NEW FORM OF ETHER MICROTOME. 229 
news rapidly spread among the craft, and by the time this appears 
in print will have caused almost a panic to every gardener within 
a radius of many miles. Just a word in conclusion in order to 
allay their fears. Firstly, from some of the above symptoms it is 
almost a certainty that we have had phylloxera in this neighbourhood 
for years, and yet grapes of fair quality have been grown. I allow 
that the vines have required great, and in some cases almost con- 
stant watching and attention, but with this there has been the 
above result ; and, secondly, it is very probable that they will not 
prove so destructive in England as on the continent, on account of 
their different surroundings. I should therefore advise gardeners 
to take the matter as philosophically as possible ; where grapes can 
be grown try to grow them, taking extra precautions, and exercis- 
ing greater care than usual; and in autumn, when the males and 
females are found upon the leaves, then is the time to do so with 
some hope of success; then is the time to use the syringe with 
effect, bearing in mind the fact that one insect destroyed then, be- 
fore the females descend to deposit their eggs, is as good as 100 or 
even 1,000 destroyed afterwards. If, in spite of everything, you 
are beaten, take satisfaction in having made a good fight ; take out 
the roots and burn them, cart away the soil, make a huge bonfire 
in the border where practicable, and the longer you can let it lie 
empty the better, and after this, if the phylloxera wont go, you may 
know that it is time for you to do so. 
NEW FORM OF ETHER MICROTOME.* 
By CHARLES W. CaTHcartT, M.B., F.R.C.S., 
Lecturer on Anatomy, Surgeons Hall, Edinburgh. 
N venturing to add another to the many forms of Freezing 
Microtome which have been produced of late, I may begin by 
explaining what objects I had in view in devising the present 
apparatus, as a preliminary to describing its mechanism. These 
objects briefly, were—(1) to obtain a simple ether spray producer 
which would not allow any ether to escape unevaporated ; (2) to 
have an efficient microtome for use with the ether spray, which 
would be so simple in its mechanism as to admit of manufacture 
and production at a comparatively low cost. After a considerable 
amount of time and trouble, I have succeeded in producing a 
Microtome which can be sold at 17s. 6d., including the spray 
* “Journal of Anatomy and Physiology,” vol. xviii. 
