354 THE AMERICAN MONTHLY [Dec, 



cillus which causes the trouble can be detected in the sputum. 

 We now know that dysentery and cholera are due to micro- 

 scopic organisms. The condition of the blood is quickly re- 

 vealed under the objective. Whole books have been written on 

 this subject, the latest of which is Wethered's Medical Micros- 

 copy and which no physician can do without unless he has 

 Beale or some other of the earlier treatises. 



Thirty Years Hence. — It will not surprise us if within 30 

 years the number of housekeepers who use microscopes equals 

 the number of doctors who now use them. Housewives could 

 detect a great number of adulterations in groceries and drugs. 

 They could examine meat and so reject that which contains 

 trichinae, tuberculosis and other fatal disease germs. A multi- 

 tude of sicknesses could thus be warded off. In Berlin, and 

 other parts of Germany, already all animals slaughtered are in- 

 spected microscopically. In Berlin, 4o ladies, trained for this 

 special work, are constantly employed. Blood, tissues, etc., are 

 scrutinized. There is a heavy penalty for selling uninspected 

 meat. 



Naval Medical School. — Among the required studies at our 

 Naval laboratory in New York, the Secretary of the Navy pre- 

 scribes the following: 



Microscopy and Microbiology : Practical acquaintance with the 

 handling of the microscope, its construction, use, care, and 

 choice ; simple lens, optical principle, construction, and use ; 

 compound lens, low-power objectives, use and care ; accessory 

 apparatus, general method of work, illumination, effect of dif; 

 ferent media ; the eyes, peculiarities, use, and protection ; mount- 

 ing, dr}^ in liquid, and in cells ; section cutting soft and hard 

 tissues, crystals, rock sections and grains; staining ; high power 

 objectives, use and care, cover connections, and immersion 

 fluids; adulteration of foods, drugs, etc., detection of fibers, 

 paper, and handwriting. 



Mia'ohiology . — Laboratory examination of unicellular forms of 

 life, yeasts, protococcus, amoeba, the molds, algse, and fungi of 

 fresh waters ; fauna of potable waters. 



General Bacteriology. — Isolation, preparation of culture media, 

 mounting and study and identification of species, bacteria of 

 potable waters, sewage bacteria, typhoid bacillus, biological ex- 



