158 THE AMERICAN MONTHLY [Augast, 
Dr. E. M. Crookshanks has been elected Lecturer on Bacteriology at King’s College, 
London. Hehas recently published two very elaborate works on this subject—a second 
edition of his ‘Manual of Bacteriology’ and ‘ Photography of Bacteria.’ 
ro) 
Dr. H. M. Fussell read a paper before the Philadelphia County Medical Society, 
giving a study sputa of 100 cases of lung disease. His results were as follows :— 
i) 79 cases—evident signs of phthisis : tubercle baccilli found. 
(2). 5 cases—no physical signs of phthisis ; bacilli found in sputa. 
(3). 8 cases—no physical signs, and no bacilli found. 
(4). 8 cases—no physical signs led to diagnosis of phthisis, but no bacilli found. 
The practical value of examination is shown in such’ doubtful cases as 3 and 4, where 
the diagnosis was necessarily based on the sputa. ; 
O—_— 
Tyrotoxicon in its relation to cholera infantwm and similar diseases is the subject 
of a recent paper by Dr. V. C. Vaughan, of the Michigan State Board of Health. 
‘Experiments on animals seem to prove that the development of tyrotoxicon in 
milk is a frequent cause of cholera infantum and kindred affections. Among the 
poorer classes of cities where fresh milk is almost unknown the diseases are most 
frequent. The milk is often not obtained until it has began to sour, then is kept at 
high temperature and in foul atmosphere. It is then eaten by the little ones weak- 
ened by poverty, which means bad food, bad air, bad clothing. Then, too, often in 
the country sufficient care about the milking and care of milk is not exercised.’ The 
author lays many summer diarrhceas to the account of tyrotoxicon, or allied poisons, 
and recommends during attacks an entire disuse of milk and substitution of chicken 
or mutton broth and others. 
Oo—_— 
— We notice in Archiv. fiir Mikroskopische Anatomie, 1887, p. 594, an article by Dr. 
Geo. A. Peirsol upon the histology of the harderian gland in Amphibia. 
—_——_o—_— 
Medical Jurisprudence, by M. D. Ewell, Chicago, Chapter I, from the advance 
sheets of a work on this subject, has reached us. We judge from its appearance that 
the work is to be a short compend on the subject, and from the character of the sam- 
ple may properly expect a valuable work. 
CORRESPONDENCE. 
To THE Epiror:—I am pleased to be able to announce the organization of the 
Kansas Society of Natural History in Leavenworth, with the following officers for the 
coming year :—Dr. R. J. Brown, President; Dr. Chas. A. Carpenter, Vice-President; 
W.R. “Lighton, Secretary and Treasurer. 
The microscope will enter largely into the work of the society, which will be con- 
fined as much as possible to original research in such of the sciences as are of eco- 
nomic importance to the State of Kansas. At the next meeting, to be held on the 14th 
inst., a paper will be read by the vice-president, embodying the results of some inves- 
tigations on the black rot of the grape. A paper will also be read by Dr. W. D. Bid- 
well on the structure of the eye, which will be illustrated by microscopical prepara- 
tions. Prof. Wm. Lighton will give an outline of the history of the microscope, its 
early use and development. The president, Dr. Brown, will present a paper on some 
of the common plants of this region, and the secretary will bring before the society 
the results of some experiments on the circulation of sap in some common plants 
where the natural circulation is interfered with. : 
W. R. LIGHTON, Sec. 
LEaveNworTH, Kansas, ely 6, 1857. 
MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETIES. 
SAN FRANCISCO, CAL. 
The regular semi-monthly meeting, held on June 21, at its rooms, President Wickson 
occupying the chair. 
Series 2 and 3 of Walker & Chase’s ‘New and Rare Diatoms,’ ComsiaHines of photo- 
