280 
REVIEW OF BIOLOGY. 
tinct function—one thyroid, whose ablation brings on chronic 
troubles, the other parathyroid, which brings on acute accidents. 
— (Soc. of Biol.) 
Thyroid Function [By the Sameh \.—When on sucking 
kittens the thyroids are removed, but at least two parathyroids 
with their vasenlar connections are left intaet, the operated live, 
but their growth is arrested. Their development in height is 
arrested ; that in width seems increased in proportion. The 
legs are short, abdomen becomes round, the skin shrinks by 
generalized myxoedematous infiltration, the animal assumes an 
old characterized appearance This myxoedematous eretinisni is 
well marked in a few months. In young cats the results are 
the same, also in birds. In conclusion of these and previously 
published facts, the author says : The thyroid function is one, 
in mammalia and in birds ; it presides over the general devel¬ 
opment of the organism, and cannot be replaced ; its importance 
is greater during the period of growth than in adult age, when, 
diffieult to define, it seems to become secondary.— {Soc. of Biol.) 
ViRUUKNCY OF Muscues IN TuBERCUUOUS Man. —It results 
from numerous experiments that the virulency of muscles is 
very seldom observed in tuberculous bovines. Also, in other 
animal species the baeillus does not seem to be present in the 
muscles, only in few cases, even with generalized tuberculosis. 
According to some published facts, the muscles of the tubercu¬ 
lous man are, on the contrary, very virulent: Gratia and 
Tienaux, in two experiments, and Steinheil in eight, have ob¬ 
tained positive results in all. Prof. Leelainehe has undertaken 
new experiments having for their object to establish the virul¬ 
ency of the muscles of the calf (leg) of men having died from 
subacute or ehronic tuberculosis. He found that in man as 
in the various speeies of animals, the virulency of the tubercu¬ 
lous muscles is altogether exceptional.— {Soc. of Biol.) 
Horses Wear Snowshoes. —All the horses working at 
the Placer mine, under the shadow of Pilot Peak, Plumas 
County, California, wear snowshoes. The altitude of the place 
is about 5000 feet, and enormous quantities of snow fall there in 
the winter, not infrequently reaehing the depth of twenty feet. 
Only California-bred horses are used. It has been found that 
these are the best ; and, if possible, mountain horses are secured 
—those that are raised at high altitudes. The horses go right 
along‘in the snow. They usually take a fast walk, but some¬ 
times they trot a little. 
