Grayish Appearance Research Articles

Diagnostics urgents: Abdomen

In this edition the author offers an exhaustive differential diagnosis of acute abdominal conditions without consideration of pathogenesis or therapy. The book contains chapters on acute peritonitis, traumas of the abdominal cavity, intraperitoneal hemorrhages, intestinal occlusion, other syndromes such as acute dilatation of the stomach, acute hemorrhagic pancreatitis, intestinal infarcts, torsion and volvulus of the intestine. Discussion of differential diagnosis is exemplified by case histories accompanied by temperature charts. Owing to the presence of many repetitions, several chapters are rather voluminous, 127 pages being devoted to the diagnosis of appendicitis, 89 to perforation of gastric and duodenal ulcers and 41 to Meckel's diverticulitis. While discussing appendicitis, the author applies the term "absurd" to a diagnosis of acute enteritis or spastic colitis. Reproductions of photographs are instructive but not attractive, because of a grayish appearance caused probably by overexposure. Certain omissions have been noticed: for instance, in the discussion of the

Notes on Hepaticae of Southern California

Dr. M. A. Howe, in his Hepaticae and Anthocerotes of California mentions over eighty species of hepatics as occurring in the state. Only a small number of these species however are to be found in the southern portion of the state. In Southern California the country is for the most part very dry except during the winter months and there are no meadows and swamps, and but few trees. Even the mountain streams are dry the greater p rt of the year. Under these conditions one would not expect to find a great number of hepatics, yet certain species seem to thrive quite abundantly. During my past year in California I have explored quite thoroughl the region about Pasadena, Cal., including the canyons of the San Gabriel Mountains, besides visiting Catalina Island and Santa Barbara. Just outside the city the foothills begin to rise. The soil is a coarse gravel, and during the winter months this gravel is thickly covered with large patches of Fossombronia longiseta Aust. This species fruits quite freely in March, and a few weeks later, after the rains cease, the plant dries up and disappears. Often one will find Riccia trichocarpa M. A. Howe, mixed with the Fossombronia. This is the commonest of our Riccias and may be recognized by its grayish appearance, due to the small white cilia on the margin of the thallus. I found this species quite abundant last July at the Avalon golf links on Catalina Island, although the plant was hardly recognizable on account of its dried up condition. Riccia glauca is a larger species with wider and less divided thallus and the margins are without cilia. It is occasionally found growing on shady banks. The San Gabriel Mountains are cut up by numerous canyons. These canyon walls are often very steep, and there is usually a mountain stream running down through the canyon and forming a series of pretty waterfalls and cascades. Here, on the damp rocks, Porella Bolanderi (Aust.) Pearson grows in great profusion, often covering large areas. Occasionally this species is found growing on trees. It is a variable species, with some forms resembling Porella rivularis. In the smaller canyons, among the ferns, are a number of interesting hepatics. There is Cryptomitrium tenerum (Hook.) Aust., which in early spring sends up its stalked receptacles resembling tiny umbrellas; also Targionia hypophylla L., which bears its fruit on the under side of the thallus at the apex. This is our commonest hepatic, and may be found at all seasons of the year on any shady bank. I found it abundant this summer at Santa Barbara and Catalina Island. Shady banks will also yield several species of Anthoceros. These species, which are similar in appearance, are most easily determined by their spores. Anthocerosfusiformis Aust. is the largest species and

Aurora Borealis

THE auroral display of Friday, the 12th inst., referred to in last week's issue of NATURE, would seem to have been visible over a wide area. Between 9.30 and 10 p.m. I observed it at Boppard, on the Rhine, a few miles above Coblence. The streamers were clearly defined, but presented no unusual features, being merely rays of whitish light which slowly dissolved as the moon rose above the crest of the range of hills running along the right bank of the river. On the previous evening I was at Strassburg where, owing, I suppose, to the gas and electric lights, I took the greyish appearance of the northern horizon to be nothing more than the usual light in that quarter at this season. Further south, in Switzerland and Austria, auroræ were seen on both nights. As to “the unusual time of year for such a display,” I may mention that on Sunday, August 2, 1891, I witnessed a brilliant aurora from the Deck of the R. M. S. Teutonic, in latitude 48½° N., longitude 30° W. It varied considerably in intensity, and continued to do so for half an hour up to 10 p.m.

On a Deposit containing Diatomaceæ , Leaves, &c., in the Ironore Mines near Ulverston

Introduction .—In the ‘Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society,’ vol. xviii. p. 274, &c., there is a paper by John Bolton, Esq., “On a Deposit with Insects, Leaves, &c.,” met with in or near the Iron-ore Mines of Lindale, in Low Furness, North Lancashire; which deposit, for reasons stated in the paper, is presumed to be of great antiquity. Before determining either the age of the deposit, or its origin, it seems important that geologists should be made acquainted with some circumstances connected with the district, which would rather induce one to interpret it as being a cavern-deposit, carried down to these depths by means of currents,—the currents passing through what are called “Swallow-holes,”—the cavernous and otherwise open state of the ground being favourable to such an interpretation, and the nature of the deposit itself likewise tending to strengthen that belief. The deposit when first brought up is soft, damp, clammy to the touch, of a dark colour* and nauseous smell, and is capable of being cut through with a knife. Even after remaining at the mouth of the shaft of the Water-way (No. 11) four years, the part of it partially covered with other material retained its soft, moist condition. Kept dry for a time, it assumes a much lighter, greyish appearance. Tarns .—The Tarns, or small lakes, laid down on the Ordnance-map are not wholly unworthy of notice. “Standing Tarn,” a small sheet of water, situatetd about a mile to the south-west of Lindale, has no surface-inlet or -outlet; but