1897 THE MICROSCOPE. 43 
EDITORIAL. 
Practical Science.—We are indebted to the bacteriolo- 
gists for many things, but they have taught us nothing of 
more practical value than the lesson that a large number 
of our minor complaints and a thousand-and-one of our 
aches and pains, which make life miserable, come from 
auto-intoxication. The ever-present germs in the alimen- 
tary tract manufacture their toxines, and these are ab- 
sorbed much to the distress, if not to the actual danger, 
of the individual. The good old-fashioned theory that you 
must ‘‘keep the bowels open”’ if you wish to enjoy perfect 
health, thus finds a scientific explanation in these latter 
days, It is now simply a question of common sense: keep 
the alimentary canal free from the poisons of germ life. 
Bacteria Index.—That bacteria may live and grow in 
melting ice has been shown by Foster. Putrefactive bac- 
teria once gaining access to the household refrigerator 
live and contaminate meat, butter, milk and other foods 
kept therein. Wash and scald refrigerators often. A 
butcher’s refrigerator may become so contaminated as to 
taint his meats and lose him customers. 
Pic TLCAL SUGGES ELON se 
By L. A. WILLSON, 
CLEVELAND, OHIO. 
Sealing Glycerine Jelly Mounts.—Before ringing gly- 
cerine jelly mounts they should be sealed. Marine glue 
isa good medium for such sealing. After sealing, a ring 
of Brunswick Black or White zinc may be run around the 
preparation and then the slide will be substantially perma- 
nent. 
A Dead Black Surface on Brass.—To 2 grains of lamp 
black ina saucer, add a littlegold sizeand thoroughly mix. 
Just enough gold size should be used to hold the lamp black 
together. Dipa lead pencil into the gold size and with- 
