July 25, 1919] 



SCIENCE 



89 



of chemistry of the Eensselaer Polytechnic 

 Institute to cost $175,000. The new wing will 

 be devoted to laboratories for quantitative 

 analysis, organic chemistry and physical chem- 

 istry. The new construction is necessary be- 

 cause of the growth in the number of students 

 taking the courses in chemical engineering and 

 science. 



Dr. E. J. Kraus, dean of service depart- 

 ments at the Oregon Agricultural College, has 

 been appointed professor of applied botany at 

 the University of Wisconsin. 



Professor Alfred Atkinson, professor of 

 agronomy in the Montana State College, suc- 

 ceeds President J. M. Hamilton, who has re- 

 tired after serving for fifteen years. 



Major Henry A. Mattill, Sanitary Corps, 

 formerly assistant professor of nutrition at the 

 University of California, returned early in 

 March from France, where he had charge of 

 instruction in food and nutrition in the army 

 schools at Langres. Dr. Mattill has accepted a 

 junior professorship in biological chemistry at 

 the University of Rochester. 



Dr. V. Bush, now engineer of the American 

 Radio and Research Co., has been appointed 

 associate professor of electrical engineering at 

 the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 



The following promotions at Lehigh Uni- 

 versity have been announced: Assistant Pro- 

 fessor R. L. Charles, physics, to become asso- 

 ciate professor; Mr. P. B. Fraim, physics, as- 

 sistant professor; Mr. J. S. Beamensderfer, 

 mechanical engineering, assistant professor; 

 Mr. H. C. Payrow, civil engineering, assistant 

 professor, and Mr. M. S. Knebelman, mathe- 

 matics, assistant professor. 



At Cambridge University Mr. W. E. Dixon, 

 Downing College, has been appointed reader in 

 pharmacology; Mr. J. E. Purvis, Corpus Col- 

 lege, university lecturer in chemistry and phys- 

 ics in their application to hygiene and preven- 

 tive medicine; Dr. Graham-Smith, university 

 lecturer in hygiene, and Mr. T. S. P. Strange- 

 ways, St. John's, university lecturer in special 

 pathology. 



DISCUSSION AND CORRESPONDENCE 



LIMICOLOUS OLIGOCH^TA FOR LABORATORY 

 USE 



To THE Editor of Science : I should like to 

 bring to the attention of teaching zoologists 

 the advantages of living limicolous oligochseta, 

 preferably a Tubifex or a Limnodrilus, for 

 laboratory purposes in connection with exer- 

 cises on the earthworm. In the movement 

 which is developing in elementary courses to 

 get away from mere study of structure, the 

 introduction of some convenient and usable 

 form for demonstrating functional activity in 

 connection with so important a type as the 

 earthworm is desirable. At Ohio State Uni- 

 versity we have used Limnodrilus with success. 

 It is sufficiently transparent to allow the in.- 

 ternal structures and processes of the annelid 

 body to be observed. The entire alimentary 

 tract is visible and the peristaltic action of 

 the intestine can be demonstrated together 

 with the effect this has on the material in the 

 intestine. Frequently, too, it is possible to 

 see the movements of the pharynx during in- 

 gestion. The contraction and the direction of 

 blood flow in the main blood vessels can be ob- 

 served. The movement of the setse and their 

 connection with the muscles operating them 

 are also to be seen. The relation of the septa 

 to body wall and intestine and the division of 

 the coelom into compartments is clearly ap- 

 parent. It will thus be seen that these worms 

 not only illustrate the annelid body, but also 

 demonstrate functions of general application. 



For laboratory use it is best to anesthetize 

 the worms to the point of immobility. They 

 should be placed in a watch glass partly filled 

 with water and to this should be added a few 

 drops of a saturated solution of chloretone. 

 It is best to use a little at first, allow it to 

 work for a while and then if necessary add 

 more. The dish should be covered. With a 

 little practise it is possible to have the worms 

 immobile and yet keep the blood vessels and 

 intestine active. For demonstrating ingestion 

 and movement of the setse no anesthetic should 

 be used. Of course all activities are at their 

 best in the unanesthetized worm if students 

 have time and patience to follow the speci- 



