1885.J 



MICROSCOPICAL JOURNAL. 



219 



ent until after the disease has brought the 

 system under its influence, the inference 

 is that the bacteria in that case, instead of 

 being the cause, are the result of the dis- 

 ease. 



The theory that bacteria cause infec- 

 tious disease is false, because their pres- 

 ence is not necessary to produce the dis- 

 ease ascribed to them. They are only 

 carriers of poisons (ptomaines), which are 

 generated during the decomposition of or- 

 ganic matter. 



Bacteria cannot exist in healthy organ- 

 isms. 



The theory that the use of germicides 

 in infective and zymotic diseases is scien- 

 tific treatment has been exploded, for it 

 has been shown that the patient's life 

 would be jeopardized thereby. 



The value of their presence as a means 

 of diagnosis is admitted. 



An animated discussion then arose, 

 in which the advocates of the germ theory, 

 led by Dr. Hallard, stoutly maintained 

 the correctness of their views. 



Prof. Hanks presented two slides of 

 gold from quartz collected by him at the 

 mines near Dahlonega, Ga. The peculi- 

 arity of the gold consisted in its crystalline 

 condition, its purity, and absolute free- 

 dom from coating. Slides of this material 

 will be furnished to members interested in 

 the subject. 



Mr. Payzant exhibited specimens of 

 Eudorifta clegans ( living ), a beautiful 

 little plant belonging to the group Volvo- 

 cinece. It occurred in such prodigious 

 numbers as to impart a distinct green color 

 to the water in which it was found. 



— We are pleased to notice the success 

 with which Mr. Alfred Allen has con- 

 ducted the Journal of Microscopy and 

 Natural Science, originally the Journal of 

 the Postal Microscopical Society. It is 

 now a quarterly, with lithographic plates 

 in each issue ; the contents are varied and 

 instructive. The volume which ends this 

 year is full of valuable information for the 

 working microscopist. We congratulate 

 Mr. Allen upon his success, and trust his 

 new venture, the proposed Scientific En- 

 quirer, will also prove remunerative. 



— The August number of Mr. T. Bol- 

 ton's Portfolio of Drawings and Descrip- 

 tions of Living Organisms was recently 

 received from the author. The publica- 

 tion is an excellent one for the general 

 microscopist. This number, the price of 

 which is one shilling, is devoted to the 

 animal kingdom, and contains representa- 

 tions of fourteen species of rhizopods, in- 



fusoria, etc. — not very finely drawn, to be 

 sure, but useful to one who wishes to de- 

 termine species. Mr. Bolton's address is 

 Birmingham, England. 



— The annual election of the Washing- 

 ton Microscopical Society was held on the 

 evening of October 13th, when the follow- 

 ing officers were elected : President, Dr. 

 Robert Reyburn ; vice-president, Prof.Wil- 

 liam H. Seaman ; corresponding secre- 

 tary, Dr. E. M. Schaeffer ; recording sec- 

 retary. Dr. E. A. Balloch ; treasurer, Dr. 

 C. T. Caldwell. The society is slowly 

 growing, and the prospects are good for 

 a prosperous year. 



— The Botanical Gazette is to be en- 

 larged next year, and the subscription 

 price increased. We are pleased to notice 

 such evidence of its prosperity. It will 

 be made to appeal to a larger circle of 

 readers, and will include some more popu- 

 lar articles, of interest to botanists and 

 others. With three editors, in different 

 parts of the country, there should be no 

 dearth of news at any time. 



CORRESPONDENCE. 



Styrax for Mounting. 



To THE Editor : — In the August num- 

 ber of the Journal of the Royal Micro- 

 scopical Society, I find (page 744) a con- 

 densed extract of my article on mounting 

 in American storax taken from the May 

 issue of the American Monthly Micro- 

 scopical Journal. To the extract is added 

 a short paragraph, stating that Mr. J. Deby 

 finds that styrax never dries completely. 



I wish just here to state that my expe- 

 rience with the styrax of commerce has 

 been similar to his ; but that our southern 

 sweet gum (the exudation of Liquidanibar 

 styracifiud), when treated as indicated by 

 me, gives a chloroform solution which 

 hardens as thoroughly as the balsam 

 solution, and has the advantage over it 

 of rendering fine details more visible. 

 As far as I have heard from persons using 

 genuine American styrax (or storax), it 

 has been satisfactory as a mounting me- 

 dium, hardening thoroughly and giving 

 clear and in every way excellent mounts. 

 A. B. Albert. 



Pseudo-Cyclosis 

 To the Editor : — I do not know 

 which was greater, my surprise or my 

 delight, on reading Dr. Wallich's paper 

 in the October number of the Journal, 

 on The Pseudo-CVclosjs in Amoeba. I 



