132 THE MICROSCOPE. Sept. 



known as atavism or reversion. What we are to-day, is 

 only the consequence of what our forefathers were, be- 

 cause they wrote in a certain manner; as I suppose for 

 instance, I can write in the manner I do. We are crea- 

 tures of circumstance and the consequence of what our 

 ancestors were. What I do my grandson or nephew will 

 do. For reversion seems to go by the uncle's side in- 

 stead of the father. Why it is so we cannot of course 

 make out. These thoughts on reversion come up in my 

 mind in consequence of a talent, as I say I may call it, 

 of writing and imitating which I have. I have invented 

 a piece of apparatus for mounting microscopic objects 

 and it is simple and I will describe it. 



A piece of brass plate such as printers use, — a brass 

 rule about five to the pica, as it is called, is taken. A 

 piece three inches is cut off. It is one inch wide. To 

 use this in mounting, a slide is laid on it and fastened by 

 an American clothes clip. It has then the object put on 

 it in water and arranged to suit the taste of the mounter 

 or the method of the object. It is then heated with the 

 brass plate down over a small lamp. A gas lamp is best 

 but an alcohol lamp will do. A kerosene lamp will not do 

 as it blackens by soot the brass plate. The heat is dis- 

 persed in the slide to the ends, and there is no danger of 

 breaking the slide. When the object is dry, and before 

 it begins to cool, gum or any preservative as Canada 

 balsam, is placed on, and the cover put in place. I find 

 this contrivance obviates the danger of breaking the 

 slides by heat, also it diffuses the heat and keeps them wet 

 with the preservative. I wish it might be tried for I 

 think brass plate for mounting microscopic objects is a 

 great desideratum. 



Potassium permanganate is a newly discovered antidote to 

 potassium cyanide. Administer one-half litre of a three to five 

 per cent solution internally. 



