The Microscope. 89 



editor that she would " consider it as a favor " if any person 

 who has received a slide not in good order, would return it at 

 once, and she would cheerfully replace it. In the case before 

 us, through some accident, "the slides were literally smashed to 

 pieces, so that the glass was almost powdered." And the editor 

 says in connection with the above, u the white zinc has been un- 

 able to withstand the conditions necessary to travel." Was 

 anything ever written more ridiculous ? Did the white zinc 

 cause the glass slides to pulverize ? Can it preserve glass slides 

 from smashing to pieces ? When we are so far reduced in our 

 gentlemanly qualities that we are obliged to take advantage of 

 a pure accident and severely attack the ability of an accom- 

 plished woman, may our dearest friends make microscopic sec- 

 tions of our heart in the vain hope of discovering some lingering 

 trace of kindness and justice. 



To Miss Mary A. Booth we say: We have seen a large 

 number of your mounts finished in white zinc. They are models 

 of neatness and monuments to the preservative qualities of that 

 medium. We know for years you have offered to replace any 

 defective slide of yours ; yet so great is our confidence in white 

 zinc, and in your acknowledged ability to know how to use it, 

 that we will give you two dollars for every slide thus far re- 

 turned. Please tell us how much is your due, and we will 

 remit by return mail. 



The Working Session. — In this number we print a reply by 

 Prof. McCalla to the communications in our February number. 

 The facts are these : In our January number Prof. McCalla 

 favored us with a paper on the origin of the Working Session ; 

 in the February number some friends of Mr. Griffith replied ; 

 and now Prof. McCalla gives a rejoinder. Mr. Griffith has not 

 sent us any paper on the subject, and it is evident he does not 

 intend to do so. It is a subject that can never be settled, to the 

 satisfaction of all parties, by any amount of writing. The claims 

 of Prof. McCalla are before our readers, and they have doubtless 

 been passed upon before this and a final conclusion in the case 

 reached. We see nothing to be gained for either party or for 

 this journal by further attention to the subject. 



The third edition of our Manual of Histology came from 



