264 ANNAL.'i NEW YORK ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 



tion, cosmic dust and map-making show how various the possibilities of 

 these flights might be, with the proper instruments. 

 The Section then adjourned. 



V. E. Levine^ 



Secretary. 



SECTIOK OP BIOLOGY 



13 Maeoh, 1916 



Section met 'at 8 :15 p. m.^ Vice-President H. von W. Schulte pre- 

 siding. 



The following program was presented : 



W. W. Browne, The Bacteeiologt of Aik. 

 George G. Scott, Oxygen Utilization in Fishes. 

 F. H. Pike, The Significance of Ceetain Internal Pactoes 



IN Oeganic Evolution. 



Summary of Papees 



Dr. Browne stated that determinations of the microbic content of the 

 atmosphere were made under the direction of Prof. C-E. A. Winslow, 

 Chairman of the ISTew York State Commission of Ventilation. A total 

 of 385 samples of air were examined during the first six months of 1914, 

 obtained from four different groups of sources: country (85 in number), 

 city (135), ofSee (87), factories (47). The samples of air were collected 

 and examined by the methods prescribed by the Committee on Standard 

 Methods for the Examination of Air of the American .Public Health 

 Association. 



SUMMAEY 



„„„„„„ ■NT.,.v,K^.- Microbes Per cu. ft. Streptococci 



Source. Number. 20°C. 37°C. 100 cu. ft. 



Outdoor : 



Country 85 56 30 12 



City 134 72 32 11 



Indoor : 



Office 87 94 . 80 22 



Factories 47 113 63 43 



The microbes include both molds and bacteria. 



Conclusions. — The number of bacteria developing at 20° C. from out- 

 door air is generally under 50 per cubic foot and rarely over 100. 



