THE MICROSCOPE. 109 



and this suspicion became confirmed when I found them to be 

 opaque after the sHde had been held for a few moments over the 

 flame of a spirit lamp. 



To sum up the results of these observations, I found that the 

 desiccated blood contained very little, if any, fibrin ; that the blood 

 corpuscles could be restored to their original size and shape; that the 

 albumen contained in it was in a soluble form ; and that there was 

 no extraneous matter present except a small amount of dust. 



Thus it will be seen that on theoretical grounds this preparation 

 deserves extended trial in all cases where gastric digestion is im- 

 paired or impossible, for if a solution of it is absorbed by the 

 mucous membrane of the bowels and the respiratory tract, as I 

 have strong reasons to believe that it is, and is thus introduced into 

 the system without having undergone any chemical change, as v/ould 

 be produced by the action of gastic juice, we will have a species of 

 transfusion of ox blood into the human system. AMiether the mor- 

 phological elements, the blood corpuscles, as such and in the normal 

 condition, can be taken up by a healthy mucous membrane I am not 

 prepared to say, but even if they are not absorbed, the albumen in a 

 state as it is found in healthy blood and the salts of the blood 

 certainly can be absorbed and thus must necessarily aid in the nour- 

 ishment of the tissues. — Carl Seller, M. D., in Therapeiiiic Gazette. 



Claims or THE Microscope. — It is true that microscopy is a 

 science, and, perhaps, that truth deters many a young medical man 

 from putting himself in a position to see nature and understand what 

 he reads. 



He entertains the idea that a microscope costs a fortune, and in 

 order to understaixl it, he must possess an extraordinary genius, and 

 devote all his time to it to be able to achieve anything in the line of 

 microscopy — all of which is false, and we wish to remove, as far as 

 possible, these erroneous and damaging impressions. Ordinary in- 

 telligence, with a determined purpose, and a few dollars, is what is 

 needed. 



Want of time is the excuse of many, and these men are too fre- 

 quently found (ni a dry-goods box at the corner of the street, or 



