236 



NATURE 



[July 5, 1888 



still demonstrable after nine days, they were only present in 

 small numbers. Much less vitality is exhibited by the micro- 

 coccus of erysipelas when introduced into waters of various 

 kinds, for even in sewage this organism was not demonstrable 

 on the fifth day. In fact, all the pathogenic micrococci which have 

 been experimented with in this manner exhibit but little vitality 

 under similar circumstances. 



From these experiments it appears, therefore, that whilst 

 ordinary drinking-water does not form a suitable medium for the 

 extensive growth and multiplication of those pathogenic forms 

 which have hitherto been made the subject of investigation in 

 this respect, yet, that in the condition of spores, they are 

 extremely permanent in any kind of water, however pure, and 

 that even those of which no spores are known may often be 

 preserved for days or even weeks. 



Thus the investigations which have hitherto been made on the 

 micro-organisms both of air and water, by the light which they 

 throw on the behaviour of micro organisms in general in these 

 media, the manner in which they may be preserved and the 

 manner in which they may be removed, are of great service in 

 indicating how the spread of zymotic diseases through these 

 media is to be avoided. 



Until we are fully acquainted with all pathogenic forms of 

 microbes, a consummation which is certainly not likely to be 

 attained in the near future, it is obvious that in endeavouring to 

 exclude dangerous organisms we must attempt to exclude all 

 organisms, e.g. in the purification of water which has been 

 exposed to possibly noxious pollution, that process of puri- 

 fication which insures the removal or destruction of the greatest 

 proportion of micro-organisms must be regarded as the most 

 efficient. In just the same way as in the antiseptic treatment 

 of wounds, the preventive measures employed by surgeons are 

 of such a nature as to destroy or preclude the possibility of 

 growth of any microbes whatever, and not only of those known 

 to be capable of causing mischief. 



Percy F. Frankland. 



THE OPENING OF THE MARINE BIOLOGICAL 

 LA BORA TOR Y AT PL YMO UTH 



'"THE Laboratory erected at Plymouth by the Marine Biological 

 A Association of the United Kingdom, of which a full 

 account was given last week in Nature, was opened on Satur- 

 day, June 30. The weather was fine, and at ten o'clock a large 

 and distinguished company were present. Having viewed the 

 tanks, the company assembled in the Laboratory, where Prof. 

 W. H. Flower, C.B., F.R.S., Director of the Natural History 

 Department of the British Museum, delivered an address, in the 

 course of which he said : — " The necessity for such institutions as 

 this has been felt almost simultaneously throughout the cultivated 

 nations of the world. The British Isles, with their extensive 

 and varied seaboard, offering marvellous facilities for the inves- 

 tigation of marine life, with their vast economical interests in the 

 denizens of the waters that lave their shores, have been rather 

 behind some other countries in adopting this line of research. 

 Let us hope, however, that being so, we may profit by example 

 and the experience of others, and ultimately, as in so many 

 other similar cases, may outstrip our neighbours in a department 

 of work for which our maritime and insular position seems so 

 specially to fit us. That our country should be alone in neglect- 

 ing this branch of scientific inquiry was impossible. Stations 

 for the investigation of the phenomena of marine life have been 

 founded at several places on the northern coasts of our island, 

 but all on a very limited scale. An institution commensurate 

 with the importance of the subject and of the nation had to be 

 established sooner or later ; the only questions to be solved 

 were when it was to be founded and where it was to be placed. 

