Beobachtung über den Einfluss der Laktation auf die Erhaltung der Blastocysten bei kastrierten Mäusen

Summary In female suckling mice, mated at the post-partum ovulation and ovariectomized prior to ovoimplantation, a great number of blastocysts survive and can be brought to implant 4–9 days later, whereas in non-suckling females only a few ova survive. The protective action of suckling on the survival of the blastocysts is not explained.     

Constructive empiricism, observability and three kinds of ontological commitment

In this paper, I argue that, contrary to the constructive empiricist’s position, observability is not an adequate criterion as a guide to ontological commitment in science. My argument has two parts. First, I argue that the constructive empiricist’s choice of observability as a criterion for ontological commitment is based on the assumption that belief in the existence of unobservable entities is unreasonable because belief in the existence of an entity can only be vindicated by its observation. Second, I argue that the kind of ontological commitment that is under consideration when accepting a scientific theory is commitment to what I call theoretical kinds and that observation can vindicate commitment to kinds only in exceptional cases.     

Bartolomeo Telioux and the early history of the thermometer

In the late 1810s and 1820s the Edinburgh phrenologists were largely concerned with trying to establish phrenology as the true science of mind. They challenged the accepted theories about the nature of mind and the brain; in turn, phrenology was attacked by the proponents of Scottish common-sense philosophy and by some medical men. The ensuing debate, which is discussed as an example of conflict between incommensurable world-views, involved a wide range of contentious theological, philosophical, scientific and methodological issues.     

William Stukeley and the early history of the Orrery

Relations between J. A. C. Chaptal, pioneer of heavy chemical industry in France, and A. L. Lavoisier, reformer of chemical theory, are examined in the light of unpublished correspondence they exchanged in the period 1784–1790. The letters, together with Chaptal's early publications, allow a reconstruction of his conversion to Lavoisier's antiphlogistic chemistry. They also reveal a series of petitions that Chaptal made to Lavoisier, in the latter's official capacity as a director of the Régie des poudres et salpêtres, for relief from the controlled price of saltpetre for his acid works in Languedoc. Finally, the relationship is explored as a window on the interplay between chemical theory and industrial practice during the period of the Industrial Revolution.     

Dumfries and the early history of surgical anaesthesia

Although the history of the word ‘geology’ has often been referred to by those interested in the development of the science, that history has never been fully traced. An endeavor is made to do so here, taking the story at least as far as 1813, by which time the basic word had unquestionably been established in its modern form and meaning. Various claims as to who first gave the science its present name are also briefly examined.     

Newton’s substance monism, distant action, and the nature of Newton’s empiricism: discussion of H. Kochiras “Gravity and Newton’s substance counting problem”

This paper is a critical response to Hylarie Kochiras’ “Gravity and Newton’s substance counting problem,” Studies in History and Philosophy of Science 40 (2009) 267-280. First, the paper argues that Kochiras conflates substances and beings; it proceeds to show that Newton is a substance monist. The paper argues that on methodological grounds Newton has adequate resources to respond to the metaphysical problems diagnosed by Kochiras. Second, the paper argues against the claim that Newton is committed to two speculative doctrines attributed to him by Kochiras and earlier Andrew Janiak: i) the passivity of matter and ii) the principle of local causation. Third, the paper argues that while Kochiras’ (and Janiak’s) arguments about Newton’s metaphysical commitments are mistaken, it qualifies the characterization of Newton as an extreme empiricist as defended by Howard Stein and Rob DiSalle. In particular, the paper shows that Newton’s empiricism was an intellectual and developmental achievement that built on non trivial speculative commitments about the nature of matter and space.     

Antigens in the egg and early developmental stages of the sea-urchin

Zusammenfassung Eier des SeeigelsParacentrotus lividus wurden in unbefruchtetem Zustand und in verschiedenen Entwicklungsstadien gefroren, vakuumgetrocknet, fein zerrieben und mit 0,9%iger Kochsalzlösung extrahiert. Diese Produkte wurden als Suspensionen Kaninchen injiziert und damit Immunsera erhalten, in denen spezifische Antikörper mit Hilfe der Präcipitinreaktion nachzuweisen waren. Als Antigenlösungen dienten klare, dialysierte Zentrifugate der Extrakte.Mit spezifischer Adsorption konnte folgendes festgestellt werden: In den Extrakten von 48 Stunden alten Larven (Plutei) ist eine Antigenfraktion vorhanden, die in früheren Stadien noch fehlt. Sie wird offenbar von der Seeigelzelle erst nach vollendetem Blastulastadium und nach begonnener Gastrulation in größerer Menge gebildet. Extrakte von 48 Stunden alten Larven, die durch Lithiumbehandlung stark vegetativiert waren, unterschieden sich in ihrer serologischen Konstitution anscheinend nicht von denen normaler Plutei.     

Some aspects of the early development and implantation of the mammalian egg

Summary The early development and implantation of the mammalian egg is described for various species and the differing and often contradictory solutions proposed by different authors for the many problems arising from their investigations are exposed, compared and discussed.     

The early history of the factorial function

Communicated by U. Bottazzini     

On the early history of Bessel functions

Communicated by Curtis Wilson     

Terrestrial magnetism and the development of international collaboration in the early nineteenth century

The establishment of Gauss's and Weber's Magnetische Verein in 1834, and the British Government's support of Edward Sabine's ‘Magnetic Crusade’ in 1838, marked the opening of a new era in international geomagnetic research. However, the British and German efforts, although initiating an increase in the scale of investigations of the earth's field, were also the culmination of over half a century of activity by individuals and institutions in several countries. This article traces the growth of international cooperation in terrestrial magnetism from the late eighteenth century until the 1830s, and examines the change in leadership in the field from France to Britain and Germany. The transition from individual to government-backed collaboration is described, and also the role of Alexander von Humboldt as an organiser of geomagnetic research and author of a cosmical approach to earth magnetism as one of a number of related ‘telluric’ forces.