1882.] 
Notes. 
3ii 
Dr. Koen has proved, in a memoir read before the Physiolo- 
gical Society of Berlin, that tuberculosis is due to a special mi- 
crobion — a Bacillus not unlike that of Lepra. 
The “ Medical and Surgical Reporter” (Philadelphia) contends, 
in an able editorial, that much mischief is done by sending 
children to school too early, and that the portion of life prior to 
puberty should be mainly devoted to physical development. 
It appears that the Government intends to appoint two official 
toxicologists to condudt the analysis of the bodies of persons 
whose death seems to necessitate a special investigation. The 
nomination of these analysts will be entrusted to the Presidents 
of the Colleges of Physicians and Surgeons. 
The “ American Naturalist ” says : — “ On this point (the origin 
of mimetic coloration) the Darwinian is on the same footing as 
the old time Creationist. The latter says God made the varia- 
tions, and the Darwinian says that they came by chance. Be- 
tween these positions Science can perceive nothing to choose. 
According to the same journal wild geese have become a pest 
in the San Joaquin Valley, in California, and are committing 
great depredations. 
Dr. J. A. Osborne proves the extensive occurrence of partheno- 
genesis in Gastrophysa raphani. 
By the will of the late M. Jules Putzeys his valuable collection 
of Coleoptera has become the property of the Entomological 
Society of Belgium . — American Naturalist. 
Dr. C. A. Gordon (“ Medical Press and Circular ”), in an inte- 
resting paper on “ Climate in Relation to Organic Nature.” 
whilst admitting the injury occasioned to climate by the removal 
of forests, stated that neither Conifers nor the Eucalyptus abso- 
lutely abolish malarial disease and cholera. 
Dr. Connstein, of Heidelberg, is of opinion that in women, as 
in other female mammals, impregnation takes place principally 
at some particular season of the year. 
Dr. A. S. Packard, jun. (“American Naturalist”), criticises 
Prof. E. Ray Lankester’s memoir “ Limulus an Arachnid ” 
(“ Quarterly Journal Microsc. Science ”), and contends that the 
species in question is essentially Crustacean. 
We regret to learn that M. Eugene Boutney, a zealous inves- 
tigator of the ptomaines, has recently died of carbuncle due to 
absorption of some of the very poison in question. 
One Mr. Bergh has recently come forward as a furious Anti- 
Vaccinationist, in the February number of the “ North American 
Review.” 
