340 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



exemption of the latter was attributed to their being isolated from the 

 ground by means of their plaster floors. The change of the other 

 cottages into modern dwellings, with exposed foundations, was hygien- 

 ically a reformation for the worse. We frequently commit the mis- 

 take, in carrying out our ideas concerning the salubrity of a house, of 

 confounding hygienic considerations with those of comfort." 



Dr. Port brings forward other facts speaking for the influence of 

 ground-air, and summarizes his view in the remark that he regards " a 

 proper treatment of the soil as the first hygienic consideration, the 

 chief jDrophy lactic measure against certain infectious diseases, as the 

 means by which we may make houses, barracks, tents, etc., dwelling- 

 places free from disease. . . . From such dwellings we need not flee 

 on the appearance of epidemics, but in them can bid defiance, as 

 from a fortification, against disease ; of such a dwelling we may say 

 with truth, ' My house is my castle.' " It is very much to be desired 

 that the building art could be turned, at least experimentally, in the 

 direction indicated by Dr. Port. Practical hygiene is as little capable 

 of being advanced without experiments as any other art ; and where 

 individuals can not experiment, the state should step in, in the interest 

 of the public weal, and provide the means for answering important 

 questions. 



-*- 



PROGRESS OF COPYRIGHT LAW. 



By BENJAMIN VAUGIIAN ABBOTT. 



WHATEVER progress has been made in the law of copyright, 

 during the past year or two, is seen in decisions of courts. In 

 the realm of legislation no positive progress has occurred. A project 

 of a general revision of the English enactments, which has been 

 several years in preparation under parliamentary authority, has been 

 fully completed and submitted for debate and enactment ; and a 

 very interesting and important negotiation for an international treaty 

 has been carried far toward successful completion. But no actual 

 results are yet achieved by either of these efforts to improve the law. 



What literary compositions may be secured by copyright ? The 

 claim of a " law-reporter " has been sustained. For more than a cen- 

 tury it has been customary to publish reports of the decisions of 

 courts, in form somewhat peculiar and characteristic. The main 

 thing to be given is, of course, the opinion of the court ; and this, by 

 general opinion, can not be copyrighted in the reporter's behalf ; it is 

 the official work of the judge, and is public property ; or, at the least, 

 it is not the reporter's property ; whether the government employing 

 and paying a judge can, by copyrighting reports, maintain a literary 

 property in his official opinions, is a question not yet decided. But a 



