g2 The West American Scientist. 
ages I have made it an object to inquire of travelers and others - 
concerning presentiments, and have found that they are very | 
common, occasionally tulfilled, generally not so; and that it is the 
tendency with practically all persons who have had one presenti- 
ment come true to force themselves into all, and to become ty- 
rants over those dependent upon them or those traveling with 
them. It is to be frankly admitted that no matter how vivid the 
supposed presentiment might be, its non-fulfillment would not 
demonstrate that there are no presentiments which must have 
originated external to the mind of the subject; but having been 
led by my experience to induce many persons to defy such feelings 
without a single instance of reported evil results, it confirms 
strongly the hypothesis of their subjective origin. 
“That presentiments are governed by no moral principle in the 
character of the subjects to which they are applied, the persons 
who receive them, the occasions upon which they are given, and 
their effects, is apparent. The most immoral have claimed to 
have them, have communicated them to others, and they have 
sometimes been fulfilled by events from which the persons hay- 
ing them have derived great personal advantages. The best of 
men have had presentiments, but the great majority of good 
people have not; and the greatest calamities which have befallen 
most persons have come without any warning whatsoever, except 
such as could be inferred from existing situations. Experience, 
foresight and guidance by ordinary sagacity have been all that 
mankind have had to rely upon; and to be governed only by 
these, combating or disregarding presentiments, impressions and 
powerful impulses for which no foundation can be found in the 
nature of things, is the only safe and stable rule. 
ENCOURAGING SCIENCE— The Vermont Microscopical Associa- 
tian has just announced that a prize of $250, given by the Wells 
®& Richardson Co., the well-known chemists, will be paid to the 
first discoverer of a new disease germ. The wonderful discovery 
by Professor Koch of the cholera germ, as the cause of cholera, 
stimulated great research throughout the world, and it is believed 
this liberal prize, offered by a house of such standing, will greatly 
assist in the detection of micro-organisms that are the direct 
cause of disease and death. All who are interested in the sub- 
ject and the conditions of this prize, should write to C. Smith 
Boynton, M. D., Secretary of the Association, Burlington, Vt. 
RECENT AND SUB-FOSSIL SHELLS OF THE COLORADO DESERT 
—lIn crossing the basin of the Colorado Desert in June, 1888, the 
editor made a considerable collection of the fresh water shells, in 
a sub-fossil state that are found strewn in such numbers over 
portions of the desert. Amnicola protea, Gould, was found by 
the million, and several quarts of this small shell were easily 
gathered—scraped up off the ground where the wind had blown 
them together. With them were numerous specimens of Amni- 
