126 THE AMERICAN MONTHLY [June, 



with the microscope additions made to certain documents, two of which 

 were wills. The additions were made in the following manner (which 

 the microscope revealed) : First, an erasure must have been produced, 

 then there was a writing over the erasure. With the microscope you 

 could at once detect the erasures and the additions ; also the different 

 colors of the inks used, and, next, the most important characteristic 

 of the microscopical examination being in the close observation of the 

 stroke of the pen of the original lettering and the additional lettering, 

 and, finally, the general mode of their execution. 



In the examination of legal documents, U. S. currency, printed and 

 mutilated documents, including forgeries, etc., involving a legal ques- 

 tion and investigation, the principal features in the microscopical exam- 

 ination as already stated are the erasures, additions, color of the ink, 

 stroke of the pen in the original lettering and additional lettering, and, 

 finally, the mode of their execution. This includes the general and 

 comparative expression of the original writing, that is, in the observa- 

 tion of the letters constituting the document. Especial attention is 

 needed in the observation of the shading, and in the general formation 

 of the letters by the stroke of the pen either in a downward or upward 

 movement. This applies not only to the capital letters, but also to the 

 smaller letters, even to the punctuation, grammatical and orthograph- 

 ical relationship, and in comparative differentiation. All these things 

 must be taken into consideration. 



In the examination of papers, documents, such as wills, notes, checks, 

 etc., as to whether or not they were mutilated and forged, the micro- 

 scope will certainly be the most reliable test, much the easiest and 

 simplest. 



This is the way of determination, and an expert microscopist and ob- 

 server can at once arrive at a correct and positive conclusion as to the 

 genuineness of the autograph, etc. 



In the examination of U. S. currency the same will hold good as in 

 the examination of written and printed matter, v/ith the exception that 

 additional observation is necessary in order to differentiate a genuine 

 bill from a counterfeit. This lies in the microscopical examination (i) 

 of the quality of the paper used ; (2) in the execution and finish of the 

 bill ; (3) the grade and color of the ink ; (4) the printed condition of 

 the bill, including the autograph ; (5) the most important and charac- 

 teristic means of determining a genuine bill from a counterfeit bill being 

 in the observation of the red line which runs lengthwise across the bill, 

 and it will be necessary to notice that the two red lines in a genuine bill 

 are simply red silk thread interwoven in the paper of the bill, when in 

 a counterfeit the red lines are simply red ink stripes and no silk lines 

 whatever. 



Study of Animalculse. — The Midland Naturalist for May, 1890, 

 contains a sprightly and very interesting lecture by George J. Burch, 

 B. A., Oxon., on the Cilia of Animalcuhe, as seen by Flashing Light. 

 The home-made apparatus used is simple, cheap, and ingenious. To 

 any one studying the Rotifers the article cannot fail to be of value. 



Paste Eels. — It may not be generally known that vinegar eels and 

 paste eels are identical, the greater vigor of the latter being due to the 

 more nutrient qualities of the paste. — The Observer. 



