220 MEMORANDA. 



are) at equal distances. I have tliree microscopes, viz., a 

 first-rate Ross, ditto Smitli, Beck and Beck ; and a Powell, 

 somewhat antiquated, but still a fine instrument. The fourth 

 place I fill up with a first-rate table stereoscope. These are 

 placed on the table in correspondence with the four cardinal 

 points, with one sitter before each, and one between. 



Thus there are four lookers and four waiters simultaneously. 

 The table is turned, not by the power of " electro-biology," 

 but in the way that Dr. Faraday would approve of, ^Az., by 

 the hands applied to the drawer-knobs, which answer admir- 

 ably for the purpose. 



Each time a microscope, &c., passes the exhibitor he 

 changes the object, and sends it on again. 



I have found every one delighted with this new kind of 

 " table-turning," and it is admitted to be an immense im- 

 provement upon the old "^round games," where the ^^objects" 

 are only ivory fish, and speckled bits of paper. I hope to 

 live to see the game become quite common. 



On one point, however, I must off'er a small caution. When 

 the microscopes used in the round-game are all " binoculars," 

 as we hope all will be ere long, the noses of the spectators 

 being placed between the two tubes, the exhibitor (who is, of 

 course, the chief table-turner) must beware of applying his 

 hands to the knobs until they (the said probosces) are all 

 withdrawn ; otherwise his friends may receive a rap on the 

 olfactory protuberance which is anything but agreeable ! 



I have found the best watchword on these occasions to be 

 — NOSES !— uttered in an audible manner; it acts like elec- 

 tricity ; and the velocity with which the said projections are 

 instantly chucked back (especially those which have had a 

 little experience), is irresistibly ludicrous. — Henry U. Jan- 

 son, Exeter. 



Blood Corpuscles.— The paper in the January number of 

 the ' Microscopic Quarterly Journal,^ " On the alteration of 

 the form of blood-corpuscles treated by certain substances," 

 seems to ofibr an explanation of the cause of death from 

 snake-bites, and other animal poisons. 



The form of blood-corpuscle may be altered to such an 

 extent by the injection of a poisonous fluid, that the circula- 

 tion in the capillaries may either be stopped or seriously 

 retarded. I ofl^er this suggestion to those of your readers 

 who may have an opportunity of procuring the poison of the 

 viper, or other snakes, for experiment. — W. T. Suffolk, 

 Camberwell. 



