The Miceoscope. 189 



Popular Science News gives this formula for the pencils manu- 

 factui'ed by Faber, in Germany, for writing upon glass, porcelain or 

 metals: Melt together spermaceti four, tallow three, and wax two 

 parts; and add six parts of either red lead, white lead, or Prussian 

 blue, according to the color desired. The mass is turned out in 

 sticks, and is then ready for use. 



Dk. Henoegue, of Paris, has invented a portable hsemato- 

 spectroscope, by means of which both qualitative and quanti- 

 tative analysis of hsemaglobin and its derivatives can be made at the 

 bedside. The instrument is applied to the thumb nail, where, with 

 good light, the energy of the exchange going on between oxygen 

 and the tissues can be seen. This new idea may prove of great 

 practical importance in the study of the phenomena of nutrition. — 

 New York Medical Journal. 



From the Scientific American we learn that through the 

 liberality of Mr. William Smith of Geneva, N. Y., a fully equipped 

 astronomical observatory has been established at that place, with 

 Prof. Wm. R. Brooks as director. 



The smallest flowering plant is the Wolffia microscopica, a 

 member of the Lemnacea? or duck- weed family. 



No department of physical research is more fascinating to the 

 biological investigator, or more transcendently important to the 

 human race, than that one of comparatively recent development, 

 the study of micro-organisms and of their agency in producing 

 disease. — Science. 



The death of the Russian Zoologist, M. Bogdamow, aged 47, is 

 announced as having occurred March 16th. 



We notice that the distinguished microscopist of Chicago, Hon. 

 Marshall D. Ewell, is announced to give a special course on medical 

 jurisprudence at Cornell University during the coming year. 



For the extraction of sublimate from tissues Mayer employs 

 tincture of iodine. The tincture is added in small quanti- 

 ties to the alcohol in which the objects are preserved, as often as 

 the color fades. — Am. Naturalist 



BOOK REVIEWS. 



The Essentials of Medical CheMistry and Urinalysis, by Sam. E. 

 Woody, A. M., M. D., Professor of Chemistry and Public Hygiene, and 

 Clinical Lecturer on Diseases of Children, in the Kentucky School of 

 Medicine. Second edition. Louisville : John P. Morton & Co., 1888. 



From the preface we learn that " the aim of the work is to pre- 

 sent the essential facts of a course of lectures on Medical Chemistyr 



