Scientific Intelligence — Botany. 201*^ 



zoon of the kind has ever been noticed to be parasitic in man as an - 

 indigenous production. From some late observations on the course' 

 of life of entozoa, helminthologists have been led to suspect that 

 most, and probably all entozoa pass different stages of their exist- 

 ence in different animals. If such bo the fact, may the Filaria 

 medinensis not owe its introduction into the human body, from the 

 custom which prevails in those countries where the worm is found, 

 of using insect food ? Insects are well known to be infested with 

 Filariee, probably more than any other class of animals. In Egypt, 

 Arabia, &c., the locust is eaten ; in Guinea, &c., the larger coleop- 

 tera, in the raw state ; and in this condition Filaria may often be 

 swallowed, and reach a higher development of their existence in the 

 human body. — Proceed, Acad. Nat. Science of Philadelphia^ vol. v., 

 No. 6, p. 117. 



BOTANY. 



21.' Marine Flora of the United States. — At the Aitierican ; 

 Association, Charleston, S. C, Professor Harvey of Dublin stated, 

 that there exists a greater degree of similarity in the Marine Flora 

 of the two sides of the Atlantic than in their marine Fauna, from 

 the facility with which the spores of the Algae may be transported 

 to a great distance by natural agencies. But, from the size of the 

 isothermal lines on the European side, the species of low latitudes in 

 America are similar to those of higher latitudes in Europe ; those 

 of Key West, for instance, in lat. 24°, are similar to those of the 

 Mediterranean. It is not yet possible to mark out with precision 

 the geographical distribution of Algae along the coast, but diffier- 

 ences may be perceived in the Marine Flora of the region north of 

 Cape Cod, that of Long Island Sound, that of Charleston Harbour, 

 and that of Key West. 



22. California Soap-Plant. — The Soap-Plant, so called, grows 

 all over California-, on high hills as well as in the valleys. The 

 leaves make their appearance about the middle of November, or 

 about six weeks after the rainy season has fairly set in. Th6 plants 

 never grow more than one foot high, and the leaves and stalks drop 

 off entirely in May, though the bulbs remain in the ground all 

 summer without decaying. It is used to wash with in all parts of 

 the country, and by those who know its virtues it is preferred to the 

 best of soap. The method of using it is merely to strip off the husk, 

 dip the clothes in water, and rub the bulb on them ; it makes a thick 

 lather, and smells not unlike new brown soap. The botanical name 

 of the plant is Phalangium pomaridianum. Besides this plant, the 

 bark of a tree, Chelaria saponaria, is also used in South America 

 for the purposes of washing. Several other plants have been used in 

 various countries as a substitute for soap. All of these contain con- 

 siderable quantities of oleaginous and alkaline principles in their 



