BOTANICAL GAZETTE. 287 



doubtedly the latter species was found by the writer near Chicago a few days 

 since on L. swophuUiricefoliw, He also advocates keeping the JEcidivm on Ran- 

 unculus abortims {JE. Ranunculi Schw.) as a species separate from JE. Ranuncula- 

 eearum DC, which is common to many Ranunculacece, and suggests that it may 

 belong to some Uromyces on a monocotyledonous host. 



CURRENT LITERATURE. 



Supplement to the Catalogue of the Davenport Herbarium. — This brings the Fern* 

 Catalogue up to March, 1883, and contains valuable notes on various species, . 

 by Mr. George E. Davenport. Mr. Davenport also publishes a very neat and 

 convenient Check List of N. A. Ferns, including 32 genera, 161 species, and 24 

 varieties. 



Botanische Mikrochemie, by V. A. Poulsen, translated from the Danish by 

 Carl Miiller. pp. xvi, 83. Cassel : Theodor Fischer. — The publication by 

 Mr. Penhallow of his "Vegetable Histology" recalls a little book by the above 

 title, which, though published more than a year ago, has not received the at- 

 tention in this country which it deserves. To every reader of German it will 

 commend itself at once, and its German is so easily read that even a student 

 with but a cursory knowledge of the language will find little difficulty in pick- 

 ing out from it much that is useful. The first part of the book is devoted to 

 " The Microchemical Reagents and their Use." Under this head fifty reagents 

 are named. The manner of using each and the reactions for which they are 

 used are clearly and briefly stated. To this part is appended a few pages treat- 

 ing of preservative media and cements. The second part enumerates " The 

 Plant-substances and the Method of their Detection." Forty-one substances 

 are given, together with the reagents and methods to be used for their detection. 

 Altogether, a more useful little book could hardly be found. It should be in 

 every laboratory and on every working table. It is much to be hoped that 

 some one may soon obtain the right of translating it into English, that its use- 

 fulness to English and American students may be enhanced. It is to be regret- 

 ted that the only similar book in English, Penhallow's "Vegetable Histology," 

 was so marred by the publisher, in order that it might minister to his pride in 

 heavy paper and wide margins. Notwithstanding the fact that Poulsen's 

 book contains twice as many pages and nearly three times as much matter, it 

 can be sold for 3 marks instead of $1.20. The book is an inch and a half nar- 

 rower and two and a half shorter than Penhallow's, and yet the printed page is 

 larger. Moreover it is bound as a hand-book should be, so that it will lie open 

 at any page. We hope Mr. Penhallow will see to it that when a second edition 

 of his book comes out it shall not sacrifice usefulness to looks. 



On the Relations of Micro- Organisms to Disease, by Dr. W. T. Belfield, of Rush 

 Medical College. Chicago, 1883. 12o., 131 pp. Illust. 



Bacteria and the Germ Theory of Disease, by Dr. H. Gradle, of the Chicago 

 Medical College. Chicago, 1883. 8o., 219 pp. 



These works treat the subject in a comprehensive, careful and judicious man- 

 ner. They have the merit of presenting the great mass of information on the 

 'subject, which is largely the work of foreign biologists, and consequently pub- 

 lished in foreign languages, in a well digested and readable form. While pri- 

 marily addressed to the medical fraternity, they are equally intelligible and 

 instructive to all who are interested in the role of bacteria or the etiology of 

 disease. As the works have a pathological aim, they contain no characteriza- 

 tion of species or systematic classification. Much attention is deservedly given 

 to methods of manipulation and the trustworthiness of observers. References 

 to authors and their works are ample, thus facilitating the consultation of the 



