1881.] Microscopy. 595 
MICROSCOPY.! 
Recent AMERICAN Books on Microscopy. — Compendium of 
Microscopical Technology, by Carl Seiler, M.D., pp. 130, Philadel- 
phia, 1881.—This book, while designed as a guide for beginners, 
will also be of frequent use to more experienced workers. is 
intended as a guide for physicians and students in the use of the 
microscope, and in the prepartion of histological and pathological 
specimens for examination. Without attempting to give a com- 
prehensive discussion of all the new or even of the most import- 
ant standard methods of examination and preparation of objects, 
the author simply describes a few methods and expedients which 
he has himself fallen into the habit of using, and which he is, 
therefore, able to endorse as uniformly satisfactory, and to de- 
scribe with that clearness, fullness and precision which should be 
characteristic of a working handbook. After a short and judi- 
cious chapter on the structure and use of the microscope, includ- 
ing a few of the most simple and indispensable accessories, 
practical directions are given for preparing, cutting, staining, in- 
jecting and mounting animal tissues, with separate chapters on 
preparation of vegetable tissues and insects, and photo-micro- 
graphy. Description of the tissues themselves is omitted through- 
out; except that a synoptical table of the more common tumors 
and neoplasms is given as an appendix, which is one of the most 
valuable portions of the book. Two or three of the formule are 
given in the metric form, and some others in “ parts,’ which in 
is case amounts to about the same thing; and the beautiful sim- 
plicity of these, and the self-evident proportion of their different 
constituents, gives an interesting contrast to those clumsy ones 
which are still given in grains, drachms, ounces and drops. 
Practical Hints on the Selection and Use of the Microscope, by 
John Phin, editor of the Am. Fourn. of Microscopy, pp. 231, New 
York, 1881.—The third edition of a book so well known as this 
little manual needs no commendation. Introduced six years ago 
aS a popular handbook, of extreme simplicity, for the use of 
inners, it still retains the same character, though with such 
extensive additions and improvements that the last edition may 
be considered a new book. Three quarters or more of the work 
are given to a description of the microscope and its various 
accessories, and the remaining portion to the collection and pres- 
€rvation of objects. The whole is characterized by its sound com- 
mon sense, and its practical utility. Probably no book on the 
Subject, really adapted to beginners and presuming so little on 
their Previous education, contains so much of valuable and inter- 
€sting information. 
Handbook of Systematic Urinary Analysis, Chemical and Micro- 
Scopical, for the use of Physicians, Medical Students and Clinical 
Assistants, by Frank M,. Deems, M.D., pp. 30, N. Y., 1880.—This 
*This department is edited by Dr. R. H. Ward, Troy, N. ¥- 
