178 Tue Microscope. 
through the block for the reception of the slides. A half-cireu- 
lar or U shaped groove is cut through the center of the block 
transversely to the grooves mentioned above. This could be 
done with an inch auger. It leaves a clear place for the mount 
on the slide. The box is easily made and its cost is nominal. 
Tue Tusercte Bacitus.—A short time ago we published 
the claims of an Italian physician, Dr. Cantani, that by inhala- 
tions of the spray from infusions containing the common bac- 
terium termo, he was able to influence the course of tuberculo- 
sis of the lungs. The report of a number of cases showed that 
all the symptoms were much mitigated. It will be remembered 
it was claimed this was due to the fact that the bacillus tuber- 
culosus could not thrive in the presence of the bacterium 
termo, and as it has been further shown that some species of 
bacteria could not exist in the presence of certain other species, 
therefore if certain diseases were caused by certain bacteria we 
might have great hopes that the special antagonistic bacterium 
might be found for each special disease-producing bacterium. 
Granting then that the cause of consumption of the lungs was 
in the bacillus ,tuberculosis, and that the bacterium termo, as 
proved by culture experiments, was the special antagonistic 
bacterium, then we only had to get rid of the former by intro- 
ducing the latter. This Dr. Cantani did in the form of a spray, 
as previously announced, and with the most flattering results. 
But now comes a certain Dr. Ballagi who claims that he has fol- 
lowed the methods of Dr. Cantani in eight cases, and with the 
most wretched results. In none of the patients was there a 
diminution in the number of tubercle bacilli. The fever and 
cough were unrelieved and in no way was it possible to discern 
the slightest benefit from the treatment. The appetite was de- 
creased as was also the weight of the patients. Thus we may 
be far from a solution of these vexatious questions. 
New Cause or Putuisis.—This impression is all the more 
marked as we consider that already two French observers, 
MM. Duguet and Hericourt, claim to have discovered a new 
cause of phthisis. It is found in the common vegetable para- 
site microsporon furfur. When this micro-organism was in- 
jected into rabbits and guinae-pigs they became, without excep- 
