SCIENCE 



Editoeial Committee: S. Newcomb, Mathematics; E. S. Woodwaed, Mechanics; E. C. Pick being. 



Astronomy; T. C. Mendenhall, Physics; E. H. Thdeston, Engineering; Iea Eemsen, Chemistry; 



J. Le Conte, Geology; W. M. Davis, Physiography; O. C. Maesh, Paleontology; W. K. 



Beooks, C. Haet Meeeiam, Zoology ; S. H. Scuddke, Entomology ; N. L. Beitton, 



Botany; Heney F. Osboen, General Biology; H. P. Bowditoh, Physiology; 



J. S. Billings, Hygiene ; J. McKebn Cattell, Psychology ; 



Daniel G. Beinton, J. W. Powell, Anthropology. 



Friday, Apeil 9, 1897. 



CONTENTS: 

 The War loitli the Microbes : E. A. DE Schweinitz..561 



Tlie Growth of Children : Feanz Boas 570 



The Promise and Potency of High Pressure Steam : 



E. H. Thueston 573 



The Origin of the Teeth of the Mammalia : Heney 



F. Osboen 576 



Zoological Notes : — 



The Sharp-tailed Finches of Maine : A. K. Fishee.577 



Current Notes on Physiography : — 



Yellowstone National Park; Bearpaw ^fountains, 

 Montana; Laurentian Highlands of Canada; 



Maps of 3It. Desert: W. M. DAVIS 577 



, Current Notes on Anthropology : — 



The Progress of Anthropology ; Tlie Lumiar Curve ; 

 Native American Mysticism : D. G. BEINTON....578 



Scientific Notes and News 579 



University and Educational News 584 



JXscussion and Correspondence: — 



Diffraction of X-Eays obtained by a New Form of 

 Cathode Discharge : E. W. Wood. The Height 

 and the Velocity of the Flight of a Flock of Geese 

 Migrating Northward: H. Helm CLAYTON. 

 Archseological Discoveries made in the Gravels at 

 Trenton : G. Feedebick Weight, D. G. Bein- 

 ton. An Imaginary Fleet : G. D. Haeeis. The 

 3Ietric System : Buet G. Wildee 585 



Scientific Literature: — 



The Formation of the Quarternary Deposits of 

 Missouri : O. H. Heeshey. Peters' Angewandte 

 Eiektrochemie : Edgae F. Smith 587 



Scientific Journals : — 



American Journal of Science ; The Astrophysieal 

 Journal 589 



Societies and Academies : — 



Zoological Club of the University of Chicago. The 

 Anthropological Society of Washington : J. H. 

 McCoEMlCK. Tlie New York Academy of Sci- 

 ences — Biological Section: Bashfoed Dean. 

 The Torrey Botanical Club: Edwaed S. Bue- 

 gess 592 



New Books 596 



MSS. intended for publication and books, etc., Intended 

 for review should be sent to the responsible editor, Prof. J. 

 MeKeen Cattell, Garrison-on-Hudson, N. Y. 



THE WAR WITH THE MICROBES* 

 From the moment that man made his ap- 

 pearance in the world there has been per- 

 petual warfare between himself and every- 

 thing animate and inanimate upon the 

 earth. To a great extent this has been an 

 aggressive strife, man's every effort being 

 exerted to compel nature to contribute to 

 his comfort, welfare and advancement by 

 the subjugation of her materials and forces. 

 It was many centuries, however, before he 

 recognized that there were certain unknown 

 insidious enemies, which often rendered 

 fruitless his simple household occupations, 

 defied his every effort at control and some- 

 times menaced even his well-being and life. 

 Though in 1675 Leeuwenhoeck discovered, 

 with a powerful magnifying glass, certain 

 minute organisms in decomposing animal 

 matter, it was not until nearly two cen- 

 turies later that their true significance was 

 recognized, and Davaine first demonstrated 

 the positive connection between these 

 minute forms of life and disease. When 

 animal and vegetable life ceased, in accord- 

 ance with the laws of nature, they were 

 supposed to be changed by purely chemical 

 actions, so that their elements were again 

 returned to the earth and air to supply food 

 for other plants and animals. This destruc- 

 tion was considered to be wrought simply 

 by the oxygen of the air, and the process of 



* Address of the President before the Chemical So- 

 ciety of Washington, March 9, 1897. 



