148 THE AMERICAN MONTHLY [May 
The mixture is allowed to stand, and the supernatant de- 
canted. This leaves the material in condition to be fixed 
and stained by the processes of Zeihl or Ehrlich. 
THE Microscopic EXHIBIT oF THE N. Y. BoTANICAL 
GARDEN.—This unique exhibit, both conceived and pre- 
sented by Mr. William E. Dodge, has been temporarily 
installed in the hall of the west wing, and at present con- 
sists of twenty-four microscopes of special design mount- 
ed, by pairs, on twelve specially built oak stands, costing 
$665.50. As this collection occupies a hall otherwise con- 
taining only cryptogams, it was decided to restrict the 
objects shown by the microscopes to specimens selected 
from the plants below the spermatophytes ; thus the mi- 
croscope exhibit enables a visitor to see the minute struc- 
ture of the principal groups of the lower plants, from the 
myxomycetes or slime-moulds to the fern inclusive. Hach 
microscope is accompanied by an explanatory label refer- 
ring to the object shown by the instrument. 
HEDICAL MICROSCOPY. 
Sarcoma.—At the N. Y. Acadamy of Medicine, March 
27th, Dr. Jonathan Wright said that the clinical history 
was entirely opposed to a diagnosis of melanotic sarco- 
ma, as this was a specially malignant form of sarcoma. 
He had seen a number of apparent sarcomata of the sep- 
tum in which, so far as the microscopical examination had 
gone, there had been nothing to distinguish them from 
malignant growths. In some of these cases the growth 
had been simply shaved off, and there had been no return. 
Where the clinical history contradicted the microscope in 
cases of suspected sarcomatous malignancy, he preferred 
to rely upon the) clinical diagnosis. 
SEA-WEEDS.—Tabule Phycologicw by Fr. T. Kuetzing, 
in 19 vols. and index, has 1900 finely colored plates and 
sells for $500. A Leipzig book-seller, whose address we 
