62 THE AMEElCAN MOKTSLY [February, 



QuEKET Club, London, England. 



Friday^ Dec. 16., iSgi. — The president, Dr. Dallinger, held 

 the 307th regidar meeting at 20 Hanover Square. 



The secretary announced that the Jojirnal will hereafter be 

 published in March and October — price raised, to 87 cents per 

 number. Officers for the year will be elected January 20th. 



Prof. W. C. Williamson, LL.D., read the paper of the evening, 

 on " Mineralization of the Minute Tissues of Animals and 

 Plants." He discussed the chief features of the process of fossili- 

 zation taking place in various orders of animals and plants, and 

 the manner in which their skeletal or protoplasmic tissues are 

 replaced by calcium carbonate, silica or iron sulphide, and gave 

 many illustrative instances occurring in several geological forma 

 tions. A large series of microscopical sections and specimens 

 were exhibited. 



NEW PUBLICATIONS. 



Biennial Report of the Alabama Insane Hospital for tivo 

 years., ending Sept. jo^ iSgz. Montgomery, y!\la. 1892, 

 pp. 104. 



From this report, which Dr. Bondurant, the pathologist, has 

 kindly sent to us, it appears that during the past 18 months 

 some 92 autopsies have been held. Organs and tissues showing 

 disease have been subjected to subsequent microscopic study, or 

 in many instances preserved entire. Microscopic slides to the 

 number of about 2,000, chiefly animal tissue, normal and diseased, 

 have been accumulated. 



In a series of autopsies the pathologist has made micro- 

 scopical examinations of the kidneys, and has reported the 

 results obtained in each of the 44 cases. There was always 

 something abnormal found about the kidneys. The astonishing 

 statement is made that some form of Bright's disease has been 

 found in at least one-half the insane persons brought to this 

 hospital for treatment. 



The kidneys were prepared for microscopic study by hardening 

 in Mueller's or Fleming's fluid or in dilute alcohol. Sections 

 were cut by the ordinary imbedding methods and examined un- 

 stained. They were also colored by the usual nuclear stains as 

 well as by the aniline dyes. For the demonstration of amyloid 

 degeneration, both iodine in solution and the acetic acid — gentian 

 violet method was employed. Sections were in every instance 

 made from both kidneys. Postmortem changes in the cells of the 

 kidneys were always considered and avoided as much as possible 

 by making early autopsies. 



