1 6 THE MICROSCOPE. 



THE MICROSCOPE IN MEDICINE. 



T.V E. E. JACKSON. 



SOME time has elapsed since I promised to send you some note s 

 from my record of microscopic work. I have selected this 

 item to illustrate the value of the instrument in correct diagnosis. 



In May last, a physician handed me a small paper containing 

 fragments which resembled, to unassisted vision, a small crust of 

 dried blood and serum, requesting microscopic examination, the 

 result of which (with U Beck) proved to be starch granules, the 

 polarizer confirming it with the cross so peculiar to the starches, as 

 did also the test of iodine ; a maceration in a warm solution of soda 

 revealed the spiral and long vessels of the skin of a pea, and an 

 operation removing this foreign body from the ear of a patient pro- 

 duced a pea which had lodged on the drum, ten years previously, 

 causing much suffering with neuralgia, headache, deafness, etc. 

 The result of the operation is satisfactory — hearing perfectly 

 restored, and no more neuralgia or headache. 



As the form of the starch granules was not identical with those 

 with which I was familiar, or had reference to, 1 examined a cow- 

 pea, and found form, size corresponding, also the same layer of 

 cells underlying the cuticle. 



The preservation of the starch granules by the cerumen for ten 

 years without forming an abscess is remarkable. I omit many inter- 

 esting particulars concerning the case, as the physician will proba- 

 bly report it in full. By the way, he is one of your subscribers. 



An M. D. placed on my table a two-ounce vial, saying: " Look 

 at that urine and give me a report." I did so, mentioning that the 

 case was similar to Mr. P.'s, who was a patient of his and a neighbor 

 of mine. " Oh no," he said, laughing, "this is a lady's, and not in 

 the least similar." Just as I was on the point of proving my asser- 

 tion, the gentleman referred to appeared at the door, saying: 

 " Doctor, did you examine my urine in that two-ounce vial ?" Of 

 course, that explained all. Neither bottle had a label, and both 

 were two-ounce vials. I will mention here the peculiarity of Mr. 

 P.'s urine: There was always present some blood, and often crys- 

 tals of uric acid, but more than half of the corpuscles had small 

 buds; sometimes one, often three. I have never discovered any 

 similar cases. 



