572 



SCIENCE 



[N. S. Vol. XXVIII. No. 721 



in cats (young) loss of reflexes for 30-40 

 minutes; in cats (old) loss of reflexes for SO- 

 TO minutes; in dogs, loss of reflexes for 75- 

 90 minutes. 



In the turtle transverse lesion of the cord 

 usually does not abolish the reflexes except 

 momentarily. This is also true for the 

 pigeon. In other words, lesions of the dorsal 

 roots produce the same shock effects on the 

 spinal reflex mechanism of the limb involved 

 as transverse lesion of the cord itself. 



The present theories of spinal shock may 

 be summarized under three heads, viz., (a) 

 inhibition due to the trauma; (h) loss of 

 tonus impulses to the reflex centers; and (c) 

 lesions of the reflex arcs themselves. 



The last theory is not applicable to these 

 results. Either one or both of the other two 

 may be applicable to the results here reported. 

 That is the shock may be due to the temporary 

 effect of absence of tonus impulses, or to irri- 

 tation of inhibitory nerves, or to both of these. 



The work is being continued with the pur- 

 pose of determining this point. 



Clyde Brooks 



a note on the occurrence of two west 

 indian fishes at beaufort, n. c. 



During August, 1907, the writer collected 

 in the harbor of Beaufort, IST. C, two fishes 

 which are for the first time reported from 

 this locality. Both forms are of the tropical 

 and subtropical faunas. A small specimen of 

 Aludeduf saxatilis Linn., was seined August 

 10, 1907, at the Fort Macon jetties. Its length 

 is 2.25 inches. The other form is Ulcema 

 lefroyi Goode. A number of these were taken 

 in a dipnet at Fivers Island, August 3, 1907. 

 The smallest fiish measured 0.40 inch in length, 

 the largest 0.52 inch. 



In order to ascertain the identity of these 

 small fish, which had evidently been hatched 

 only a few days prior to their capture, they 

 were placed in an aquarium of running sea 

 water, and there they were successfully reared. 

 During the first week they were fed on cope- 

 pods and larval crustaceans which were 

 strained from the tow; this food was then 

 changed to grated oyster on which they thrived 



vigorously. September 2, 1907, the smallest 

 Ulcema measured 0.91 inch in length, the 

 largest 1.12 inches; the rate of increase in 

 length averaged 120 per cent. This method 

 of rearing fry was employed this season for 

 Fundulus majalis, which were hatched in the 

 laboratory from eggs which had been artifi- 

 cially fertilized. The young Fundulus were 

 reared until they had attained a length of 

 0.75 inch, when an accidental overflow of the 

 aquarium permitted the fish to escape. 



On August 21, 1908, on the landward side 

 of one of the large shoals in the harbor, num- 

 bers of small specimens of IJlaema lefroyi were 

 collected in a small seine of fine mesh. 



For the opportunity of making these ob- 

 servations the writer is indebted to the Hon. 

 Geo. M. Bowers, TJ. S. Commissioner of 

 Fisheries. 



Bartgis McGlone 



St. John's College, 

 Annapolis, Md., 

 September I, 1908 



CATALYTIC REDUCTION OP FATS AND OILS 



About four years ago it was shovm by Faal 

 and Amberger^ that palladium could be ob- 

 tained in a particularly active colloidal aque- 

 ous solution (hydxosol). Subsequently the 

 senior author demonstrated^ that this liquid, 

 in presence of hydrogen, was capable of caus- 

 ing the catalytic reduction of nitrobenzene. 

 The work has now been extended to include 

 certain other substances,' the most generally 

 interesting of which are oleic acid and a num- 

 ber of oils.* 



The acid, in the form of its potassium salt, 

 is dissolved in water and mixed with a small 

 quantity of the palladium solution; the liquid 

 being then introduced into a .gas-burette con- 

 taining hydrogen, standing over mercury. 

 Absorption of the gas commences immediately 

 and the reaction is completed in a few hours. 

 No heating is required. Oleic acid, under 

 these conditions, is converted almost quanti- 

 tatively into stearic acid. Castor oil, dis- 



'^Ber., 37, 124 (1904); 38, 139S (1905). 



''lUd., 38, 1406, 2414 (1905); 40, 2209 (1907). 



nUd., 41, 2273. 



*nid., 41, 2282 (1908). 



