6s8 
Notes . 
[October, 
devoted his entire energies for many years to the subjedt. The 
whole course was, where practicable, fully illustrated, and every 
attention given to the answering of enquiries, which were very 
freely made. 
Microscopists have not been slow in taking advantage of the 
introduction of the very sensitive dry plates. Several con- 
trivances by which they can be utilised for the purposes of photo- 
micrography appear in the journals of the various societies. 
Most of the arrangements are simple in the extreme, and the 
light given by a well-constructed paraffin lamp is sufficient for 
obtaining good negatives with all but the highest powers. 
Mr. J. Leiter, of Vienna, has constructed a singular modifica- 
tion of the microscope, to which the name of gastroscope has 
been given. Its use is for exploring the interior of the human 
stomach. It consists of a metal tube 65 c.m. long and 14 m.m. 
thick, bent at an angle of 150° at about one-fourth of its length 
from the lower end. At the lower extremity is contained an 
incandescent eledtric lamp for illumination of the interior of the 
stomach, and an objective at the back of which is a prism to 
refledt the pencil along the length of the tube ; at the bend it is 
again reflected by another prism to the eye-piece. Provision is 
made for a circulation of cold water to prevent the lower end of 
the tube becoming inconveniently hot. 
Dr. C. Virchow, in his Inaugural Dissertation, questions the 
-prevalent opinion that the plants which formed upland peat-moors 
are capable of flourishing only on soils poor in lime. 
“ Biedermann’s Central-Blatt ” questions the opinion of Prof. 
W. N. Hartley, that the colouring-matter of peaty soils is analo- 
gous to alizarine. 
Dr. T. M. Madden (“ Medical Press ”) points out that, in the 
short time since the annual reports of the Commissioners in 
Lunacy have been issued, the proportion of insane persons has 
risen from 1 in 800 to 1 in 300 of the population. Mental de- 
rangement is now more common among women than among 
men, “ one result of that hopeless contest with Nature’s laws in 
which those are engaged who seek to unsex themselves by 
assuming all masculine pursuits and modes of life.” 
Cremation has been officially introduced in Brazil in the case 
of persons who die of yellow fever. 
The “ Medical Press and Circular ” complains with just in- 
dignation of the inconsistency of the Legislature in sandtioning 
pigeon-shooting, whilst suppressing physiological experimenta- 
tion. 
