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KANSAS CITY REVIEW OF SCIENCE. 



favorable to the multiplication." Fillippo Pacini, of Florence, who died just a 

 year ago, was, in 1854, the first to recognize the cause of cholera in a microscopic 

 organism. This organism, according to Pacini, attacked the mucous membrane 

 of the intestine ; but his doctrine was ridiculed or disregarded till the other day, 

 when the German Commission investigating the specific cause of cholera in Egypt 

 and its native seat, the delta of the Ganges, came to the conclusion already ar- 

 rived at by the Tuscan pathologist. 



The cholera germ imported by patients, or their infected clothes, becomes 

 epidemic only in countries presenting conditions favorable to its development. 

 This development does not happen everywhere in the same mode, and in certain 

 places it does not happen at all. When the disease has entered a country we 

 cannot say whether it will take firm hold or not. We only know that its spread 

 may be favored by four conditions : i. Porosity of the soil in which choleraic 

 dejections have been allowed to penetrate. 2. Oscillations of the underground 

 waters by which the cholera miasm which has developed in the soil may reach 

 the respirable atmosphere. 3. The accumulation of faecal matters or of organic 

 detritus infected by the germ. 4. The facilities offered to the diffusion of the 

 germs in the drains, in the soil, in the air of the locaHty and in the drinking- 

 water. Dr. Tommasi-Crudeli does not believe in sanitary cordons. They are as 

 little able to keep cholera out of a province as custom houses are to prevent 

 smuggling. Quarantine afloat he has more beHef in, if properly carried out, with- 

 out regard to the incubation period of cholera (eight days). But the sheet anchor 

 of the prevention of cholera is the exclusion from the dwelling house and its in- 

 mates of the cholera germ. His counsels in this regard are similar to those of 

 the English sanitary authorities — if possible a little more stringent as to the wash- 

 ing with disinfectants of all linen, whether visibly fouled or not with fagcal matter. 

 As to prescribing a diet different from what suits the individual in ordinary health, 

 he ridicules the notion. . 



EDITORIAL NOTES. 



The 33d meeting of the American Asso- 

 ciation for the Advancement of Science, will 

 be held at Philadelphia, September 4th to 

 10th. It is held at a later date than usual 

 for the purpose of giving the members an 

 opportunity to exchange courtesies with the 

 British Association which meets in Mon- 

 treal August 27th. At the same time the 

 International Electrical Exhibition will be 

 in session at Philadelphia, also the Ameri- 

 can Institute of Mining Engineers and the 

 Pennsylvania Agricultural Society. It is 



probable that while the members of the 

 British and American Associations are en- 

 joying each others' society at Philadelphia, 

 steps will be taken towards organizing an 

 International Scientific Association. This 

 will doubtless be the most largely attended 

 meeting of the association, and extensive 

 arrangements are being made to accommo- 

 date and interest all visitors. All commui- 

 cations concerning rooms and other local 

 matters should be addressed to Prof. H. 

 Carvill Lewis or Dr. Edward J. Nolan, 



