30 THE MICROSCOPE. 



it is another species, probably new and undescribed. — Abstract from 

 article by Henry Mills in Bulletin of Buffalo Society of Natural 

 Sciences. 



[The editors regret that lack of space necessitates a brief ab- 

 stract of this valuable article.] 



1 



Aid of the Microscope in the Diagnosis of Diseases. — 

 Parasites in the intestines of all animals are developed, and they 

 feed upon the system, and, if too numerous, cause disease and death. 

 Parasites in the intestines of children and aged persons are very 

 common, and if very numerous prove fatal. These and many others 

 are visible to the naked eye. Had we the visual power to see all 

 things as though we were looking through a microscope of high 

 power, we would be amazed at the numerous animal life that is not 

 visible to the unassisted eye. The air we breathe, the water we 

 drink, and the food we eat is contaminated with bacteria, which 

 poisons our systems and sows the seeds of disease, and in many 

 cases death is the result. A lady some time ago sent me a slice of 

 cold bacon ham for examination under the microscope, and stated 

 that her family had been eating the ham, and that some of them 

 were sick, and that she was fearful the ham was the cause. The 

 ham had the appearance of having been sprinkled with fine black 

 pepper. I scraped off some of it and placed it under the micro- 

 scope, and it revealed animal life in abundance, and so active as to 

 move from under the iield of the glass. I have examined quite a 

 number of specimens from different hams of bacon that had been 

 boiled some days, and found the same peculiar animalculse. 



The microscope is the only means by which trichinae can be de- 

 tected. They are not visible to the unassisted eye. I have found 

 bacteria in the vomited matter from patients suffering from typho- 

 malarial fever, and by experiments with different chemicals I ascer- 

 tained what would destroy them, and the patient recover very 

 rapidly under its exhibition. 



By the aid of the microscope we can detect bacteria in the urine 

 of patients suffering from acute or chronic cystitis, and by experi- 

 ments with chemicals ascertain what will destroy them, and the pa- 

 tient speedily recover under its use. 



A gentleman called on me a few months ago and stated that he 

 had been under treatment for stricture of the urethra for the last 12 



