Dr. L. Ashley Faught.-Human Tongue; Anchors of Synapta, Polar; Platino-Cyanide of Barium, Polar; Trichina Spiralis; Stomach of Cat, Injected. Uselma C. Smith.- Volvox Globator. W. M. James.-Section of Elephant's Hair. C. Shaffner, M. D.-Aspergillus flavescens. John T. Morris.—Measuring Worm. Dr. C. S. Turnbull.-Bloodvessels in coat of the eye of a Rabbit; Human Retina, showing Rods and Cones. -Thin section of Quartzite, Polar. Academy of Natural Science.-Sections of Coal, Lower Carboniferous, Ind; eye of a Beetle. R. S. Kenderdine.-Corallines.. Mrs. R. S. Kenderdine.-Candia holacantha. Dr. Kenderdine.-Mexican Soap Plant. Miss Gerty Kenderdine Bolles.-Photograph of Cathedral of Milan. Jno. A. Ryder.-Section of Intestine. D. S. Holman.-Circulation in Plant; Branchipus stagnalis; Circulation of blood in Salamander. Chas. Bowden.-Vinegar Eels; Verbena Flower. C. Henry Kain.-Circulation of blood in Salamander; Oscillatoria, creeping plant. Mr. Morris.-Yellow Snow, Bethlemen, Pa., Mar. 16th, '79; Seed Vessel, Water Lilly. Edmund Lewis.-Bell Animalcule. Theo. D. Raus.-Mica-Chester Co. --Sertularia. Dr. J. F. Holt.—Circulation of blood in foot of Frog. H. S. Hitchcock.-Fly's Foot. Benj. Sharp.-Frondlet of Fern, Spores. L. Brewer Hall.-Conifers, Stained. Isaac C. Martingdale.-Circulation of Sap in Anacharis Canadense. G. Davis, M. D.-Circulation in Frog. Wm. Geo. B. Cresson.-Frond of Fern. --Hemitrichia clavata (fungus); Section of leaf of Blackberry, showing brand spores (Phragmidium incrassatum). Dr. J. G. Hunt.-Pistillidia of Moss. J. O. Schimmel.-Anthers, Stigmas, and buds of Flowers, arranged on a revolving disk, around the margin of which was inscribed “Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these." WELLESLEY COLLEGE MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY. This society, composed of teachers and students, has been in successful operation for two years. There are now about twenty-five active members 'and ten microscopes-Zentmayer's Centennial, and Army Hospital; besides stands from Beck, Tolles, Zeiss and others. There are also, available for special occasions, twenty other student stands, by Crouch and Beck, from the botanical and biological laboratories. There is also an excellent working library, including complete sets of the English Quarterly and Monthly Microscopical Journals; a good line of objectives and accessory mounting apparatus, and some hundred slides have been prepared for the cabinet by the members. The meetings have been of continually increasing interest, and papers have been presented covering a wide range of subjects. The regular meeting of the Society was held in the Physical Lecture Room, February 8, Miss Fairbank, the President, in the chair. Beside the members of the Society, some fifty visitors were present. A paper was presented by Miss Metcalf on The Application of the Microscope to the Study of Rocks." This was the second paper on the subject; the first dwelling upon the uses of polarized light. Free use of the blackboard was made in illustration, and, after the paper, some thirty specimens, loaned by Mr. A. L. Dickerman, of Boston, were exhibited upon the screen, by means of the oxhydrogen light and polarizing attachment. The first of a series of papers on "Spectrum Analysis, as applied to the Microscope" was next given by Miss Whiting, and illustrated by lantern projections. The company then adjourned to the adjoining laboratory, where there were exhibited, under some fifteen microscopes, with various powers, specimens of thin rock sections. Granite, showing liquid inclusion, with moving bubble; Dolerite, showing good augite crystals; Pitch-stone, showing fluctation structure; Hornblende, breaking up into microlites; Quartz, containing needle-shaped microlites, and others. Also, under the microspectroscope, were exhibited some specimens of crystals. Miss Hunn also exhibited some living sea anemones, which were intended for microscopical dissection the coming week. The Corresponding Secretary is Miss Marion Metcalf. The regular monthly meeting was held the evening of March 15, Miss Cook, the President, in the chair. Miss Whiting called the attention of the Society to the receipt of fifty selected slides of Diatomaceæ, prepared by Prof. Smith, and of a splendidly illustrated monograph by Häkel, entitled "Die Radiolaren." 