION OF THE DESERT OF SAHARA INTO AN INLAND SEA.-The French Academy is still discussing the proposal to convert the Algerian Sahara into a great inland sea. The improvement in the climate of Egypt since the Suez Canal was opened has been cited in support of the project, but the opponents of the plan do not consider the two cases similar. M. Naudin thought the interior sea would very likely turn out to be an immense pestilential focus, made by human hands at a great cost. The maximum depth is estimated at not more than 24 to 25 metres; but a more important question was, What of the borders

of the lake? There would necessarily be a long stretch of shallows, which would be left dry in the hot season, and would present all the conditions of insalubrity-mixture of sait and fresh water, bright solar light and tropical heat during two thirds of the year. This would generate a vast number of vegetable and animal organisms, which, falling into putrefaction, would corrupt the air for leagues round. The only feasible way M. Naudin saw for converting the bad Saharan region was the planting and sowing of arborescent vegetation which might suit the soil and climate, It was specially desirable to recover the slopes and summits of the Algerian mountains with larches and Aleppo pines, and oaks and chestnuts, with a view to modifying the climate. On the other hand, Mr. Roudaire claimed that these general results would follow the creation of an inland African sea: (1) a marked improvement in the climate of Algeria and Tunis, and the salubrity of adjoining regions; (2) the opening of a new commercial path for the countries south of the northern mountain ranges, and the caravans of Central Africa ; and (3) the complete security of Algeria, by making insurrections impossible.

BRAIN AND SEX.-Few anthropologists, remarks the English Mechanic, have studied the weight of the brain in its relation with sex, and still less is known about the lower jawbone in the same relation. M. Bertillon lately called attention to the latter point, and said he had distinguished the jaws of New Caledonian females from those of males by the weight. M. Morselli has been giving attention to the subject, and has made exact measurements on 172 crania of known sex. His principal conclusions are these:-1. The cranium of man always weighs more than that of woman, the relation being about 100: 857. This sexual character acquires high importance when connected with cerebral capacity and the cerebro-spinal index. 2. The lower jaw also weighs more in man than in woman, and in greater proportion than the cranium (100: 78 5). This sexual divergence is the greatest and most constant of those now known to anthropologists. 3. The same difference exists between the two sexes of an

thropomorphous apes. 4. The individual

variations are more extensive in women than in men. 5. Taking into consideration the relation between the weight and the capacity of the cranium, it may be inferred that woman has a less development of osseous tissue. 6. In the ratio of the weights of the cranium and the lower maxillary, we have a new zoological difference between man and the apes, the latter always presenting a greater jaw relatively to the cranium than man.

TEMPERATURE OF THE INTERIOR OF THE EARTH. From observations made on the well of Sperenburg, near Berlin, M. Mohr ("Les Mondes,") concludes that at the depth of 5170 feet the increment of heat must be nil. A similar decrease of the increment of heat has been observed in the Artesian well of Grenelle. Hence M. Mohr draws conclusions unfavor. able to the Plutonian theory.

VARIETIES.

THOMAS CARLYLE'S FATHER.-Of the five brother masons, James Carlyle, though not the eldest, was the virtual leader. The brothers usually worked together, but it was James who acted as "master," making contracts for building and repairing cottages, the others working under him, if not quite as servants, yet in some sort of dependency. James Carlyle was acknowledged far and wide, not only as the most skilful man at his trade, but sagacious in all his undertakings, and with a store of knowledge, derived from study and observation, that was the astonishment of strangers with whom he came into contact. He was particularly noted for his habit of using quaint and uncommon expressions, derived, probably, from extensive reading of old books, chiefly such as related to the times of the Reformation and the deeds of the Covenanters. There now lives at Ecclefechan, where she was born and spent all her life, an old lady, past ninety, yet still full of intelligence and vivacity, Mrs. Mulligan, who, remembering James Carlyle most distinctly, was able, when asked, to give a singularly striking account of him. "Old James, aye! What a root (original) of a bodie he was," the old lady exclaimed, with singular animation; "aye, a curious body: he beat this warld. A spirited bodie; he would sit on no man's coattails. And sic stories he could tell! Sic sayings, too! Sic names he would give to things and folk! Sic words he had as were never heard before!" Continuing her description of James Carlyle, of whom she evidently was a sincere admirer, Mrs. Mulligan added, in answer to a question, "It is not true that he ever was an elder of the Kirk. He never belonged to the auld Kirk; he and all his brothers were members of the Relief Church here. He never held any office that I know of; nay, not he; but he always spoke out his mind at meetings." And, in answer to another question, the old lady went on with her description of James Carlyle:-"He was the best of the brothers, there canna be any doot about that. But I think they sometimes led him into trouble. He was a good scholar, he could do

his ain business well, and was looked up to as a knowing bodie. He had old-fashioned words, like nobody else. He read muckle; he was a great talker, weel gifted with the tongue. It was a muckle treat to be in his house at nicht, to hear him tell stories and tales. But he was always a very strict old bodie, and could bide no contradiction." Such was James, the father of Thomas Carlyle.-Biographical Magazine.

