366 THE AMERICAN MONTHLY [Oct. 



is almost impossible within the limits of a journal. 

 The work is so stupendous and opens up such a vast field 

 of study and observation that a mere mention of its scope 

 must suffice. 



The author g"ives, in the first place, a minute historical 

 survey of every method intended for the microscopic 

 study of animal tissues. This is followed by a discussion 

 as to the purpose of each method and of its worth at the 

 present day. An exact description of each procedure, 

 with reference to the effect of the ag^ents used upon the 

 chemical and physical properties of the object to be ex- 

 amined, is next broug-ht to view. This is followed in turn 

 l)y a consideration of the chang^es produced in specimens 

 by certain ag^ents employed, with reference to an improve- 

 ment or a possible improvement in the technics. 



The special part of the work is arrang^ed under fourteeil 

 heads, and the entire process, from the securing- of the 

 specimen to its ultimate disposition, cut, stained, and 

 mounted, is minutely described. Free criticism of methods 

 of technics abound, with sug-g-estions for improvement. 

 Volume I closes with a critical bibliog-raphy of the various 

 methods now and formerly in vog"ue for the examination 

 of microscopic specimens, arrang-ed alphabetically and 

 with marg-inal dates. 



This book is no text-book. It will if its author's inten- 

 tions do not miscarry, be the foundation of microscopic 

 technics which shall be based on a thorough understand- 

 ing- of methods employed, their purpose, their history, 

 and their real value. With the addition of the second vol- 

 ume, which is promised within a year, we are certain of a 

 work that will be indispensable to the student, the biolo- 

 g-ist, the histolog-ist, and the worker with the microscope, 

 whoever he may be. 



Typhoid Germs in Ice. — The military officers at Rennes 

 (Medical Press and Circular) have recently suffered from 

 a typhoid epidemic, which has been traced to the ice which 

 was used to cool the champag-ne at a banquet. The ice 

 had been taken from a neig-hboring- river at a point where 

 the town sewers empty. 



