August 7, 1903.] 



SCIENCE. 



187 



other important step is gained in elucidating 

 the nature of the instability of such chemical 

 elements of high atomic weight and the radio- 

 activity associated with it. — The Loudon 

 Times. 



The possibilities of such mysterious forces 

 as those possessed by radium present an at- 

 tractive field of speculation for the physician, 

 ilay not the radiant energy emitted by radium 

 possess pathogenic as well as curative, destruc- 

 tive as well as stimulating, powers on cells and 

 cellular processes ? Perchance, it may be 

 forces of this kind that upset physiologic laws 

 of cellular activity, and lead to abnormal 

 proliferations of various kinds ? But ques- 

 tions of this kind are not yet ripe for discus- 

 sion. Actual experimental studies must fur- 

 nish the necessary basis of facts from which 

 it may be permitted to draw further deduc- 

 tions. Danysz found that radium destroys 

 the skin of guinea-pigs and rabbits, but sub- 

 cutaneous and muscular tissue do not seem 

 so sensitive as skin. The nervous tissue is 

 also sensitive to its action. A sealed glass 

 tube with salts of radium placed against the 

 skin over the spine is followed by death in 

 young animals. In older animals the osseous 

 tissue seems to protect the spinal cord against 

 the radiations. The effects of rays of radium 

 on bacteria have not been studied extensively 

 as yet, but both Danysz and Bohn show that 

 various larva; and embryos are profoundly 

 modified in their growth, many being killed 

 when subjected to the radiations ; others de- 

 veloping into monstrosities because of un- 

 equal stimulation. Bohn further finds that 

 radium exercises an especially intense action 

 on tissues or cells in proliferation ; non-fertil- 

 ized eggs may undergo more or less partheno- 

 genetic development and give rise to atypical 

 formations. It has been found, too, that in 

 animals whose skin was burned by the rays, 

 the hair, in some cases, appeared to be forced 

 into rapid growth. It seems that various 

 effects are obtainable, depending on the tis- 

 sue or cell exposed, as well as on- the quantity 

 and quality of the rays. Further experiments, 

 no doubt, will yield even more interesting and 



conclusive results. We have commented on 

 the announcement that in Vienna cancer has 

 been cureil by means of radium. In this 

 particular direction much work will surely be 

 done, and we may expect interesting develop- 

 ments. — Journal of the American Medical 

 Association. 



SVMilER WORK OF THE GEOLOGICAL 

 tSUKVEY. 



The preliminary arrangements for the pres- 

 ent season are as follows: 



Adams, Dr. George I., assistant geologist, 

 will complete study of northern Arkansas lead 

 and zinc district, with some revision of Yell- 

 ville and Fayetteville quadrangles. On its 

 comijletion, associated with Dr. Erasmus Ha- 

 worth, will make an areal and economic sur- 

 vey of lola thirty-minute quadrangle, Kansas. 

 Later will make reconnaissance of stratig- 

 raphy of Coal Measures and Permian in 

 northern Texas. 



Alden, Wm. C, assistant geologist, will con- 

 tinue work on Pleistocene geology of quad- 

 rangles in southeastern Wisconsin. 



Arnold, Dr. Ralph, geologic aid, will assist 

 Dr. Wm. H. Dall in completion of mono- 

 graijh on southeastern and Florida Tertiaries, 

 and Dr. J. C. Branuer on the paleontology of 

 the Santa Cruz quadrangle, California. 



Ashley, Dr. George H., assistant geologist, 

 will complete, under supervision of M. R. 

 Campbell, study of Cumberland Gap coal 

 field, in cooperation with state of Kentucky. 



Atwood, W. W., assistant geologist, will 

 assist Professor R. D. Salisbury in glacial 

 work west of one-hundredth meridian. 



Bain, Dr. H. Foster, geologist, will begin 

 systematic study of lead and zinc deposits of 

 Mississippi valley. Will make detailed sur- 

 veys in southern Illinois and in Galena dis- 

 trict in northwestern Illinois ; and will visit 

 points in Wisconsin and Missouri for coop- 

 eration with state sur\'eys. 



Bascom, Dr. Florence, assistant geologist, 

 will complete necessary field work and prepare 

 for publication the Philadelphia Special folio, 

 embracing four fifteen-minute quadrangles. 



