Ii4 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY. 



H(j hud ascertaiued from the Venereal Diseases Committee tliat con- 

 siderable diificulty was experienced in getting certain pathological 

 material examined, particularly in country places, in some cases owing to 

 lack of apparatus, and in others owing to lack of technical skill in its 

 use, since the medical general practitioner was not, of necessity, an expert 

 microscopist. Fellows of this Society could render the greatest possible 

 assistance in work which was of great national importance, by advising 

 the local medical, man all over the country in the use of the microscope 

 and the dark-ground illuminator, perhaps even setting it up for him. 

 It would not entail very much time and labour, and probably one or two 

 sittings would suffice to set mutters in working order. 



It had been further suggested to him just before tlie meeting, by a 

 well-known Fellow, that the Society might issue some kind of certiticate 

 or guarantee that certain Fellows were competent to assist in this way : 

 that a mild form of examination might be instituted, to which Fellows 

 could submit themselves, to enable that guarantee to be given. In this 

 connexion, it had been proposed to devote the March meeting to the 

 subject of dark-ground ilkimination, and he was pleased to be able to 

 announce that Professor Conradi, of South Kensington, had agreed to 

 deal with the theoretical side of the subject. That gentleman was, of 

 course, the authority on microscopical optics in this country, and he 

 would invest the evening with great interest. Especially was that a 

 pleasant announcement as Professor Conradi had not been among the 

 Fellows at meetings for a long time. He (the President) would say a 

 few words on the practical side, and would also try to get the English 

 makers to send microscopes and dark -ground illuminators. He hoped 

 that any Fellow who possessed similar apparatus would bring it along. 

 Invitations would be extended to the memliers of the Venereal Diseases 

 Connnittee, medical men and others, so as to make that meeting as 

 representative as possible. If Fellows had any suggestions or criticisms 

 to offer on this matter, he would be glad to hear them now. There 

 being no dissentients, he assumed that his propositions were approved. 



Mr. Wilson exhibited a Heliozoon {Acantluicyslis) and a Rhizopod 

 (Lasqueremia) to call attention to the fact of their abundance at this 

 time of year. 



The Society's thanks were accorded to Mr. Wilson. 



The President expressed the regret with which the Council heard of 

 tlie serious illness of Professor Moore, in consequence of which he was 

 unable to give the demonstration announced for the evening. Though 

 progressing satisfactorily, he would be unable to attend for some weeks. 

 His contril)ution was, therefore, deferred, and Fellows would look forward 

 with pleasure to it at no very distant date. 



