214 THE MICROSCOPICAL NEWS. 
BACTERIA IN BRICKS. 
EFERRING to the alleged discovery by M. Parize of bacteria 
not only on the surface but in the interior of bricks, the 
Lancet call the attention of the public to the fact that bacteria 
are not necessarily all hurtful. ‘‘ We are not told,” says the Lancet, 
“precisely what sort of micro-organisms were discovered, but 
it must be remembered that even bacteria are susceptible of 
classification into useful, harmless, and noxious. There is no 
good reason for being alarmed at the presence of these germs 
in burnt clay, for the atmosphere itself is known at times, probably 
always, to contain varying numbers of them. It is certdinly not 
wise to conjure up new sanitary dangers on the receipt of informa- 
tion not altogether of a novel character. Let the public, therefore, 
not be alarmed.” We may add that what may be spoken of as the 
legitimate function of bacteria is still an open question. It is, for 
instance, a question how far they are useful in aiding the processes 
of digestion, and Dr. Angus Smith has even asked whether water 
entirely deprived of living organisms can be considered good or 
wholesome water in relation to the animal economy. The presence 
of living germs in burnt bricks is, however, apparently another 
curious illustration of the varied conditions under which bacteria 
can live; and even if harmless bacteria are to be found in bricks, 
it is not unlikely that deadly ones might be found there also. 
Meanwhile the alleged discovery may well attract the notice of 
M. Bechamp, who will probably be disposed to contend that the 
brick bacteria have been developed by the heating process from 
the geological microzymes in the original materials. 
OUR BOOK-SHELF. 
Cote’s Stupies.—The different series of Mr. Cole’s work con- 
tinue to be issued weekly. They comprise Popular Microscopical 
Studies ; Studies in Microscopical Science; Section I., Animal 
Histology ; Section II., Vegetable Histology, and the Methods of 
Microscopical research, which last will form an introductory essay 
to Volume II. When we consider how well Mr. Cole has done 
his work it is surprising he has not met with more support, and we 
can only come to the conclusion that the demand for educational 
slides and for real instruction in connection with the microscope is 
very limited indeed. 
The first volume of these “Studies” forms an extremely inte- 
resting and instructive book, and the second volume (so far as 
it has gone) is in no way inferior to the first. We earnestly hope 
that every Provincial Society has added at least one copy of these 
* Studies ” to its library. 
