The Microscope. 65 



cholera, no experimental attempt to produce cholera by its 

 agency having succeeded. These conclusions are derived from 

 Dr. Koch's own statements. While Dr. Koch is, as was to be 

 expected, perfectly candid and convincing in the account which 

 he gives of his observations, the extraordinary feature in his re- 

 port is the dogmatic declaration that this organism, which is not 

 in any way proved to possess disease-producing powers, never- 

 theless must and shall be henceforth regarded as the cause of 

 cholera. Dr. T. Lewis, who for many years studied microscop- 

 ically the intestines and evacuations of cholera patients in Cal- 

 cutta, has demonstrated, since the publication of Koch's report, 

 that the so-called comma-shaped bacillus is identical in form 

 with one occurring commonly in the mouths of healthy per- 

 sons." — Royal Microscopical Journal. 



ZINC CEMENT AGAIN. 



BY FRANK L. JAMES, PH. D., M. D. 



In the November number of the American Monthly Micro- 

 scopical Journal the editor once more proceeds to demolish zinc 

 cement as a material for cell building and mounting. After 

 calling attention to the letter of a correspondent who complains 

 of the cement, and repeating his statements as to the utter un- 

 fitness of zinc for the purpose for which it has been used and for 

 which I strongly recommend it, the doctor thus refers to my for- 

 mer remarks on the subject : 



" We refer to the subject at length because of its import- 

 ance to every mounter, but we are especially led to bring it 

 prominently forward again because a certain writer in St. Louis 

 has recently recommended its use. Now, it is impossible for 

 us to believe that the author in question was not aware of what 

 we had said concerning the cement, yet he deliberately tells his 

 readers to use it without so much as a hint that it had been de- 

 clared unreliable." 



Here's richness for you, and modesty, too ! Right you are, 

 my dear doctor, in your belief that I was aware that you had 

 " declared zinc cement unreliable," but I did not consider your 

 opinion of sufficient weight to counterbalance my experience 

 with the material — extending, as it does, over a period of nearly 



