March 9, 1893] 



NA rURE 



447 



Amongst the non-pathogenic forms we find an account 

 of the Micrococcus agilis, which was found by Ali-Cohen 

 in drinking water. This was not the first motile coccus 

 found, as is stated by Giinther, for previous to this, 

 Mendoza isolated and described a motile form which he 

 called Micrococcus ielragcftus mobilis ventriculi. The 

 Micrococcus agilis was the second variety found ; whilst 

 later, in 1890, Loeffler also discovered and described a 

 motile coccus. It is surprising, therefore, to read that 

 Ali-Cohen's variety is the only motile micrococcus 

 known. The list has further been quite recently (1892) 

 enriched by the discovery by Maurea of a motile sarcina, 

 which he has designated Sarcina mobilis. 



A fine set ot seventy-six photographs, mostly taken 

 from original preparations, together with a very exhaust- 

 ive index, completes the volume. Amongst the photo- 

 graphic figures the series of twelve representing anthrax 

 in every stage of development from the individual bac- 

 teria to their appearance as colonies on gelatine-plates, 

 and growing in test-tube cultivations, are particularly 

 beautiful ; the surface colonies photographed after forty- 

 eight hours' growth are especially characteristic and 

 successful. 



In the handy little volume "Technique Bacterio- 

 logique," of Dr. Wurtz, chief of the laboratory for 

 experimental pathology in the Faculty of Medicine in 

 Paris, we have an entirely different stamp of book. We 

 read in his preface : " On ne trouvera, dans ce precis de 

 Technique bacteriologique, ni I'historique, ni I'expose 

 detaille' des nombreuses mdthodes techniques qui ont 

 etc prcconisees jusqu'a ce jour en microbiologic. Con- 

 formement au programme trace par la Direction de 

 rEticyclopL'die Scientijique des Aide-Mcmoire, nous nous 

 sommes efforc<^s d'dxposer, aussi clairement que possible, 

 les notions qu'un debutant doit poss^der k fond avant 

 d'aborder I'dtude proprement dite des microbes." 



Proceeding on these lines Dr. Wurtz gives us a very 

 clear and precise account of all the various important 

 stages passed through in bacteriological manipulations, 

 commencing with a chapter on the principles of 

 sterilisation. 



But a novel feature in this volume is the description of 

 the various methods of conductingexperiments on animals 

 for bacteriological purposes. This is carefully recorded 

 and supplemented by woodcuts, and would appear to be a 

 most useful addition, for although the possibilities of 

 carrying out such experiments in this country are very 

 limited, yet in those cases where they are permitted such 

 an accurate description of the methods to be adopted 

 should prove very helpful, more especially as in very few 

 of the German and English bacteriological text-books is 

 any account to be found for the information of those 

 desiring to undertake such investigations, A chapter is 

 also devoted to the enumeration of the substances, in as 

 far as they have been investigated, which are elaborated 

 by micro-organisms and a description of the most 

 convenient methods for their successful extraction. 



The crisp and concise language which characterises 

 the book, together with the judgment displa>ed in *ts 

 compilation, show that the author possesses, not only a 

 full grasp of his subject, but is also highly skilled in the 

 art of communicating it to others. 



Grace C. Frankland. 



THE ORDNANCE SURVEY. 

 A DEPARTMENTAL committee was appointed by 

 ■j^^ the Board of Agriculture in April, 1892, to inquire 

 into the condition of the Ordnance Survey. The com- 

 mittee consisted of Sir John E. Dorington, M.P. (chair- 

 man), Sir Archibald Geikie, F.R.S., .Mr. Henry W. 

 Primrose, Mr. William Mather, M.P., Mr. H. J. Roby, 

 M.P., and Mr. Charles Fortescue Brickdale, with Major 

 NO. 1219, VOL. 47] 



Duncan A. Johnston, R.E., as secretary. The matters 

 referred to then were : — 



1. What steps should be taken to expedite the com- 

 pletion and publication of the new or revised one-inch 

 map (with or without hill-shading) of the British Isles? 



2. What permanent arrangements should be made for 

 the continuous revision and speedy publication of the 

 maps — I in 500 (towns), 25 in., 6 in., and i in. scales .? 



3. Whether the maps as at present issued satisfy the 

 reasonable requirements of the public in regard to the 

 style of execution, form, information conveyed, and price, 

 and whether any improvement can be made in the cata- 

 logue and indexes } 



After the appointment of the committee Mr. T. Ellis, 

 M.P., asked in the House of Commons a question which 

 showed that there was dissatisfaction with regard to the 

 inaccuracy and incompleteness of the names of places 

 in the map of Wales ; and this question was also referred 

 to the committee. 



The report of the committee has just been issued, and 

 includes the following recommendations : — 



1. That the i in. map be produced in the following forms : — 



(a) An engraved outline map, with contours in black. 



(b) A black engraved map, with hill-shading either in black 

 or in colour. 



{c) A coloured map on thin paper, adapted to military pur- 

 poses, but also on sale to the public. 



{d) A cheap map by transfer to zinc or stone. 



2. That the character of the roads on the I in. map be 

 shown in four classes with distinct characteristics. 



3. That parish boundaries be omitted from the I in. map. 



4. That the contours of the sea bottom round the coast line 

 and the depths of inland waters be shown. 



5. That experiments be made in the practical application of 

 heliogravure, and that, if results not inferior to an Austrian 

 specimen map which we have seen be produced, that process be 

 substituted for the existing method of engraving hills, and 

 for so much of the country as is then uncompleted in its hill 

 engraving. 



6. That special arrangements be made to revise the i in. map 

 within the next four years independently of the maps on the 

 larger scales, and that subsequently this map be constantly 

 revised within periods of fifteen years. 



7. That the cadastral maps be revised and brought up to date 

 in the next ten years, and that subsequently they be kept revised 

 within periods of fifteen years. 



8. That the publication of these revised maps be carried out 

 by contract, if necessary. 



9. That detail, such as single trees, footpaths in gardens, Sec, 

 be omitted. 



10. That the skeleton and coloured forms of the 25 in. and 

 town maps be abandoned, and the uses of both be combined in 

 one edition having the houses cross-hatched. 



11. That the reference numbers to parcels of land on the 

 25-344 in. plans be abandoned on revision. 



12. That to a limited extent additional contour lines be added 

 to the 6 in. map. 



13. That on the 6 in. map the contours be always in black. 



14. That certain of the engraved plates of the 6 in. map 

 which are not now filled up beyond the county boundary be as 

 soon as possible filled up to the margin of the plate with the 

 detail of the adjoining county. 



15. That the cost of the engraved sheets of the 6 in. map 

 and that of the quarter-sheets of the photo-zincographed 6 in. 

 map be equalised by a change of their respective selling prices. 



16. That the Welsh names be gone over and corrected before 

 the first revision of that map. 



17. That the cadastral maps on the town scales be no longer 

 entirely made or revised art the cost of the State, but that the 

 town authorities be required by statute to maintain these maps. 



18. That around towns and in tourist districts the existing 

 sheets of the Ordnance Survey on the 6 in. and i in. scales 

 be united so as to form special maps of such districts, and that 

 advantage be taken of these maps to introduce any novelties in 

 cartography that may be thought desirable, as these maps are 

 not required to be joined to the general maps of the United 

 Kingdom. 



19. That certain authorities be placed under statutable 



