1887.] MICROSCOPICAL JOURNAL. 231 
coming so great that it can soon be no longer ignored, even by schools which 
are ambitious of the largest possible classes. Recently the Executive Com- 
mittee of the Alumni Association of Jefferson College adopted the following 
resolution :— 
Whereas, it having come to the knowledge of this Executive Committee 
of the Alumni Association that four students have gone to the University of 
Pennsylvania to pursue their medical education, at the recommendation of 
the Alumni of this College, on the ground that Jefferson Medical College did 
not provide a three years’ graded course, and did not furnish clinics or in- 
struction on the special branches of medicine and surgery, be it 
Resolved, That the Executive Committee, having the best interest of our 
Alma Mater at heart, respectfully announce these facts to the Faculty, that 
they may take such action as they deem best to overcome this apparent grow- 
ing dissatisfaction of our Alumni.’—JA/edical Record, Nov. 12, 1887. 
NOTES. 
Prof. S. P. Langley was elected on Nov. 18 to succeed Prof. S. F. Baird as secretary 
of the Smithsonian Institution. 
The Albatross, which is the U. S. Fish Commission’s exploring steamer for use in 
deep-sea researches, has been ordered for service upon the Pacific coast, and left Wash- 
ington recently on her voyage thither. It is supposed that she will not return to Atlantic 
waters for several years. Prof. Leslie A. Lee, of Bowdoin, goes with her as chief nat- 
uralist. Results of great interest, both economically and for the advance of theoretic 
science, are anticipated from the expedition, the work done in the Atlantic giving the 
basis for this expectation. 
Origin of Sarcomata.—Dr. Jos. Schobl, of Prague, has a very valuable paper in the 
September number of Archiv. Fir Mic. Anat., entitled ‘A Sarcoma Composed of 
Epithelial-like Cells of Lymphoid-Cell Origin.’ The tumor in question was found to 
be composed of cells not to be differentiated from epithelium, and mixed in with these 
in all portions of the tumor were large numbers of lymphoid cells. Between the two 
were found all possible gradations in form. It might be made an objection that the 
lymphoid cells were present as the result of inflammatory action ; but this is disproven 
by the fact that, in the hundreds of sections made, the most striking intermediate 
cell-forms were found in all. Again, the tumor, after its first removal, recurred with 
such rapidity as to fill the orbit in a couple of weeks (it grew originally from the lower 
lid). None of these epithelial-like cells were found in stages of subdivision, though 
many possessed double nuclei, and a few had taken on the character of giant cells. 
Considering the rapid growth, it seems, therefore, impossible that these cells could 
have arisen from others of like character. Whence did they come then? For an 
answer, Scho6bl refers to the transitional forms found between them and the lymphoid 
cells. The question now arises :—If lymphoid cells can give rise to the epithelial-like 
cells found in the sarcomata, why should they not create cancer cells as well? And, 
finally, what is the meaning of the large numbers of lymphoid cells found in the 
growing portions of cancer, 7. ¢., the so-called indifferent tissue of the periphery ?— 
The Microscope. 
MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETIES. 
SAN FRANCISCO, CAL. 
A regular meeting of the San Francisco Microscopical Society was held on October 
12, President Ferrer in the chair. There was a very large attendance of members, and 
Dr. Joseph LeConte, of Berkeley, was present as a visitor. Dr. Julius Rosenthirn, of 
San Francisco, was proposed for membership, the vote to be taken at the next meeting. 
A letter was read from Isaac C. Thompson, F.R. M.S., of Liverpool, England, con- 
cerning the announcement that interesting Sandwich Island material will come into the 
possession of the San Francisco Society. Mr. Thompson desires to secure material for 
