HARDWICKE'S S C IE N CE-GO S S IP. 



233 



spores, and when thus mounted they will retain 

 their character for an indefinite period. In all cases 

 where the fungus will allow it, sections of the entire 

 tissue should be cut : in this case the asci are seen 

 in their natural position and the object is not only 

 pleasing for its beauty as a microscopic object, but 

 is a lesson in botanical physiology. — T. Brittain, 

 Manchester. 



Microscopic Crystals in Seeds. — Keferringto 

 his engraving of the crystals in the testa of the Elm, 

 g\we,mn^\\QQuarterIyJour)ialofMicroscojolcal Science, 

 July, 1S73, and to other figures in Science-Gossip, 

 May, 1873, Professor Gulliver, P.R.S., shows that 

 similar crystals are constant in the testa or pericarp 

 of many orders of plants, and yet never found in 

 several otner orders. These crystals he showed, at 

 a late meeting of the East Kent Natural History 

 Society, to be such beautiful microscopic objects as 

 may well induce the many microscopists who are 

 now examining the outer markings of seeds, to look 

 a little deeper into their interior structure ; and he 

 regards this subject, though always ignored in 

 our books of systematic botany, as intimately con- 

 nected with the life-history and natural afiinities of 

 plants. 



Parasitic Eungus on a Mouse.— Professor 

 Leidy recently exhibited a mouse at one of 

 the meetings of the Academy of Sciences at 

 Philadelphia, which had several whitish masses 

 adhering to various parts of the head. AVhcn ex- 

 amined under the microscope, these white masses 

 proved to be composed of sporuhtr bodies, single, 

 double, or in short chains of a dozen or more. Each 

 measured about the 650th of a line in diameter. 

 The fungus is a Torula or Oidium, resembling that 

 found in aphtha, and the Monthly Microscopical 

 Journal suggests that the disease in the mouse may 

 be the result of its having fed upon articles imbued 

 with adherent portions of the aphthous matter from 

 the mouths of the children in whose hospital ward 

 the mouse had been caught. 



' MiCROZYMAS OF MiLK. — M. Bcchamp has re- 

 cently shown that to observe the microzymas of 

 milk the latter should be diluted with five or six 

 times its volume of creosoted water, and filtered. 

 The filter will retain a certain quantity of insoluble 

 matter, which should first be treated with ether to 

 dissolve out the butter. Then, with a dilute solu- 

 tion of carbonate of soda to take out a little casein, 

 and lastly with distilled water. Under a power of 

 five hundred diameters, the microzymas may then 

 be clearly distinguished. Milk drawn direct from 

 a cow into apparatus specially arranged to exclude 

 the air, and kept at a temperature of from thirfy- 

 five to forty degrees, was found to be curded on the 

 third day. At the time that the coagulation becomes 

 clearly perceptible, no organism except microzymas 



can be detected in the milk. M. Bechamp ctaicludcs 

 that the fermentation which is set up, and produces 

 lactic acid, acetic acid, and alcohol in milk curded 

 under these circumstances, is due to the microzymas 

 normally present in the milk. 



Microscopical Publications.— Dr. Donkin has 

 recently issued Part III. of his "Natural History 

 of the British Diatomacea;," in which he is still 

 figuring and describing the iVwy/cw/fl.?. The plates 

 accompanying this part are exquisitely finished. 

 The third edition of the " Micrographic Dictionary" 

 is proceeding, and we have received the parts up to 

 XII., the word " Hydra." To all microscopists 

 this new edition of the "Micrographic Diotionary " 

 is invaluable. The letter-press and woodcuts, as 

 well as the highly-finished plates, are great helps to 

 the student. 



Crystals of the Willow. — I think" there 

 can be but little doubt as to saliciue occurring 

 naturally in a mixed state with other matter in the 

 bark, &c., of the willow. In confirmation of 

 this fact, we need scarcely look any further than 

 the chemistry involved in the process, as given 

 by"K."in last month's Science-Gossip for its 

 extraction. The first part of the process, viz. the 

 boiling of the bark with water, shows this, from its 

 chemical characteristic, which decoction, when 

 treated with sesquichloride of iron, is coloured dark 

 green, and with strong sulphuric acid red ; the 

 former indicating the presence of tannin, which 

 constitutes the astringent property of the willow, 

 and the latter that of salicine. As lo the subsequent 

 part of the process, the employment of the oxide of 

 lead is merely to remove from the solution gum, 

 tannin, and extractive matter, which would other- 

 wise impede the crystallization of the salicine; 

 whilst the object of the sulphuric acid and sulphuret 

 of barium is to decompose a smR probably formed 

 through the combination of a portion of the lead 

 with the salicine. Of willow bark, which is fresh 

 and rich in salicine, Marck says that " it may be 

 obtained by cautious evaporation from the cold 

 aqueous infusion," — again proving it to be a not 

 improbable natural constituent of the plant. Sali- 

 cine, if acted upon by a mixture of bichromate of 

 potash and sulphuric acid, in certain quantities, 

 gives rise to an essential oil— hydride of salicyl, — 

 which in its chemical and physical properties is 

 found to be identical to the oil of Meadow-sweet 

 {Spinca nlmaria). — John Harrison. 



ZOOLOGY. 



A Pare Beetle. — It may interest some of the 

 readers of Science Gossip to know that a splendid 

 specimen of the coleopterous tribe has been taken 

 by Mr. Cowper, of South Kensington, in the 



