34 THE AMERICAN MONTHLY [ February, 
scopical society, superintended by persons experienced in histological manip- 
ulation. To such a person the Postal Microscopical Society is of im- 
mense advantage, for it places him in communication with fellow-workers. 
It is impossible for one who has not tried it to appreciate the disadvantage to 
one from working ever alone, or the importance of companionship in scientific 
work. This arises especially from the lack of standards for comparison of 
one’s own work, and suggestions from a fellow-worker, but by no means 
wholly so; it is also largely due to the lack of mutual or sympathetic interest. 
The Postal Club was formed thirteen years ago to give a means of communi- 
cation. The journal of the Society proves that the sole aim of the Society is 
not to circulate objects for the microscope, but to furnish helps to those who 
are seeking to become, or who are, students of nature. We commend both 
this and the sister society in this country. We know that there are many, 
often teachers of science, who want instruction just such as this, but who can- 
not attend laboratories where microscopic technique is taught. If they could 
attend a course, even if short, they would derive great advantage; unable to 
do so, they would find the club a great help. 
) 
Proressor E. L. YoumAans.—Our readers have already all learned of the 
death of Professor Edward Livingston Youmans, the late editor of the Popular 
Science Monthly. Prof. Youmans has been engaged ever since 1851 in the 
very. valuable work of presenting to the reading world, in popular form, the 
results of scientific studies in a great variety of directions. He is widely 
known through the A/oxthly, but also through the International Scientific 
Series, consisting now of 57 volumes, forming the most complete scientific 
encyclopedia extant. Professor Youmans was personally interested more 
especially in chemistry and kindred subjects, but he has made the AZonthly 
entirely catholic in its subject-matter, and no important scientific work in any 
line failed to receive full recognition. Prof. Youmans’ death is a genuine 
loss to science, for it takes away one of the men who helped to make a place 
for the specialists by making their work well known, as they too often do not 
find the time to do. This is a busy world, and no one can to-day follow all 
the growth for himself alone. We have to be thankful when a man will do 
this for us as well. Men like Professor Youmans did it, not descending too 
low to reach the unscientific, at the same time willing to soar a little lower 
and within popular reach. 
NOTES. 
The two great lenses for the Lick telescope are completed, and the plans for ship- 
ping them are mostingenious. The two lenses are to be wrapped separately in 15 or 
20 thicknesses of cotton drawn very tight, then cotton-batting, then paper; this in a 
box of wood lined with linen, and this with felt ; this box in a cubical steel box packed 
in curled hair; the steel box to be enclosed in a second steel box, supported inside on 
all sides by steel springs from the outer box. Both boxes to be air and water-tight, and 
the outer to be packed with asbestos to render it fire-proof. The outer box will then 
be supported on pivots on a strong wooden frame, and this to be turned one-quarter 
way around every day during the trip to California to avoid any disturbance of the 
molecular constitution of the lenses. The lenses are to be insured for their full cost, 
$51,000.—V. Y. Post, IZ, 26, ’S6. 
The Audubon Society, which has been established in the United States for the pro- 
tection of birds generally, and plumage birds in particular, has a goodly roll of members, 
for although the certificates were ready only in April last the Society now numbers 
more than 17,000 members.—£g. Mech. 
The ptomaine questionis assumingimportance. Ptomaines are cadaveric alkaloids— 
the results of putrefaction—and fish and meat poisonings are common, especially among 
users of canned goods. These alkaloids were discovered by Armand Gautier in 1870, 
