36 
PROGRESS OF MICROSCOPICAL SCIENCE. 
Thuret’s “ Notes Algologiques,” and one or two short summaries, 
which we shall give in translation in our next issue. 
Altogether, we have every reason to be satisfied with these first 
labours of M. Pelletan as editor of a microscopical journal. We hope 
for even better things in future from one who is himself so dis- 
tinguished in the world of micrographic science. 
PROGRESS OF MICROSCOPICAL SCIENCE. 
Microscopic Nature of the Blood in Tropical Fevers. — Dr. H. Van- 
dyke Carter, writing from Bombay to the ‘ Lancet ’ ( J une 9), states 
that in the blood of individuals who are attacked with fever at the 
present time in Bombay, there may often be found numerous and 
active spirilla. Commonly, but not quite invariably, the presence of 
these minute organisms is limited to the periods of high temperature, 
and in his experience hitherto the spirillum may always be found in 
those fevers which present a clear tendency to relapse, after an 
interval longer than any yet recognized amongst intermittents so- 
called. From a number of instances, however, which have come 
before him, and of which he has full notes, it is already evident that 
also in types of fever which ordinarily would be termed “ remittent,” 
or possibly “ intermittent ” (for intermediate grades are many), the 
blood may sometimes be found to contain the spirillar filaments. The 
latter here closely resemble those alluded to by Dr. B. Sanderson in 
his summary on European relapsing fever, printed in the Health 
Reports of the Privy Council.* Further inquiries are now in hand 
regarding the import of this new observation. 
Structure and Development of Vascular Dentine. — Mr. C. S. Tomes, 
who has for some time been engaged in the study of the structure of 
the teeth, and who is a worthy follower of Mr. J. Tomes, F.R.S., has 
communicated a valuable paper on the above subject to the Royal 
Society. The nomenclature and classification of the varieties of 
dentine have hitherto been based solely upon the appearances dis- 
coverable in dried teeth ; in the present communication the author 
seeks to amend and place upon a more satisfactory basis the grouping 
of these several kinds of dentine, by bringing to bear upon their 
arrangement observations upon the nature of the contents of those 
large tubes which give to the tissues their name of “ vascular ” 
dentine, and, more especially, observations upon the methods by 
which they are developed. 
Vaso-dentine is the term generally used to designate a variety of 
dentine exceedingly common in the class of Fish, in which the sub- 
stance of the tooth is permeated by a number of anastomosing tubes, 
of considerable size, which have been called “ medullary ” canals, as 
they have been supposed to contain pulp-tissue ; whilst osteo-dentine 
* New Series, No. iii., London, 1874. 