AMERICA'S FIRST ENVOY TO ENGLAND.— Although peace between Great Britain and the United States was definitively concluded on the 3d of September, 1783, it was not until the middle of 1785 that any representative of the new Power was officially received in England. The causes of this delay are not difficult to understand. There was a natural disinclination on both sides to make approaches. On the 24th of February, 1785, Congress elected John Adams to the post of Envoy to the Court of St. James's. He had to represent his country at the court of its former Sovereign, towards whom he had for several years stood in the position of a rebel; and it was necessary that he should do this in a way which should neither compromise the new Power nor offend the old. It was in the month of May that he arrived in England on his delicate mission; it was on the first of June that he was presented to George III., at St. James's Palace. The only other person present on this occasion was Lord Carmathen, the Secretary for Foreign Affairs; and the addresses then delivered have been reported only by Adams. It was not the original intention or desire of the Envoy to deliver any address at all, but he was informed by the Master of the Ceremonies that such a compliment was usual with newly-appointed Foreign Ministers, and he therefore complied. After assuring his Majesty that it was the unanimous disposition of the United States to cultivate the most friendly and liberal intercourse between his Majesty's subjects and their citizens, and expressing the best wishes of his country for his Majesty's health and happiness, and for that of the Royal Family, Adams entered on the real subject-matter of his speech. "I think myself more fortunate than all my fellow-citizens," said the American, addressing the monarch to whom he had once borne allegiance, "in having the distinguished honor to be the first to stand in your Majesty's Royal presence in a diplomatic character; and I shall esteem myself the happiest of men if I can be instrumental in recommending my country more and more to your Majesty's Royal benevolence, and of restoring an entire esteem, confidence, and affection, or, in better words, the old good-nature and the old good

humor between people who, though separated by an ocean, and under different Governments, have the same language, a similar religion, and kindred blood. I beg your Majesty's permission to add that, although I have sometime before been entrusted by my country, it was never in my whole life in a manner so agreeable to myself." "Sir," replied the King," the circumstances of this audience are so extraordinary, the language you have told me is so extremely proper, and the feelings you have discovered are so justly adapted to the occasion, that I must say I not only receive with pleasure the assurance of the friendly dispositions of the United States, but that I am very glad the choice has fallen upon you to be their Minister. I wish you, sir, to believe, and that it may be understood in America, that I have done nothing in the late contest but what I thought myself indispensably bound to do by the duty which I owed to my people. I will be very frank with you. I was the last to consent to the separation; but the separation being made, and having become inevitable, I have always said, as I say now, that I would be the first to meet the friendship of the United States as an independent Power. The moment I see such sentiments and language as yours prevail, and a disposition to give to this country the preference, that moment I shall say, let the circumstances of language, religion, and blood have their natural and full effect." George had evidently heard something of the distrust of France which was so prominent a feature in the political character of Adams; and he observed-which was certainly not in the best taste, considering that England and France were then at peace-that the American Envoy was understood to have no prejudices in favor of the French.

Adams replied by admitting the fact, with the significant addition, "I must avow to your Majesty that I have no attachment but to my own country." George responded with a heartiness that could not be mistaken (for the principle was one with which he naturally sympathized), "An honest man will never have any other." And with these words the interview terminated. The brief conversation had been conducted on both sides with much good feeling, and Adams has recorded that both he and the King were powerfully affected.-Cassell's History of the United States.

HURRY AND "HIGH PRESSURE."-It is the pace that kills; and of all forms of "overwork," that which consists in an excessive burst of effort, straining to the strength, and worrying to the will, hurry of all kinds-for example, that so often needed to catch a train,

the effort required to complete a task of headwork within a period of time too short for its accomplishment by moderate energy-is injurious. Few suffer from overwork in the aggregate; it is too much work in too little time that causes the break-down in nineteen cases out of twenty, when collapse occurs. Most sufferers bring the evil on themselves by driving off the day's work until the space allotted for its performance is past, or much reduced. Method in work is the great need of the day. If some portion of each division of time was devoted to the apportioning of hours and energy, there would be less confusion, far less "hurry," and the need of working at high pressure would be greatly reduced, if not wholly obviated. A great deal has been written and said of late, to exceedingly little practical purpose, on the subject of "overwork." We doubt whether what is included under this description might not generally be more appropriately defined as work done in a hurry, because the time legitimately appropriated to its accomplishment has been wasted or misapplied. Hurry to catch a train generally implies starting too late. High pressure is, says the Lancet, either the consequence of a like error at the outset of a task, or the pen. alty of attempting to compensate by intense effort for inadequate opportunity. If brain is bartered for business in this fashion, the goose is killed for the sake of the golden eggs, and greed works its own discomfiture.