284 THE AMERICAN MONTHLY [Sept. 



Among the diflFerent solvents, tried M. Vincent has selected 

 the following liquid, which does not alter the form of the glo- 

 bules, and leaves no deposit and no striae: 



Aqueous solution carbolic acid, 5 p. c 6 centim. cubes 



Water saturated with Na. CI 30 '• " 



Glycerine.., 30 " " 



Filter. 



The blood spread in a thin layer (or in a thick layer when 

 microbes rare in number are being soui^ht) is slowly dried, 

 either at ordinary temperature ora feeble heat. It is then treated 

 with the fluid above described, which dissolves entirely the hemo- 

 globin. At the end of half a minute to two minutes the fluid 

 is drained off", the blood washed with distilled water, and color- 

 ation is eff"ected with carbolized methylene blue, with the ad- 

 dition of from 1 to 20 per cent of aqueous solution of methyl 

 violet. — Paris Cor. Med. Press and Circular. 



Silverin, a New Polishing Material. — This consists, ac- 

 cording to the Pharmaceutische Centralhalle, of 30 parts of pre- 

 cipitated chalk, 30 parts of ammonia, 45 parts of alcohol, and 

 200 parts of water. Shake before using. 



Seeing Bacillus Tuberculosis with a Low Power. — If 

 properly stained this object can be seen nicely with a one- 

 quarter inch objective. All that an amateur would care to see 

 can be thus exhibited. If stained red on a blue ground it will 

 appear plainly and beautifully. 



MEDICAL MICROSCOPY. 



The Bacteria of Rheumatism. — Professor Max Schuler is 

 said to have discovered, in the joints of persons attacked with 

 chronic articular rheumatism, bacteria, which are always iden- 

 tical in like cases. These bacilli are short and thick, having at 

 each end bright grains which aniline colors make still more evi- 

 dent. The discoverer has been able to cultivate these bacteria 

 in bouillon, or gelatine, or on a piece of potato. Their culture 

 requires a temperature of at least 25 degrees, and darkness is in- 

 dispensable. 



Cancer. — There is a growing opinion that cancer is ascrib- 

 able to the action of a gregarine. These singular corticate in- 

 fusoria will be familiar to students who have brought a micro- 



