42 



SCIENCE. 



[Vol. X. No. 233 



EXPLORATION AND TRAVEL. 

 New Explorations in Central Africa. 



The progress of explorations in the Kongo Basin is so rapid that 

 our map of May 27 does not fully correspond to the present state 

 of our knowledge. Therefore we reproduce in the present number 

 the part in which the most important discoveries have been made, 

 corrected to date. The Mongala and the tributaries of the Obangi 

 are drawn more accurately from new maps published by the Mouve- 

 mcnt geographiqite, but the most remarkable features of the new 

 map are the discoveries of Giacomo de Brazza in the region be- 

 tween the Obangi and Ogove, which were pubUshed in the Bulletin 

 of the Italian Geographical Society. Though it is more than a year 

 since this traveller returned from his journey, the map has been 

 published only now, but as it is not based on the longitudes of 

 Captain Rouvier, the positions had to be corrected accordingly. 

 De Brazza started from the upper Ogove. First he made several 

 short excursions in the region between the upper Ogove and the 



the Moitvement geographiqite that Captain van Gfele has ascended 

 the Lopuri, the tributary of the Lulongo. The upper part of this 

 river runs in a north-westerly direction, and approaches the Kongo 

 closely in longitude 21° 26'. Then it takes a south-westerly course. 

 The parallelism of these rivers with the Kongo explains the absence 

 of tributaries in the central part of its upper course. 



HEALTH MATTERS. 

 Pasteur's Methods. 



Recent criticisms of the inoculation-method of Pasteur for rabies 

 have been very unfavorable ; but the report of the English Com- 

 mittee will undoubtedly turn the tide again in the opposite direction. 

 It will be remembered that this committee was appointed by the 

 President of the Local Government Board, in April, 1886, to inquire 

 into Pasteur's treatment of this disease. Its report has just been 

 present'ed to Parliament. The value of such a report depends en- 



MAP SHOWING LATEST INFORMATION ON THE KONGO BASIN. 



Alima, and then started on his important journey. He left Madi- 

 ville on July 12, 1885, travelling in a north-easterly direction. He 

 crossed the Sebe farther north than this river was supposed to run, 

 and crossed the water-shed between the Likona and Ogove under 

 the equator. The most northern point reached is Iluku, situated in 

 a densely populated region. He indicates that this region belongs 

 to the drainage area of the Ogove, the Ivindo rising near this place. 

 This is an important discovery, as it considerably enlarges the 

 drainage area of the Ogove. De Brazza returned to the Kongo by 

 way of the Likuala. Close to the mouth of this river, a little farther 

 east, the Sanga, which according to von FranQois carries a great 

 volume of water, empties. Therefore it must drain an extensive 

 area. As the western tributaries of the Obangi are of no great 

 importance, and the tributaries of the Ogove extend so far east, 

 we must suppose that its sources lie far north, and it may be that 

 the rivers Kadei and Nana, which have been described to Flegel 

 by the natives, are its upper course. 



Since the accompanying sketch-map was engraved, we learn from 



tirely upon the qualifications of those who form the committee, and 

 we presume, that, composed as it is of some of the most eminent 

 of English investigators, its conclusion will receive the most respect- 

 ful and careful consideration by the scientific world. The report is 

 signed by James Paget, Chairman ; T. Lauder Brunton, George 

 Fleming, Joseph Lister, Richard Ouain, Henry E. Roscoe, I. Burdon 

 Sanderson, and Victor Horsley. We venture to say that no more 

 eminent committee was ever appointed on such an investigation. 



In the course of its inquiry the committee visited Paris to obtain 

 information from Pasteur himself, and to observe his method of 

 treatment. They investigated a considerable number of persons 

 inoculated by him. Mr. Horsley conducted a careful series of ex- 

 periments on the lower animals, and entirely confirms Pasteur's 

 discovery of a method by which they may be protected from the 

 infection of rabies. The committee states that " it may be deemed 

 certain that M. Pasteur has discovered a method of protection from 

 rabies comparable with that which vaccination affords against infec- 

 tion from small-pox. It would be difficult to over-estimate the im- 



