116 



"Science Gossip" From the Publisher. 



"Journal of the Royal Microscopical Society" „ „ Society. 



The thanks of the meeting were voted to the donors. 



The Secretary read a letter from Mr. Clark, stating that he had forwarded 

 therewith, some specimens of Spongilla for distribution amongst the 

 members. 



Mr. Hailes called attention to some slides of the tongue of Helix aspersa 

 mounted in gum styrax, one of which he had placed under a microscope on 

 one of the side tables. There had been a good deal " floating in the air " 

 of late with respect to gum styrax as a mounting medium, but there 

 appeared to be some obscurity as to where this material could be obtained, 

 in the condition best adapted to microscopic mounting. In a note com- 

 municated to the " Societe Beige de Microscopie," and published in their 

 journal, Dr. Yan Heurck pointed out some of the difficulties attending the 

 procuration and the purification of the crude gum, and stated, that he had 

 imported some which he had sent to a French firm of chemists for prepara- 

 tion. On pointing this out to Mr. Curteis, he, with his usual kindness, wrote 

 at once to the Paris house and obtained some samples, which he (Mr. Hailes) 

 had experimented with, in order to ascertain what would be the best 

 solvent for it, and also to test its applicability to other objects. He found 

 that the gum, which was of a dark colour and almost solid, dissolved readily 

 in sulphuric sether, in benzol, and in chloroform ; but the eether did not dis- 

 solve all the oil, which is used in considerable quantity in the preparation 

 of the crude gum. Benzol dissolved all the oil, but made a somewhat 

 muddy solution. Chloroform, he found, gave the most satisfactory results. 

 The solution was a little cloudy, but the cloudiness disappeared under the 

 influence of a slight heat in the process of mounting. As to its applica- 

 bility to other objects than diatoms, members would be able to form their 

 own opinion at the close of the meeting, and if any desired to experiment 

 for themselves, no doubt Mr. Curteis would be able to let them have a 

 sample of the gum. 



Dr. M. C. Cooke said that he had very great pleasure in introducing to 

 the Club their newly-elected President, Dr. W. B. Carpenter, F.R.S., to 

 whom, in their name, he offered a most hearty welcome. 



Dr. Carpenter having taken the chair, amidst great applause on the part 

 of the members, said that his first duty, on that occasion, was to thank them 

 very cordially for the honour done to him in electing him as their President. 

 It was not the first time that they had made the request that he would 

 occupy the position, but on former occasions it had happened that there 

 were circumstances which precluded him from doing so. On the last occa- 

 sion, however, he had no excuse to make, except that as he was getting 

 rather old he might not always be able to come out to attend the meetings. 

 He would, however, do the best he could in that respect, and would try to 

 attend as often as possible. He then proceeded to deliver an inaugural 

 address, " On the Structure of the Orbitolites." 



Mr. A. D. Michael said that though not strictly in order in moving a vote 

 of thanks at that time, he felt he should be neglecting a duty if he did not, 



