t 9 4 SCIENCE PROGRESS 



of improving the sanitary arrangements at the different pilgrim 

 centres. 



It is also proposed to depute a second officer to study various 

 problems in connection with the life-history of the cholera vibrio 

 outside the human body. 



Dysentery. — As regards this disease, which is the cause of so 

 much sickness and mortality throughout India generally, and 

 specially in Eastern Bengal and the Andamans, much un- 

 certainty and doubt still exist as to the causation of its different 

 varieties, especially the bacillary forms. It has been decided 

 therefore that the whole subject shall be carefully and thoroughly 

 investigated by Captain Cunningham, Assistant Director, Central 

 Research Institute, who has been placed on special deputation 

 for that purpose. 



Water Analysis. — It is obvious that in dealing with water- 

 borne diseases we must be in a position to say definitely whether 

 or no a given sample of water is fit for human consumption. 

 This is a point on which there is much difference of opinion. It 

 is recognised that the bacteriological standards fixed for England 

 are not always reliable in India. Moreover, samples of water 

 sent to distant laboratories, especially during the hot months, 

 are liable to undergo decomposition en route, and thus the analysis 

 may be of little or no value. It has been decided, therefore, to 

 hold an exhaustive inquiry into the whole subject with a view to 

 settling (a) what are the most suitable methods of water 

 analysis, (b) is it possible to fix definite bacteriological standards 

 for India, and (c) what are the best methods of conveying 

 samples of water to distant laboratories. 



The Journal of Indian Medical Research. — Under the above 

 title, a quarterly journal will be published, the first number of 

 which is now in the press. It will be edited by the Director- 

 General Indian Medical Service and the Sanitary Commissioner 

 with the Government of India, and it will contain full accounts 

 and reports of all work done under the auspices of the Indian 

 Research Fund. There will be special sections for malaria, 

 medical entomology, protozoology, etc., and all original com- 

 munications will be welcomed. Such a journal will, we think, 

 serve a useful purpose — it will take the place of " Paludism," and 

 in it will be included many of the shorter papers by officers of 

 the Indian Medical Service which are not of sufficient length to 

 justify publication as separate "Scientific Memoirs." 



