258 THE AMERICAN MONTHLY [July 



esting- work on "The Crambidae of North America," by C. 

 H. Fernald, A, M., Ph. D. It is a ninety-three pag-e pamph- 

 let where the family Crambidae, its distribution, its nat- 

 ural enemies, its history, the enemies of these insects, 

 etc., are perfectly described. The book is made addition- 

 ally valuable by the addition of six plates in colors and 

 three in black and white. 



Microscopial Studies in Botany. — This is the name of 

 anew periodical published in Jersey, by James Hornell, di- 

 rector of Jersey Biological Station, The price is 3s. 6d. post 

 free. The annual subscription (post free) si 8s; or inclu- 

 sive of 50 illustrative nicroscopical preparations, 21s, post 

 free. This magazine is made interesting on account of 

 orig"inal photomicrographs accompanying the subjects 

 described. Thus vol. 1, part 2, for March, 1896, contains 

 ten of these beautiful photos. 



Asiatic Cholera in India, — Mr. E. H. Hankin is the au- 

 thor of a book on "Cholera in India Cantonments, and how 

 to deal with it." The work consists chiefly in g-iving- di- 

 rections for preventing the disease. The author has had 

 an excellent opportunity for study during the various re- 

 cent outbreaks in India. The properties of the cholera 

 microbes as given by Mr. Hankin are as follows : first, 

 organism when outside of the human body, only lives and 

 reproduces in water ; second, it is so small that it cannot 

 be removed by filtration through ordinary domestic filters; 

 third, it is easily destroyed by boiling ; fourth, it is easily 

 killed by dessication ; fifth, it is very sensitive to acids; 

 sixth, it varies in virulence ; seventh, its g-rowth is 

 favored by the presence of small amounts of common salts 

 and nitrates. 



Books May Carry Contagion. — It is generally admitted 

 that books may carry contagion. Drs. DuCazal and Cat- 

 rin obtained positive results with Streptococcus, Pneu- 

 mococcus and Bacillus diptheria. Negative results were 

 obtained with Bacillus tuberculosis and Bacillus typhosus. 

 — Ann. Institute Pasteur. 



