92 THE AMERICAN MONTHLY [Mar., 



are given. A newly discovered bacillus the vibrio berolinensis 

 seems closely allied to the cholera bacillus, it being distinguish- 

 able only by the appearance of the c )lonies on gelatine plates. 

 Even then, the finer granulation of the contents and the less ir- 

 regular contour of the colonies are differences so slight as to oc- 

 casion uncertainty at times. The vibrio aquatilis recently iso- 

 lated from water by Gunther, is described and figured. 



Bacterium Coli Commune is considered by Ekehorn a 

 cause of appendicitis. 



DRUG AND FOOD ADULTERATION. 



Dilution with tumeric. — Hans M. Wilder has found that 

 powdf^red rhu''arb and yellow mustard are adulterated with 

 tumeric. He detects the adulteration easily. Mix a little of the 

 suspected powder with any volatile oil such as sassafras, fennel, 

 ani e, etc. Any of these oils' dissolve the coloring matter of tu- 

 meric but do not affect mustard or rhubarb. The smallest 

 speck of tumeric examined under the microscope will then show 

 a yellow zone about it. The absence of tumeric is demonstrated 

 by the microscopic field remaining colorless. 



MICEOJCOPKAL NOTES. 



Directory. — The attention of those interested is called to an 

 IntHrnational Zoologist's Directory, soon to be issued by R. 

 Friedlander & Son of Berlin. Its object is to bring into closer 

 correspondence those who are working in zoology. If you 

 wish your name to be inserted send it together with your ad- 

 dress and mention your official position if you have one. It 

 will include collectors, draughtsmen, preparators, modellers and 

 dealers. Addrei!;s R. Friedlander & Sohn, Carl-Strasse 11, Ber- 

 lin, N. W. 



Ice Dangerous. — Howeverpurein appearance, ice may con- 

 ta n d sease germs capable of d velopment when taken into the 

 system or brought into contact with food or drink. The evils 

 attributed to the temperature of ice may be due to the germs. 



Herbert Osborn's paper in the February number is ?poken 

 highly o'' by several subscribers who ask to have the series con- 

 tinued. 



