of ten or twelve miles, is absolutely purified by infusorial animals, aquatic plants, and chemical oxidation.

The Professor makes a special application of his researches to the Croton water, and states as a general conclusion from the whole that for the supply of cities rivers and lakes are very decidedly superior to wells, which should always be viewed with suspicion, on account of the danger of contamination from the drainage of the soil, and leakages from the cess-pools and private vaults.

PICRIC ACID AS A TEST FOR ALBUMEN IN URINE.

Picric acid is recommended by Dr. Galippe as the best reagent for the detection of albumen in urine. The urine should be added drop by drop to a few cubic centimeters of a solution of the acid in water, when any albumen present will produce a characteristic cloudiness, not to be confounded with any thing else. If the picric acid is added to the urine no reaction will occur.-15 C, VII., 1875, 111.

SALICYLIC ACID.

Salicylic acid still continues to find favor as an antiseptic, supplanting in this respect carbolic acid and other predecessors. How long it will maintain its present position is, of course, a matter of uncertainty. This acid is slightly yellow in color, taking the form of fine crystals, which are readily soluble in alcohol and ether, as also in hot but not in cold water. It melts at 318° Fahr. When heated rapidly it is resolved into carbonic and carbolic acids. In addition to its alleged superior efficiency, it is much preferable to carbolic acid in lacking any smell and any unpleasant taste.

According to Professor Neugebauer, a small quantity of this acid is sufficient not only to prevent the second or after fermentation of wine and its consequent muddiness, but also the formation of fungi in the casks.

According to Professor Kolbe, half a gramme of the acid will check the fermentation produced by five grammes of yeast in a solution of sugar. It is said to prevent the decomposition of water on shipboard when added in the proportion of 1 to 200,000. By covering the bung-hole of the casks with cotton steeped in the acid, the filtration of the air will affect the preservation of the water within the cask.

The process of curdling in milk is retarded for thirty-six hours by the addition of 6.04 per cent. of the acid. It is peculiarly adapted for use as a dentifrice, and as a preventative of the disagreeable odor from perspiration.

For the still more important purpose of surgical dressing it arrests the smell of putrefaction without producing inflammation; and a solution of it promotes the growth of the skin over granulating surfaces. Its use internally has been suggested for those diseases which are contracted from contagion.-17 A, June 1, 84.

COMPARATIVE ANTISEPTIC EFFECTS OF CARBOLIC AND SALICYLIC ACIDS.

In repeating the experiments of Kolbe upon the antiseptic effects of salicylic acid, Müller, of Breslau, found that while To part of carbolic acid would prevent the fermentation of a ten per cent. solution of grape-sugar, as well as the same amount of salicylic acid, the latter is more effective when the solution of sugar is more dilute. Again, while 0.04 per cent. of salicylic acid retarded the souring of milk for thirty-six hours, the same percentage of carbolic acid was absolutely without effect. Still the action of salicylic acid depends somewhat upon the temperature, as Kolbe admits; and his experiments were conducted with milk at 64°, instead of full summer-heat. With urine, however, salicylic acid proved far less effective in restraining putrefaction than carbolic acid; but, on the other hand, while 0.2 per cent. of the former entirely prevented the decomposition of amygdaline after the addition of emulsine, ten per cent. of carbolic acid was required to produce the same effect. A still greater difference was found in their restraining action upon ptyaline, liver-ferment, and pepsin. The decided effect upon the action of the latter does not harmonize with its effect within the organism, as Kolbe took from fifteen to twentytwo grains per day, for several days, without experiencing any injurious effects, and Müller repeatedly took from four to eight grains without its producing disturbance of digestion. The rapid excretion of the salicylic acid is suggested by the latter in explanation of this apparent contradiction, as it was detected in the urine two hours after it had been taken, and none could be detected after twelve hours. He

also regards the superior restraining effect of salicylic acid upon fermentation and putrefaction as due to the added ef fect of its acid properties, which carbolic acid does not pos

sess.

JABORANDI, A NEW BRAZILIAN REMEDY.

A medicinal product from the Pilocarpus primatus of Brazil, known as jaborandi, is claimed by Dr. Coutinho, of Pernambuco, to be a very valuable remedy in many diseases, especially as a diaphoretic and sialagogue. An infusion of four to six grammes of the leaves, in a cup of cold water, produces in a short time an excessive perspiration and salivation. The saliva flows in so great abundance that as much as a liter has been collected in less than two hours. The bronchial secretion is also increased. The after-effects of this remedy are claimed to be perfectly inoffensive. The promptness of its special action is of great importance in many diseases, and it is thought that an important future is in store for this new substance.-12 B, March 30, 1874, 282.

