1895 THE MICROSCOPE. Ill 



flective light gave a field with only one-half or one -quarter of 

 the direct illumination. This proves the great loss of life sus- 

 tained by using concave mirrors. E. Cutter. 



White's Objects. — We have just received a large 

 consignment of vegetables sections and can supply all 

 the numbers except a very few. 



QUESTIONS ANSWERED 



NoTB. — Dr. S. G. Shanks, of Albany, N. Y., kindly consents to receive all sorts of ques- 

 tions relating to microscopy , whether asked by professionals or amateurs. Persons of aL 

 g'-ades of experience, from the beginner upivard, are welcotne to the benefits of this depart- 

 ment. The questions are numbered Jor future ^ eference. 



229. In my histological work I use more or less absolute and 

 common alcohol. I have accumulated quantities of weakened alco- 

 hol containing fats and other organic elements. Is there any simple 

 and effective method, cheaper than distillation, by which the alcohol 

 can be recovered from this otherwise ivaste material. X. 



There is no method cheaper and better than re-distillation. 

 Analytical chemists and others, who use quantities of alcohol, 

 usually have some form of automatic apparatus which will 

 run for hours without attention. Remington's still is a good 

 one, and is much used by chemists and pharmacists. 



NECROLOGY. 



George A. Rex, M. D.— Died at Philadelphia Feb. 4, 1895. 

 Dr. Rex, who was a member of the Phila. Academy of Natural 

 Sciences, was the highest authority on the M3^xomycetes in the 

 United States. He frequently read papers thereon before the 

 Biological and Microscopical Sections. He named many new 

 species, but often held specimens for years before naming 

 them in order to be sure that the species when erected 

 would stand. All of the lower orders of fungi interested 

 him. Although a prominent microscopist, he was not a 

 member of the American Microscopical Societ3^ Although a 

 subscriber to the periodicals, he rarely contributed to them. 



