26 



II. — Microscopy at Buhlehen. 

 By E. PaulsOxV, F.E.M.S. 



(Read November 21, 1917.) 



Those who are acquainted with the internal government of the 

 civilian camp at lUihleben through letters and printed matter, 

 received from interned relatives and friends, know already some- 

 thing of the educational work that has been going on there for the 

 past two and a half years. 



Prisoners have been permitted to send a copy of the prospectus 

 of the work of the organized classes for each successive term, and 

 the various numbers of the camp magazine. 



As an introduction to the prospectus of work for the autumn 

 term, 1916, we find among other notices the following : — 



" In most subjects the tuition provided at the school ranges 

 from that required by absolute beginners to that required by 

 Advanced University Students." 



" The Term consists of fourteen weeks ; the total subscription 

 of 3.50 marks should be paid in advance, if possible." 



Eoughly the camp is made up of students from the Public 

 Schools and Universities, numbers of our best pioneers in com- 

 merce, trade and industry — men who had gone to health resorts. 



Some five months ago Mr. E. J. Sheppard received a letter 

 from Dr. Lechmere in reference to a paragraph in " Nature," re- 

 specting a slide exhibited at the Meeting in December 1916 of 

 the Eoyal Microscopical Society. 



It was the preparation of the anther of Lilium candidum, show- 

 ing the extrusion of nuclear chromatin during mitosis in the 

 pollen mother-cells. 



As the letter was reported to the Council it was suggested that 

 Dr. Lechmere should be communicated with, and that he should 

 be asked to give some account of the microscopical work done in 

 the camp. 



A letter was written to this effect, and after a period of eighty- 

 seven days an answ^er was received, together with a report by 

 Mr. Michael Pease on " Biological Activities at Euhleben." 



Before reading the report it might be well to mention that the 

 camp is situated on a bleak plateau on the site of the well-known 

 race-course to the west of Berlin. This fact will account for the 

 mention of betting-booth, hay-loft and grand-stand. The rigours 



