22 THE MICROSCOPE. 
Atenrs, 
Mr. Hitchcock says that in England, ordinary slides can be 
purchased for a shilling each. 
In cases where it is desirable to stain sections on the slide they 
may be attached to the slide by spreading a layer of one part of 
collodion solution and 34 parts of oil of cloves over the slide. The 
sections are arranged on this layer where the oil of cloves is driven 
off by gentle heat. The sections are then fixed to the slide, and 
may be treated by various reagents and stained in the usual 
manner. 
With all due respect for the scientific labors of Dr. Koch, and 
with a weighty appreciation of the potency of these microscopic 
parasites, we yet fear that this bacillus craze is going too far, and 
that we are only doing what generations have done before, erecting 
theories on supposed facts, for our grandchildren to demolish and 
ridicule. 
EPIDEMIC OF TRICHINOSIS.—We read in the last issue of La 
Gazette Med. de Paris, that an epidemic of trichinosis is at present 
raging in Ermsleben, a village in Saxony. Out of 134 houses all 
but fifty contain individuals affected with the disease. Up to the 
present time over 200 persons have been attacked and 18 suc- 
cumbed. 
Several of the Parisian savants are about to visit the scene of 
the epidemic for the purpose of studying the malady. 
THE Micrococcus oF SCARLET FEVER.—M. Pohn-Pincus, in 
the Gazette Médicale de Paris,, of Sept. 29, states his belief that he 
has discovered in the desquamating epidemis of scarlet fever, 
micrococci which are the germs of this disease. He demonstrates 
them by partially detaching with scissors a lamella of the epidermis, 
but so that it shall be still adherent by a great part of its periphery. 
He then applies to the under surface of the detached portion a few 
drops of a saturated alcoholic solution of methyl-violet. In a few 
minutes he scrapes off, with the aid of a cataract needle, some little 
fragments of tissue, and immerses them for a short time in distilled 
water; subsequently he places them upon a glass slide, teases them 
out as finely as possible with needles, and warms the object glass 
until the preparation is dry. He then adds a drop of oil of cloves, 
and covers the whole with Canada balsam. 
The micrococci will be stained violet. M. Pohn-Pincus says 
their dimensions are very small, but measurements are not given. 
They are united in small groups and are found in the depressions 
upon the borders of the detached cells. No attempt has yet been 
made to cultivate these micro-organisms or to inoculate them. 
