1887.] MICROSCOPICAL JOURNAL. oi 
MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETIES. 
WASHINGTON, D. C. 
Discussion of Dr. Reyburn’s paper (read at 57th regular meeting of Washington 
Microscopical Society) and other items. 
The paper was fully illustrated by specimens. Dr. Balloch said :—Dr. Reyburn has 
not said anything as to methods of examination and mounting this parasite. The best 
method of examining a portion of suspected material is to tease it with needles and 
examine in glycerin. The calcareous cyst may be dissolved by application of dilute 
hydrochloric acid and the worm fully exposed. Permanent mounts may be made in 
glycerin or balsam. 
Dr. Schaeffer said :—In my experience balsam has proved too transparent a medium 
for mounting trichine. In the Army Medical Museum are specimens mounted in 
1866 in glycerin, and in glycerin and gum, which are still good. I should mount in 
glycerin. As to frequency, I have counted seventeen cysts in a transverse section of 
the tongue of a mouse, but the largest number I have seen was in the diaphragm of 
aman. In Dr. Glazier’s report on trichine, published by the Marine Hospital Service, 
he has endeavored to show that the American hog is free from this worm. This is 
not true. This parasite has caused immense loss to America by the prohibition of 
American pork in Europe. Some years ago an appropriation of two thousand dollars 
was asked for, I believe by the State Department, for examination of American pork, 
but was refused. Had this aid been granted we should have been prepared for this 
question when it was sprung on us by Germany. Referring to the use of glycerin as 
a remedy, I have known trichinz to live two hours and ‘forty minutes in glycerin. 
Prof. Virchow refers to minute filiaria found in serous membranes, which he believes 
to be larvaltrichine. The fact that trichine are found in frogs suggests the idea that 
the original habitat of this nematode may be pools of stagnant water. In 1868 I found 
filiaria in large quantities in the blood of a frog from a ‘stagnant pool, and have seen 
trichinz in the lungs of frogs; have never found trichine in blood-vessels or in their 
coats. 
Dr. Blackburn said :—The specimens shown you to-night are from the body of a 
German, aged about sixty, who died in St. Elizabeth’s Hospital of some other disease. 
I have found trichinz twice in one hundred and seventy autopsies. I have found them 
in all the voluntary muscles, but never in the heart, and I think I have seen it stated 
that they are never found in that organ. 
Dr. Caldwell suggested that the fact that the heart is inclosed in a serous membrane 
and is in constant motion might account for this, if it were so. Prof. Seaman said :— 
Is trichina a native of this country, or an importation? In my opinion it is not so 
common in this country as in Europe. If this is so, it is due to two causes :—either it 
is not a native of this country, or the conditions here are not favorable to its existence. 
We are now as competent to examine this question as are European observers, and 
careful investigation ought to be made. 
Dr. Schaeffer asked if any of the Society had seen Fasoldt’s rulings on glass. 
Prof. Seaman said Fasoldt had done some fine work, but the finest was that done 
by Prof. Rogers, who had not only done the best work, but had indicated the methods 
of doing it and the errors to be avoided. He was a severe critic of his own work, and 
in contradistinction to Nobert, Fasoldt, and others, had nothing to conceal, but was 
continually striving after the highest excellence, and was willing and anxious that all 
the world should know his methods and i improve them, if it could be done. 
E. A. BALLocH, /ec. Secr. 
———Oo———_ 
SAN FRANCISCO, CAL. 
The regular semi-monthly meeting of the San Francisco Microscopical Society was 
held on the evening of Mar. 9, at its rooms, President Wickson in the chair. 
Chas. C. Riedy of this city was elected a resident member. 
The subject appointed for discussion, viz., ‘Baczllus tuberculosis in Fowls,’ was intro- 
duced by Dr. Stallard, who said that the close analogy existing between certain dis- 
eases found in many domestic animals and in the human race had long been known, 
as was also the communicability of such diseases. Rabies was a case in point, and, ina 
lesser degree, the disease known as anthrax or charbon. Itisa known fact that typhoid 
fever has been transmitted from animals to man by means of infected milk. In con- 
nection with this subject he desired to call attention to the following occurrence :—While 
