i6o 



SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



Microbes and Disease Demons: the Truth about the 

 Anti-toxin Treatment of Diphtheria. By Edward 

 Berdoe, L.R.C.P. Ed., M.R.C.S. Eng. 93 pp. 

 8vo. (London: Swan, Sonnenschein and Co., 

 1895.) Price is. 



It was not until we had reached the twenty-sixth 

 page that we found this one of those well-inten- 

 tioned but weak attempts to put down what is 

 described as vivisection, which in this case is simple 

 inoculation. As is generally the case with books 

 which are written rather from the heart than in a 

 cold critical spirit, there is in this an absence in 

 many places of logical argument. For instance, 

 on page 26 the author says " I am not inclined to 

 take on trust, or on the authority of names, how- 

 ever eminent, the anti-toxin treatment of disease," 

 but the rest of the book is largely occupied by 

 quotations on the authority of persons, not very 

 eminent, by the way, on the opposite side. The 

 author is, we imagine, rather bold when stating 

 that "if diphtheria is brought under proper treat- 

 ment and surroundings on the first day of the 

 disease, it almost invariably recovers." Some ten 

 or a dozen pages are occupied by news-paragraph 

 accounts of a girl in America, who died after being 

 inoculated with supposed anti-toxin, which was 

 infected by " some powerful poison, by mistake." 

 That seems just about as wide of the question as 

 the case of a person who recently took strychnine 

 in error for phenacitin, through the carelessness of 

 a dispenser. There are, doubtless, sympathetic 

 readers who will enjoy this kind of work, but 

 bacteriology is a subject of such profound import- 

 ance to mankind that no amount of opposition will 

 stop its investigation as its uses to us become more 

 and more apparent. 



Lessons in Elementary Physics. By Balfour 

 Stewart, M.A., LL.D., F.R.S. New and 

 enlarged edition. 496 pp. small 8vo. Illustrated 

 with 157 figures. (London and New York : 

 Macmillan and Co., 1895.) Price 4s. 6d. 



This is the fourth edition and twenty -first issue, 

 including reprints of various previous editions, of 

 Professor Balfour Stewart's standard elementary 

 class-book on Physics. Considerable additions with 

 a number of new examples and figures have been 

 incorporated by the present editor, Mr. W. W. 

 Haldane Gee, B.Sc, thus bringing the volume in 

 accordance with the modern position of Physics. 

 Mr. Haldane Gee, being Chief Lecturer in Physics 

 and Electrical Engineering at the Municipal 

 Technical School of Manchester, has added some- 

 what to the Electrical Section of the book, and 

 brought the subject well up to date 



The Chess Openings. By I. Gunsberg. 101 pp. 

 8vo. (London and New York : George Bell and 

 Sons, 1895.) Price is. 



Considering the large number of our readers who 

 are chess players, we include a notice of this very 

 useful book. Mr. Gunsberg's name amcng 

 " chessmen " is a sufficient guarantee for its 

 accuracy. It is brought well up to date, the latest 

 openings of Steinitz and others being included. 



Hints on Reflecting and Refracting Telescopes, and 

 their Accessories. By W. Thornthwaite, F.R.A.S. 

 Sixth Edition. 92 pp. 8vo, illustrated. (London : 

 Home and Thornthwaite, 1895.) 



This is a high-class trade catalogue, which 

 contains much general information upon telescopes 

 and other optical instruments. The historical 

 portion will be useful to many persons, especially 

 as this edition contains new chap:ers on " Transit 

 Instruments" and "Astronomical Photography." 



Ax Inexpensive Paraffin Bath. — In order that 

 specimens from which sections are to be cut mav 

 be infiltrated with paraffin an embedding bath is 

 necessary. This is usually a very costly item, 

 and consequently is not often to be found in the 

 amateur's kit ; yet, ifitwere.it would constantly be 

 of service and enable specimens of soft tissues to be 

 prepared for cutting, so that very perfect sections 

 might be produced. I have therefore thought that 

 particulars of an inexpensive yet thoroughly efficient 

 bath would be of interest to microscopists. The 

 basis of it is a small potato steamer, obtainable at 

 an}- ironmonger's shop, which should be altered as 

 follows : — The lower portion (a), which we will call 

 the heating chamber, must be cut away so as to 

 admit a spirit lamp (7) or small paraffin lamp. 



Paraffin Bath. 



The perforated bottom of the upper vessel which 

 constitutes the bath {I) must be covered with a sheet 

 of tin, which must be soldered, to render it water- 

 tight. Near the top of the bath a circular plate of 

 tin (c) must be fitted, having holes (3) drilled in it to 

 admit the test tubes (2) and thermometer (1). This 

 plate should be supported by four small pieces of 

 of tin (4), soldered to the inside of the vessel. 

 Having completed these alterations, a layer of 

 cotton wool or a piece of felt (Gj should be placed 

 on the bottom of the bath to protect the test 

 tubes from breakage ; half fill with water (5), 

 add a cheap chemical thermometer (1), light the 

 lamp, and when the desired temperature is 

 attained (122- Faht.), place some paraffin wax in 

 the test tubes and put them into the bath ; when 

 the paraffin has melted, add the specimens. The 

 temperature must be maintained for several hours, 

 so that the paraffin may penetrate to the middle of 

 the tissue. Further treatment would be similar to 

 that for ordinary embedding in paraffin wax. After 

 use, the apparatus should be thoroughly dried so 

 that it may not rust, and if this be attended to, it 

 will last for many years. — Martin J. Cole, 27, 

 Chancery Lane, W. C. 



