Journal of Applied Microscopy. 449 



importance. The treatment of the subjects is perhaps a little too dogmatical, 

 and conclusions of doubtful accuracy are occasionally given with all the assur- 

 ance of demonstrated fact. For example, it is stated twice as a positive fact that 

 the great soda nitrate beds of Chili and Peru owe their origin entirely to the action 

 of bacteria upon the excrement of birds. Now this may very likely be true, but 

 Dr. Novy must certainly be aware that some scientists have doubted this conclu- 

 sion and suggested that these deposits are to be traced to marine plants. 

 Whether this suggestion be probable or not, the matter is hardly so surely proved 

 as to merit the unqualified statement made by Dr. Novy. 



Most of the book is, however, devoted to the methods of laboratory work. 

 The descriptions of methods are clear and are accompanied by running com- 

 ments in regard to the purposes of different details which decidedly enhance 

 their value. These chapters are designed for the student in the laboratory to 

 follow, and contain a description of some forty of the most important species of 

 bacteria, both pathogenic and non-pathogenic, as well as an account of a few of 

 the most important yeasts and moulds. 



The three closing chapters will be found of especial value. One describes 

 and discusses the methods and purposes of bacteriological examination of water, 

 soil, and air, while the other two give an account of some valuable special methods 

 which are used for particular purposes. The student will be glad to find here, 

 in condensed but clear form, accounts of the methods of making tuberculin, 

 diphtheria antitoxine, testing antitoxine, preparation and use of collodium sacs, 

 of making the agglutination test, and other special topics of like character. 

 These special methods greatly enhance the value of the work. 



Dr. Novy has prepared this book designedly for students in medical schools, 

 and has in general written in a clear, intelligible style. The work will be found 

 useful to others besides medical students, and should find a place in all labora- 

 tories where bacteriology is studied. It will be a good book also to place in the 

 hands of the student of general bacteriolog}^ Although it combines some 

 general discussion of bacteria with the directions for laboratory methods, its use 



must be practicallv confined to laboratorv students. 



H. W. Conn. 

 Wesleyan University. 



Whipple, George Chandler. The Microscopy of ^he experience which the author has 

 Drinking Water. Pp. vii. + 300 ; woodcuts, gained as the former biologist of the 



York^Ysgg.'''''' ^°^" ^^'^'^ ^ ^°"'' ^'''' ^^^^on Water-works, and more recently 



as the biologist and director of the 

 Mount Prospect Laboratory in Brooklyn, has given him unusual qualifications 

 for the preparation of such a manual as this one. Heretofore, there has been no 

 work in English devoted exclusively to the organisms found in water and to their 

 influence upon the latter, as affecting its value as a source of supply for domestic 

 purposes. It is likely that the book will be generally accepted as the authorita- 

 tive discussion of the subject with which it deals. The work consists of two 

 parts,'^the first dealing with the general biology of water supplies, the second 

 consisting of a systematic description of the more important genera of aquatic 

 microscopic organisms, exclusive of bacteria. The second part is illustrated by 



