124 THE AMERICAN MONTHLY [June, 



diameters is a most simple piece of apparatus. Every person can 

 learn its use in a few hours. Every person should learn to use a micro- 

 scope, not only the professional man and scientist, but every business 

 man, even the grocer, butcher, farmer, and the housew^ife. 



Everything that concerns a medical examination in a legal sense, or 

 a legal examination in a medical sense, can be determined accurately 

 by the use of the microscope. For example, in the Cronin case of 

 Chicago, where the medical experts demonstrated to a certainty that 

 the blood, hair, and brain matter found in the Carlson cottage and 

 sewer trap, was that of a human body. Not only that, but they de- 

 termined accurately and positively that the hair and blood found in the. 

 cottage and in the fatal trunk were that of Dr. Cronin, only in a mod- 

 ified condition ; all with the aid of the microscope. 



Within the last decade scientists have demonstrated to a certainty 

 the possibility of determining dried and old human blood-spots from 

 that of animal blood, whether on clothing, wood, iron, or otherwise. 



Pathologists and histologists have also demonstrated the great value 

 of the microscope in determining positively the skin, hair, blood, brain 

 matter, also the excretions and secretions of the human being from that 

 of the lower animals. 



Again, the microscope is applied in a medico-legal view, especially 

 in malpractice, suits of damages, suits involving, rather than determining 

 the adulteration of foods and drink as to their purity, and finally, in de- 

 termining whetlier or not food or drink has spoiled, undergone fer- 

 mentation and the accumulation and development of micro-organisms, 

 such as germs, microbes, and bacilli. Also, in the examination of oleo- 

 margarine and in the adulteration of drugs, liquors, milk, groceries, 

 sausages, etc. 



The application of the microscope in a legal point of view is alto- 

 gether new. We anticipate surprising effects from the application of 

 the microscope in the examination of legal documents, U. S. currency, 

 and printed matter. 



The following lines are from a very ample paper read by G. E. 

 Fell, M. D., before the American Society of Microscopists, entitled 

 " Examination of Legal Documents with the Microscope." 



More than once has investigation with the microscope cleared up the 

 path of the attorney, ferreted out the work of the contract falsifier, and* 

 sliielded the innocent from the unjust accusations of interested rogues. 



The range of observation in investigations of written documents 

 with the microscope is a broad one. We may begin with the char- 

 acteristics of the paper upon which the writing is made, which may 

 enable us to ascertain many facts of importance ; for instance, a great 

 similarity might indicate, with associated facts, that the documents 

 were prepared at about the same time. A marked dissimilarity might 

 also have an important bearing upon the case. 



The differences in the paper may exist in the character of the fibres 

 composing it, the finish of the surface, whether rough or smooth, the 

 thickness, modifying the transmissibility of light, and the color, all of 

 which may be ascertained with the microscope. 



The ink used in the writing may be examined. If additions have 

 been made to the document within a reasonable time of its execution, 

 it is well to examine it microscopically with a great probability of detect- 



