The Microscope. 147 



juice. Nevertheless there was the most remarkable growth of 

 aspergillus niger, while small quantities of albumen placed in 

 the water were dissolved, the fungus was not attacked by the 

 pepsin in the least, " a fresh proof of the fact that a pronounced 

 difference must exist, of a chemical nature, between living 

 protoplasm and ordinary albumen." 



Vitality of germs. A recent French writer has been ex- 

 perimenting to determine whether germs preserved damp 

 would, like those preserved in the dry state, and sheltered 

 from solar light, resist for several years the action of tempera- 

 tures higher than those of the hottest parts of the world. The 

 author used infusions made by Pasteur in 1875 and 1876, and 

 also in a few cases infusions were used prepared in 1859 and 

 1860. All the infusions in which living germs were found had 

 the liquid still slightly alkaline, while those in which they were 

 dead were acid. "Of the 65 infusions opened, fifteen con- 

 tained living germs, and that after a period of twenty to 

 twenty-five years. 



Pneumonia cocci in Dormitories. Emmerlich states that 

 he has examined material dbtained from the sleeping apart- 

 ments of patients with pneumonia, cultivated it in gelatine and 

 injected it into rabbits, mice, etc., which soon died. In their 

 blood he found the characteristic septic organisms identical 

 with the bacilli of pneumonia. 



The Microscope for May is also to hand, and is, as usual, 

 full of information of value to the working microscopist. Dr. 

 A. C. Stokes has a most excellent illustrated article entitled 

 "A Key to the Vorticellae," being a scheme for the rapid 

 identification of members of this group. Dr. Allen Y. Moore 

 has an article, also illustrated, on the microspectroscope, and 



Professor gives us the fourth number of his series 



on embryology. The paper alone is worth to the student ten 

 times the annual cost of The Microscope. — F. L. James, in The 

 National Druggist. 



We desire to call particular attention to Mr. Vorce's appeal 

 for help. Let every practical worker come to the rescue at 

 once. Please notice also the circular he presents on the page 

 following our " Exchanges." 



