200 The Microscope. 



of composition, and at the finish of his address a unanimous vote 

 of thanks was given him by his hearers, visitors as well as mem- 

 bers of the society. 



Dr. Detmer, of Champaign, 111., read a paper on 



POISONOUS DRIED BEEF. 



In it the writer related his experience in Chicago in the de- 

 tection of poisons in meats of different kinds. He spoke of one 

 case of wholesale poisoning which occurred in Illinois, resulting, 

 as was afterwards discovered, from dried beef procured at one 

 of the Chicago markets. He referred to his investigation in the 

 Chicago stock yards, among the cattle killed there, in an al tempt 

 to discover the causes of various poisons in animal food. As 

 the result of his examination, Dr. Detmer came to the conclu- 

 sion that the animal or animals from which the beef was taken 

 must have either been injured by being trampeled upon in the 

 cars, and butchered when in a dying condition, or killed while 

 in a frenzied state. In the case of a deer chased to death by 

 dogs, poison has been found in the venison. Dr. Detmer alluded 

 to the Chicago health officers and the carelessness which they 

 were guilty of in allowing cattle that had been trampled to death 

 in cars and in yards to be killed and the beef put on the market 

 and distributed throughout the country. Of ten thousand hogs 

 that Dr. Detmer examined, nearly 5 per cent, were found to be 

 affected with trichina. The Doctor urged the necessity of greater 

 care by officers whose duty it is to examine into these matters, 

 and who are clothed with sufficient power to protect the public 

 from unhealthy beef. He strongly advocated the burying of 

 all dead animals to remove the danger of contagion. The Doc- 

 tor exhibited photo-micrographs of the bacilli which constitutes 

 the particular poison in the dried beef referred to. 



Prof. H. L. Smith then gave a paper on 



" SOME FORMULAS FOR HIGHLY REFRACTING MEDIA FOR MOUNTING 

 MICROSCOPIC OBJECTS." 



The following directions were given for preparing this me- 

 dium which Prof. Smith assures us will stand the test of time. 



" PROF. H. L. SMITH'S CLEAR MEDIUM." 



Dissolve Gelatin in Glycerine, till when cold, it is quite 



