The Microscope. 5t 



Plasmodium of malaria.* — The best results are attained in 

 searching for the plasmodia by examining fresh, unstained prepa- 

 rations with an immersion lens at the bedside of the patient. If 

 the blood cannot be examined in this wa}', cover-glass specimens 

 can be made and stained with concentrated methyl-blue or mal- 

 achite-green. Prepared in this manner, the i)lasmodia are stained 

 pale blue or greenish, and stand out sharpl}^ 



They cannot be confounded with an3^thing else, whether they 

 are inclosed in a blood corpuscle or free in the plasma. 



Prof. Heneage Gibbes, in the Transactions of the Michigan 

 State Medical Society^ says that he concludes, b}^ reason of his 

 observations and experiments, that Phthisis and bovine tuber- 

 culosis are distinct diseases in their causation, although the re- 

 sult is the same, viz : destruction of the lung substance ; and 

 that the tubercle bacillus is not yet proved to have an}- causal 

 relation to either, but would seem to be a concomitant of the 

 process of caseation. 



The tubercle bacillus is characterized by its relation to certain 

 staining processes. But it is not alone distinguished by this. 

 The bacillus of leprosy has the same power, as well as some 

 others, and some forms of micrococci. An investigation by some 

 German observers has also brought to light the fact that any 

 ordinary bacillus, when cultivated in sterilized material to which 

 twenty per cent, of fatty matter had been added, acquired the 

 characteristic reaction of the tubercle bacillus. Professor Gibbes 

 has no animus against this bacillus. He simply contends that 

 its status in society is not 3"et determined. 



WAVS • 

 AND MEANS 



An inexpensive microtome, by prof. e. b. knerr. — Quite an 

 efficient, yet verj^ inexpensive microtome, ma}^ be made as 

 follows : Two pieces of hard pine, |x3xl8 inches, are planed 



^Berliner kiln. Wochenschrift. 



