18!)7J MICROSCOPICAL JOURNAL. U5 



dry 15 objective ;is under <i 1-10 immersion objective 

 by stiunin<4: [)rocesses. Tlieir })resence in tlie sputum is 

 a sure indication of tuberculosis of the luugs or larynx, 

 yuite a close apjnoximation of the severity of the disease 

 may b(^ made by the numberof bacilli, but more closely 

 by the quantity of the .vporcs. Bacilli are often dis- 

 covered vvlien the physical signs are still indistinct or 

 altogether wanting. Absence of the bacilli at a single 

 examination is without value. 



These slides [specimens exhibited] are stained by the 

 two methods last mentioned, and are from the sputum 

 of a patient under tieatment with Edison's aseptolin 

 since February 22, 1896. The expectoration has contin- 

 ually decreased in quantity, but there seems to be little 

 effect, if any, upon the form and number of the bacilli. — 

 Occidental Medical Times. 



EDITORIAL. 



Le Naturaliste Canadien. — ^Fhe scientific publication of 

 that name, founded by TAbbe Provencher and edited at 

 ]>resent by TAbbe V. A. Huard of Chicoutimi, Canada, 

 enters with the January number upon its 24th vear. We 

 wish success to one ot the oldest pioneers of learning" in a 

 country where natural science has comparativelv few 

 votaries. 



Diatomaceous Earth Free. Mr. K. M. Cunning-ham, 

 ha\ing- in the month, June, l.S<H), discovered a new Fossil 

 i\[arine Diatomaceous deposit near Sug-gsville, Clarke Co., 

 Ala., which deposit has characters closely approaching the 

 deposits of Richmond, \"a., and Monterey, Pacific Coast, 

 and further having in the month of December past, secured 

 some fifty pounds of the material for distribution to anv- 

 one, makes a free offer to our suljscribers w ho may en- 

 close to us postage at the rate of one cent per ounce, 'i^he 

 material contains twenty-five or more genera of Diatoms, 



