78 THE AMERICAN MONTHLY [May 



College, it is shown by laboratory experiments, that 

 cholera and typhoid germs in sea water remain virulent 

 and infectious for two months and that shell-fish may be 

 infected. 



In 1896, Dr. Klein showed that the tyhoid bacilli 

 and colera vibrio retain vitality in sea water. He found 

 the colon bacillus in oysters from polluted beds and 

 absent from those in pure water. He found typhoid in 

 the mangled bodies and liquor of oysters from a sewage 

 laden dock at Great Grrirasby. 



In 1896 reports of extended researches were made at 

 the British Association for the Advancement of Science. 

 These showed the oyster to have great power of absorb- 

 ing fecal matter ; an increase from ten to seventeen 

 thousand colonies in the bacterial contents of the pallial 

 cavity and of the rectum when the oyster is laid down 

 near the mouth of the drain ; more bacteria in the pallial 

 cavity than in the alimentary canal ; that the typhoid 

 bacillus does not flourish in sea water without some such 

 nidus as the oyster ; that it does not multiply in the 

 stomach or tissues of the oysters ; that the colon bacillus 

 is present in very many oysters found on sale ; that 

 bacterial infection is largely lost if the oysters are 

 placed in a stream of pure running water. 



PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS. 



BY Iv. A. WIIvLSON. 

 ci,sve;i.and, OHIO. 



Plant Hairs of Pereanth of Shepherdia Cana- 

 densis. — The backs of the flowers look densely tuber- 

 culate. The tubercles consist of plant hairs which 

 readily detach on the slightest pressure and mounted 

 in glycerine jelly make attractive slides. They are 



