314 SUMMAKY OF CURRENT EESEARCHES, ETC. 



boracic acid, and afterwards 4 per cent, more borax. On cooling, the 

 excess of the salt crystallizes out. In practice, 20 to 30 per cent, of 

 this solution is added to the urine, so that the latter contains from 

 2 to 4 per cent, of boracic acid. 



Action of Bleaching Agents on Glass.* — Prof. H. M. Whelpley calls 

 attention to the fact that the ordinary bleaching agents employed in 

 microscopy will corrode the glass of the solid watch-glasses sold for 

 microscopic purposes. The action of those agents turns the glass 

 opaque, and renders them unfit for use on the stage of the Microscope, 

 where they are often employed, in low powers, in the examination of 

 transparent bodies. 



Micro-organisms of theBible.j — C. W. S. points out that the lips are 

 most sensitive to the reception of disease germs, and from the motly 

 throng of dirty and diseased persons who appear in court and kiss the 

 Bible, what infectious germs may not be obtained through this medium 

 of distribution ? It would be interesting for microscopists to examine 

 such greasy and worn backs of court bibles as they can have access to, 

 and to report the kinds and amounts of bacteria found thereon. 



Certainly it is a wise precaution to keep court Bibles off the lips. 

 Swearing with uplifted hand is not only safer, but more dignified. 



In a Massachusetts school, where scarlet fever and measles had 

 prevailed, some text-books fell into disuse, were put away for a time, 

 and, when wanted, got out and redistributed, several months having 

 elapsed. In but a few days after the reissue of the books the children 

 began to be ill with measles. There can be little doubt that scarlet 

 fever is transmitted in the same way. 



Brown, F. W. — A Course in Animal Histology. VIII. 



[Bone.] The Microscope, IX. (1889) pp. 47-51. 



Freeborn, G. C. — Notices of New Methods. VII. 



Amer. Mon. Micr. Journ., X. (1889) pp. 30-3. 

 HoLWAY, E. W. D. — [Use for the Microscope during the winter months.] 



[" Some time spent in collecting through the other seasons would have provided 

 beautiful objects in abundance."] 



The Microscope, IX. (1889) p. 24, 

 from ' Swiss Cross.' 

 Prize offered to Medical Microscopists. 



[Dr. L. D. Mason, Vice-President of the American Association for the Study 

 and Cure of Inebriety, offers a prize of one hundred dollars for the best 

 original essay on " The Pathological Lesions of Chronic Alcoholism capable 

 of Microscopic Demonstration." The essay is to be accompanied by carefully 

 prepared microscopic slides, which are to demonstrate clearly and satisfactorily 

 the pathological conditions which the essay considers. Conclusions resulting 

 from experiments on animals will be admissible. Accurate drawings or 

 photomicrographs of the slides are desired.] 



St. Louis Med. and Surg. Journ., LVI. (1888) pp. 26-7. 



* The Microscope, ix. (1889) p. 25, from ' Meyer Bros.' Druggist.' 

 t Amer. Mon. Micr. Journ., x. (1889) p. 44. 



