1889.] MICROSCOPICAL JOURNAL. 227 



be added when required. Prof. Seaman was of the opinion that the 

 largest demand on the microscope was for professional use. He said 

 that the introduction of bacteriology required sub-stage accessories, and 

 that a stage so low that it could not take an Abbe condenser was unsuit- 

 able for higher original investigation. If the student has a stand with 

 facilities for taking accessories he has a stand which will last him 

 throughout his whole career of advanced work. 



Dr. Taylor declared that Prof. Seaman was not practical ; it was best 

 for young students to buy small instruments, and then, as they become 

 more expert, to cast aside the cheap for the more expensive ones. 



WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON. 



" The Brown-Sequard Method of Treatment," by Dr. Geo. E. Fell, 

 was the first paper of the afternoon session. The point which Dr. Fell 

 endeavored most to impress upon his hearers was the great care neces- 

 sary in preparing the Elixir. While of the opinion that death could be 

 caused by injecting impure fluid, and that when left for several hours it be- 

 came dangerous, he also said that when fresh the material was not more 

 harmful than pure water. The doctor cited several cases where patients 

 suffering from consumption, rheumatism, etc., had been temporarily 

 benefited. He was of the opinion that these cases were not represent- 

 ative because of the abnormal conditions, which were not advantageous. 

 Brown-Sequard had claimed that the fluid was for such as were in old 

 age, not in disease. Dr. Fell said he had injected from i to 2 drams, 

 and found that the patients (with the exception of one who died through 

 natural causes) were in about the same condition that they were pre- 

 vious to the treatment ; from which fact he concluded that his injec- 

 tions were in too small quantities to cause permanent good. He stated 

 that he had examined the fluid two hours after preparation, but as the 

 liquid had been kept under antiseptic conditions he found no bacteria. 



Dr. Howe agreed with Dr. Fell, that in handling Brown-Sequard's 

 fluid, as in the investigation of bacteriological disease, great care should 

 be taken. He also thought that the mental condition of the patient 

 should be carefully considered. 



Dr. James said if any other man than Brown-Sequard had fathered 

 this thing, it would have been dismissed as an evidence of second child- 

 hood. After the first mysterious reports, it was learned that Dr. Brown- 

 Sequard did not claim to have found an elixir of life, but the means of 

 introducing into the aged a living principle which would partially stop 

 the advance of decrepitude. The matter had again demonstrated the 

 gullibility of human nature. 



Dr. Smith said that the gentlemen who had investigated the treatment 

 of the elixir should be thanked for the study they had made to determine 

 the benefit, if any. 



An invitation was received from the Convention of Florists, also in 

 session at Buffalo, to attend the Floral Exhibition at Music Hall. 



An interesting paper by Dr. Thomas Taylor, on " Detection of Adul- 

 teration in Tea," was then read. The doctor treated of the various 

 methods of adulterating the materials and color in tea. In making his 

 preliminary investigations in tea-leaf dissections, Dr. Taylor discovered 

 peculiarly formed isolated cells, polarizing bodies, seemingly having no 

 connection whatever with the general structure of the leaf. The pres- 

 ence of" stone" cells in tea leaves formed an important factor to start 



