Proceedings of Scientific Societies. 285 
Socrety oF Arts.—Boston, January 10, 1888.—Prof. W. T. 
Sedgwick read a paper entitled “ A Biological Examination of the 
Water Supply of Newton, Massachusetts,” it being a record of joint 
work done on the subject by the speaker and Mr. S. R. Bartlett. 
ference was found to exist between the river and basin water. 
Water from the river gave as an average 261 colonies of Bacteria 
in a cubic centimetre ; that from the basin, 42; from the reservoir, 
when the water is pumped, 23; and that taken from the tap in 
Newton, only 6. The following results bear out the opinion that 
Newton’s water supply is superior. Newton water was thus found 
to contain 6 micro-organisms in a cubic centimetre; Spot pond, 
Malden, 10; Cochitnate, 43; Mystic, 204; Croton, N. Y., from 
54 to 256. The chemical tests also justified the reputation of the 
Newton water for purity. 
The next paper, also read by Prof. Sedgwick, explained a “ New 
Method for the Biological Examination of Air,” by Prof. Sedgwick 
and Mr. G. R. Tucker. A description of the previous methods 
used for this purpose was first given. In the new method the air 
is drawn through a small tube containing granulated sugar, the 
Sugar being then mixed in an enlargement of the same tube, with a 
proper amount of gelatine to insure the growth of any germs held 
by it. The apparatus for drawing always the same amount of air 
through the tube is an ingenious one, and is the invention of Mr. 
Tucker. It has been found by numerous experiments that the 
Sugar catches all the Bacteria of the air. The apparatus is simple 
in construction and working, and is designed to be used in hospital 
wards and at any place where frequent examinations of the air are 
desired. It was shown in working order, and a large number of 
plates and tubes showing micro-organisms in various stages of de- 
velopment were exhibited. 
AMERICAN Purtosopuican Socrery.—May 20, 1887.—A 
paper from Prof. S. S. Stevenson, entitled “Notes on the Surface 
logy of Southwest Virginia,” was presented. ; 
September 2, 1887.—The following communications were read : 
Formation, collected b i iti 6,” | 
; y the Princeton expedition of 1886 by Profs. 
z B. Scott and Henry T. Osborn, Princeton, N. J. i Dr. D. G. 
ca read a paper entitled “ Were the Toltecs an Historic Na- 
Ye aes 
x eptember 16, 1887.—A paper by Dr. A. C. Stokes, of Trenton, — 
- J., on some “New Fresh-Water Infusoria was presented.” 
