364 



SCIENCE 



[N. S. Vol. LIII. No. 1372 



but it has always been found stronger than 

 that. This variability is of interest as show- 

 ing that there are differences in the properties 

 of the two isotopes, and of course the effect of 

 mass diffei-ences should be si)eeially evident, 

 on account of the large mass ratio 6 to 7, in 

 the case of lithium. 



A. J. Dempster 

 Etekson Physical Laboeatoet, 

 tjniveesitt of chicago 



a remedy for mange in white rats 



A siJiPLE method of keeping white rats for 

 experimental work free from mange has been 

 successfully used for some time in this lab- 

 oratory. Sore ears, noses and tails are quite 

 common in rat colonies and are not caused by 

 deficient rations, as is often thought, but by 

 a parasite known as the Notoedres alenis?- 



The lesions on the ear, due to the mange 

 produced by this parasite, are very character- 

 istic, causing the whole ear to swell and be- 

 come inflamed with the outer edge of the ear 

 fringed with a cauliflower-like incrustation. 

 On the tail the lesions resemble those on the 

 ear, while on the nose they frequently take 

 the form of horn-like protuberances. These 

 lesions .can be readily differentiated from 

 other lesions by the application of insecti- 

 cides. We have found that pine oil- applied 

 with a soft brush will heal affected parts very 

 quickly. This oil has not only very healing 

 properties, but also strong antiseptic and 

 anesthetic properties. Because of the latter 

 care must be exercised in its application. 



Since learning of the effectiveness of this 

 oil it is the custom in this laboratory to wash 

 our animal cages once a week with hot water 

 and soap and to spray the sawdust used on 

 the floor of the cages with the oil. In this 

 way all lice and parasites which are ordinarily 

 troublesome pests in animal colonies are kept 



1 Private communication of Dr. B. H. Eansom, 

 Bureau of Aiiimal Industry, to Dr. J. E. Foster, 

 formerly with the Mayo Clinic. 



2 The pine oil used for the experiments was fur- 

 nished by the Newport Company of Pensacola, 

 Fla., through the courtesy of E. C. Palmer, chief 

 chemist. 



down to minimmn. If an individual rat be- 

 comes infested with lice it can be sprayed 

 with the oil. An atomizer is used for this 

 purpose. Cornelia Kennedy 



Minnesota Agkiculttjeal Expeeiment Station 



impossible (?) stories 

 Dr. Campbell's astonishment at the ac- 

 tual occurrence of the Mark Twain incident 

 (March 4) " reminds me." I had looked 

 upon the Irishman's astronomy as related by 

 DeMorgan^ as a good " manufactured " story. 

 Long life to the moon for a dear noble cratur 



Which serves for lamplight all might in the dark, 

 While the sun only shines in the day which by 



natur 

 Wants no light at all as ye all may remark. 



I was astonished to hear Dr. W. C. 

 Farabee, of the University Museum, relate 

 that in his South American expedition he 

 found the Shipibos Indians worshipping the 

 moon and that upon inquiry tliey gave the 

 same reason as the Irishman. 



Samuel G. Barton 



IjNrVEESITY OF PENNSYLVANIA 



QUOTATIONS 



INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC ORGANIZATION 



There is much to be said in favor of '' team- 

 work," the concentration of many experts on 

 a single problem or on one aspect of a prob- 

 lem. Some inquiries are so vast in scale that 

 progress on any other lines can not be ex- 

 pected. 



The modern telescope has made known the 

 existence of myriads of stars beyond those 

 visible to the unassisted eye. The counting 

 and classification of this multitude can be 

 achieved only by the concerted patience of 

 many men in many countries, and may yet 

 form the basis of some new conception of the 

 order of the universe. Meteorology and 

 geodesy, the attempt to plot the shape of 

 our earth from a number of long base lines, 

 must be international. The determination of 

 standards is of little use unless it lead to 

 universally agreed methods and results. The 

 development and control of fisheries, the ap- 



1 "Budget of Paradoxes," p. 242, 2d ed. 



