AvuGUST 27, 1897.] 
natural selection asa transforming factor, 
but acknowledges its preserving and in- 
tensifying power. This is the only conces- 
sion that can be made to the theory of 
natural selection as long as the results of 
Himer’s investigations have not been re- 
futed by facts, not,as heretofore, by words. 
Till then, I believe, one cannot deny to 
EHimer’s work the appreciation contained in 
Minot’s introductory sentences: ‘‘If Pro- 
fessor Eimer’s claims are correct, his re- 
searches mark one of the great epochs of 
biological discovery.” 
I wish to state that this is merely a pre- 
liminary exposition of Himer’s views, in- 
tended for rectifying the erroneous judg- 
ment expressed by Minot. EHimer’s work 
on organic evolution (Macmillan, 1889) 
gives a detailed account of his theoretical 
views and of the facts on which they are 
based. His work on Butterflies, which was 
criticised by Minot, serves to furnish 
further corroboration of the theory ad- 
vanced in the above work on evolution. In 
his lecture at Leyden he has also given a 
complete exposition of his ideas in their re- 
lation to the theory of selection and of 
Weismannism; against the latter Eimer 
takes a most decided stand (see ‘ Extract 
from Comte Rendu des Séances du 3™° Con- 
grés international de Zoologie, Leyde, 16- 
21 Sept., 1895). This lecture includes the 
programme of Himer’s most recent exposi- 
tion of ‘ Orthogenesis’ embodied in a work 
that is just about to appear. 
Countess Dr. M. yon LinpEn. 
ZOOLOGICAL INSTITUTE, HALLE. 
THE Countess von Linden’s article pre- 
‘sents the arguments in favor of Eimer’s 
theory. A reply seems unnecessary and 
others will judge of the value of the theory. 
Himer’s earlier papers I knew; whether I 
understood them or not I cannot decide. 
All of Himer’s evidence is essentially that 
he asserts that of a group of living species a 
SCIENCE. 
313 
certain form or certain forms are ancestral 
types. If one denies that assertion Himer 
cannot prove that it is correct, but unless he 
proves it his deductions remain hypotheses. 
The reader is asked to consider whether 
Countess von Linden offers proof that a 
certain species in any given case is the an- 
cestral race. 
For the sake of a fair discussion I am 
glad that the preceding communication 
from Professor Eimer’s assistant appears in 
SCIENCE. 
CHARLES S. Minor. 
PROGRESS OF PROFESSOR KITASATO’S IN- 
STITUTE FOR INFECTIOUS. DIS- 
EASES AT TOKIO.* 
Amone the changes in the general condi- 
tion of Japan, due to the introduction of 
Western civilization, one of the most note- 
worthy is the entire revolution in the sys- 
tem of medicine; the old Chino-Japanese 
school has been superseded by the scientific 
system of the West, and the striking feature 
of the new medicine in this empire is the 
ascendency of the bacteriological element. 
The center of this movement is seated at 
the ‘Institute for Infectious Diseases,’ di- 
rected by Dr. Kitasato. 
To Mr. Fukusawa belongs the credit of 
having initiated the introduction of this 
branch of medical science into this country 
by building, at his own expense, a labora- 
tory for Dr. Kitasato, upon the latter’s re- 
turn from Germany in 1892. I do not 
mean to ignore what has been done at the 
University and elsewhere; I only empha- 
size the great impetus that the study of the 
micro-organisms has enjoyed since the es- 
tablishment of the above mentioned labora- 
tory. Subsequently the Institute became 
connected with the ‘Sanitary Society of 
Japan.’ The ensuing year the Imperial Diet 
* This article was prepared at the request of the 
Editors. Dr. Nakagawa is a graduate of Princeton 
University. 