 Much of the success of an enterprise must depend upon the 

 particular time selected for embarking upon it. If delayed too 

 long, the world is a loser by the non-existence of the knowledge 

 that is to be gained from it. On the other hand, premature 

 attempts before sufficient interest in the subject is awakened, or 

 before sufficient information as to the best means of carrying it 

 out has been gained, often end in failure. . I think that in this 

 respect we have taken the right medium." After a reference to 

 the Fisheries Exhibition, Prof. Flower continued: — "The question 

 as to the place at which our head-quarters were to be established 

 was at first one of considerable difficulty. Many were the rival 

 claimants, but Plymouth was finally chosen as best approaching 



the requisite physical and geographical surroundings for such an 

 institution ; and the cordiality with which the Association was 

 welcomed by its leading citizens was in itself a ground of 

 justification for the choice. Though a portion of the old military 

 defences of the town has been given up to our peaceful enterprise, 

 we trust the safety of the inhabitants will not suffer. The 

 Laboratory now stands beneath the Plymouth Citadel and the 

 sea, and an enemy entering the town by the most direct route 

 would have to march over the ruins of the building. That 

 consideration alone should be enough to secure your safety 

 in a war with many of the enlightened science-loving nations 

 of Europe, should such an event unhappily arise. As to the 

 institution itself, few words are needed to show how excellent is 

 its adaptation to the purpose for which it is founded. Although 

 still not in all respects in full working order, we have been all 

 enabled to see to-day how carefully it has been planned, and 

 how well the design has been carried out. We have secured a 

 capable and energetic working staff, students are already taking 

 their places at our laboratory tables, and already a commence- 

 ment has been made in their original investigations and contri- 

 butions to knowledge, which we hope will be of such a character 

 and of such abundance as to give this Laboratory a high place 

 among the scientific institutions of the world. Our present 

 financial position and our future needs are fully set forth in the 

 report of the Council, just issued. This shows that of our capital 

 already subscribed the greater part has been expended on the 

 building and the necessary apparatus for its equipment. We still 

 want a steam-vessel for the use of the staff in exploring the fish- 

 ing grounds of the neighbourhood and for collecting materials to 

 stock our tanks ; and for the means of providing this, and for the 

 annual maintenance of our establishment in a state of efficiency, we 

 shall require further pecuniary assistance. But as the report is, 

 or shortly will be in your hands, I need not detain you longer 

 by enlarging upon its contents. I will therefore, in the name of 

 the President and Council of the Marine Biological Association 

 of the United Kingdom, thank all those who have, by their 

 generous contribution of money or by expenditure of their time, 

 labour, and thought, brought us so far on our way, and declare 

 the Laboratory of the Association open for work. May we all 

 join in the earnest hope that the expectations which have been 

 raised of its future usefulness may never be disappointed." 



The company, after being photographed, adjourned to the 

 Grand Hotel - on the Hoe, where they sat down to a deje&ner 

 given by the Fishmongers' Company. Sir James Lawrence, Prime 

 Warden of the Fishmongers' Company, presided, and was sup- 

 ported by the Earl of Morley, Prof. Flower, Sir H. W. Acland, 

 K.C.B., F.R.S, the Mayor of Plymouth (Mr. H. J. Waring), 

 the Mayor of Devonport (Mr. J. W. W. Ryder), the Chairman 

 of the Stonehouse Local Board (Mr. E. A. Lyons), Prof. E. Ray 

 Lankester, LL.D., F.R. S., Sir Edwin Saunders, Sir George 

 Paget, K.C.B., F.R.S., the Ven. Archdeacon Wilkinson, Prof. 

 A. Milnes Marshall, F.R.S., Prof. Charles Stewart, Mr. J. 

 Evans, P.S.A., F.R.S., Captain Wharton, R.N., F.R.S., the 

 Vice-Chancellor of Cambridge, Sir Edward Watkin, M.P., Prof. 

 J. W. Groves, Rear- Admiral H. D. Grant, C.B., Major- 

 General T. C. Lyons, C.B., Mr. Thiselton Dyer, C.M.G., 

 F.R.S., Mr. A. Sedgwick, F.R.S., Mr. W. Pengelly, F.R.S., 

 Mr. F. Crisp, F.R.S., Colonel Hewet, R.E., Rev. J. Hall 

 Parlby, Dr. A. Gunther, F.R.S., Major-General Barton, R.E., 

 Captain Inskep, R.M., Mr. Robert Bayly, Prof. F. Jeffery Bell, 

 Prof. D'Arcy Thompson, Prof. G. B. Howes, Mr. C. Spence 

 Bate, F.R.S., Prof. M.Foster, Mr. W. Lant Carpenter, Mr. E. 

 W. N. Holdsworth, Mr. E. L. Beckwith, Fishmongers' Com- 

 pany, Mr. Gilbert C. Bourne, and Mr. J. Solly Foster and 

 Mr. John Hall, Wardens, Fishmongers' Company. 



The health of "The Queen" having been given by the 

 Chairman, Lord Morley proposed "The Marine Biological 

 Association of the United Kingdom." He said he was sure that 

 his friends the Mayors of Plymouth and Devonport would join 

 with him in wishing a hearty welcome to the Association, and in 

 sincerely hoping that the Laboratory would prove a success. Any 

 doubt as to the practical value of the Laboratory was dissipated 

 by the fact that the Chairman was one of its main founders, and 

 also that many well-known gentlemen, including the Chairman 

 of the National Association at Kensington and Kew, anticipated 

 good results therefrom. Since there was such a consensus of 

 opinion as to the importance of the scheme from a practical and 

 scientific point of view, the thing which surprised him was why 

 it was not done before. We reaped the richest harvest from the 

 sea, and yet we had never inquired scientifically into the source 



