f'lIKMlSTiiV. 453 



gariLs the nitrifying power of organisms, lie concludes that no one who 

 has worked with isolated bacteria has obtained more than a mere trice 

 of nitric or nitrous acid in ammoniacal solutions. On the other hand, 

 the mixed organisms present in arable eoil i)roduce distinct and com- 

 plete nitrification in ammoniacal liquids containing tweuty-five parts of 

 nitrogen in the million. ' Of twenty-five organisms stud-ieil, sixteen re- 

 duced nitrates with considerable vigor, and seven were entirely destitute 

 of reducing capacity. The reduction was from nitrates to nitrites, and 

 not to nitrogen. (Jonrn. Chein. Soc, liii, 727.) 



The chemistry of Jlsh. — Atwater has published in the form of a \)\e.- 

 liminary notice the results of his elaborate analyses of the tlesh of 

 American food-fishes. One hundred and twenty-two si)ecimens belong- 

 ing to fifty-two species were examined, together with two European 

 fishes, and an account of the methods of analysis is included in the 

 statement. The results are given in the form of elaborate tables, which 

 are not suitable for abstraction. ( Amer. Chem. Journ., ix, 421, and x, 1.) 



