THE MICROSCOPE. 93 
perishing preparations, and in making exact measurements, for 
which the micrometer scale should be photographed with the object. 
He thought that by means of photography a greater morphological 
difference in the structure of the central nervous organs, which now 
appear to be homogeneous, might be discovered. Photography 
might also be used for deciphering places in old manuscripts which 
had become too pale to be distinguished by the human eye, the invis- 
ible ultra violet rays of which would strongly affect the photographic 
plate. 
NEWS AND NOTES. 
Accorpine to M. Fremont, the difference in properties of the 
Vichy spring waters is due to.the various microbes contained therein. 
Tue Botanical Society of Western Pennsylvania numbers 5) 
members. Among the names, we recognize those of several well- 
known microscopists. 
Miss M. A. Booru recommends, in the Pharmaceutical Era, a 
thick solution of dextrine in water to which a few drops of glycerin 
has been added, as a superior solution for securing labels to slides. 
As a substitute for corks in imbedding, Dr. Freeborn recom- 
mends “deck-plugs,” which are cylinders of white pine, to be 
obtained of manufacturers of barrel bungs, and vary in diameter 
from half an inch to one and one-haif inches. Not only are they not 
made soft and yielding by soaking in dilute alcohol, but they may be 
written upon with lead pencil, thus enabling the microscopist to 
keep several specimens in the same bottle of alcohol.— Pharmacew- 
tical Era. 
Tue Pittsburgh Dispatch of February 7th chronicles the return 
of the astronomer, Prof. John A. Brashear, from his trip to- the 
Pacific coast, whither he went in December to make observations of 
the recent solar eclipse. Mr. Brashear tells the experience of his 
trip in a pleasant narrative of a column and a half. 
BOOK, AREVIE Ws: 
THREE Kinepoms. A handbook of the Agassiz Association, by Harlan H. 
Ballard, President of the Association. New York: The Writers’ Pub 
lishing Co. Pp. 167 
The fact that this hand-book is already in its seventh thousand 
is recommendation enough. Besides the matter of particular value 
