May 14, 1891] 



NATURE 



27 



■where each rock occurs. The illustrations are very well 

 executed. Though the book has appeared only recently, 

 one teacher at least can already bear testimony, founded 

 on actual experience, as to its value to students. 



A. H. Green. 



BACTERIOLOGY. 

 Les Virus. Par Dr. S. Arloing. (Paris : Ancienne 



Librairie, Germer, Bailli^re, et Cie., 1891.) 

 *'T^HE name of Dr. S. Arloing as the author of a work 



i- on bacteriology is a sufficient guarantee that the 

 book is worth reading, nor are we disappointed. " Les 

 Virus" is one of the best volumes on this science yet 

 produced. It is not a mere compilation of other men's 

 work, giving a categorical account of the numerous 

 pathogenic and non-pathogenic bacteria now recognized, 

 but is a thorough scientific investigation into the prin- 

 ciples of one of the most important branches of medical 

 science, and might perhaps be better called a manual of 

 " microbiology." 



The work is divided into six parts,\mder the following 

 heads : — 



(i) General considerations as to the nature of the 

 bacterial poison. 



(2) Form and mode of life of the microbes (biology). 



(3) The part taken by the microbes in the propagation 

 and spread of infectious diseases. 



(4) Struggle of the host against the poison. Natural 

 extinction and artificial destruction of its effects. 



(5) Immunity enjoyed by the body against certain 

 microbes. 



(6) Attenuation and reproduction of the bacterial 

 poison. 



It will be seen by the above list that this work covers a 

 large field, and one not exactly dealt with by any previous 

 author. 



In the first part, which is subdivided into six chapters, 

 Dr. Arloing commences with an historical survey of the 

 science of bacteriology, pointing out the gradual exten- 

 sion of ideas from the time of Rhazes, who, in the ninth 

 century, attributed small-pox to a process of fermentation 

 "comparable to that which takes place in the juice of the 

 grape when made into wine " ; touching then on the 

 works of Rayer, Davaine, Chaveau, and others, the author 

 traces the development of the science until present times 

 and the discoveries of Koch and Pasteur. An interesting 

 comparison of the " virulent " parasites with simple para- 

 sites, such as Trichina spiralis, then follows ; and, next, 

 the formulation of two statements which form the basis of 

 the modern science : (i) the active agents of the virulent 

 process are organisms ; (2) these organisms are living, 

 and possess specific properties. 



The second part of the work deals with the biology of 

 bacteria. The methods of cultivating them are fully de- 

 scribed, and, what we do not remember to have seen in any 

 other work on bacteriology, there is a full account of the 

 effect on micro-organisms of nourishment, temperature, 

 light, atmospheric conditions, and electricity. In this 

 part, also, are two most important chapters — namely, the 

 effects on the microbes of the nature of the cultivating 

 medium. This is only just beginning to be properly un- 

 NO. I I 24, VOL. 44] 



derstood, and its investigation has already been productive 

 of valuable results. 



The chapter on the products of the growth of micro- 

 organisms is hardly up to the general excellence of the 

 work. It has not been sufficiently brought up to date, so 

 that the researches of Dr. Hankin, and the more com- 

 plete investigations of Dr. Sidney Martin in reference to 

 the albuminoses and alkaloids, do not appear in it. The 

 diastases and ptomaines are, however, fully discussed, 

 and much may be learnt from a perusal of this chapter. 



The third division of the book is devoted to the role 

 which the microbes play in the propagation and causation 

 of disease. The chapter on contagion is one of the best in 

 the book, and would alone form a most valuable brochure. 

 After a consideration of the general modes in which con- 

 tagion is carried, a most exhaustive account is given 

 of air, water, soil, food, and artificial inoculation (vaccina- 

 tion) as carriers of disease. As a natural sequence, the 

 modes of entry of the germs into the body are then de- 

 scribed, auto-infection being included ; and next we have 

 a consideration of what may become of the organisms after 

 their entry, and the changes which take place in the 

 host. The descriptions here given are exceedingly pre- 

 cise, and, although rather condensed, convey all that 

 can be desired. 



Passing now to the fourth part, we find four chapters 

 devoted to the strife between the host and the microbes, 

 and the natural extinction and artificial destruction of the 

 poison. In the third chapter the subject of disinfection 

 i? noticed, both by heat and antiseptics, special atten- 

 tion being drawn to the necessity of the careful dis- 

 infection of sputum, linen, bedding, &c., — points which 

 cannot be too strongly insisted upon in all hospitals, and 

 not merely in those devoted to fevers or diseases of the 

 chest. 



The fifth part deals with the very difficult, and, at 

 present, vague subject of " immunity." Dr. Arloing 

 divides immunity into two classes — " acquired " and 

 " natural." On this subject no one is more qualified to 

 speak than the author of this work, for he has made it 

 almost a special study for years, and it is treated of in 

 his usual masterly way. 



The sixth and last part contains some of the more 

 recent researches (especially those of Pasteur) on the 

 attenuation of the virus. 



Taking the work as a whole, we cannot speak too 

 highly of it. We heartily congratulate the author on 

 the success of his labours. The book is well illustrated, 

 and we cordially recommend it to all those who wish to 

 study a subject so replete with interest and of such vital 

 importance to mankind. F. J. W. 



OUR BOOK SHELF. 



Anleitung zur Bearbeitung vtetcorologischer Beobach- 

 ttingen fiir die Klimatologie. Von Dr. Hugo Meyer. 

 (Berlin : Julius Springer, 1891.) 

 Were this little book less severely technical in form, it 

 might be commended to the notice of that large class of 

 observers whose sole aim and object in meteorological 

 registration is to ascertain the characteristics of the local 

 climate and to compare them in detail with those shown 

 by the similar records of other places. It teaches how 

 the results of observation may be tabulated or graphically 



