58 GENETICS [Bot. Absts., Vol. V, 



eggs; but on this view there should be as many autosomal mosaics as gynandromorphs of this 

 type, which is not the case. An alternative explanation is non-disjunction, followed by either 

 "somatic reduction" or double elimination in a cleavage division; no critical evidence to de- 

 cide between these views. — Gynandromorphs in other animals are discussed at length. In 

 bees, both Etjgster and von Engelhardt gynandromorphs can be accounted for by chromoso- 

 mal elimination, so far as the evidence goes. In moths, those cases where sex-linked factors 

 furnish critical evidence can be explained by chromosome elimination ; here the gynandromorphs 

 start as males (ZZ). This explanation applies to two mosaics in Abraxas. Toyama's gynan- 

 dromorphs in silk-worms can be explained as bi-nucleated eggs. Goldschmidt's mosaics in 

 the gypsy moth can not be explained because there are no sex-linked factors involved. — In 

 Crustacea, molluscs, and some worms (e.g., Bonellia) external conditions and age seem, in 

 some cases, to be factors in determining sex; there may be genetic factors that determine sex 

 under ordinary, or other, circumstances. — In birds, a few bilateral gynandromorphs are known. 

 Internal secretions of the ovary are known to suppress male secondary sexual characters in 

 most cases. Apparently particular differences, in some species, are not influenced. — In man 

 and other mammals, cases of gynandromorphs are known. Mechanism of sex determination 

 is the same as in Drosophila. Modification by hormones also possible. Freemartin caused 

 by male sex-hormone, through common circulation, suppressing normal development of ovary 

 (Lillie). Possibility is suggested that cancer may be conditioned by inherited gene or genes 

 liable to frequent somatic mutation or chromosome aberrations. — C. R. Plunkett. 



425. MossfiRi, V. M. Egyptian cottons: Their deterioration and means of remedying it. 

 Bull. Union Agric. Egypte 16: 53-79. 1918. — Supposed greater resistance to "pink boll worm" 

 (Pcclinophora gossypiclla) of certain varieties of cotton in Egypt said to be due merely to 

 greater precocity. In India, supposed home of this insect, however, native cottons appear 

 really more resistant than introduced Egyptian cotton. Deterioration of varieties grown in 

 Egypt believed to be caused by mixing of seed and by natural Ivybridization, rather than by 

 any process of spontaneous degeneration. Three methods of procedure are suggested for im- 

 provement of Egyptian cotton crop: (1) "Mendelian synthesis" as practiced by Balls; (2) 

 selection and roguing to increase uniformity of existing varieties; (3) isolation of desirable 

 mutants which originate new varieties. — T. H. Kearney. 



426. Myerson, Abraham. Mental disease in families. Mental Hygiene 3: 230-239. 

 Apr., 1919. — Author used records of Taunton State Hospital from 1854 to 1916 covering 16,000 

 persons, of whom 1547 were related. He compared the marriage rate of four groups — alco- 

 holic insanities, general paresis, dementia praecox and senile dementia. In the first three 

 groups the percentage of married males was found to be less than for females, in the seniles 

 the reverse was true. The dementia praecox group showed the lowest fertility as compared 

 with the total population. He concludes that marriage acts as barrier to propagation of en- 

 dogenous diseases, such as dementia praecox, but not against exogenous, such as syphilis. — 

 The preponderance of insane women recorded may be accounted for on the theory that women 

 transmit their mental peculiarities to their female children more than to their male, but there 

 is a more obvious explanation. Since men migrate to other districts more than women, female 

 descendants are more likely to appear in a given asylum. The data at this particular institu- 

 tion show the mother-daughter group to be the largest and sisters decidedly outnumber 

 brothers. — Notwithstanding the numerous factors tending to discount the actual meaning 

 of the figures, author considers it probable that descendants of insane who themselves become 

 insane do so at an earlier age than their ancestors and are tending to reproduce themselves in 

 smaller proportion. — With regard to the character of transmission his findings lead him to 

 believe that (1) The paranoid type of psychosis gives either paranoid or dementia praecox. 

 (2) Dementia praecox gives dementia praecox or feeblemindedness. (3) Manic depression 

 gives manic depression or dementia praecox. (4) Involution psychosis gives dementia prae- 

 cox. (5) Senile psychosis gives any form of psychosis, imbecility or epilepsy. — Thus all 

 roads seem to lead to dementia praecox and thence to feeble-mindedness. — His results further 

 indicate that insanity among siblings tends to be similar, and that it is more often associated 



