NovEMBER 5, 1897. ] 
ence accepts as the virus of the disease, and 
which has been now known to the scientific 
world for upwards of twenty-five years through 
the important discovery of Hansen and the able 
investigations of Neisser. 
2. The conditions under which the bacillus 
grows and develops are still unknown, as well 
as the way of its invasion into the human sys- 
tem ; but from the discussions at the Conference 
it seems probable that a unanimity of opinion 
will soon prevail with regard to the modes of 
its dissemination throughout the body. 
3. Very interesting observations have been 
brought forward concerning the large quantities 
of bacilli which are eliminated from the bodies 
of lepers through the skin and the buccal and 
nasal mucous membranes. It is desired that 
these observations be confirmed where oppor- 
tunities occur. This question is important to 
those who are entrusted with the care of the 
publie health, as we have to acknowledge that 
leprosy is a contagious disease. 
4, Every leper is a danger to his surround- 
ings, the risk varying with the nature and ex- 
tent of his relations therewith and with the 
existing sanitary conditions. Although in the 
poorer classes the leper is especially a source of 
danger to his family and fellow workers, it can- 
not be denied that cases frequently occur also 
in the higher social circles. 
5. The theory of the heredity of leprosy has 
lost ground in comparison with the now gen- 
erally accepted opinion of its contagiousness, 
6. The treatment of leprosy up to the present 
time has only had palliative results, Serum- 
therapy, so far, cannot be said to haye been 
successful. 
7. In view of the virtual incurability of lep- 
rosy and the serious and detrimental effects 
which its existence in a community causes, and 
considering the good results which have fol- 
lowed the adoption of legal measures of isola- 
tion in Norway, the Leprosy Conference, as a 
logical issue of the theory that the disease is 
contagious, has adopted the following resolu- 
tion, proposed by Dr. Hansen and amended by 
Professor Besnier: (a) In countries where lep- 
rosy forms foci or has a great extension, isola- 
tion furnishes the best means of preventing the 
spread of the disease. (6) The system of ob- 
SCIENCE. 
699 
ligatory notification, observation and isolation 
as carried out in Norway is recommended to all 
nations with local self-government and a suffi- 
cient number of physicians. (c) It must be left 
to the administrative authorities, after consulta- 
tion with the medical authorities, to take such 
special measures as are applicable to the special 
social conditions of the districts. 
GENERAL. 
Mr. Henry S. PrircHetr, Ph.D. (Munich), 
professor of physics and astronomy in Wash- 
ington University, St. Louis, has been appointed 
by the President, Superintendent of the Coast 
and Geodetic Survey in the place of Gen. W. 
W. Duffield, resigned. Professor Pritchett was 
from 1878 to 1880 Assistant Astronomer at the 
Naval Observatory, Washington, He has en- 
gaged in work for the Survey in China and Japan 
as wellas in the United States. We regret 
to notice the statement that Professor Pritchett 
is a Republican in politics, but hope that this is 
amere accident and does not mean that the 
head of the Survey is liable to be changed every 
four years. There is every reason to believe 
that the Survey will now be conducted with the 
greatest efficiency and will contribute largely to 
the solution of the important practical and sci- 
entific problems with which it is charged. 
It is announced that the conference of dele- 
gates from the United States, Russia and Japan 
in regard to the seal fisheries has resulted in an 
agreement recommending the material limita- 
tion or complete suspension of pelagic sealing. 
Professor D’Arcy Thompson is now in Wash- 
ington and it is expected that Mr. Macoun, the 
Canadian Minister of Marine, will shortly arrive, 
and that the conference between the United 
States, Great Britain and Canada will soon be 
held. 
PrRoFEssor F, F. MARTENS, professor of in- 
ternational law in the University of St. Peters- 
burg, has been chosen an arbitrator in the ques- 
tion of the Venezuela boundary. 
Dr. H. Hicks, President of the Geological 
Society, London, has been awarded the jubilee 
medal established in commemoration of the 
sixtieth anniversary of the Queen’s reign, 
Dr. EDMUND DRECHSEL, professor of physio- 
