406 



SCIENCE. 



[Vol. ir., No. 33. 



eral morphological characters. He then de- 

 votes considerable space to a consideration of 

 the conditions, such as temperature, nutritive 

 substances, and the like, favoring their growth ; 

 their effect in causing the groups of changes 

 included under the terras fermentation and 

 putrefaction ; finall}-, discusses their relation to 

 disease. Of their method of action, he very 

 properlj' refrains from expressing an opinion. 



The list of pathogenic microbia, according 

 to Ziegler, is a larger one than the strictly- cau- 

 tious-observer will admit. For, to go be.vond 

 as a proven fact that specific organisms have 

 been found in connection with other diseases 

 than anthrax, relapsing fever, septicaemia of 

 mice, and probably with tuberculosis, gland- 

 ers, malignant oedema, and, under the H^'pho- 

 mycetes, actinomykosis, is, in the present state 

 of our knowledge, unwarrantable. 



In regard to the mutability of bacteria, the 

 views of various writers pro and con are given, 

 but no definite conclusion is expressed. 



To the Hyphon^ycetes a chapter is devoted ; 

 and. while giving a very good account of what 

 is known in regard to their pathogenic qualities, 

 one can but be impressed with the fact of the 

 extreme meagreness of knowledge of the rela- 

 tion which the ever-present mould- fungi bear 

 to disease. 



The chapter on animal parasites contains 

 nothing of special interest. 



The book as a whole shows evidence of hav- 

 ing been written by a young man. All that is 

 new has special stress laid upon it, while the 

 work of the earlier generation receives less 

 attention. The author inclines to state things 

 positivel.y, with but little of the cautious scep- 

 ticism which marks the writings of the older 

 and more conservative worker who is prepared 

 to weigh every objection, and combat eveiy 

 point. 



This latter quality, however, does not in the 

 least detract from the value of the work, for 

 the object for which it was intended ; on the 

 contrary, much enhances it. For nothing can 

 be more disheartening to the student beginning 

 a subject, than to be plunged at first into that 

 mire of doubt which is ever present for him 

 who attemi)ts a deeper insight into a science. 



The English translation is a remarkably good 

 one. It is certainly as agreeable as it is rare, 

 to read a smooth translation, where one is not 

 constantly reminded of the tongue from which 

 it had its origin. 



The letter-press and wood-cuts are much 

 superior to those usuallj' found in text-books ; 

 and Macmiilan deserves with Dr. McAlister 

 the thanks of the English-reading profession 



for presenting Professor Zieglcr's work in so 

 attractive and readable a form. 



As a text-book for students, physicians, and 

 those men of science who are interested in the 

 sciences upon which medicine rests, it tills a 

 gap which has long been felt. 



ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY IN ENGLAND. 



Report nf nhseroations of injurious infects during the 

 year 1SS2, with methods of prevention and remedij., 

 and special report on wire-worms. By Eleanou 

 A. Ohmkrod, F. M. S , etc. London, 1883. 

 98 p., illustr. 8°. 



This is the fourth of a scries of reports 

 prepared bj^ Miss Ormerod for the use of the 

 farmers of Great Britain. The plan of these 

 reports is peculiar. They consist largely of 

 abstracts from the writer's correspondence ; 

 the greater part of wliich is presumaljly in 

 reply to circulars issued b}' her. In thus col- 

 lecting and publishing the results of the ex- 

 perience of the more observing agriculturists, 

 Miss Ormerod is doing an important work, 

 and the enthusiasm and energy which she has 

 displayed in it are deserving great praise. It 

 is fortunate, however, that she has not confined 

 herself to the work of compilation, but has 

 recorded the results of personal observations. 

 And we venture to suggest that what she 

 states on her own authority will be read with 

 more interest than the quoted portions of her 

 work. For no one but herself can judge of 

 the relative value of the conclusions of her 

 various correspondents. We realize, however, 

 that the publication of the reports of these 

 correspondents is probably* a considerable part 

 of the incentive to their co-operation with her ; 

 and the system has produced such good results 

 that one should be slow to criticise it. 



The report for 1882 contains notes on more 

 than thirty- difl^erent species of insects infest- 

 ing fruit, garden-vegetables, field-crops, and 

 forest-trees. The most serious injury recorded 

 for that j-ear is that to hops by Aphides. It 

 is estimated that the loss to the hop-growers 

 of the United Kingdom from this cause was 

 not less than £1,750,000. This injury is the 

 greatest which has been incurred for many 

 j'ears. 



Nearlj- one-half of the report is devoted to 

 an article on wire-worms, or click beetles. This 

 article was compiled from notes contributed in 

 reply to a circular issued b}- the council of the 

 Royal agricultural society-, and it doubtless 

 gives a very good idea of the popular beliefs 

 now held in the British isles i-especting these 

 pests. We wish that the above-named society 



