PRESCOTT, ON TOBACCO. 253 
plant. Now, if in the examination of a particular specimen, 
any other kind of hair occurs than this identical mace-like 
hair, then it may be at once concluded that the tobacco has 
been adulterated. But adulterated with what? That is the 
next question to which Mr. Prescott addresses himself. A 
large series of the leaves of plants are examined for the pur- 
pose of showing the forms and nature of their hairs. Not 
only are those plants described which are used for the adultera- 
tion of tobacco, but many others. Mr. Prescott feels that he 
has struck upon a vein that will reward the working, and with 
perhaps more love for science than regard for the revenue, he 
gives us a series of descriptions of the hairs of other plants than 
are used by fraudulent tobacconists. In this work will be 
found beautiful and truthful delineations of the epidermis and 
hairs of the thorn-apple, the potato, the dandelion, the sun- 
flower, the elecampane, the comfrey, the foxglove, the mullein, 
the hellebore, and the plantain, besides those employed for 
adulterating tobacco. He has also given representations of 
the starches contained in these plants, so that should the hairs 
fail, the form of the starch itself may in some cases lead to 
the detection of adulteration. 
Whilst going over Mr. Prescott’s book, we have been 
struck with the fact that a closer attention than has yet 
been generally given, to what might be termed the special 
microscopic characters of plants, would be advisable, and 
likely to prove advantageous in diagnosis. Mr. Prescott’s 
observations, for instance, on the “ Hairs of Plants,” will 
suffice to show what may readily be done in this direction. 
The subject, at any rate, is one deserving of notice by 
younger microscopical observers who may be in want of a 
subject, and to them we cordially recommend the present 
volume. 