ACTION OF AIR ON THE LUNGS IN CERTAIN CASES.

According to Dr. Bert, exposure to the air of certain pyritiferous subterranean recesses, such as caves or mines, produces all the symptoms of mountain-climbing, including syncope, the result being, as supposed, in the diminution of the amount of oxygen, caused by the iron pyrites, which passes gradually to the condition of a sulphate.-13 B, April 18, 1874, 203.

HYDRATE OF CHLORAL IN INFANTILE CONVULSIONS.

According to Derim, the hydrate of chloral is almost a specific against the occurrence of convulsions in children, especially where these result from some trifling cause, such as difficult dentition, intense emotion of any kind, etc.; and even in a case where there is some severe local cause it is said to prevent convulsions, and allow the administration of proper remedies. The preparation of Dr. Derim contains one gramme, or fifteen grains, of the chloral, this being given every half hour, or even every quarter of an hour in urgent cases, until the convulsions cease and quiet respiration succeeds.-11 B, April 1, 1874, 174.

O. MISCELLANEOUS.

REPORT OF THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY, NEW YORK, FOR 1874.

The report of the American Museum of Natural History for 1874 has just been published by the directors. The rapid progress that has been made in the enterprise is best shown by the announcement that the corner-stone of the new fire-proof building was laid during the year, and that it will probably be completed in the course of the year

1875.

The more important additions to the collections of the museum during the year have been the conchological cabinet of Dr. John C. Jay, embracing 50,000 specimens, and a valuable library of conchological works of about 1000 volumes. Mr. R. A. Witthouse has presented 2000 species of American coleoptera. A series of sixteen skeletons of the gigantic moas, or fossil birds of New Zealand, has been received in New York. The department of anthropology has been enlarged by the purchase of the collections of Indian antiquities made by Dr. E. H. Davis and by E. G. Squier, and that of mineralogy by the purchase of a collection of minerals, embracing 7000 cabinet specimens.

During 1874 $13,000 were subscribed for the purchase of new and attractive collections, which sum was invested in procuring the series just mentioned. There is at present no definite endowment to meet the expenses of the museum, the institution being dependent for this upon the contributions of its annual members, who pay $10 each. Subscriptions of $100 and upward are reserved for increasing the collections. The membership has been augmented during the year from 350 to 1100, and it is hoped it will soon be sufficiently large to furnish all the means necessary to secure the best scientific assistance in the various branches of the museum.

KIRTLAND SCHOOL OF NATURAL SCIENCES.

The Kirtland School of Natural Sciences, established in Cleveland, Ohio, concluded its course on the 9th of August.

The school consisted of twenty members, of whom thirteen were ladies, and lasted for five weeks, during which time gratuitous instruction was given by lectures and otherwise, and short excursions were made in connection with the subjects of study. Dr. Newberry, Professor Theodore B. Comstock, Professor Albert Tuttle, and Dr. William K. Brooks were the instructors.

The operations of the school were mainly conducted by Professor Comstock. Facilities were extended by railroad and steamboat companies in the transportation of the school and in various interesting excursions.

NORMAL SCHOOL OF NATURAL SCIENCES.

Among the other natural-history schools conducted dur ing the past summer, somewhat on the plan of that at Penikese, was one at the town of Normal, in Illinois, which closed on the 11th of August, after a four weeks' course. The class was divided into sections, each section working in concert on the same subject, under the guidance of an instructor. Thirty lectures were delivered, one or two each day, having close relation to the laboratory work.

The instructors consisted of Professor Burt G. Wilder, Professor W. S. Barnard, Professor T. G. Burrall, Professor Cyrus Thomas, and Professor S. A. Forbes.

The materials for the zoological course were abundant, being derived partly from Lake Michigan and the Illinois River, and partly from the New England coast, gathered principally by Professor Van Vleck, at Wood's Hole, the head-quarters of the United States Fish Commission. It was stated that a greater variety of animals was available for study than at Penikese itself. Among others was a supply of the lancelet, or amphioxus, the most rudimentary of known vertebrates, received by Professor Wilder from Naples.

FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF CINCINNATI.

The first annual report of the Zoological Society of Cincinnati for the year 1874 has been published, giving an account of the present condition of that important enterprise. From this we learn that, after various efforts to secure a