Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-08-24
BIOLOGICAL SECTION,



Prof. Riley's Paper on "Micro- Organisms -
Neutrality-suspicious. Papers.
In the biological section Saturday parasites
came in for q large share Of attention. Prof.
@. v. Riley Of the Department Of Agriculture
read paper on Heterogeneous ~ Insect
cides." He said that the subject Of bacteria
logy has occupied a very large share Of public
attention during the past fifteen or twenty
years, and it is safe to say that the most i'm
portant discoveries in medical science, espe-
cially in the treatment of diseases, have re-
suited during that time from this line of inves-
LEGATIONS. The paper indicates the many di-
rections in which the study Of these micro
organisms has proved invaluable to man by
preventing disease, but is occupied chiefly with
phase Of bacteriology which is the reverse of
this, and which is concerned with the purpose
ful multiplication and dissemination Of the
contagious disease germs with q view Of de-
stroylng those animals and plants which We
class as noxious because injurious to agricul-
ture. The subject is treated under sew
erai different categories, and refers first
to the experiments which have already
been made with yeast and yeast fermeuts: ex-
periments with entomophthora; experiments
with isaria; experiments with true bacterial
diseases; experiments with schizomycoses; ex-
perlments with protozoan diseases, and con-
cludes with a summary of the actual work done
and the possibilities in the future. The paper
refers to series of experiments being carried
on under the authors direction by the Depart
ment OF Agriculture and the negative results
hitherto obtained. 1t also refers to the work
which has attracted such wide attention through
the newspapers the past summer Of Prot. F. II.
Snow Of Kansas in his efforts to destroy the
chinch bug. Prof Riley condemns the sensa-
tlonal and newspaper announcements of results
as premature, and believes that some of the
conclusions arrived at lack scientific founda-
ton and will lead ultimately to disappointment
I'm this hasty glance" the paper concludes,
sat what has been actually done from the ex-
perimental side in the use OF contagious germs
as Insecticides for the benefit of agriculture,
imperfect rs it has been, hope l have said
enough to indicate the vast importance of the
subject. 1t is a subject at once alluring and
promising, especially in connection with those
gregarious insects which appear at times in
such vast numbers and lay such heavy tribute
on our most important crops. Unfortunately
there is great tendency, especially in the pub
lie mind, to take as proven what has not yet
passed beyond the stage of possibility. In
theory the idea Of doing battle with insects in
furious in field, garden, orchard and forest by
ing, but 1t has unfortunately been most dwelt
upon by those who were essentially closet
workers and had but faint realization of the
practical necessities OF the case"
DEEP SEA FISHES.
Prof G. Brown Goode presented paper on
"The Present Condition of the Study Of the
Deep Sea Fishes in which he told what
splendid lead the United States is taxing in this
sort OF investigation. England, France Italy,
Switzerland and India have all suspended their
Investigations and the United States steamer
Albatross represents. the whole work Of the
world in that direction. By deep sea fishes,
those which are found between one hundred
fathoms and five miles below the waves are
meant. They are fishes who live in almost
total darkness and under an immense pressure
OF water. Some have enormous eyes and some
none at all. Prof Goode said the Unite States
ID really doing an admirable work in its deep
sea Investigation, and that this government
leads the world in this line of research.
INVESTIGATIONS IN PEAR BLIGHT.
Prof. NJ. 3. Waite of the Department Of Agri-
culture read paper entitled "Results From
Recent Investigations in Pear Blight" He
described the disease and its effect on pears
and pear trees. The pear blight germ is a
motile bacillus which attacks the flowers. A
bulletin on pear blight is under preparation by
the department.. Prof. Joseph Jastrow pre-
described tests he had made with young man
who had been born without the least trace Of
any sense OF smell. The objects of the tests
were to find out just what things are really
tasted when We ate and what are smelled.
Many things that are ordinarily supposed to
be tasted are really not tasted at all, but only
smelled. Prof. Jastrow read another very in
teresting paper on a novel color illustration.
Piacing q half disc of red cardboard in q
small machine he whirled it at the rate Of 600
revolutions a minute. Holding piece of blue
cardboard behind one-half the circle described
by the whirling red half-disc, three distinct
colors were seen-the solid red, the solid blue
and. where the red and blue were together,
purple. The experiment was q very pretty
one and entirely new.
THE FATE OF THE FUR SEAL.
''The Fate Of the Fur Seal in Amer
lean Waters" by Prof. William Palmer
of the National Museum, was illustrated
with dozen and half lantern
slides and quite interesting though anything
dealing with sealskin sacques seems a bit out Of
season today. The paper was brief history
of the discovery of the Pribylon islands and an
account Of the fur-seal industry, it's value and
the topography and natural history of the
islands The causes of the decrease of seal
life, methods of capture and natural history of
the seals were touched upon and suggestions
made for the preservation of the seals by proper
legal restrictions as to seal catching, and also
by providing safe breeding places. The Ian
tern slides were from photographs taken by
the author last summer.
A number Of other papers were presented,
but some could not be read for lack Of time.