SCIENCE 
_A WEEKLY JOURNAL DEVOTED TO THE ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE, PUBLISHING THE 
OFFICIAL NOTICES AND PROCEEDINGS OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION 
FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE. 
EDITORIAL CoMMITTEE : S. NEwcomB, Mathematics; R. S. WoopwARD, Mechanics; E. C. PICKERING, 
Astronomy ; T. C. MENDENHALL, Physics ; R. H. THuRSTON, Engineering ; IRA REMSEN, Chemistry ; 
JOSEPH LE ContTE, Geology ; W. M. Davis, Physiography ; HENRY F. OsBoRN, Paleontology ; 
W. K. Brooks, C. HART MERRIAM, Zoology ; S. H. ScuDDER, Entomology ; C. E. BEssEy, 
N. 1. 
Physiology; J. S. BILLINGS, 
BRITTON, Botany ; C. S. Minor, Embryology, Histology; H. P. Bownpitcn, 
Hygiene ; 
WILLIAM H. WELCH, Pathology; 
J. MCKEEN CATTELL, Psychology ; J. W. PowEuL, Anthropology. 
Fripay, May 17, 1901. 
CONTENTS: 
The Plague in San Franciscd..........0s-2e0c000 290000 761 
The Destruction of Sea Lions in California............ 765 
On the Vital Activity of the Enzymes: PROFESSOR 
Vo JEls CASI UT sécocoacadaadosbonososnadobaceneagenusoccas 765 
The Progress made in Engineering during the Nine- 
teenth Century: PROFESSOR J. L. VAN ORNUM. 771 
Monaural Localization of Sound: PROFESSOR J. R. 
ANSRIEITIAG Goocc0500eG008" | Gon coagesosHaboeHsbOooCOD aeséeoBd0 775 
Food of Sea Lions: DR. C. HART MERRIAM...... 2G 
Scientific Books :— 
MeGee on the Seri Indians: PROFESSOR ALEX AN- 
DER F. CHAMBERLAIN. Verhandlungen der 
Deutschen Zoologischen Gesellschaft : PROFESSOR 
CHARLES A. Kororp. Bolton’s Bibliography of 
Chemistry: PROFESSOR JAS. LEWIS Howe. 
Benedict on the Determination of Carbon and 
Hydrogen: PROFESSOR W. R. ORNDORFF. 
IBDORS TREGGIRG Keocsocmecisonoeqnacnacdecqoonscoscceba5de60n 779 
Scientific Journals and Articles.... 785 
Societies and Academies :— : 
Anthropological Society of Washinghton: DR. 
WALTER HouGH. Philosophical Society of 
Washington: CHARLES K. WEAD. Biological 
Society of Washington. DR. WILFRED H. Os- 
GooD. Torrey Botanical Club: PROFESSOR 
EDWARD S. BURGESS.........0.0c0escceee seeecereee 
Discussion and Correspondence :— 
The Keeler Memorial: PROFESSOR F. L. O. 
WaAvDswortH. The Laryna as an Instrument of 
Music: PRoFESSOR JosEPH LE ConTE. The 
Photography of Fossils: PROFESSOR HENRY S. 
NAVI NS IS ccccaccdondogodesasneescoondbscsqanoacnaceacee0 789 
Shorter Articles : 
Variation in Light of Eros: PROFESSOR ED- 
WARD C. PICKERING. A Simple Osmometer : 
E. E. BOGUE........ Gocaesooanocn90s000 600003300 AOBHOIE00 790 
Current Notes on Physiography :— 
The Texas Region; The Nashua Valley, Mass.: 
PROFESSOR W. M. DAVIS .......seccsseeeeveseesene 791 
Current Notes on Meteorology :— 
Monthly Weather Review; Mean Monthly Rain- 
fall; Notes: PROFESSOR R. DEC. WARD......... 793 
Frangois Quesney: DR. THOMAS WILSON........... 
Wisconsin Archeology: HARLAN I. SMITH 
Scientific Notes and News.........c.csceceeececsecnssesees 
University and Educational News 
786 
THE PLAGUE IN SAN FRANCISCO. 
In the spring of 1900 the city bacteri- 
ologist of San Francisco and the quarantine 
surgeon of the Marine Hospital Service, 
stationed at Angel Island, San Francisco 
Bay, made the discovery that the death of 
a Chinaman had been caused by plague. 
In accordance with the provisions of the 
laws governing these two officers in their 
respective functions, the case was officially 
reported. Other cases soon developed, and 
the occurrence of these cases was likewise 
officially reported. The reports of the 
quarantine surgeon were published in the 
Public Heath Reports of the Marine Hos- 
pital Service in accordance with law and 
The truth 
of the reports was at once questioned by 
with international agreements. 
the larger portion of the local public press, 
the objections being partly of a political 
and partly of a commercial character. <A 
certain portion of the medical profession 
also opposed the recognition of the diag- 
nosis, and the opinions of these physicians 
constituted the basis of the denial by the 
press of the truth of the existence of plague. 
The diagnosis had been established in ac- 
cordance with the conceptions of plague as 
determined by the scientific study of the 
