324 THE AMERICAN MONTHLY [Oct. 



The edge of the gelatine disc thus made must be pressed 

 against the tube and outer surface of the flange, thus 

 making a self-retaining cap. When this cap has become 

 dry, which will ordinarily require about half an hour, 

 it is given a coat of shellac varnish in order to insure a 

 perfect joint, and to prevent the gelatine from being 

 broken. 



The varnish is applied by means of a camel-hair brush 

 and is made from the following formula: 



Absolute alcohol, 100 parts. , 



White shellac, 45 " 



Bals. copaiba, 4 " 



Allow this mixture to stand for a fortnight in a quiet 

 place. At the end of this time an amber-colored super- 

 natant, liquid has formed. This should be . carefully 

 drawn off into a separate bottle having a paraffined 

 cork stopper to prevent evaporation and adhesion of 

 the stopper to the neck of the bottle. 



EDITORIAL. 



Death of Dr. Townshend. — We are s jrry to leani of the 

 death, during the summer vacation, of one of our old sub- 

 scribers, Dr. N. S. Townshend of the Ohio State University. 

 He was one of the founders and one of the first Prof s?or.-5 in 

 the University. Of late he has not been so active as lie was ten 

 years ago. owing to his advanced years. He died at the ripe 

 age of 79. He was one of the purest, kindest and most unselfish 

 men we ever had the privilege of knowing personally. He did 

 well his work and deserved his reward. 



Prizes for Work in Bacteriology. — The Boston Society 

 of Natural History offers prizes for 1897 for original papers en- 

 titled " Contributions to the Knowledge of Bacteria." The 

 prizes are of sixty and fifty dollars. For full information ad- 

 dress the Secretary of the Society in Boston. 



Australian Association for Advancement of Science. — 



We are pleased to receive a complete set of the Proceedings of 

 this young and hopeful society. Its seventh meeting will be 



