The Microscope. 147 



ciliated cells can be prepared by scraping the roof of its mouth 

 and mounting immediately in salt solution. If the slide be warmed 

 slightly the cilia will vibrate more actively and for a longer time. 



Simple Examination of Fluids. — These examinations will be 

 found extremely simple if the directions already given in this lesson 

 be remembered. The most important of these is that the layer be 

 as thin as possible, and, if the fluid to be examined be unusually 

 rich in cellular elements, sufficiently diluted. 



Blood. — Have ready a clean slide and cover-glass. Cleanse 

 the finger and from it draw a drop of blood by puncturing with a 

 sharp needle. Now take up the cover-glass and lightly touch 

 the center with the blood. Invert and slowly lower on the slide. 

 By this means the blood will be spread out in a very thin layer 

 over the surface and can then be examined. The red corpuscles 

 will be seen separate and in rouleaux, and the less numerous leu- 

 cocytes, larger and glistening, dotting the more open spaces in the 

 field. A specimen prepared as above will not last long, as it dries 

 quickly. A more enduring specimen can be made by mixing several 

 drops of blood with salt-solution, to thin and give it volume. Such 

 will last for an hour. Compare the human blood with that of other 

 animals, notably of the frog. The red cells of the batrachian are 

 very large, and as they do not, like human blood, form in rouleaux 

 or thick masses, make beautiful objects for study. The nuclei can 

 be developed by adding a drop of dilute acetic acid to the mixture. 



Other fluids, pathological or normal, can and should be studied. 



EDITORIAL 



THE A. S. M. MEETING FOR 1887. 



The committee appointed by the A. S. M. at Chautauqua to 

 select a meeting place for the Society's 1887 session, has finally 

 ballotted in favor of Pittsburg, Pa., a choice which will be wel- 

 comed by nearly all, if not all members, in good and regular 

 standing. Of the three other cities extending invitations to the 

 Society for this year, this may be said : San Francisco is too far 

 away ; Washington, which we advocated in December, has great 

 attractions, but perhaps would have been an unfortunate selection 

 on account of the International Medical Congress, which meets in 

 September, drawing attention and enthusiasm from the Micro- 

 scopical meetings ; and Indianapolis, the birth-place of the society, 

 certainly deserves to share in the decennial birthday frolic of its 



