1887.] MICROSCOPICAL JOURNAL. 39 
prism. A number of enlarged photographs, mounted, were also shown, and the mode 
of taking them, by microscope and calcium light, fully explained. 
The Society was favored by the presence of many guests, including a number of 
ladies. E. A. BALLOCH, Rec. Secr. 
——— O——. 
THE EssEx COUNTY MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY. 
This Society was organized on October 8th, 1886. Rev. F. B. Carter was elected 
president, Dr. Geo. S. Allen, treasurer (both of Mont Clair, New Jersey), and Jay L. 
Smith, of West Orange, secretary. Meetings are held at the houses of members on 
the first and third Thursday evenings of each month from October to July. Subjects 
are chosen for general discussion, and each member works on it during the two weeks 
and shows the result at the meeting. On January 20 a meeting was held at the resi- 
dence of the president. The subject for the evening was ‘urine,’ especially as a diag- 
nostic means. D. J. W. Pinkham had two fluids which were very interesting, showing 
granular, epithelial, hyaline and waxy casts; blood, pus, epithelia undergoing fatty 
degenerations, &c. Mr. Frank Vanderpoel showed the heat and nitric acid tests for 
albumen, and also a collecting tube devised by him for urinary or other sediment, an 
account of which will be found on page 24. Eleven members were present. Not having 
time to make the tests for sugar, blood, bile, &c., it was voted to continue the subject 
at the next meeting on February 3, when Dr. Pinkham will give an account of the 
changes which take place in some of the kidney diseases. 
86 Beekman street, New York City. Jay L. SmituH, Seer. 
NOTICES OF BOOKS. 
A Manual of Microscopical Technology for use in the Investigations of Medicine and 
Pathological Anatomy. By Carl Friedlander. Trans. by S. Y. Howell, M. D. 
G. P. Putnam’s Sons, New York, 1885. (pp. 249). 
The book before us is a presentation in comprehensive form of the facts for the 
ready reference of the medical man who would use the microscope. It sets forth as 
briefly as possible the most important of the ‘methods employed in microscopical 
investigations of a diagnostic or pathological nature.’ After a brief description of in- 
struments, and some hints on their selection and use, also brief directions for the 
use of the microtome, a considerable space (pp. 26-47) is devoted to the theory and 
practice in the use of various re-agents and other preparatory methods. To illustrate 
the value of the work, let us abridge the account of Amyloid Staining with Violet 
Aniline Dyes. 
These exhibit peculiar reaction on amyloid substances, staining them a deep red, 
while the nuclei, etc., are colored blue. The red is unaffected by weak acid, but ex- 
tracted at once by alcohol, hence in washing a 1% acetic acid is employed. Glycerin 
is employed for mounting and examining. The distinction between the red amyloid 
and remaining blue portions is very clear. As a caution in the use of methyl violet 
it is said that some non-amyloid hyaline bodies, viz., certain urinary casts, are tinged 
red by the re-agent. 
Besides these directions for staining are modes of preservation of material, also for 
imbedding and injecting. The latter half of the book is occupied with observation of 
living tissues and the examination of fluids. 
The author discusses the subject of the presence of bacteria in the sputum very 
fully, giving the proper methods for their detection in the sputum and other fluids of 
the body. He has several pages with diagnostic and prognostic significance of tubercle 
bacilli in the sputum, in which he concludes that the presence of the bacilli is not to be 
taken as sure evidence of disease, but their absence may be regarded as sure evidence 
of the absence of disease. While the work is mainly one treating of technique, and 
not intended asa manual of information, it contains considerable of the latter, including 
description for recognition of the appearance of pus corpuscles and fat granule cells. 
The examination of urine receives a good share of attention, particularly in crystals, 
hyaline, waxy, and brown casts, epithelial cells and tumor components. Under secre- . 
tion of the genital apparatus we find, besides other lesser matters, déagunosis of uterine 
carcinoma. But we cannot give an entire index of this valuable little book,, it is 
literally full of valuable hints for the physician who would or ought to use the micro- 
scope. We regret that it is not illustrated, for this would make it valuable not merely 
as a work on technique but on descriptive histology as well. It contains one plate 
