Page:Nature, vol. liii. p. 419.jpg

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March 5, 1896]
Nature
419

The Röntgen Rays.

We beg to send you a negative of a frog taken by Prof. Röntgen's method. The clearness with which the several bones have come out is so remarkable, that we consider the picture well worth reproduction, and trust you will find space for it. The larger transparent patch upon one side of the vertebral column is due to a distended lung, its collapsed fellow being evident upon the opposite side (this was proved by subsequent dissection).

If you will carefully look into the larger transparent patch, you will see that the reticulated structure of the lung is evident, but we fear is too slight to bear reproduction by photo-mechanical means.

The negative was obtained by means of a small induction coil (2-inch spark) directly connected to a highly exhausted simple cylindrical Crookes' tube.

Notes.

The Croonian Lecture of the Royal Society will be delivered on March 12, by Dr. A. D. Waller, F.R.S., who has selected for his subject, "Observations upon Isolated Nerve."

We understand that the editing of the "Icones Plantarum" has passed from the hands of Prof. Daniel Oliver to those of the Director of the Royal Gardens, Kew.

We learn from Science, that an endeavour is being made to establish a permanent scientific head for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. An amendment to the Agricultural Appropriation Bill has just been sent to Congress providing for a "Director-in-Chief of scientific bureaus and investigations, to serve during good behaviour, to have authority to act as Assistant Secretary, and to perform such other duties as the Secretary may direct." This amendment is, we understand, the outgrowth of an effort

NO. 1375, VOL. 53]