14 THE BUREAU OF SCIENCE 



with a range of from 50 to 250 volts. After many vexatious 

 delays, the installation is now completed. The plant is of suf- 

 ficient size to give results comparable with those of commercial 

 procedure. In 1911 this Bureau placed a small ultra-violet light 

 and quartz tube and working space in the Bureau at the disposal 

 of the members of the United States Army Board for the Study 

 of Tropical Diseases as they exist in the Philippine Islands. 

 These gentlemen submitted amoebae in the quartz tube to the 

 effect of the ultra-violet rays, and the results of their experi- 

 ments as published in the Philippine Journal of Science, Sec. 

 B (1911), 6, 383-94, are very satisfactory. The city of Manila 

 desired that we continue this work on a commercial scale. It 

 is probable, however, that the sterilizing plant will not eliminate 

 bacteria entirely from unfiltered water, and recent experimervts 

 by Doctor Walker tend to prove that the amoebae ordinarily 

 found in water supplies are not injurious. 



SECTION OF BOTANY OF THE BIOLOGICAL LABORATORY 



Fersonnel. — The only changes in the personnel of the botanical 

 section were those caused by the death of Dr. C. B. Robinson 

 and the resignation of Mr. Paul W. Graff. 



Doctor Robinson was murdered by the natives of Amboina 

 on December 5, 1913, the first news reaching Manila on the 23d 

 of the same month. The details of his death are already known 

 to you, and it is certain that his unfortunate murder was en- 

 tirely due to superstitious fear on the part of the natives who 

 accomplished the deed. The guilty parties were soon appre- 

 hended by the Dutch authorities, and have been tried, found 

 guilty, and sentenced. Doctor Robinson was one of our most 

 capable, energetic, resourceful, and efficient men. His loss is a 

 severe one to science as well as to this Bureau. As soon as 

 possible after the news of this sad occurrence reached us, 

 Mr. Merrill left for Buitenzorg, Java, in January, 1914, there 

 to receive the botanical collections made by Doctor Robinson. 

 All the collections were preserved, received in excellent condi- 

 tion, and brought to Manila, where the specimens have been 

 arranged for study. 



Mr. Graff's resignation was accepted at the end of his two 

 years' contract, but he was retained as a temporary employee 

 until the end of the school year because he had charge of one 

 class in botany in the University. Mr. Graff left the service 

 on May 14, 1914. Owing to lack of funds the position has not 

 been filled in spite of the fact that the continuation of the myco- 

 logical work is urgent. There are now only two botanists in 



