224 THE AMERICAN MONTHLY [Dec 



EDITORIAL. 



Periodical. — It is unfortunate that the monthly, "Nat- 

 ural Science," is to lose its editor and perhaps its life 

 with the end of the year, but while it lives it kicks, calling- 

 the Scientific American in its Aug-ust number "anAmeri 

 can Pirate," and accusing it of repeatedly stealing- from 

 the columns of Natural Science. 



Cells. — At the late meeting of the British Association 

 for advancement of Science, forty pounds ($200) were ap- 

 propriated for Prof. E. A. Schafer to use in research 

 upon the micro-chemistry of cells. 



Diagnosing Diphtheria. — Jaques urges early bacteriolo- 

 gical examination in all anginas. In malig-nant cases make 

 a direct diagnosis. Take a little of the mucous or of the 

 membrane directly from the site of the invasion. Spread 

 it on a cover-glass or slide, fix by heat, stain and examine. 

 In other cases a culture should be made. Jaques has laid 

 aside the laboratory test-tube and substituted a small 

 metal culture box. Having inoculated it he carries it in 

 the vest pocket where the heat of the body keeps up the 

 proper temperature. After three or four hours he makes 

 the examination. 



Phyto-Plankton. — George Murray and V. H. Blackman 

 have studied the nature and extent of the little under- 

 stood microscopic objects called coccospheres and rhabdo- 

 spheres. Their calcareous plates are described in minute 

 detail. The coccospheres have a central green chroma- 

 tophore which separates into two on the division of the 

 cell. These plants belong to the unicellular algae. They 

 are found on the surface, in deep-sea deposits and in 

 fossil beds. 



Forest Leaves.^ — Microscopic observation of the living 

 leaf reveals that the chlorophyll granules are individually 

 independent globules of dense protoplasm, without proper 

 walls, plunged in the midst of the fundamental protoplasm 

 and tinged by the green matter, their form and size re- 

 maining unaltered when extracted by ether, etc. 



