1889.] MICROSCOPICAL JOURNAL. 69 



MEDICAL MICROSCOPY.* 



The Menstrual Organ. — A most interesting paper with this title 

 and by Dr. A. W. Johnstone is published in the Annals of Gynecol- 

 ogy, October, 1888. It gives some results of microscopic study of the 

 endometrium, tending to the following conclusions : That the endome- 

 trium is a cytogenic organ analogous in function to the spleen, thymus 

 gland, etc. ; that the product of its cytogenesis is the placenta ; that 

 menstruation is the washing away of corpuscles too old to make a pla- 

 centa, and that the reason why lower animals do not menstruate is be- 

 cause in them the uterine lymphatic net-work is much more abundant, 

 and through these lymph canals the ripe but unused placental material 

 is washed awav into the general circulation. 



Influence of Microbes. — In a paper read before the Virginia Med- 

 ical Society Dr. W. E. McGuire enumerates ways in which the baneful 

 influence of microbes upon living organisms may be explained: (1) 

 As cell-food destroyers ; (2) As obstructionists interfering with the 

 action of exoreting organs ; (3) By leaving poisonous excretions ; (4) 

 By tissue-deoxygenization wherefrom ptomaines result. 



Trachoma. — Dr Kiikarsky, of Tiflis, has been studying the bacteri- 

 ology of trachoma. He formulates the differential, morphological, 

 and biological characteristics of the microbes which he invariably found 

 in trachomatous follicles ; but the results of inoculative experiments 

 upon rabbits, cats, dogs, pigeons, and men, either with pure cultures 

 or with the fluids from diseased eves, were inconclusive. — Phil . Med. 

 Ti?7tes, Dec. 15, '88. 



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Dying of Trichinosis. — It was discovered December 28, 1888, by 

 examination with the microscope, that the mysterious disease with which 

 Mr. Crnmbaugh, of Leroy, has for a year been a sufferer, is trichinosis. 

 He has suffered indescribable tortures since he was first attacked "with the 

 mysterious malady. He had no recollection of eating raw or imper- 

 fectly cooked pork. He died in January, 1889. 



News. — tl Pork affected with trichina when used for food produces 

 the Tcenia solium, or common tape-worm." — Bulletin Te?in. State 

 Board of Health. 



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A case of alcoholic multiple neuritis occurring at the Philadelphia 

 Hospital was imported to the Philadelphia Neurological Society by Dr. 

 J. H. Lloyd. The microscopical specimens from this case " became 

 decomposed in some unaccountable way. and were unfit for microscopic 

 study." This may be worth noting by competitors for Dr. Mason's 

 prize. 



*This department is conducted by F. Blanchard, M. D. 



