August 21, 1885.1 



SCIENCE, 



155 



hours at 50° C, or twelve hours at the temper- 

 ature of the air, and washed for a minute or 

 two in absohite alcohol slightl}' acidulated with 

 h3'drochloric acid, the staining will be found 

 to be perfect. Then follows a long descrip- 

 tion of the varying appearances of the organ- 

 ism when grown in the intestine, in gelatine, or 

 on agar-agar, on coagulated serum, or in many 

 nutrient fluids, which, although exceedingly 

 interesting and important, is too long to be 

 given here. 



The movements of the cholera bacillus are 

 very active, and are much influenced b}^ the 

 temperature, ceasing ahnost entirely at 16° C. 

 They are best studied in bouillon, or Hquid 

 serum, on a warm stage. When the organism 

 stops, there appear currents in the nutrient 

 fluid at both ends, which seem to indicate the 

 existence of one or more cilia. Then follows 

 an exhaustive discussion of the various culture 

 media, and the behavior of the cholera bacil- 

 lus in them ; and, b}^ cultivations upon coagu- 

 lated serum, the aerobic nature of these 

 bacteria seems to be settled. 



The rapidity of development, and the influ- 

 ence upon it of temperature, oxygen, and of 

 various chemicals, are discussed at length. 

 Cultures in gelatine, exposed to a freezing tem- 

 perature for twelve days, grew at 20°-25° C. ; 

 and cultures in bouillon were completely ster- 

 ilized after two hours' exposure to 50°-55° C. 

 Corrosive sublimate (one part to sixty thou- 

 sand of water) was destructive in half an hour 

 to the vitality of cultures of these organisms 

 in chicken bouillon. 



The author considers that the researches 

 made thus far prove the constant and exclu- 

 sive existence of Koch's bacillus in cholera 

 asiatica, and quotes many observers in support 

 of this conclusion. Inoculation experiments 

 with the bacillus under investigation, and con- 

 trol experiments of various kinds, were made, 

 and are detailed at great length, all tending 

 to show the specific nature of the bacillus. 



A long discussion of the critics of Koch then 

 follows ; and the fallacies in the assertions of 

 Strauss and Roux, Lewis, Treille, Hericourt, 

 Finkler and Prior, and Emmerich, are exposed. 

 The assertions of Finkler and Prior are com- 

 bated at length, being the most important ; and 

 the now well-known methods of distinguish- 

 ing between the organism discovered by them 

 and that of Koch are given. [We believe that 

 Finkler withdraws his claim of identit}', and 

 now considers the comma bacillus of cholera 

 nostras to be onl}^ a sort of first-cousin to that 

 of cholera asiatica. — Ed.] The consequences 

 of the discovery of Koch's bacillus are well 



placed before us, and, its specific nature be- 

 ing granted, are worthy of the closest atten- 

 tion. 



The most important part of the work is the 

 study of the action of various germicides upon 

 this bacterium. These are divided into two 

 classes, physical and chemical; of the former, 

 desiccation stands first in point of usefuhiess, 

 and ease of application ; then comes dr}', and, 

 lastl}', moist heat. Of the latter, chlorine, 

 bromine, and other gases, and various disin- 

 fecting liquids, are studied, and their action 

 compared. Here, as in the case of other bac- 

 teria, corrosive sublimate stands at the head 

 for destructive activity ; but, owing to its poi- 

 sonous properties, its use is recommended to be 

 restricted to the disinfection of the hands, ves- 

 sels, etc. ; where large quantities of fluid are 

 needed, as in the treatment of the dejecta, out- 

 houses, etc., a five-i)er-cent solution of phenic 

 acid is preferred. 



The report closes with a ver}' valuable sum- 

 mary of the methods of disinfection, and the 

 strength of the solutions to be employed. 

 Something is also said of Ferran's experi- 

 ments ; but these have been conducted with so 

 much secrecy, and upon so strictly a commer- 

 cial basis, that they are unworthy of attention. 

 A number of plates accompany the report, and 

 add to its value. Taken as a whole, the work 

 is a credit to the author, and to the govern- 

 ment which commissioned him to perform it, 

 and furnishes, as far as one man can, complete 

 confirmatory evidence of Koch's assertions in 

 regard to the comma bacillus of cholera. 



'J'HE FIRST REPORT OF THE AMERI- 

 CAN SOCIETY FOR PSYCHICAL RE- 

 SEARCH. 



The portion of the public that is eager for 

 marvellous so-called ' results,' will quickh' lay 

 down this pamphlet in disgust. The first an- 

 nouncements and circulars of the new society 

 are here printed together ; and the chief out- 

 come, so far, is contained in the appendix B : 

 ' ' Discussion of the returns in response to cir- 

 cular No. 4," by Prof. James M. Peirce and 

 Prof. E. C. Pickering. And here, in the 

 words of the committee on thought-transfer- 

 ence in their general report, the •' general 

 result is, at present, unfavorable to thought- 

 transference as a power belonging to mankind 

 in general. The number of the experiments 

 is, moreover, suflficient to cover prett}^ satis- 

 factorily the particular line of inquiry which 

 suggested them." The committee have there- 



