1ouZIaS%','!] notes and memoranda. 209 



The Transmission of the Journal Abroad. — Tlic communications 

 of Professors Vaulair, Van Bcueden, and Masiiis have reached us, and 

 liave been laid before the publisher, who has complied with the orders 

 expressed therein. 



The Microscope in the Welsh Fasting Girl's Case. — A curious 

 instance of the practical value of the microscope in many inquiries in 

 which its use would not be susj^ected by those not versed in its em- 

 ployment, was shown in the recent prosecution. Mr. John Phillips, 

 surgeon, in giving his evidence, mentioned that he also examined with 

 a microscope the contents of the stomach. He recognized starch 

 globules in abundance, and several small pieces of bone — either of 

 small fish or small birds. The starch was most probably taken from 

 arrowroot. 



A New (?) Binocular Microscope. — A recent number of the 

 ' British and Foreign Mechanic ' contains a descriiJtIon, with figures, 

 of what is called an imi)rovement in binocular microscopes, by Mr. 

 Samuel Holmes, The following is part of the inventor's specification, 

 for we may mention that the instrument is patented : — 



" My invention consists in the use of two object-glasses or portions 

 of two object-glasses, or of one object-glass divided into two jjarts, to 

 supply through two eye-pieces a binocular and stereoscoj)ic view of 

 opaque or transparent microscopic objects while illuminated by re- 

 flected or transmitted light, and also in the use of certain mechanical 

 means herein described, or their equivalents, for seciu-ing the motion 

 in required directions, or rest in necessary positions of the ojitical 

 parts of such combinations for obtaining monocular or binocular 

 vision. The objective — I take an ordinary object-piece, and by a 

 circular saw divide it along its line of collimation, and afterwards 

 rejoin the halves by screws and steady pins, until as an objective it is 

 in as perfect a state of adjustment as before division ? It is then 

 capable of acting as an objective for one or two eyes, according to 

 the position assumed by the two halves under the control of the 

 mechanical part of the instrument when the direct light is stopped 

 out. According to another method, I work the lenses of an achro- 

 matic object-piece out of divided and rejoined discs of glass, which 

 when finished and fixed in a divided mounting temporarily held 

 together for that purpose may be afterwards separated by dissolving 

 out the cement by which the halves of the discs were originally con- 

 joined. Or lastly, I make two whole object-glasses, and fix one into 

 each half of a divided mount, c^ltting away only such portion as will 

 allow of proper approximation. This method is available for high 

 powers and for binocular use only. In all cases I cut the usual screw- 

 • thread on the objectives to affix them to the body, and more surely 

 seciu'c their halves in their respective places in the divided body tube 

 of the instrument by two small milled-headed screws." 



A Revolving Stage and a Tank Microscope. — Mr. Frederick 

 Blankley read the following note at the last meeting of the Eoyal 

 Microscopical Society: — "I have much pleasure, at the request of our 

 esteemed President, in bringing before this Society two small con- 



VOL. III. P 



