Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 41.djvu/687

Rh upon a metal surface. A like accident, singularly fatal, happened to one of two clerks who had lifted a metal show-case to carry it into a store. The metal top of the case touched the metal extension of an arc electric lamp that had been left hanging too near the pavement. One of these clerks, moving hurriedly under the strain of the burden, chanced to step upon an iron cellar grating which caused the electric current to kill him instantly. The other clerk, who was lifting his part of the weight, stood upon the ordinary pavement and so was not injured. The metallic frame of the show-case had transmitted the current.

Some very serious injuries have been caused by an attempt to brush away an electric-light wire that dangled against the head of the passer-by. The muscles of any one who is unfortunate enough to grasp such a wire contract with uncontrollable persistence, and the electric current burns with an effect resembling that of white-hot iron.

The innumerable electric appliances, which are already beginning to compete with those run by steam, must increase the number of accidents. Rapidly growing power is at present accompanied by rapidly growing risk—a condition to be expected during early stages of advancement. But relative safety will doubtless be attained through the skill of an army of specialists who will be divided and subdivided into a greater number of groups as the new combinations multiply. Herbert Spencer's doctrine of the increase of heterogeneity during certain stages of evolution is thus reaffirmed in this age of mechanism. Yet there is every reason to expect that the development of intelligence will steadily eliminate the dangers arising from haste in construction. The loss and inconvenience which may be experienced while waiting for absolute safety should not be overlooked. In fact, prolonged delay is neither practicable nor desirable.

his introductory lecture on the Anthropological History of Europe, Dr. Beddoe inclines to the modern view which regards Europe as the original home of the Aryans. He also discusses in a novel manner some of the causes which may be supposed to produce changes of physical type. Incidentally he records his opinion that a process of selection, which may be called natural, works against the perpetuation of certain types in our cities. He also remarks that more evidence exists than is generally known of the deteriorative effect of malaria on physical type.

Antarctic Fund of the Australian Association for the Advancement of Science has grown to £14,044, leaving only £1,000, or $5,000, to raise it to the £15,000 that are sought to complete it. It is thought that this remaining amount will be furnished by the colonial governments. As at present arranged, the expedition is expected to arrive in September, 1893, at its last coaling port and starting-point in the southern hemisphere.