SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES, in 



the siipply of oil being exhausted, as nature was constantly forming a 

 fresh supply. Questions were asked and answered, and the meeting 

 was interesting and instructive. The Chairman thanked Mr. Callahan on 

 behalf of the Section for his able lecture. 



G. MAJOE TABEE, Secretary. 



BIOLOGICAL SECTION. 



The meeting of the Biological Section was called to order, by the 

 chairman. The minutes of the last meeting were read and approved. 

 The exercises of the evening consisted of a lecture by Dr. Louisa Burns, 

 of South Pasadena, on The Technique of Blood Examination. The method 

 of enumerating the corpuscles and estimating the haemoglobin was 

 clearly explained and illustrated by a practical demonstration. 



This was followed by a talk from C. A. Whiting on the significance 

 of blood examinations. Anemia and the several kinds of Leukemia were 

 discussed. 



Dr. B. F. Gamber of Los Angeles was present and followed the 

 lectures with a most interesting and instructive talk along the same 

 lines. Among other facts he stated that in one case studied by him, 

 the removal of the patient from tlie sea level to an altitude of 7,500 feet 

 increased the blood count from 4,600,000 corpuscles per cu. m. m. to 

 9,000,000. 



The lecture was illustrated by microscope and haemocytometer loaned 

 by the Pacific School of Osteopathy. 



About twenty five members and visitors were present. 



C. A. WHITING, Secretary. 

 Woman's Club House. 



NOTES AND NEWS. 



The plant known as Basil, (Ocimum viride) which was so highly 

 recommended as a mosquito preventative, has proved on investigation 

 to have no value. An equally fallacious belief at one time prevailed 

 with regard to the utility of lolue gum trees in making malarious coun- 

 tries healthy. ' 



The gun clubs of our neighborhood might greatly increase the sport- 

 ing value of the marshes by the extensive sowing of wild rice (Zizania 

 aquatiea, L.) so much favored as a food by ducks and other birds of 

 aquatic habits. The U. S. Department of Agriculture has just issued 

 an interesting bulletin on the uses and the propagation of the plant. 

 The mud flats and lagoons of Southern California are eminently suited 

 to the cultivation of the plant. 



Science long ago iuA^aded the culinary department of the nursery, 

 but now we have the utilitarian gravely suggesting that the nursery 

 rhymes be made instructive and suggests among others the following 

 modification of "Three blind mice:" 



Three blind boils! 

 See how they run! 

 They all ran after the farmer's wife 

 Had cut oif their heads with a septic knife; 

 You never saw siich a mess in your life 

 As three blind boils. 



The January issue of the "Fern Bulletin," containing A. A. Eaton's 

 revision of the Genus Equisetum is of more than usual interest to Cal- 



