284 THE AMERICAN MONTHLY [Rept 



shows in the soft coaj^uhi, red blood cells that look nor- 

 mal. I thrust a tube iuto the hard coagulaaud obtained 

 a piece from wliich sections could be cut. It is a mass 

 of blood cells. A few of them are normal in size and 

 shape. The most of them are contracted and round and 

 cupped. I have stained aud mounted specimens that have 

 been kept so long. 



Not long ago when using some formalin that had been 

 left in an open dish for several days, I noticed that there 

 was a number of dead flies around. I wish some one 

 who has had experience in using the vapor as a disinfec- 

 tant by burning in these new lamps, would observe and 

 report whether it will kill flies. To test the question 

 further myself I put some formalin in a saucer-like dish, 

 in which I had melted some paraffin and in whicli was 

 quite a good deal of the paraffin remaining. I did not 

 find many dead flies but I noticed another peculiarity of 

 its action that may prove useful to some one who knows 

 how to take advantage of it. I found the paraffin 

 changed into a white friable powder. I heated some of it 

 and found that it gave off fumes of formalin in great 

 quantity. It will not melt like normal parraffin. 



Bacteriological Researhecs Regarding an Epidemic of Horses 

 now Prevelent in Canada. 



I?Y Dr. BENOIT, and Dk. TAKIFKAr. 



Some researches are being carried on in the laboratories 

 of the hospital of Notre Dame regarding the nature of 

 a contageous epidemic which is now prevaliug among 

 horses. The legs of the sick horses arc covered with 

 fistules which give birth, to an infectious sui)puration. 



The grooms wlio have to dress the sort^s of the sick 

 animals are nearly all attacked on tht; arm or on the 

 hands with an ulcer of innoculation, followed by ganglions 

 pains and hypertrophies in the small of the arms and in 



