1901) MICROSCOPICAL JOURNAL. 245 
do not see the reason for classing this bacterium with 
Beggiatoa, as to me it seems it would be more correctly 
considered as a Micrococcus. 
Apart from the color, the most interesting fact about 
these lower forms of life is that, while ordinarly present 
to a small extent, occasionally, owing to favorable con- 
ditions of environment and food supply, they multiply 
so enormously as to have the effect described. Thus giv- 
ing a visible example of what must occur invisibly dur- 
ing epidemics of diseases, such as influenza and plague, 
which, according to modern science, are caused by micro- 
organisms distantly related to them.—Science- Gossip. 
The Blood in Health and Disease. 
For anything approaching accurate microscopic blood 
work it is necessary to have at least a 1-12 inch oil im- 
mersion objective with a one inch eye-piece. This com- 
bination will magnify about 1000 diameters. Sucha pow- 
er will enable one to study the various kinds of corpus- 
cles and their pathological variations; and will reveal as 
wellthe malaria plasmodium and all the smaller bacteria. 
Blood specimens are sometimes examined fresh, that is 
shortly after the blood is drawn and before it has dried; 
and, secondly, specimens are prepared by drying, fixiny, 
and staining—a process which serves to bring out the vari- 
ous elements of the corpuscles in different colors. | 
To prepare fresh blood specimens for examination, we 
should clean a slide and cover slip with alcohol or ether 
' upon a clean towel, and carefully rub dry and polish them 
in the towel, not touching their surfaces but catching 
them by the edges to handle them and laying them aside 
upon clean white paper. 
Prick the finger or ear to draw blood, after first clean- 
ing the part with alcohol on the towel andrubbing dry. 
Wipe away the first drop that appears and then just touch 
the cover glass to the apex of the next drop so as to obtain 
