~ JANUARY 11, 1901.] 
ulus. The predictions were always fulfilled, 
_ Since the animals always turn to their right 
when stimulated. 
In the same way Paramecia always turn to- 
ward the aboral side when stimulated. These 
animals have thus a definite ‘motor reaction’ 
to almost any stimulus—consisting of a dart 
backward and a turning toward a structurally 
defined side. The collection of the Paramecia 
in the drop of acid is due to the fact that the 
passage from the acid to the water acts as a 
stimulus to produce this ‘motor reacton.’ This 
prevents them from leaving the acid, and a 
dense collection is soon formed. 
The collecting of Chilomonads in acetic acid 
wasshown. The essential identity in character 
of ‘positive chemotaxis’ or ‘positive chemo- 
tropism’ with ‘negative chemotaxis’ or ‘ che- 
mokinesis’ was demonstrated by showing that 
whether we get the one or the other depends 
on the relative arrangement of the two fluids. 
If the Paramecia or Chilomonads were in water, 
and a drop of acid was introduced, a dense 
group was quickly formed in the acid (‘ positive 
chemotaxis’); if on the other hand the organ- 
isms are in acid and a drop of water is intro- 
duced, the latter remains quiteempty. If now 
the organisms were in water and a drop of 
salt solution was introduced, the drop remained 
empty (‘negative chemotaxis,’ or ‘ chemokine- 
sis’); if the organisms were in salt solution and 
a drop of water was introduced, they swarmed 
into the drop of water, as previously into the 
acid. Passage from the water to acid does not 
cause the ‘ motor reaction,’ while passage from 
the acid to the water does, hence they collect 
in the acid; passage from the salt solution to 
the water does not cause the reaction, while 
passage from the water to the salt does, hence 
they collect in the drop of water. 
Many other demonstrations were given, and 
the significance of the results in simplifying the 
‘psychology’ of these organisms, and in their 
relation to current theories of tropisms or taxis 
was discussed. Similar results to those set 
forth were stated to have been obtained with 
certain Metazoa also. 
H. 8. JENNINGS, 
Secretary. 
SCIENCE. 
70 
DISCUSSION AND CORRESPONDENCE. 
UNAUTHORIZED NEWSPAPER REPORTS. 
In view of the fact that a number of daily 
papers have printed reports concerning alleged 
or real experiments of mine I wish to state: 
1. That none of the statements printed in the 
,newspapers have been authorized by me. 
2. That whatever I may have to say about my 
work will be published in scientific journals. 
JACQUES LOEB. 
UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO. 
AN APPEAL FOR ASSISTANCE. 
_To THE EDITOR OF SCIENCE: A letter re- 
ceived from Mr. R. W. Garner, dated from Sao 
Thomé, West Africa, November 26, 1900, gives 
rather painful news of that intrepid explorer in 
the jungles of West Africa. Relying upon his 
remarkable powers of endurance and his simple 
habits of life, Mr. Garner started on this expe- 
dition with very limited means and an inade- 
quate outfit. It seems that on this occasion he 
was overcome by the jungle fever, and the un- 
expected expense incurred by a month’s sick- 
ness has exhausted his resources. He does not 
ask for help, but states that since he is already 
in a country where few men would care to ven- 
ture, it seems as if some institution might like 
to send him a moderate sum of money, in return 
for which he would collect ethnological and 
zoological material, and at the same time could 
continue his own investigations. This is cer- 
tainly a good opportunity, and any institution 
that can take advantage of it would at the same 
time be rendering assistance to a worthy ex- 
plorer who is deserving of help in his under- 
taking. It will be necessary to secure Mr. 
Garner’s services at once, since it is evident 
that if he does not receive some substantial 
cooperation, he cannot continue his researches. 
Any communication should be sent direct to 
Mr. R. W. Garner at Sao Thomé, West Africa. 
F. W. PUTNAM. 
PEABODY MUSEUM OF ARCHEOLOGY AND 
ETHNOLOGY, HARVARD UNIVERSITY, 
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. 
CURRENT NOTES ON METEOROLOGY. 
RAINFALL OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 
THE ‘Results of Rain, River, and Evapora- 
tion Observations made in New South Wales 
