136 THE AMERICAN MONTHLY [July, 
visceral disease, similar to scarlet fever in man. Moreover, from the blood and tis- 
sues of these animals infected with one microbe or the other, the same microbe was 
recovered. ‘I think I may after this say, remarked Dr. Klein, ‘that this mi- 
crobe—Micrococcus scarlatine—is the cause of human scarlet fever; further, that it 
produces in bovine animals a disease identical with the Hendon disease and human 
scarlet fever, and that, consequently, while the cow is susceptible to infection with 
human scarlet fever, it can in its turn be the source of contagion for the human spe- 
cies, as was no doubt the case in that milk epidemic from the Hendon farm.’ It 
should be said that the herd at Hendon appeared to have been infected by several 
cows that had recently been brought to the farm from Derbyshire. It may be that 
in Derbyshire the disease was communicated to them from human beings. 
In corroboration of all this an interesting bit of evidence was submitted by Dr. 
Klein. It was suspected that a certain brand of condensed milk had caused scarlet 
fever in persons who used it. Several cans of this milk, which is a cheap prepa- 
ration, were examined by the doctor. From one-third of those inspected he obtained 
by cultivation a microbe which in every respect, morphologically and in cultures, was 
the same as the microbe procured from the Hendon cows and from human scarlet 
fever. Tested upon calves and other animals, it caused the identical disease which 
had been produced by the microbes taken from those sources. Other proof was ob- 
tained from Wimbledon, where a severe epidemic of scarlet fever occurred three or four 
months ago. This epidemic was traced to a dairy farm. In one of the houses where 
the disease prevailed, a pet monkey that had consumed a considerable quantity of the 
milk became ill and died. Dr. Klein made a post-mortem examination of the body 
and discovered that the monkey had without doubt died of scarlet fever. From 
the blood of the monkey he obtained by cultivation a micrococcus, or microbe, 
identical with those procured from the Hendon cows, from human subjects, and from 
the condensed milk. By inoculation with this microbe the same effect was produced. 
The writer further suggests that tuberculosis may be communicated in the same 
way.—lV. VY. Times, June 28, 1887. 
Diatom deposits.—A description of some diatomaceous deposits from the peat of 
Aberdeenshire was read before the British Association in 1875, and published in the 
Chem. News of that year. The author is Prof. W. J. Macadam. The species of di- 
atoms fotind are not given, but numerous analyses of the deposits to determine their 
commercial value. The deposits mentioned are known as Kinnord, Black Moss, 
Ordie Moss, Auchnerran, Logie Moss, and Milton.—H. 
MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETIES. 
SAN FRANCISCO, CAL. 
The annual reception of the San Francisco Microscopical Society was held at 
Pioneer Hall on Saturday evening, May, 27, 1887. The audience comprised many 
of the most prominent names in the social, scientific and educational circles of this 
city, and the entertainment was evidently thoroughly enjoyed by all present. Never 
before has such a display of microscopes been seen on the Pacific Coast. Arranged 
along seven long rows of tables were no less than sixty-four instruments. The list of 
objects shown was a most attractive one, and, as the best of lenses were used in their 
display, and careful attention was given to obtaining the best effects of illumination, 
the results were eminently satisfactory. It may incidentally be remarked as a fact 
most gratifying to all interested in the progress of microscopical investigation on this 
coast, that, although the local microscopical society is one of the oldestin the country, 
being now in its fifteenth year—it has lost none of its vitality, but has, on the contrary, 
at present a larger membership, a larger and finer library and cabinet, a larger aver- 
age attendance at meetings and in every way better prospects for useful work in the . 
future than at any previous time in its history. 
Among objects shown may be mentioned that of Dr. C. P. Bates, the ever-beautiful 
circulation of the blood in the gills of Menobranchus. By means of an ingeniously 
