770 



SCIENCE 



[N. S. Vol. XXXIV. No. 883 



in a review of current research in what is 

 known as " isostasy." In the discussion of 

 this puzzling question, Mr. "Willis advances 

 the theory that the foundation of all the conti- 

 nents is composed of solid rock which is self- 

 crushed to a depth of about 120 kilometers, but 

 rendered sufficiently rigid by pressure to main- 

 tain its form during prolonged geologic periods 

 with but slight change. In spite of stresses 

 occasioned by erosion of continental reliefs, 

 this mass is capable of movements sometimes 

 resulting in the gradual elevation of conti- 

 nents and the more vigorous uplifting of 

 mountains, through which isostatic equilib- 

 rium is restored. 



In line with the construction and condition 

 of the globe, another author, Professor Thomas 

 Chrowder Chamberlin, brings up the further 

 vital question, " The Future Habitability of 

 the Earth," in an article in which he reviews 

 the past, and considers the future, of the 

 world as a dwelling place for the human race. 

 Many branches of science enter into the dis- 

 cussion, but upon geology, physics, chemistry, 

 astronomy and astrophysics rests the burden 

 of the arguments. Mr. Chamberlin thinks 

 that the earth will remain habitable for tens 

 of millions of years, but concedes that the 

 close approach of a celestial body to the sun 

 would probably result in the disruption of the 

 solar system and bring disaster to the earth. 

 He further states, in regard to the future pos- 

 sibilities of scientific research, that " when 

 moral purpose and research come to be the 

 preeminent characteristics of our race by vol- 

 untary adoption and by the selective action of 

 the survival of the fittest, and when these most 

 potent attributes join in an unflagging en- 

 deavor to compass the highest development 

 and the greatest perpetuity of the race, the 

 true era of humanity will really have been 

 begun." 



Several papers come under the head of bot- 

 any, among them an interesting sketch of the 

 sacred ear-flower of the Aztecs, a plant whose 

 identity has been a mystery for years and only 

 recently rediscovered by the author, Mr. W. 

 E. Safford, of the Bureau of Plant Industry. 

 This little flower, resembling the human ear, 



has a remarkable history and dates back to 

 the early explorations of Mexico. It was first 

 described in 1569, by Padre Bernardino de 

 Sahagun, who states that it was much used 

 owing to its delicious fragrance and its flavor 

 when used as a spice. Despite the formidable 

 name, Xochinacaztli, which it bears, the au- 

 thor suggests its cultivation on account of its 

 unusual fragrance and pleasant spicy flavor. 

 Mr. Henry S. Graves, chief of the Forest 

 Service, contributes a well-illustrated and 

 original article on forest preservation, in 

 which he carefully considers all points in the 

 great problem, making many things clear 

 which have long been obscure. 



Those interested in medical research and 

 allied subjects will find matter of concern in 

 the following papers : " Manifested Life of 

 Tissues Outside of the Organism," by Alexis 

 Carrel and Montrose T. Burrows ; " Epidemi- 

 ology of Tuberculosis," by Robert Koch; " The 

 Significance of the Pulse Rate in Vertebrate 

 Animals," by Florence Buchanan, D.Sc, and 

 " Sanitation on Farms," by Allen W. Free- 

 man, M.D. 



A comprehensive paper on the contemporary 

 Slav peoples, from a geographical and statis- 

 tical point of view, by Ludor Niederle, of the 

 Bohemian University of Prague, which has 

 been translated from the Slavic language into 

 English, furnishes new information on the 

 history and distribution of these peoples. 

 Dr. J. Walter Fewkes, of the Bureau of Amer- 

 ican Ethnology, contributes a brief review of 

 his recent work and investigations in cave 

 dwellings, both at home and abroad. This 

 paper is entitled " The Cave Dwellings of the 

 Old and New World." 



The Report also contains biographies of 

 Melville Weston Fuller, Sir Wm. Huggins 

 and Alexander Agassiz, together with papers 

 on several other subjects treated by com- 

 petent authors, many of whom are world-wide 

 authorities. 



SPECIAL ABTICLES 



CESTODE CELLS IN VITRO 



The desirability of throwing any light what- 

 soever upon the question of the character of 



