12 NATURAL SCIENCE [January 



being allowed to try this, in their belief, unfailing remedy, opposi- 

 tion was finally, and not without some hesitation, withdrawn, and 

 the ancient implement placed in their hands. After the operation 

 the parents departed happy, grateful, and in the most perfect con- 

 fidence that their child would be healed, and not without expressions 

 of surprise that so great a boon had been conferred on them without 

 the fee which they were prepared, and that very gladly, to pay." 



Geology in Japan 

 A GENERAL account of the Geological Survey of Japan was given 

 in Natural Science for February 1894 (vol. iv., pp. 105-111). 

 We are glad to note that the cartographical labours of this survey 

 are making good progress. A map of Japan proper, in five divisions, 

 on a scale of 1 : 100,000 is already completed, and special maps on 

 a scale of 1 : 200,000 have been published for about half the same 

 area. These are accompanied by explanations, written in Japanese. 

 Besides this, numerous detailed surveys on a larger scale are con- 

 stantly being carried out to meet various official and private requests. 

 Often these are in connection with earthquakes and eruptions, with 

 which geological phenomena Japan is so favoured, and which often 

 seriously affect work in the mining districts. An examination of 

 the water-bearing strata in the Yokohama, Chiba, and Gumma 

 prefectures has recently been concluded. Preliminary and special 

 surveys have been made in the northern island, Hokkaido. In 

 connection with the war with China, a special geological and agro- 

 nomical reconnaissance was made of the Liao-tung peninsula. As 

 a result of that war the geological survey of the empire will soon 

 be carried into Formosa. On this island a few fragmentary notes, 

 stated by the Japanese authorities to be very imperfect, have been 

 published by Gordon, Von Kichthofen, Guppy, Kleinwiichter, and 

 others. Reports on the coal and gold found in the island have been 

 issued by Sotokufu ; and the geography of the Taiwan islands, 

 written by Mr Ogawa, contains some references to their geology 

 and agronomy. Lately, Dr Koto, professor of geology at Tokyd 

 University, and his assistant, Mr N. Yamasaki, have travelled round 

 the main island. 



There is in Japan no separate body like our Ordnance Survey, 

 but the Geological Survey has to make its own topographical maps. 

 All the work to which we have here alluded is carried on by a staff 

 of six geologists, four topographers, and eight cartographers. 



A New Manure 



The above account does not exhaust the work of the Geological 

 Survey of Japan, for it says nothing of the eight chemists and seven 

 agronomists. The agronomical section treads on the heels of the 



