g2 The West American Scieniist. 



ages I have made it an object to inquire of travelers and others 

 concerning presentiments, and have found that they are very 

 common, occasionally lulfilled, generally not so; and that it is the 

 tendency with practically all persons who have had one presenti- 

 ment come true to force themselves into all, and to become ty- 

 rants over those dependent upon them or those traveling with 

 them. It is to be frankly admitted that no matter how vivid the 

 supposed presentiment might be, its non-fulfillment would not 

 demonstrate that there are no presentiments which must have 

 originated external to the mind of the subject; but having been 

 led by my experience to induce many persons to defy such feelings 

 without a single instance of reported evil results, it confirms 

 strongly the hypothesis of their subjective origin. 



"That presentiments are governed by no moral principle in the 

 character of the subjects to which they are applied, the persons 

 who receive them, the occasions upon which they are given, and 

 their effects, is apparent. The most immoral have claimed to 

 have them, have communicated them to others, and they have 

 sometimes been fulfilled by events from which the persons hav- 

 ing them have derived great personal advantages. The best of 

 men have had presentiments, but the great majority of good 

 people have not; and the greatest calamities which have befallen 

 most persons have come without any warning whatsoever, except 

 such as could be inferred from existing situations. Experience, 

 foresight and guidance by ordinary sagacity have been all that 

 mankind have had to rely upon; and to be governed only by 

 these, combating or disregarding presentiments, impressions and 

 powerful impulses for which no foundation can be found in the 

 nature of things, is the only safe and stable rule. 



Encouraging Science— The Vermont Microscopical Associa- 

 tian has just announced that a prize of $250, given by the Wells 

 & Richardson Co., the well-known chemists, will be paid to the 

 first discoverer of a new disease germ. The wonderful discovery 

 by Professor Koch of the cholera germ, as the cause of cholera, 

 stimulated great research throughout the world, and it is believed 

 this liberal prize, offered by a house of such standing, will greatly 

 assist in the detection of micro-organisms that are the direct 

 cause of disease and death. All who are interested in the sub- 

 ject and the conditions of this prize, should write to C. Smith 

 Boynton, M. D., Secretary of the Association, Burlington, Vt. 



Recent and Sub-fossil Shells of the Colorado Desert 

 — In crossing the basin of the Colorado Desert in June, 1888, the 

 editor made a considerable collection of the fresh water shells, in 

 a sub-fossil state that are found strewn in such numbers over 

 portions of the desert. Amnicola protea, Gould, was found by 

 the million, and several quarts of this small- shell were easily 

 gathered — scraped up off the ground where the wind had blown 

 them together. With them were numerous specimens of Amni- 



