350 THE AMERICAN MONTHLY [Nov 



are dealt with by Nature's scavengers. The disposal of 

 sewage in this way is certain to assume great importance 

 in all of the smaller cities and towns throughout the United 

 States. The successful workings of any of these plants are 

 therefore of great interest -at this time. 



Capsule Bacilli In Nasal Mucosa. — Simoni (Centralb., 

 Bakt Par. 1 Abth. 25 : 625-31) says that the capsule bacilli 

 are not infrequent in the nasal mucosa of man and animals 

 and from a study of the biological and morphological char- 

 acters of these bacteria he has been forced to the conclu- 

 sion that they are all varieties of a single species of which 

 the Pneumobacillus is the chief representative, and that 

 Frisch's Bacillus is an extreme representative of the same 

 type as well as the Bacillus mucosus. 



Bacillus of Distemper of Dogs. — Dr. Jess (Centralb. 

 Bakt. Par. 1 Abth. 25 : 541-46. 1899) claims to have dis- 

 covered in the nasal discharge of dogs suffering from dis- 

 temper a bacillus which is 1.8-2.3 microns long .6-.9 broad. 

 The Bacillus was also found in the blood and internal vis- 

 cera of the animal. The organism is provided with a sin- 

 gle flagellum at one pole. Infection of pure cultures pro- 

 duced fever, discharge from nose and eyes, diarrhoea and 

 in some cases death after three days. 



Plant Protection From Bacteria and Fungi. — Dr. 

 Bokorny) Biol. Centralb. 19 : 177-185) gives an account of 

 the various substances which serve to protect plants 

 against fungus and bacterial enemies. The most widely 

 distributed of these are tannins but it seems that 1 per 

 cent of tannin is necessary to give the plants immunity 

 against the attacks of fungus and bacterial enemies. Bac- 

 teria apparently offer less resistance to tannin than to 

 moulds. Salts of oxalic acid are not poisonous to the lower 

 fungi. The essential oils are very effective in affording 

 protection to plants from the attack of parasite fungi. — L. 

 H. Pammel. 