66 Miss Dickinson then read a paper upon Animal and Vegetable Hairs; their Differences, Growth, and Uses," detailing many experiments which she had performed. The paper was illustrated by blackboard drawings, and by eight or ten slides. Miss Beattie spoke for nearly an hour on Bacteria. She gave, somewhat in detail, the present state of the discussion in reference to spontaneous generation-the experiments performed, and deductions drawn; also as to their nature, plant or animal; their connection with putrefaction and infection. She spoke of forms which she had observed in various infusions, animal and vegetable. Bacteria from sheep's blood were exhibited. Miss Whipple, with all needed apparatus on the table, gave a demonstration of the method of cutting, preparing, and double staining vegetable sections. A cross section near the tip of the root of an air orchid, showing fibro-vascular bundles and fissure-like markings, on cells of epidermal tissue was noticeable; also a vertical section of a stalk of corn, showing reticulated and annular vessels in fibro-vascular bundles; and a cross section of stem of cypress, showing intercellular spaces. After the more formal meeting the company adjourned to the adjoining laboratory to inspect the specimens under the microscopes and discuss the topics of the evening. Adjourned for two months. MARION METCALF, Cor. Sec. MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY OF CAMDEN, N. J. This Society held its first public reception on the evening of March 14th, which was well attended, and appears to have been highly satisfactory to all concerned. Mr. C. Zentmayer, of Philadelphia, was present as an exhibitor. SAN FRANCISCO MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY. On December 5th, a paper from Mr. Charles Stodder was presented, describing some diatoms from Santa Monica, Cal., among which were some very beautiful and rare forms. At the next meeting a letter was read from Mr. T. P. Woodward, stating that the specimen from which the Santa Monica slides were prepared was discovered in tidal refuse several miles from Santa Monica. At the meeting of January 2d, the circular letter from the Troy Scientific Association, regarding a micrometric standard, was read, and on motion it was decided that it is expedient to adopt a standard now, and that the metric system should be employed. The other propositions were referred to a committee. The committee reported, January 16th, in favor of a standard in the metric system, and recommended the millimeter as the unit. The annual meeting was held February 13th, at which President Hyde delivered an interesting address, in which he briefly reviewed the progress of microscopical discovery and invention for the past year. STATE MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY OF ILLINOIS. The regular meeting of the State Microscopical Society of Illinois was held at the Academy of Sciences, Chicago, January 24, 1879, President Fuller in the chair. After the election of members and the transaction of some routine business, the Secretary read a communication from a committee of the microscopical section of the Troy Scientific Association in regard to the adoption of a unit of micrometric measures, with reference to action of the American Microscopical Society at its next meeting. After an expression of views by various members, the matter was referred to a committee consisting of Professors H. A. Johnson, M. D., Lester Curtis, M. D., H. H. Babcock and Mr. H. W. Fuller, to consider the subject, and report their recommendations at the next meeting. Dr. W. T. Belfield read a paper entitled "Have the Mammalian Blood-Corpuscles a Nucleus?" After recounting his own experiments, he referred, in closing, to the so-called claim of the late Dr. Freer, of Chicago, to the discovery of a nucleus in the human blood-corpuscle by the use of reflected light, as employed by Dr. H. A. Johnson He stated that Dr. Freer suggested that the peculiar appearance of the corpuscle, when thus examined, might be due to the presence of a nucleus. This suggestion, however, was not indorsed by eminent medical gentlemen in England and Germany, and on his return from abroad he had quite abandoned that theory. BOOK NOTICES. INDEX MEDICUS. A MONTHLY CLASSIFIED RECORD OF THE CURRENT MEDICAL LITERATURE OF THE WORLD. F. Leypoldt, Publisher, New York. Although this journal does not come strictly within our field, it is still of such sterling value that we feel bound to bring it prominently before our medical readers. The first two numbers are issued and bear evidence of careful editorial work, and the style is unexceptionable. Its scope is fully set forth in the title, and we can only add that the undertaking, although involving a vast amount of labor, bids fair to be carried out to the fullest extent. Periodicals are divided into several classes and arranged alphabetically under their respective heads. We find: "I. Journals and transactions exclusively medical. II. Scientific