6.

is a kind of physiognomy which tells what to expect, and we can affirm with much confidence that in the title A Practical Guide to the Perfumer," the mind cannot over-rate the merits of the book. Moreover, as a literary work it possesses decided merit. The chapter, "History of Perfumes," entitles the book to a place in the library of every man of letters. The author evinces wonderful familiarity with his subject. Its claims on the attention of the druggist, pharmaceutist, amateur, and those who make perfumery their business can not be questioned.

THE CRAIG MICROSCOPE:

Its Use in Entomology-in the First

American Discovery of the "Trichina Spiralis"—in examining, satisfactorily, Cancer-Cells, the Globules of Blood and Milk, Pus, and the various Urinary Deposits.

"MYSTERIES OF THE MICROSCOPE.-Not that there is any especial hidden mystery in the innocert-looking, modest little instrument that presents objects to us as they really are, making huge monsters out of mere mites, and as often presenting most magnificent animals in what, to the unaided eye, appears an uncouth atom. The mystery is of the microscope. Its power, to our intelligence, as at present educated, is unintelligible, and would be magical, but that we know the microscope to be innocent of the black art, and the maker only a man like ourselves—a trifle more clever, perhaps, but not a mite of a magician. So much of thought is involved by the advent of a red mite upon the edge of the white sheet now under the point of my pen, and the ruby dot--a mere point to the naked eye-hurrying over the white field, a perfect crimson streak. If a man were to run at that rate, according to bulk, he would get over the ground about a thousand miles an hour, and race entirely round the world in a day and night, with three hours left for rest and refreshment.

"Arresting the atomic red runaway, and clapping him under my SEMPER PARATUS Craig Microscope, in an instant I had under my eye a wonder, a bright crimson bird, wingless, like the penguin, but perfect in proportions, and of exquisite beauty; its downy plumage brilliantly bright; its six perfect bird legs, three set on either side. I saw there the secret of the rapid race. Fancy a turkey gobbler with six legs, each one putting in its quota of speed! Wouldn't the old fellow outrun a hurricane? Then there are the five white delicate toes, more like a fair lady's fingers, to each foot; black, lustrous eyes; and beak like that of the great 'war eagle'-all harmonious; but strange-very wonderful-mysterious-the manner in which that single bit of clear glass inetamorphoses the tiny red mite into a great magnificent bird! There, go out with you, and go your way, diminished to a red atom, almost infinitessimal again! Scud-scatter, crimson speck, and leave me to my say of my magnifying miracle.

"Before I was the proprietor of this Craig glass, for which I paid $2.50, I had for ten years used a French instrument, which cost me, I think, $55.00,

of feebler power, and less reliable. With the French Cressaix,' I searched long and fruitlessly for the 'trichina spiralis,' that savants guessed was in our American pork. With the $2.50 Craig I laid hold of it plainly and positively at the second trial. That was two years ago this month. Is it recorded that any one had discovered the pork pests earlier than that date? If not, then they were first found under an American microscope; and so much for the skill an ingenuity of American mechanism.

"For the farmer and fruit-grower, especially, these simple, practical instruments are invaluable; and, to their children, a source of education, amusement, and real instructive pleasure, of which they will never grow weary. A bright little girl of ten years, daughter of a farmer friend, to whom I loaned mine, actually acquired a fuller and more correct knowledge of half a hundred insect inhabitants of her neighborhood, in six weeks' practice with the microscope, than a professed entomologist, principal of a neighboring seminary, had acquired in thirty years of study."—From the American Farmer. Written for it by the late Dr. R. C. Kendall, alias "Cosmo," of Philadelphia, Agricultural Editor.

Mr. George Mead, Racine, Wisconsin, is the sole proprietor and manufacturer of the Craig Microscope, and will send it by mail, postage paid, on receipt of $2.75.

DENTAL MATERIA MEDICA: Compiled by James White, Philadelphia. Published by Samuel S. White. 1868.

We are highly pleased with the general character and import of this little volume. While it is more particularly intended to subserve the wants of dentists, it comes, nevertheless, as the physician's friend and helper. It should be in the library of both. Most physicians, who have a country practice, are compelled to have more or less to do with dentistry, and to the attention of such do we specially commend this manual.

In it we have medico-dental literature condensed so as to be readily tangible. Facts, which have covered pages in Journals and voluminous books, are here expressed almost in as many lines, and brought directly before the reader's eye. It is a time and labor economizer, as it obviates the necessity of searching the many periodical and discussions of dental societies to obtain reliable information concerning the several remedies in use by the profession, and the indications for their employment, concerning instruments and the methods of applying them, etc., alluded to therein.

THOMAS C. BRINSMADE, M. D.

Of Troy New York.

