The solution is readily and speedily effected, with no danger of precipitation, and can be kept in stock without risk of deterioration. When wanted for use, put about two drops into a watch glass (a small pomatum pot is better) full of water and gently shake or stir. Just here there is some danger of precipitating the coloring matter, but the difficulty is easily avoided by gentle instead of vigorous stirring. After the stain is once dissolved in the water no further trouble occurs; if any evaporation takes place by being left too long, it is the water that goes, not the main solvent. The color should now be a light, translucent red, much too diffuse for writing ink. Put in the smeared cover glass, after passing it a few times through a flame, and leave it, at the ordinary temperature of a comfortable room, half an hour. If, however, quicker results are desired, boil a little water in a test tube and put in about double the above indicated amount of the glycerine mixture, letting it run down the side of the tube, gently shake until absorbed, and pour out the hot liquid into a convenient dish, and at once put in the cover with sputum. Without further attention to the temperature the stain will be effected within two minutes; but the result is not quite so good, especially for permanent mounts, as by the slower process. After staining put the cover into nitric (or hydrochloric) acid and water, one part to four, until decolorized, say one minute; wash in water and examine, or dry and mount in balsam. If it is desired to color the ground material, which is not necessary, put on the decolorized and washed glass a drop of aniline blue in glycerine; after one minute wash again in water and proceed as before. Almost any objective, from one-fourth inch up will show the bacilli if sufficient attention is paid to the illumination.--_Med. Record_. * * * * * CURE FOR HEMORRHOIDS. "The carbolic acid treatment of hemorrhoids is now receiving considerable attention. Hence the reprint from the _Pittsburgh Medical Journal_, November, 1883, of an article on the subject by Dr. George B. Fundenberg is both timely and interesting. After relating six cases, the author says: "It would serve no useful purpose to increase this list of cases. The large number I have on record all prove that this treatment is safe and effectual. I believe that the great majority of cases can be cured in this manner. Whoever doubts this should give the method a fair trial, for it is only those who have done so, that are entitled to speak upon the question." * * * * * A catalogue, containing brief notices of many important scientific papers heretofore published in the SUPPLEMENT, may be had gratis at this office. * * * * * THE SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN SUPPLEMENT. PUBLISHED WEEKLY. TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION, $5 A YEAR.