36 
PROGRESS OF MICROSCOPICAL SCIENCE. 
in connection witli an abscess produced by the introduction of the 
solution of ammonia beneath the skin, the injection being made with 
calcined instruments, and with the special object of avoiding the 
introduction of external agents ; and this fluid contained bacteria. A 
fourth fluid was exhibited, viz. the liquid from an abscess of the thigh 
of a puerperal woman, removed seven weeks after her confinement, tho 
fluid being obtained through a fine canula into a glass tube, both of 
which had been superheated, the latter being at onco closed. This 
fluid contained living organisms in it at the first moment of exami- 
nation. 
Is there Loss of Epithelium in Cholera ? — The { Lancet,’ May 25, 
has an interesting annotation on this subject. Tho writer clearly 
holds that the epithelium of the intestine is not shed in cases of this 
disease. He states that in an inquiry into the subject there are two 
things that require to be kept apart, first, the post-mortem evidence 
of this loss of epithelium ; secondly, its relation to the disease, sup- 
posing it 'to be an ante-mortem phenomenon. He does not contend 
that intestinal lesions, or this separation of the epithelium, are not 
commonly found after death from cholera ; but he asserts that the 
doctrine which regarded these morbid processes as essential to the 
production of its characteristic symptoms is an unproven, if not 
altogether false one. If Dr. Cunningham’s experience was founded 
on the thorough and accurate observation of even one fatal case in 
which there was found little or no detachment or destruction of epi- 
thelium, it is clear that it cannot be an essential phenomenon. It is 
scarcely to the point to urge that this writer’s observations are based 
on a limited number of post-mortem examinations, seeing that in a 
series of microscopical examinations of the dejecta of cholera cases he 
failed to discover the presence of such epithelium, unless very excep- 
tionally. It must be remembered, moreover, that the published ob- 
servations of Dr. Lewis, his confrere in the scientific investigation into 
cholera instituted by the Government, point to exactly the same con- 
clusion. “ Judging,” says Dr. Lewis, “from the cholera stools which 
have come under my observation in Calcutta — several hundred speci- 
mens — I believe that not more than two out of twenty slides will 
contain distinct traces of columnar epithelium.” Considering the 
rapid transudation of fluid into the intestines, and the maceration 
which the mucous membrane undergoes, lie would expect to find the 
epithelium separated after death ; but if its rapid desquamation be 
the cause of the symptoms during life, the wonder is that any should 
be found in the intestines of a patient, and that it should not all have 
been washed away with the dejecta. 
Phases in the Life-history of Monads. — The following extract from 
Dr. Bastian’s, F.B.S., paper, to which we referred in our last, are full 
of interest. The changes which have been thus observed, says the 
author, referring to previous observations, constitute a very remark- 
able series, of which the following is a brief summary The simplest 
living units ( Bacteria ) first swarm in the infusion ; these become 
aggregated at the surface so as to form a “ proligerous pellicle,” in 
