1888.] MICEOSCOPICAL JOURNAL. 135 



by travellers as convenient substitutes for the magnetic needle. It is a dwarf variety 

 of the osier, named Sylphiuiti laciniaiuvi. It is a perennial, and attains a maximum 

 height of 3 feet 6 inches. The peculiar propensity of its foliage is attributed to the fact 

 that both surfaces of its leaves display an equal receptivity for light. All the other 

 known varieties of Sylphhini are characterized by the presence, on the lower surface 

 of the leaves, of from two to three times as many respiratory vessels as are contained 

 in the upper surface, which is, therefore, the more sensitive of the two to light influ- 

 ences. But both surfaces of the laciniatuni are clothed alike with an epidermis ex- 

 ceptionally receptive of light. According to Professor Meehan, who reports these facts, 

 the same instinct of its leaves that prompts them to require an equal distribution of 

 light upon their surfaces causes them to assume a vertical position, and to point due 

 north and south — one flat of each leaf thus facing the east and the other the west. 



We learn that the Pathological materials in the Army Medical Museum, at Washing- 

 ton, are to be thoroughly catalogued. Also, that illustrations and. histological studies 

 by photograph and otherwise are to be made from the subjects. This would make a 

 most thorough and valuable text-book. 



Medical anatomy. — The St. Louis Medical and Surgical Journal, in a review of the 

 new edition of Gray's Anatomy, recently published, announces an excellent principle. 



' Gray's Anatomy is sadly deficient in this point, viz : — That the student is not given 

 an introduction as to the relations of the science of anatomy to other sciences, espe- 

 cially to morphology and biology. It seems to us that, at the present time, a physician 

 should be more than merely a practitioner of medicine. He should also be instructed 

 in the scientific foundations of the disciplines which he needs in the practice of his 

 profession. Lacking these, he is a little better than an artisan, and will never be able 

 to reach the noblest aims of his profession. 



' It is an undeniable fact that the genetic method of explaining anatomical facts illu- 

 minates the process of teaching and learning, and thus not only the memory, but the 

 reasoning powers of the student are exercised. The time has come when the old 

 mnemonic method of learning anatomy can no longer be tolerated. " To teach means 

 to develop." Therefore, there can be no doubt that the genetic method should always 

 work hand in hand with the descriptive. By this means only anatomy has been made 

 a science which stands higher than those pseudo sciences, medicine and surgery.' 



The reviewer thoroughly appreciates and commends the work as a manual of human 

 anatomy, assigning it the highest place in this or any language. 



MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETIES. 



St. Louis Club of Microscopists. — Frank Davis, Secy. 



At the first annual meeting, May i, the following officers were elected for the ensu- 

 ing year : — President, H. M. Whelpley ; Vice-President, D. L. Haigh ; Secretary, Frank 

 Davis ; Treasurer, Wm. Ilhardt ; Curator, J. C. P^alk. A committee was appointed to 

 purchase a suitable cabinet for the collection of slides. One of the Griffith Club ini- 

 croscopes was shown and admired by all. 



' The Microscopical Examination of Honey ' was the subject presented by J. C. Falk. 

 He has examined numerous samples, and has been able to distinguish the pollen grains 

 in pure honey, while they are absent in artificial honey, and only sparingly pi'esent in 

 adulterated honey. The pollen grains vary considerably m size, but are easily distin- 

 guished with a /u inch objective. The members will examine the honey for sale in 

 St. Louis, and report at the next meeting. 



Essex County, N. J. — F. Vanderpoel, Secy. 

 February i6, iS88. — Mr. W. C. Gardner, of Montclair, read a paper upon the ' Op- 

 tics of the Microscope,' illustrating the subject by diagrams. Two theories of light 

 have been proposed and advocated, although the undulatory theory has finally been 

 adopted. The immense velocity of lightwaves was touched upon, and the subjects of 

 reflection and refraction of light explained ; also, what are meant by angles of inci- 

 dence, reflection and refraction, and the index of refraction. This, for crown glass, 

 is 1.5. Total reflection was clearly illustrated by a diagram. The critical angle for 

 crown glass was stated to be 41° 48^. This property of the total reflection of hght is 