Dr. Thomas C. Brindsmade, one of the most prominent medical gentleman of this State, died suddenly of angina pectoris, while officiating, on the evening of the 22nd of June, at a public meeting, held in behalf of the Rens

selær Polytechnic Institute of that city. He was born in Hartford, Conn., graduated at Yale College, and came to Lansingburgh in 1822, where he remained until 1832, when Dr. Elisha Sheldon, then a leading physician of Troy, having died, he and Dr. F. B. Leonard removed to Troy, and succeeded to the practice of Dr. Sheldon. Dr. B. was induced to come there by some fifteen or twenty of the leading citizens-the Warrens, Hearts, and others who guaranteed him a certain sum of money each per year, whether the amount of the income reached the sum or not. Dr. Leonard remained but a short time, when Dr. Brinsmade, for some years, with Dr. John Wright, as partner, continued the practice. In 1848-9 he was elected President of the Rensselær County Medical Society. In 1857 he was elected Vice-President of the State Medical Society. In 1866 he was chosen Vice-President of the American Medical Association; and in 1867 he was appointed delegate to the International Medical Congress at Paris, and attending the same, took a prominent and conspicuous part. Dr. Brinsmade was at one time City Physician; repeatedly President of the Board of Health; one of the original Governors of the Marshall Infirmary, and one of the Medical Board; a trustee of the Binghamton Inebriate Assylum; and for twenty-five years was an active member of the Board of Trustees of the Rensselær Institute. Upon the resignation of President Winslow he was elected President of the Institute. During all the years of his connection with that Institution he took a deep interest in its affairs, and it is stated that in his will he has left it a most munifficent bequest.

Dr. Brinsmåde was well known throughout the country as an active worker in the cause of medical science; and his brethren, in his death sustain an irreparable loss. He was truly a noble example of the upright, conscientious, Christian physician, one who was untiring in his efforts to advance the best interests of his calling as well at the bedside as in the numerous Society gatherings, at which he was a devoted, zealous, and punctual attendant.— Teh Medical Record.

MARRIED.

At Hudson, Michigan, on the 26th ultimo., by the Rev. Thos. Stalker, Dr. Chas. D. Fairbanks, of Ottawa City Mich. and Miss Jennie M. Opdyke of Hudson.

CHANGE OF RESIDENCE.

Dr. C. D. Fairbanks of Evanston, Ills., has removed to Ottawa, Ills., where is now his P. O. address. Dr. E. N. Ingraham has left Ottawa, and, at present, is not located in practice.

Correspondents will oblige by writing plainly their Names, Town, County and State. We are frequently unable to answer letters because these are omitted.

NATURAL ORDER.-Berberidaceae.

Some Botanists have thought Leontice the most appropriate genus for this plant.

It is found in the artificial classification in Class Hexandria, Or-der Monogynia.

Its popular names are poppoose-root, false-cohosh, squaw-root: and blue-cohosh. The caulophyllum, or leontice, has some four or five species, some of which are natives of the Levant, Tuscany. Apulia and North America.

GENERIC DESCRIPTION.-Calyx inferior, 3 to 6 sepalled, caducus; nectaries 6, sub-reniform, fleshy, glutinous at the margin, attached to the claws of the petals; seed naked, elevated on a stipe, after having burst its caducous pericarp.

The seed was formerly taken for a drupe, until Brown detected the error.

SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION.-Flowers appear in April, and of a purple and yellowish color. It is put down by most botanists as perennial; This, however must be restricted to the root. The stem, when fully grown, is denominated woody. The whole plant is very glabrous; leaves more than decompound; leaflets oval, the lower ones lobed and petioled; the end ones three lobed; berries dark blue. Attains the height of from one to two and a half feet. In the North American Botany, by Eaton and Wright, the roasted seeds are spoken of, as having been used as a substitue for coffee. This is also alluded to by Prof. C. Lee, in the Journal of Materia Medica, vol. 3, p. 307.

HABITAT.-North America.

HISTORY. Dr. King speaks of it as a perennial plant growing all over the United States, in low, moist, rich grounds, near running streams, in swamps, and on islands that have been overflowed with water. The root is the only perennial part, as previously stated; all other parts of the plant are annual. The Chippeway Indians, on Lake Superior, are reported as using a tea made of the root, for pregnant females, for some time previous to confinement, to facilitate the function of parturition. No very complete analysis of this plant is known to the author. It is said to be well as eertained that in addition to the usual constituents of vegetable substances, it contains a resinoid principle, caulophyllin, and an alkaloid, caulophylla, both possessed of very active medicinal properties. (Prof. Lee.) The root is the officinal part. Dr. Lee observes* :—"The blue cohosh has been extensively used in domestic practice, as well as by the eclectic school of practitioners; and although it has not yet found a place in scientific dispensatories and national pharmacopoeias, yet its medicinal properties will entitle it to rank among our indigenous remedies as second to few, acknowledged as officinal. Physicians, as a general rule, are

* Jour. Mat. Medica, vol. 3, p. 306.