August 7, 1885.] 



SCIENCE, 



103 



The French delegates insisted upon dividing 

 the passengers into isolated groups, so that 

 each group might be released separatel}^ at the 

 expiration of five daj's from the occurrence of 

 the last case. Other delegates objected to any 

 detention for a longer period than is necessary 

 for the thorough disinfection of the vessel and 

 the personal effects of the passengers. This 

 modified sj'stem of quarantine, or ' medical 

 inspection,' if well executed, and with the ap- 

 plication of approved methods of disinfection, 

 would doubtless afford the greatest possible 

 security with the least possible interference 

 with commerce, and injustice to individuals ; 

 whereas the old-fashioned quarantine is re- 

 garded b}' tlie more enlightened nations of 

 Europe as untrustworth}^ and barbarous. • Dr. 

 Koch, the discoverer of the ' comma bacillus,' 

 was in favor of the s^'stem of medical inspec- 

 tion as above defined. 



It would be out of place in the present paper 

 to give more in detail the conclusions reached 

 b}' the conference with reference to sanitary 

 regulations to be adopted at the port of de- 

 parture, at sea, and at the port of arrival, the 

 special measures recommended for the Red 

 Sea and Suez Canal, the directions for disinfec- 

 tion, etc. But, as showing in outline the gen- 

 eral sentiment of the delegates wath reference 

 to the most important preventive measures, we 

 may quote the following [)roposition, which 

 was introduced on the last day of the session 

 by the delegate from the United States, and 

 was adopted with but a single negative vote 

 (Turkey). 



"• The measures recommended against chol- 

 era are, in general, applicable to yellow-fever, 

 and to other diseases which prevail in epi- 

 demic form under the influence of bad sanitary 

 conditions, and which are transmitted by 

 human intercourse. 



" The most effectual means for preventing the 

 propagation of diseases of this class are : The 

 sanitary improvement (assainissement) of sea- 

 port towns, and of vessels sailing from infected 

 ports ; isolation of the sick ; and disinfection of 

 infected or suspected articles and localities." 



Baltimore, July 30. Gko. M. Sternberg. 



LETTERS TO THE EDITOR. 



*^.* Correspondents are requested to be as brief asjjossible. The 

 writer's name is in all cases required as jjroof of good faith. 



An abnormal Rudbeckia. 



An interesting specimen of Eudbeckia hirta, L., 

 was recently found among a patch of plants by my 

 brother, Mr. Davis L. James. It differs from the 

 normal type in such a manner 

 as to deserve notice. It had the 

 ordinary form, with the black 

 conical centre. There were 

 thirteen yellow rays. Two of 

 these were of the usual shape, 

 ligulate, with notches at the 

 end; three were tubular, and 

 with five lobes; and the re- 

 mainder split open near the 

 end, and the ray spread out. 

 All the rays were fertile, al- 

 though the generic character 

 is ' rays neutral ' (Gray, ' Man- 

 ual,' p. 254). There can be no 

 doubt as to the species, as it is 

 a very common and familiar 

 plant in this neighborhood. 

 The sketch shows the appear- 

 ance of the flower. It seems al- 

 most like an intermediate stage 

 between the typical composite 



and a blossom with a number of large tubular flowers 

 in a head. Can it be a reversion to some ancestral 

 form? 



Joseph F. James. 



Cincinnati, O, 



The ginkgo tree. 



Some years ago I received fruit from the Ginkgo 

 (Salisburia adiantifolia) from Tennessee, and since 

 then I have heard of a number of cases. My impres- 

 sion is, that, in the latitude of southern Pennsylvania 

 and Virginia, it is rather common for this exotic to 

 fruit. 



Wm, H. Brewer. 



New Haven, Conn,, July 28, 



The swimming-habits of the sunfish. 



The accompanying figure may at first puzzle the 

 reader, but a little explanation will make it compre- 

 hensible. It is a view of the sunfish, orMola, as seen 

 from the back, the beholder looking down upon the 

 animal from above as it swims in its own peculiar 

 vv^ay. The individual from which this sketch was 

 taken was caught in a trap-net at Quisset Harbor, 

 Mass., and afterwards towed in a strong bag- net with 

 a steam-launch from Quisset to Wood's Holl, wliere 

 it was placed in one of the large pools constructed 

 south of the laboratory for the Fish commission under 

 the direction of Professor Baird. The fish measures 

 about five feet in length and three in width: in fact, 

 it may be considered adult. Since its removal to its 

 new home, the animal seems quite contented, and 

 has afforded an unusual opportunity to observe the 

 manner in which its fins are used. The manner in 

 which these organs are moved is so peculiar that it 

 has been thought advisable to give a brief account of 

 the means by which they are made effective as loco- 

 motive organs. 



One does not need to watch this fish long in its 



