296 THE AMERICAN MONTHLY [Oct., 



vented and the tubercle bacilli continue to stain nicely. He 

 also used for less viscid sputum a concentrated aqueous solution 

 of ammonium carbonate. Kiihne also dwells upon the import- 

 ance of estimating the number of tubercle-bacilli present. 



Muhlhauser (Deutsche Med. Wochenschrift, 1891, No. 7,_p. 282.) 

 does not advise the use of stronger solutions of caustic potash 

 than 2 per cent. He differs from Biedert in taking a smaller 

 quantity of the sputum and adding from six to eight times its 

 volume of the potash solution. 



MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETIES. 



Washington, D C, Microscopical Society. 



Tuesday Oct., 10, 1893. — The first meeting of the season took 

 place at the Society's room, 714 Thirteenth Street, Dr. V. A. 

 Moore in the chair. Officers for 1893-'94 were elected: Presi- 

 dent, E. A. Gibbs, M. D. ; Vice-President, H. H. Doubleday ; 

 Corresponding Secretary, W. W. Alleger, M. D. ; Recording Sec- 

 retary, L. M. Mooers; Treasurer, Dr. Marshall; Curator, W. H. 

 Seaman, M. D. Dr. Lamb proposed that the society offer two 

 prizes for original work, the results to be read before the society 

 at its meetings in February, March and April, 1894. Discussion 

 showed a favorable sentiment and Dr. Lamb, Dr. Reyburn and 

 Mr. Smiley were appointed a committee to develope a definite 

 plan, fix the amount of money to be offered and the terms of 

 the competition. For the purpose of interesting young persons, 

 several members favored holding working sessions and lantern 

 exhibitions, Dr. Alleger, Dr. Balloch and Mr. Doubleday were 

 constituted a committee on this subject. 



Dr. V. A. Moore read a paper on Myelin degeneration of the 

 pulmonary alveolar epithelium, a condition which he found ac- 

 companying tuberculosis but he has also found it in apparently 

 well persons. Virchoff" first called attention to these peculiar 

 bodies which may be seen with 1-5 or 1-10 objective in the spu- 

 tum of persons affected thereby. Slides and figures were shown. 



Out of 53 active members, 14 were present at this meeting 

 which was considered a very satisfactory commencement of the 

 fall campaign. So many of the members are unable to be pres- 

 ent habitually that it is proposed to report the sessions quite 

 fully in this p riodicul the coming year. 



