46 



SCIENCE. 



[Vol. VII., No. 154 



Special attention has been directed in Brooklyn, 

 during the past fall, to having this measure 

 efficiently carried out. supplemented by repeated 

 washings of the public sewers, in the districts 

 specially affected, with a solution of chloride of 

 lime. Shortly after these measures were inaugu- 

 rated, the disease declined ; but whether this was 

 in any degree attributable thereto or not, cannot 

 be decided until further observations are made. 

 Thus far, a preliminary report only has appeared, 

 but a fuller one is promised. It is well worthy 

 the attention of all health authorities to follow 

 out this or a similar plan of action ; so that, if 

 possible, a disease which caused in England alone 

 thirty-six thousand deaths in six years, may be 

 brought under control, and its spread confined 

 within narrow limits. The report also recognizes 

 the connection between defective plumbing and 

 the spread of the disease (for, unless there were 

 defects within the house, no infection could enter, 

 even though the public sewers might be infected), 

 and recommends the disconnection, by means of 

 running traps, of all houses from the street-sewers, 

 and the provision for full and free ventilation of 

 both sewers and drains. Special stress is, however, 

 laid upon the disinfection of the discharges within 

 the house ; for, if this is thoroughly done, neither 

 the house-pipes nor the public sewers can become 

 infected. 



One of the most curious and important facts 

 regarding the use of oil at sea in stormy weather 

 to calm the waves is its apparent novelty to sea- 

 men. When in the last extremity, some of them 

 • happen to think of oil,' and, on trying it, find that 

 the sweeping waves no longer break over their 

 decks, and that the vessel rides with comparative 

 ease where it labored heavily before. This is 

 much as if a captain 1 happened to think of the 

 rudder ' when he wished to shape a new course. 

 The hydrographic office is accomplishing an ex- 

 cellent work in popularizing the practical value 

 Of this simple means of escaping danger. 



A new journal is to be issued in France under 

 tin title Archives de V anthropologic criminelle et 

 (les srh'Hcrs /jctifih s. The study of criminals, from 

 ;m anthropological and a psychological point of 

 view, is due to the Italian school of which M. 

 Beocaria was the founder, and which is now 

 ably represented by MM. Soinbroso and Ferri. 

 The French interest in this subject is borrowed 



from Italy, and undoubtedly the French journal 

 will aid in disseminating this interesting as well 

 as scientific method of studying these defective 

 classes. 



The U. S. S. Eush sailed, Jan. 2, for the Aleu- 

 tian Islands, in the hope of rescuing the crew of 

 the missing whaler Amethyst, which it is thought 

 might be there and in need of assistance. The 

 whiter climate of the Aleutians, though stormy, 

 is rarely very cold, and the harbors are open all 

 the year round. Most of the islands are unin- 

 habited, and, from the absence of large animals, 

 afford little food for a wrecked party, if cast 

 ashore there. The visit of the Rush may save 

 life, and prevent much suffering. The winter 

 ice-line generally includes the Seal Islands, and 

 it is likely that the Rush will not be pushed 

 beyond the Aleutians, unless the weather be un- 

 usually favorable. 



The city of Mexico, for a number of months 

 past, has been afflicted with a scourge of mosqui- 

 toes. These insects . have prevailed to such an 

 extent that they have been a constant theme of 

 discussion, and have, in a number of instances, 

 caused sickness, and, it is said, even death, by 

 their poisonous bites. Official bulletins have been 

 issued by the director of statistics, Dr. Penafiel, 

 seeking information as to their habits, natural 

 history, etc. Singularly, the species, which is a 

 large one, has not been known, or at least has not 

 attracted attention before the past year; and 

 fears are entertained that the pest is of recent 

 introduction. The varying abundance of differ- 

 ent kinds of insects during different years renders 

 such a view improbable ; yet it is significant that 

 the present species is new to science, never having 

 been described by entomologists. 



In connection with the article on the Russian 

 railroads in central Asia, given on another page, 

 it is interesting to note the following Berlin de- 

 spatch to the London Times: " A government cir- 

 cular has been sent to all the newspapers, forbid- 

 ding them to publish reports about the construction 

 of military railways, the movement of troops, and 

 other kindred matters, statements on such subjects 

 being the exclusive privilege of the official organ 

 of the war minister." 



That the practice of cremation is extending 

 is to be inferred from the numerous references 



