BACTERIOLOGY ' 
A New Atlas of Bacteriology. — An important announcement 
is just received of a new photomicrographic " Atlas der Bacterien- 
hunde,'' shortly to be issued by Doctors Fraenkel and Ffeifter, of the 
University of Berlin. The names of the authors and their connec- 
tion with Koch's laboratory make it probable that the undertaking 
will be of great service and will supply to working bacteriologists a 
convenient standard of reference. The plan which will be followed 
in issuing the ** Atlas" is, to give *'a systematic representation of 
the most important bacteriological objects." Accordingly, there 
will be given ''first, the bacteria in general, in the various stages of 
their life history, and, then, in particular, the microorganisms of the 
principal infectious diseases of men and the lower animals." 
The figures will be accompanied by an explanatory text; and ex- 
treme care is promised to secure unusual mechanical excellence. 
The "Atlas" will appear in from 12-15 parts, each containing about 10 
photographs. The first is promised in January, 188"), and the others 
at intervals of about six weeks. The number of copies is to be limit- 
ed, and the cost, per part, is to be 4 marks. The " Atlas " may be 
had of Hirschwald, in Berlin. 
The Bacteriology of Natural and of Artificial Ice.— 
One of the latest numbers of the Centralhlatt fur Bakteriohgje 
(IV., 22, 673) contains a summary of a recent paper by Heyroth, in 
which the latter gives the results of some three years of investiga- 
tion of the purity of ice, and brings the subject, so far as it has been 
pursued by himself and others, up to 1888. 
The usual " plate " cultures were employed, and the conclusions 
finally arrived at are : 
1. Water on freezing into ice always excretes from itself, so to 
speak, a portion of its chemical and organic contents. 
2. Certain organic substances are less affected than are inorganic 
3. Above all, the microorganisms, and among these not merely 
the 'ordinary harmless water bacteria, but also disease-producing 
forms, are able to withstand the process of freezing as it occurs in 
nature, and even a protracted exposure to the frozen condition, 
without loss of vegetative capacity or enfeeblement of their viru- 
The investigations of artificial ice did not make for it as favorable 
a showing— or, at least, not in all cases. It appears that the water 
' This Department is edited by Prof. Wm. T. Sedgwick, -of the Mass. Insti- 
f Technolosry , Boston, Mass. , to whom brief communications, books f 
- lUld" 
