Zoology . 57 
employed is not always as -unobjectionable as ordinary drinking 
water, and also that the water employed is sometimes rendered 
more or less impure by the careless use of the process it undergoes. 
Accordingly, figures as high as 528, 960, 1323, and even 1610 bac- 
teria per cc. were found, although, on the other hand, specimens 
were found which were absolutely sterile. 
The following conclusions were reached, viz. : 
1. That the ice used for preservative purposes and for the cooling 
of drinks ought, no matter how prepared, to be made of such 
water only as has already been found to be pure, and at least as 
good as that adapted for a public water supply. 
3. For the sake of the continuous protection of its composition 
periodical and repeated examinations should be made of the ice sup- 
ply and its sources. 
Dissection of the Dog as a Basis for the Study of Physiol- 
ogy. — A handsome and conveniently arranged guide to so much 
of anatomy as may be learned from a fairly thorough dissection of 
the dog has been prepared by W. H. Howell, of Johns Hopkins 
University, and published by Henry Holt & Co., of :^^ew York. The 
work is avowedly done by a physiologist for physiological purposes ; 
and in our opinion it has been done wisely and with discrimination. 
The worker who is endeavoring to get broad ideas of the position 
and relation of org.ns and parts as mechanisms, should never be 
buried under anatomical minutiae to him of secondaiy importance, or 
confused beforehand by being told minutely what to do, or worse 
yet, what to see. By giving undue attention to his guide he is dis- 
tracted from the objects before him, and sooner or later is in danger 
of losing both the interest and pleasure of discovery and, above all, 
the final reward of increased power and independence. 
The book is not too large, possesses the great merits of simplicity 
and brevity, and ought to prove a real help to classes of a certain 
grade, in physiology.— IK T. Sedgwick. 
ZOOLOGY. 
_ The Axatomy of Protoi>terus.— Prof. W. X. Parker commu- 
nicates to J>rature (XXXIX., pp. 19-21) a preliminary note on the 
anatomy and physiology of Protopterus annectans, of which abun- 
dant material has recently been received at Freiburg. The whole 
epidermis is packed with goblet cells, and besides contains here and 
there multicellular glands like those of Amphibia. The normal ep- 
idermal cells are covered with a cuticular cap. The muscles of the 
