1 JouRRAL OF Comparative Neurology. 



Dr. J. T. Duryea (in the Brooklyn Medical Journal, VII 4, 1893) 

 gives an account of hysterical blue oedema affecting the breast and 

 accompanied by anaesthesia and variable paralytic symptoms. No 

 disease of the pelvic viscera was present. 



Distance and Color Perception by Infants.^ 



At the age of nine effort was made to determine the color prefer- 

 ences and ability to estimate distances. The colors were blue, red, 

 white, green and brown, in order of preference. The child refused 

 to reach for anything put 16 inches or more away from her, at 15 

 inches she refused 91 per cent, of all cases. 



It is concluded that there is a very fine estimation visually ot the 

 distance represented by the arm-length, thus emphasizing the element 

 of muscular sensation in the perception of distance generally, and 

 that there is a great uniformity at this age of the phenomenon of sen- 

 sori-motor suggestion upon which this method of child study is based. 

 It is to be regretted that a more complete color series was not em- 

 ployed. 



Origin of the Electric Nerves in the Torpedo, Etc.' 



Professor Fritsch gives a popular summary of his studies in the 

 elecrical fishes from which the followmg points are selected. 



In the different kinds of electric skates (Torpedinidse) the electric 

 organs are developed from muscles, which originally belonged to the 

 branchial arches, and the arch of the lower jaw. In every case, we 

 find wonderfully developed ganglion cells from which the impulse is 

 transmitted directly to the electric batteries. There are, however, 

 the most striking differences in the number and appearance of these 

 nerve centres. The number of cells (54,000, in Torpedo) is found to 

 coincide in a general way with that of the electric nerves. Professor 

 Fritsch repeats his statement that the protoplasmic processes anasto- 

 mose and concludes that these must have a conducting rather than 

 simply a nutritive function. The remarkable chiasm or decussation 

 of the electric nerves outside the cord, in Mormyurus, is regarded as 

 unique. Professor Fritsch considers the development of such a struc- 

 ture a difficulty in the way of the current transformationism, though 

 why it is more difficult than the development of nerve decussations 

 within the neuraxis is not apparent. The electric shad of the Nile, 



ij. Mark Baldwin, Science. Apr. 28, 1893. 

 ''■Nature. Jan. ig, 1893. 



