Septembek 12, 1902.] 



SCIENCE. 



43S 



same fomi of the word as appears in Mr. Har- 

 per's list, while the other two are obviously 

 identical in structure with forms given in 

 the dictionaries. Thus epeirogenic becomes 

 epirogenic while the accuUural of the list has 

 undoubted affinity with acculturation as de- 

 fined in the works consulted. 



Mr. Harper noted, however, that a few of 

 his words were to be found in the dictionaries, 

 but without meanings corresponding to their 

 obvious application by the authors quoted. 

 In three cases out of five, however, this objec- 

 tion has seemingly been met, at least, so 

 far as can be determined without consulting 

 the original references. 



Peyote, also, does not seem to constitute a 

 fair test for an English dictionary, as it is 

 the native Mexican name for a cactus (Ario- 

 carpus fissuratus) better known as 'mescal 

 button' or 'dry whiskey.' 



It would thus seem that success in reading 

 with understanding the modern Carylean 

 writers on scientific subjects depends in a 

 measure, at least, on the reference books avail- 

 able. Henry E. Baum. 



SHORTER ARTICLES. 



THE PHYSIOLOGY OF SEA WATER. 



For a number of years the writer has been 

 studying the physiological action of various 

 substances in simple and in mixed solutions. 

 For two years the physiology of sea water has 

 been given especial attention. A study of 

 synthetic solutions variously prepared has 

 seemed to indicate that such a solution when 

 properly made is capable of replacing sea 

 water in some instances in a very satisfactory 

 way. 



Experiments made at the Woods Hole Ma- 

 rine Biological Laboratory last summer by 

 the writer and by Miss Susie Nichols, of Clin- 

 ton, N. Y., working under the writer's direc- 

 tion, seemed to indicate that a synthetic solu- 

 tion prepared in such a manner as to contain 

 the six chief substances present in the sea in 

 the proportion there present, differed in a 

 very marked way in its physiological proper- 

 ties from sea water. It seemed at the time 

 that this difference disappeared to a large 



degree when a considerable excess of salt over 

 that given in analysis was added, and some 

 structural differences in the molecular consti- 

 tution of the two media were suggested as a 

 possible explanation. A study of the conduc- 

 tivities and freezing points of the solutions 

 concerned has been made under the writer's 

 direction during the present season at the labo- 

 ratory of the United States Fish Commission 

 at Woods Hole by Dr. Joseph S. Chamberlain, 

 expert in physiological chemistry of the De- 

 partment of Agriculture. The evidence pre- 

 sented fails to sustain the experiments of a 

 year ago. It is clearly indicated that through 

 some error, perhaps due to insufficient allow- 

 ance for water present in the salts used, a less 

 quantity of salts was introduced than was sup- 

 posed; hence the necessity for adding the sup- 

 posed excess. In the correct concentration, 

 Miss Nichols has been able to carry marina 

 algfe for a large part of the year, in which 

 time they have passed from spore stage to 

 spore stage. It is a pleasant duty to state 

 that, through the kindness of Professor A. D. 

 Morrill, Miss Nichols has enjoyed laboratory 

 facilities at Hamilton College for this work. 



Experiments now in progress indicate that 

 not only is it possible to prepare an artificial 

 sea water in which certain marine algae can 

 develop, but it appears that many very sensi- 

 tive marine animals can also be kept for long- 

 er or shorter periods of time, and often carry 

 out a considerable part of their development 

 in artificial mixtures. 



Among animal forms that have been 

 tested in this respect may be mentioned the 

 following: The Ctenophore (Mnemiopsis Ley- 

 dii L. Ag.), common in Woods Hole waters; 

 Gonionemus Murbachii May., found in the eel 

 pond at Woods Hole now being studied in this 

 connection, I believe, by Dr. H. F. Perkins; 

 a nudibranch mollusk which has apparently 

 developed from the egg in an artificial medi- 

 um; and the scup, stickleback and silver-sides 

 among the fishes. 



A further study of the subject both in its 

 chemical and in its physiological phas&s is 

 now in progress. Rodney H. True. 



Bureau of Plant Industry, 



U. S. Department of Agriculture. 



