32 THE AMERICAN MONTHLY [Jan., 



the formation of a special commission to inspect the milk sup- 

 ply, which has not yet made any official report. — Iowa Health 

 Bulletin. 



DIATOMS. 



Studies in the Biology of the Diatoms. — The Diatom con- 

 sidered as a Protozoan, by K. M. Cunningham, {The American 

 Monthly Microscopical Journal, No. 7, July, and No. 8, August, 

 1894). In the two above mentioned articles, the author at- 

 tempts to prove by a series of demonstrations and experiments, 

 that the diatomacese belong not to the vegetable kingdom, but 

 to the animal kingdom, to the protozoa; that is to say, he 

 brings us back to the time where incertitude was great concern- 

 ing the place that these organisms ought to occupy in nature. 

 Will Mr. Cumiingham succeed ia bringing back on the carpet 

 that old question of the animal nature of the diatomacese ? I 

 am doubtful about it. 



These two articles are certainly very interesting to read, but 

 I found in them nothing new to prove in an irrefutable way 

 that the diatomacei;e are animals. — J. Tempere,in Le Diaiomiste. 



MICROSCOPICAL NOTES. 



The Infinitesimal. — The domain of theinfinitely minute is 

 a broad one. It was lately stated at a scientific meeting that a 

 single drop of ether thrown on the floor of the laboratory, 

 would entirel}' prevent the success of experiments illustrative 

 of certain electrical phenomena. A pin-hole in the door of a 

 photographer's ''developing" room will ruin his freshly taken 

 plates. — T. W. Nunn, in The New Science Review for January. 



NEW PUBLICATIONS. 



Recent Medical Publications. P. Blakiston, Son & Co., Phila- 

 delphia. 



This catalogue is presumably for free distribution to those 

 interested enough to ask for it, It includes Abbott's Bacteri- 

 ology and Beale's Biology of which we have not yet seen cop- 

 ies ; as well as Reeves' Medical Microscopy which we have as 

 ready mentioned as the latest and best of its kind. 



