JANUARY 21, 1904] 
NATURE 
285 
Ccenolestes. The sparassodonts (Prothylacinida) are also | 
included in this radiation, although how these terrestrial | 
types (which, as already stated, the author thinks were 
probably allied to the thylacine) were developed from 
arboreal forms is left unexplained. Finally, in the Pliocene 
occurred the irruption into South America of the modern 
‘opossums of that country. 
It may be added that the author classifies modern 
marsupials by the foot-structure rather than by the denti- 
tion, thus making the two main groups Didactyla and 
Syndactyla, in place of Polyprotodontia and Diprotodontia. 
Ree 
CONTRIBUTIONS TO:'THE SCIENCE OF 
MEDICINE.* 
HE handsome volume under notice contains a number 
of important papers of considerable interest to the 
physiologist, pathologist, and physician. It commences 
with a description, and an account of the opening, of the 
Johnston Laboratories for Biochemistry, Tropical, and Ex- 
perimental Medicine, the munificent gift of Mr. William 
Johnston—hence the addition in the title of these reports. 
This has a melancholy interest also, since one of those who 
replied to the toasts on that occasion was the late Prof. 
Nocard. 
The first paper is by Prof. Moore on the synthesis of fats 
accompanying intestinal absorption, in which it is shown 
that absorbed fat is re-synthesised to neutral fat in the 
intestinal mucous membrane. Neurology is represented by 
papers on the physiology of the cerebral cortex in anthro- 
poid apes, by Dr. A. S. Griinbaum and Prof. Sherrington 
(reprinted from the Proceedings of the Royal Society, 
London), and on the electric conductivity of mammalian 
nerve, by Dr. Woodworth. Prof. Sherrington records a 
number of experiments carried out for the special chloroform 
committee of the British Medical Association on the 
dosage of the mammalian heart by chloroform; these have 
already been referred to in the columns of Nature. Dr. 
Hume publishes a method for the isolation of the typhoid 
bacillus, based upon the greater motility of this organism 
compared with that of the colon bacillus, with which it is 
generally associated, so that the former will reach the 
surface of a column of viscid medium sooner than the latter 
when the two are introduced at the bottom. Mr. Roaf 
contributes a note on the influences of flour and allied sub- 
stances upon the typhoid bacillus, from which it would seem 
that emulsions of flour are inhibitory to the growth of this 
microbe. Dr. J. W. Stephens describes a modification of 
the Van Ermengem method for flagella staining. 
The study of cancer is represented by two important 
papers, one by Dr. Prowse on the relation of vesicular mole 
to chorion carcinoma, the other by Mr. Keith Monsarrat 
on an organism associated with mammary carcinoma. In 
the last-named it is claimed that by the use of a special 
culture medium, round encapsuled organisms have been 
cultivated, the cultures in certain instances producing 
nodules of growth when inoculated into guinea-pigs. 
The vitality of the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine 
is evidenced by several contributions. Prof. Ronald Ross 
describes his “‘ thick film’’ process for the detection of 
malaria and other parasites in blood. Dr. Christy and Dr. 
Stephens contribute papers on “‘ tick fever ’’ and on ‘‘ black- 
water fever’’ respectively, and Drs. Stephens and 
Christophers give a summary of researches on native 
malaria and blackwater fever, and suggestions for the pre- 
vention of these dread scourges. 
Finally, the volume concludes with the report of the 
malaria expedition to the Gambia in 1902, by Mr. Dutton, 
to which an appendix is contributed by Mr. Theobald on 
the mosquitoes collected in that expedition, with a descrip- 
tion of some new species. Every paper contains the results 
of original work or observations of value, and the general 
“get up’’ of the volume is all that could be desired, the 
illustrations being numerous and excellent. 
R. T. Hewrert. 
i “The Thompson-Yates and Johnston Laboratories Reports.” 
(New Series.) Part I. (London: Longmans, Green and Co., 1903.) 
NO. 1786, VOL. 69] 
Vol. v. 
UNIVERSITY AND EDUCATIONAL 
INTELLIGENCE. 
CaMBRIDGE.—It is proposed to “‘ affiliate ’’ the University 
of King’s College, Nova Scotia. Graduates in arts of that 
university will be admitted to the privileges of alfiliated 
students, namely, exemption from the previous examination 
and permission to proceed to the B.A. degree after six terms’ 
residence in Cambridge. 
An annual prize in civil engineering, of the value of about 
151., has been founded by Mrs. Wimbolt, in memory of her 
late husband, Mr. J. S. Wimbolt, M.A., of Trinity College. 
The prize is open to Bachelors of Arts, and will be given 
for the best exercise or dissertation embodying the results 
of independent research in some subject related to the pro- 
fession of a civil engineer. 
Tue Finance Committee of the Liverpool Corporation has 
decided to recommend the city council to grant to the Liver- 
pool University 10,oool. during the year 1904, such sum to 
be paid out of the city rate. 
At the Northampton Institute, Clerkenwell, on Friday, 
February 26, Lord Kelvin will present the certificates and 
prizes on the occasion of the annual prize distribution and 
conversazione of members and students. 
A CONFERENCE on nature-study, arranged by the School 
Nature Study Union, will be held on Saturday, January 30, 
at the Passmore Edwards’ Settlement, Tavistock Place, 
W.C. The chair will be taken by Mr. Cyril Jackson, Chief 
Inspector, Board of Education, and two short papers will 
be read by representatives of elementary and secondary 
schools. | 
SOCIETIES AND ACADEMIES. 
Lonpon. 
Royal Society, December 10, 1903.—‘‘On the Resem- 
blances Exhibited between the Cells of Malignant Growths 
in Man and those of Normal Reproductive Tissues.’” By 
J. Bretland Farmer, J. E. S. Moore, and C. E. Walker. 
The object of the communication is to direct attention to 
certain important cytological transformations exhibited 
during the development of malignant growths in man. The 
changes described appear to be diagnostic of malignant as 
opposed to benign growths, inasmuch as they seem to be 
absent from the latter class of tumours. Briefly, the 
authors have identified, within the proliferating edges of 
advancing growths, cells that exhibit a type of karyokinesis 
presenting an extraordinary similarity to, if not identity 
with, the heterotype mitosis that forms so constant a 
character during the production of sexual cells. This 
mitosis, or nuclear division, is remarkably different in 
character from the other divisions in the body-cells, and is 
recognised with ease and certainty. The nuclear chromo- 
somes pass through a totally different series of changes as 
compared with those exhibited by the chromosomes of 
ordinary nuclei. Not only in shape is this difference mani- 
fested, but also in the reduction of their number to one- 
half; and in all the subsequent cell generations that follow 
from a cell that has once passed through the heterotype 
mitosis the reduced number of chromosomes is retained in 
normal cases that lead to the direct formation of the sexual 
cells themselves. In any cells, otherwise of similar (hetero- 
type) origin, that are not about to form actual sexual cells, 
variations and abnormalities may supervene. 
All the principal varieties that are commonly met with 
during the evolution of the sexual cells have been identified 
in malignant growths of carcinomatous and sarcomatous 
types. The authors consider themselves justified in relating 
the malignancy of the growth with these facts, and they 
regard the malignant tissue in question as having origin- 
ated in cells that have lost their somatic character, and have 
directly assumed the nature of reproductive tissues. 
They propose the term gametogenic to signify tissues 
that are potentially or actually about to give rise to sexual 
cells (gametes), whilst they call the cells that have passed 
through the metamorphoses indicated above, but which do 
not finally form functional gametes, gametoid. This ex- 
pression is thus intended to embody their conclusion that the 
