May 5, 1905.] 



SCIENCE. 



719 



ton Botanical Club. The pleasant and profit- 

 able experiences gained by those who attended 

 the first of these meetings, held at McCall's 

 Ferry, Pennsylvania, in July of 1904, give 

 reason to believe that there will be a large 

 attendance at Ohio Pyle. A detailed report 

 of the proceedings at McCall's Ferry will be 

 found in the February issue of the Plant 

 World. 



A CONFERENCE of Scientific scholars was 

 held at Colorado College, Colorado Springs, 

 on April 28 and 29, leading universities and 

 colleges sending representatives. A number 

 of valuable papers upon subjects bearing on 

 the scientific problems of the Rocky Mountain 

 country were promised. 



The annual conference of the British Child- 

 Study Association will be held at Derby on 

 May 11-13, under the presidency of Professor 

 Muirliead, of Birmingham University. 



The Boston Scientific Society celebrated its 

 twenty-ninth anniversary at a dinner on April 

 25. Dr. H. Helm Clayton, of the Blue Hill 

 Observatory, acted as toastmaster. Speeches 

 were made by Professor A. E. Dolbear, of 

 Tufts College, Professor George H. Barton, 

 of the Teachers School of Science, Mr. John 

 Ritchie, Jr., and others. 



The annual convention of the American 

 Institute of Electrical Engineers will be held 

 at Asheville, N. C, from June 19 to 23. 



The United States consul at Frankfort re- 

 ports that Professor Fluegge, president of the 

 hygienic institute at Breslau, has sent the fol- 

 lowing circular to the owners and managers 

 of dwellings in one of the districts of that 

 city : " The common council has resolved to 

 fight in a systematic manner the mosquito 

 plague, which prevails every year, and the 

 plan for the purpose has been worked out at 

 this institute. It is necessary in the first 

 place to destroy, before warm weather sets in, 

 the mosquitoes which pass the winter in the 

 cellars and basements of houses. These cellar 

 and basement mosquitoes will be destroyed by 

 municipal experts without inconvenience to 

 the people and withovit injury to property. In 

 order to make it possible to carry out the plan 



successfully we respectfully request the ad- 

 mittance of the disinfectors to the cellars of 

 houses and permission for them to take the 

 steps necessary to kill the mosquitoes. The 

 disinfectors will have identification cards." 

 According to the Silesian Gazette, the plan for 

 fighting the mosquito plague is to be worked 

 out in two directions. The hibernating mos- 

 quitoes, which are almost always found in the 

 cellars of houses adjoining unoccupied terri- 

 tory, parks, gardens, etc., must be killed. 

 These are found in somewhat damp cellars, 

 facing north, and are recognizable with diffi- 

 culty by those not experts, but cover the ceil- 

 ings by thousands. In the spring they leave 

 and lay their eggs in water, the larvae pro- 

 ducing mosquitoes within three to four weeks. 

 A supplemental effort will be made to destroy 

 the larvae, which are found principally in 

 stagnant, shallow pools. These must be either 

 filled in or treated with malachite green or 

 other larvffi-destroying substances. For the 

 present this process will only be employed in 

 that part of the city which suffers most from 

 the mosquito plague. If it proves successful 

 it will be extended next year over the whole 

 city. Fighting mosquitoes will be carried on 

 in a systematic manner on a scientific basis. 

 Summer resorts and watering places, espe- 

 cially, should imitate the example set by 

 Breslau. 



We learn from The Athenmum that Dr. 

 Theodor Koch, who for the last two years has 

 been traveling in the interior of Brazil, sends 

 a very interesting account of his travels. He 

 followed the course of the Rio Uaupes beyond 

 the last rapids, and spent a considerable time 

 with the Kobeua Indians, whose religious 

 mask dances are so curious. He made a thor- 

 ough study of their language, and in their 

 company visited the Rio Cuduiary. The 

 whole district watered by these rivers is of 

 great interest, as it is inhabited by a number 

 of tribes who speak distinct dialects and retain 

 all their ancient habits and customs, as the 

 nature of the river renders their dwelling- 

 place almost inaccessible. Dr. Koch has been 

 successful in obtaining photographs, and has 

 a fine collection of weapons, masks, costumes 

 and domestic utensils. 