Journals and transactions. III. Journals and transactions devoted to collateral subjects, special theories, and popular medicine.' Among the latter we find the subdivisions of "Eclectic," "Homœopathic," and "Veterinary." It seems to us that an index of this high character should be above all distinctions of schools. A contribution to medical literature, especially such as relates to surgery, pathology, or, in fact, to anything but mere physic is, prima facie, as valuable from one school as another, and deserves the same recognition in an index " of the current literature of the world." Not being doctors ourselves we cannot sympathize with the distinctions here made, for we are assured that if occasion required us to look up the literature upon any medical subject, no one school of doctrine would serve our purpose or bias our judgment. We think the value of the index is weakened by this separation, in that contributions from able writers outside of the "regular" school are liable to be overlooked. A COURSE OF PRACTICAL HISTOLOGY, BEING AN INTRODUCTION TO THE USE OF THE MICROSCOPE. By Edward Albert Schäfer, Assistant Professor of Physiology in University College, London. Philadelphia: Henry C. Lea, 1877. This is a useful little volume, evidently prepared to be of real assistance in labora tory work. All descriptions of tissues have been left out, and very little is said about selecting a microscope and its construction. Some useful general directions are given, but the body of the work is divided into chapters, each one treating of special subjects as blood, epithelial tissue, connective tissue, cartilage, &c. Under each chapter several methods of preparing the objects are given. The arrangement is systematic, and the directions are plain and concise. MANUEL DE HISTOLOGIE NORMALE. By Dr. J. Pelletan. With 200 illustrations. Paris: H. Lauwereyns. 1878. Pp. 322. The author of this work, well known as the director of the Journal de Micrographie, has shown himself well fitted for the task of producing a book that is clear, concise, and fully up to its time. It is an admirable work throughout, and we can recommend it as an excellent manual for students in this line of work. A STUDY OF WHEAT. By Mrs. Lou Reed Stowell. Chicago: Blakely, Brown & Marsh, Printers. 1879. This little pamphlet is a re-print from the American Miller. It is quite an interesting and valuable contribution, with a number of cuts illustrating the microscopical structure of the coats and tissues, both of the straw and the berry. PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED. THE NORTH AMERICAN REVIEW.-THE LIBRARY TABLE.-PROCEEDINGS OF THE MEDICAL SOCIETY OF THE COUNTY OF KINGS. THE MEDICAL RECORD.-NEW YORK MEDICAL JOURNAL.-THE ST. LOUIS ECLECTIC MEDICAL JOURNAL. THE AMERICAN BOOKSELLER. -THE NEW YORK ECLECTIC MEDICAL AND SURGICAL JOURNAL.-New Remedies.-The Hospital Gazette. THE CANADIAN JOURNAL OF MEDICAL SCIENnce.-ZeitschrIFT FUR MIKROSKOPIE. THE JOURNAL OF THE FRANKLIN INSTITUTE.-THE AMERICAN JourNAL OF MICROSCOPY AND POPULAR SCIENCE.-FARM AND FIRESide. The UNIVERSITY COURANT.-BULLETIN DE LA SOCIETE BELGE DE MICROSCOPIE.— SCIENCE GOSSIP.-THE POPULAR SCIENCE REVIEW.-THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY.-JOURNAL DE MICROGRAPHIE. THE VALLEY NATURALIST.—THE AMERICAN MEDICAL JOURNAL.-THE KANSAS CITY REVIEW OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY.-VAN NOSTRAND'S MAGAZINE.-BULLETIN TORREY BOTANICAL CLUB. THE BUFFALO MEDICAL AND SURGICAL JOURNAL.-THE JOURNAL OF THE QUEKETT MICROSCOPICAL CLUB.-THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SCIENCE AND ARTS.-SCIENCE NEWS.-HISTOLOGY AND THE MICROSCOPE. By E. A. Schäfer. Pp. 300. H. C. Lea, Philadelphia.—INDEX MEDICUS.-FAMILIAR SCIENCE AND FANCIERS' JOURNAL.-MANUEL D' HISTOLOGIE NORMALE. By Dr. J. Pelletan. H. Lauwereyns. Paris, 1878.-ZOOLOGISCHER ANZEIGER.-WellesLEY COLLEGE CALENDAR. 1878-9 —A Study oF WHEAT. By Mrs. Lou Reed Stowell. Pamphlet, pp. 29. Reprint from the American Miller.-THE PRINCETON REVIEW. THE CINCINNATI MEDICAL NEWS.-A CASE OF Progressive MUSCULAR ATROPHY WITH Sclerosis of tHE LATERAL COLUMNS. By Dr. J. C. Shaw. Pamphlet, pp. 9. Reprinted from Journal of Nervous and Mental Diseases.-TENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY OF LIV. ERPOOL. Pamphlet, pp. 26-THE MIDLAND NATURALIST. Vols. I., and II., to date.-PROCEEDINGS OF THE DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. Vol. II., part 1.-CONTRIBUTIONS TO AMERICAN HELMINTHOLOGY, No. I. By R. Ramsey Wright. Pamphlet, pp. 23. From the Proceedings of the Canadian Institute.-HEDWIGIA.-A NEW MICROTOME. By S. W. Fletcher. Pepperell, Mass. Pamphlet, pp. 4. |