1899] SERIALS 369 



regard to the value of tuberculin as a test of the presence of tuberculosis in 

 cattle, by J. M'Lauchlan Young, F.R.C.V.S. and Dr. J. S. H. Walker. The 

 numerous and clearly displayed statistics show that when used with care and 

 under proper conditions tuberculin is a reliable diagnostic of tuberculosis in cattle, 

 except (a) when the tubercular lesion is minute, or (b) when the disease has 

 become generalised, especially in the case of aged and emaciated animals. Two 

 other conclusions reached are that tuberculin (as has been previously pointed 

 out) loses its virulence when kept for a time, and that tuberculous udders are 

 more frequent than is generally believed to be the case. 



From the Department of Agriculture of New Zealand comes a report on 

 swine-fever by J. A. Gilruth, M.R.C.V.S., chief government veterinarian and 

 bacteriologist, in which it is shown that pulmonary and pleural lesions may, and 

 frequently do, occur along with, or independently of, the so-called bowel-lesions 

 of swine-fever. It is doubtful if the hog-cholera and the swine plague of 

 America are two distinct diseases as they are reported to be. It is possible 

 that as the thoracic lesions of swine-fever seem to be the more frequent and 

 more marked phenomena of the disease, this may be the key to the non-success 

 of the stamping-out order in Britain, which only takes account of the gut- 

 lesions, not to mention that the virulence of the disease seems to increase and 

 diminish from unknown causes — an unfortunately necessary lame ending to the 

 report. 



The Irish Naturalist for October contains the following short papers : — 

 " Some Animals from the Macgillicuddy's Reeks," by R. F. Scharff and G. H. 

 Carpenter ; " Migratory Butterflies in S. W. Cork," by J. J. "Wolfe ; " Matricaria 

 discoidea in W. Ireland," by N. Colgan, with a note by C. Lloyd Praeger ; 

 " Poa compressa as an Irish Plant," by J. H. Davies ; and Notes. 



The Scientific American for Sept. 23 has an article on women in science, 

 based upon a recent work by Rebiere, in which the role of honour is traced 

 from Hypatia onwards to Sofia Pereyaslawszewa, and indeed to our midst. The 

 fact is that to recognise the sex-distinction in scientific work is now almost an 

 impertinence. 



In Nature Notes for October, besides the usual Selborniana characterised by 

 sensible humanitarianism, there are " Observations on the Origin and Dispersal 

 of Fruits and Seeds," articles on the regeneration of the New Forest, by a Sel- 

 bornian, and on batrachians as pets by G. Renshaw, and other interesting- 

 matter. 



The fourth number of L' Anthropologic for 1899 contains inter alia a re-dis- 

 cussion of polymasty and polythely in man by Dr. P. J. Stoyanov. 



In Science Gossip for October there are, besides continued articles, various 

 short papers : — " A Heronry in Asia Minor," by J. Bliss. " Irish Plant Names," 

 by J. H. Barbour ; " Radiography " (with figure of a rabbit's fore parts), by J. 

 Quick ; " Manganese in River Gravels," by M. A. C. Hinton ; " The Birch and 

 the Alder," by Dr. Keegan ; and "Larvae of Caprella," by E. H. Robertson. 



The Scientific American for September 9 republishes Mr. Lydekker's 

 article on "A Contrast in Noses," for which they are indebted to Knowledge. 



We have received from the University Corresponding College Press " The 

 London University Guide for the year 1899-1900," which bears a protective 

 resemblance to a University Calendar, and is full of valuable information for 

 intending students. 



Messrs. Clay, Cambridge University Press, announce the fourth part of Dr. 

 Willey's "Zoological Results," Parts I. and II. of the second volume of " Fauna 

 Hawaiiensis," and the second volume of Mr. Seward's " Fossil Plants." 



