1948 Journal of Applied Microscopy 



washed and cleared in a solution of hyposulphite of soda. The resulting prints 

 were very delicate in detail, of a color varying between a bistre and olive tint^ 

 and after washing dried with a brilliant surface. The color of the prints varied 

 greatly according to exposure." 



Although, because of ill health and urgent professional duties, Dr. Maddox 

 was unable to carry his experiments to perfectly successful results, yet, he 

 undoubtedly began the series of experiments which led to the substitution of the 

 gelatin dry plate for the old collodion methods. 



Dr. Maddox was also interested in bacteriological research, especially in the 

 study of organisms in the air, for which he used an apparatus of his own inven- 

 tion, — the " aeroconiscope " — a kind of multiple funnel set up as a vane. The 

 wind traversing this instrument deposited the organisms on a thin cover-glass 

 duly prepared for the purpose. c. w. j. 



[ 



QUESTION BOX. 



Inquiries will b« printed in this department from any inquirer. 

 Tfce replies will appear as received. 



REPLY TO QUESTJON No. 24. 



Curling of paraffin sections is due to cold. If a microtome is used a lighted 

 lamp brought near the knife will often raise the temperature enough. If not, 

 there is no other remedy than (a) raising the temperature of the laboratory or (J?) 

 cutting thinner sections. If sections are being cut by hand, the paraffin may be 

 slightly softened by blowing on it. The same method may be employed when 

 there is difficulty in starting a ribbon on the microtome. M. A. Willcox. 



Wellesley College. 



Books Received. 



The new edition of Webster's International Dictionary contains a supplement 

 with over 25,000 words. The technical terms used in various branches of 

 science, and particularly the genus and family names in botany and zoology, have 

 not hitherto been considered a legitimate feature of a dictionary's contents. Yet 

 the student is in constant need of just such definitions, and it is certainly a source 

 of satisfaction to know that they are here included in a dictionary reasonable in 

 size and reasonable in price. 



The definition of scientific terms has been intrusted to the most eminent 

 specialists in the country, such as Dr. Ira Remsen, for chemistry ; Prof. G. K. 

 Gilbert, for geology ; Prof. Lester F. Ward, for botany, etc. The last subject 

 received an unusual degree of attention, Prof. Ward having been assisted in the 

 preparation of definitions relating to the cryptogams and the flowering plants by 

 Dr. F. H. Knowlton and Mr. Charles Louis Pollard, respectively. Thus every 

 important genus and nearly every family will be found amply characterized, the 

 definitions including statements of the geographic ranges of the plants, their eco- 

 nomic uses, etc. The vocabulary of popular plant names is also very full. 



