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NEWS AND SUNDRIES 
NEWS AND SUNDRIES. 
The Relations of Microbes to Life. —Pasteur read a paper 
by Duclaux before the Academy of Sciences, which begins thus: 
“ The destruction of the organic matter of the soil by microbes, 
and the production of a new vegetation on the soil, are two phe¬ 
nomena which always accompany one another. Is there any 
necessary connection between them ? * * * Can the plant de¬ 
velop in the absence of microscopic beings ?” After the recital 
of some interesting experiments on plant life, Pasteur suggests 
to Duclaux an experiment on the role .which microbes play in 
animal life, viz: That a hen’s egg, from the surface of which all 
germs have been removed, is to be hatched in an eterilized space, 
fed with eterilized food, and supplied with eterilized air. Pasteur 
believes that the result will be that the chick will not live, and, 
in general, that life is impossible without the co-operation of 
microbes.— Science. 
Vivisection in Germany. —The following is a translation of 
the text of the regulations respecting vivisection issued by the 
German government. 1st—Experiments on living animals must 
only be performed in serious investigations, or for purposes of in¬ 
struction. 2d—In public lectures such experiments must not be 
performed, unless they are necessary, for the full elucidation of 
the subject. 3d—The preparations, as a rule, must be made be¬ 
fore the lectures begin, and not in the presence of the audience. 
4th—The experiments must only be performed by qualified pro¬ 
fessors, or by their assistants on their responsibility. 5th—Ex¬ 
periments which will be equally satisfactory if performed on 
the lower species of animals must not be performed on the higher 
species. 6th—In all cases where the experiment can be per¬ 
formed without inconvenience under anaesthetics, anaesthetics 
must be administered.— Science. 
Preventive Vaccination in India.— Pasteur’s system of vac- 
rination for anthrax has been tried with triumphant success by 
1 lie Indian government, acting on the advice of Mr. J. Mills, the 
inspector of cattle-disease for Madras. According to the official 
papers, ponies, donkeys, cows, bullocks, buffaloes, sheep and 
guinea-pigs have all been protected by vaccination from the con- 
