40 THE MICKOSCOPE. [March, 



Before using the microscope, I used a strong Coddington lens 

 with good success. Plant tissue can be very well appreciated 

 with a good lens, also the various parts of insects ; and it leads 

 up to the demand for a better glass. Long before I began using 

 the microscope, my pupils proposed getting up socials and en- 

 tertainments for the purpose of purchasing a glass for the school. 

 The time is not distant when every graded school in the State 

 will have the microscope as a part of its needed apparatus. 



BACTERIA IN ICE 

 By M. Noll. 



ATCHISON, KANS. 



[Abstract of a paper read before the Sphinx Society, and reported by E. B. Knerr, Secretary. ] 



Impurities may occur in even the best of ice. Samples ob- 

 tained from the Missouri river, the lakes and creeks in the neigh- 

 borhood of Atchison, and from the Atchison city reservoir were 

 subjected to chemical and biological analysis. In all, more or 

 less organic substance was found, especially in that from the 

 creeks. But the biological examination is of especial interest to 

 those interested in microscopy. It is commonly supposed that 

 life in ice is impossible, but in all specimens examined life was 

 found at least in the dormant or spore condition. Fragments 

 taken from the centres of large blocks of ice were carefully washed 

 with sterilized and distilled water and quickly placed into steri- 

 lized tubes containing nutrient gelatin. So rapidly did the bac- 

 teria multiply that in three days they became visible as a hazy 

 cloud near the surface. In a few more days the gelatin was 

 liquefied and full of them. Check tubes of the same solutions, 

 prepared at the same time and under the same conditions, but 

 without the addition of ice, presented no bacterial growth what- 

 ever, even after the lapse of a month. Plate cultures were also 

 made, and from the colonies thus developed several different 

 species of bacteria were isolated. It was thought, however, that 

 none were of a harmful nature. Ice from the creeks gave the 

 greatest varietv of growth, while that from the Missouri river 

 show r ed the least variety. 



Poisons. — Have a special closet for all poisons and do not 

 let people have access thereto indiscriminately. Have all the 

 packages properly labelled, but, to prevent involuntary accidents, 

 keep them in no particular order and never put the same package 

 twice in the same place. 



