388 SUMMARY OF CURRENT RESEARCHES RELATING TO 



(6) Miscellaneous. 



Flagellum of the Tubercle Bacillus.* — A. A. 0. E. Merlin confirms 

 the observation of E. M. Nelson f that tubercle bacilli are possessed of 

 flagella. He states that many flagellated specimens will be found in 

 any ordinary well-stained sputum slide, and even a good \ or \ in. 

 dry-objective, used critically with a large axial illuminating cone, should 

 prove quite sufficient if an oil-immersion lens is not available. 



Quekett Microscopical Club. — The 447th Ordinary Meeting was 

 held on March 20, TJ08, the President, Prof. E. A. Minchin, M.A., 

 F.Z.S., in the chair. Mr. A. E. Hilton read a paper on " The Cause 

 of reversing currents in Plasmodia of Mycetozoa." After describing 

 the observed phenomena at some length, the author concluded that 

 streaming of the interior plasm is controlled by the drier aggregations 

 of plasm in contact with the atmosphere, and that these controlling 

 centres affect the fluid plasm by an alternating force of pressure and 

 suction. He suggests that the visible pulsations are indications of a 

 respiratory function inherent in the whole mass of the plasmodium. 

 Mr. C. D. Soar, F.R.M.S., read a paper on the genus Hydrachna. The 

 term Hydrachna was first used by Midler in 1776. Of the 21 species 

 now described, 4 were new, and 3 others first time of recording in 

 Britain. 



At the 448th Ordinary Meeting held on May 15, the President in 

 the chair, Mr. C. Lees Curties, F.R.M.S., exhibited and described the 

 simple form of apertometer devised by Mr. F. J. Cheshire, F.R.M.S., 

 and an improved mercury-vapour lamp for use in microscopy. Mr. 

 R. T. Lewis, F.R.M.S., exhibited some preparations of especially 

 brdliantly coloured insects, and the President exhibited a preparation 

 demonstrating the existence of an organic axial filament in the spicules 

 of calcareous sponges. The spicule had been decalcified and the filament 

 (and outer sheath) stained with picric (or nitric) acid and nigrosine. 

 Mr. F. Martin-Duncan, F.R.P.S., delivered a lecture, illustrated with 

 lantern photographs, dealing with points of interest in insect life and 

 development. 



Koch, L., & E. Gilg — Pharmakognostisches Praktikum. Eine Anleitung znr 

 mikroskop. Untersuchung von Drogen u. Drogenpulvern zum Gebraucne in 

 prakt. Kursen der Hochschnlen. 



Berlin : Gebr. Borntrager, 1907, viii. and 272 pp. (140 figs.). 



B. Technique.* 

 (3) Cutting - , including Imbedding- and Microtomes. 



Henneberg's Microtome Auxiliaries.* — The Leitz firm have made 

 for the designer, Prof. Henneberg, an addition to their chain microtome. 

 This addition the author finds of great service in cutting longer bands 



* English Mechanic, lxxxvii. (1908) p. 112. 



t See this Journal, 1905, pp. 412-13. 



X This subdivision contains (1) Collecting Objects, including Culture Pro- 

 cesses ; (2) Preparing Objects ; (3) Cutting, including Imbedding and Microtomes ; 

 (4) Staining and Injecting ; (5) Mounting, including slides, preservative fluids, etc. ; 

 (6) Miscellaneous. 



§ Zeitschr. wiss. Mikr., xxiv. (1907) pp. 274-7 (2 figs.). 



