DECEMBER 24, 1897. ] 
technischen Hochschule zu Karlsruhe. Jena, 
Verlag von Gustav Fischer. 1897. Octavo 
of 368 pages, illustrated by 40 photographic 
reproductions and one diagram. 
The volume before us represents the first sec- 
{ion of a work on bacteriology. It opens with 
an instructive critical review of those investiga- 
tions that have played so important a part in 
the development of our knowledge of the sub- 
ject, especially as concerns morphology, classi- 
fication, etc., dwelling at some length upon the 
historic works of Leeuwenhoek, O. F. Miller, 
Ehrenberg, Dujardin, Perty, Cohn, Nageli, and 
DeBary. 
The second section contains a discussion of 
the morphology, structure, modes of develop- 
ment and reproduction, chemical constitution, 
and metabolic activities of bacteria ; while the 
third section is devoted to brief considerations 
of certain specific biological functions of bacte- 
ria—such, for instance, as their relation to cul- 
ture media, their chromogenic functions, their 
specific properties of fermentation, anzerobiosis, 
phosphorescence, and their relation to light and 
to temperature. 
It is an excellent presentation of these phases 
of the subject, especially the section relating to 
the finer structural details of bacteria. Indeed, 
this portion of the work is particularly elaborate, 
the subject being treated with much more de- 
tail than isusual. In this respect it may [serve 
to satisfy the demands so frequently made by the 
botanists for more attention on the part of bac- 
teriologists to the morphological side of bacte- 
riology. We must confess ourselves, however, 
to be of the number who not only find greater 
entertainment and instruction from the study 
of the biological functions of bacteria, but who 
also believe this to be much the more impor- 
tant line along which to develop the work. 
This volume contains no reference to the re- 
jation of bacteria to the more highly-organized 
beings, and comparatively little upon their im- 
portant réle in the great processes of nature— 
points that will doubtless receive due attention 
in the forthcoming second volume of the work. 
The literary references are full and are con- 
veniently grouped at the end of each chapter 
in alphabetical order. 
A. C, ABBOTT. 
SCIENCE. 
965 
SOCIETIES AND ACADEMIES. 
THE 97TH REGULAR MEETING OF THE CHEM- 
ICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON, NO- 
VEMBER 11, 1897. 
THE first paper of the evening, read by Dr. 
H. C. Bolton, was entitled ‘ Hysterical Chem- 
istry,’ a term which he applied to the pre- 
posterous theories and claims of a certain small 
group of writers on chemistry who call them- 
selves Monists. They advocate unity of matter 
and reject identity, replacing the latter by 
analogies. He gave examples of their method 
of reasoning, one instance being the following : 
“ An atom is a hypothesis, 
A hypothesis has no weight, therefore 
Atomic weight is a nonentity.”” 
The speaker showed that these writers did 
little or no experimental work, yet claimed to 
be revolutionizing chemistry by their publi- 
cations ; also that they deserve no serious con- 
sideration. 
Mr. Wirt Tassin’s paper, entitled ‘The 
Preparation of Crystals,’ consisted of a review 
of the several methods of preparing crystals for 
the’determination of their geometrical and phys- 
ical constants, the methods being grouped under 
the following heads : 
A. Solution, treating of the preparation of 
crystals of a substance from its solution in a 
liquid by evaporating and cooling the solution ; 
by the reaction of soluble compounds, or by 
chemical changes in general. The general rules 
to be observed being : 
1. The crystallization must proceed as slowly 
as possible. 
2. The solution must be of the least viscosity 
possible. 
3. The crystallizing substance must be pres- 
ent in the solution in the greatest quantity. 
4. The crystals desired for measurement must 
be removed from the solution, preferably when 
it is at its minimum temperature, and must be 
quickly and completely dried in order to pre- 
vent corrosion or etch figures forming. 
B. Sublimation, in which ease the crystals 
may be obtained direct, or a non-volatile com- 
pound may be obtained as a result of chemical 
action between two or more volatile substances, 
or from a volatile substance and a gas. 
©. Fusion, where the crystals are secured by 
slowly cooling a homogeneous magma, or by a 
