1870.] MISCROSCOPY. 117 



"It is not pretended that this form is the only useful one or 

 the most convenient that can be adopted, but as it has now been 

 in use some days, I find it answers its chief purpose very well, 

 and is exceedingly easy to manipulate. The advantages claimed 

 are, ready application at any spot, the collection of the atmospheric 

 particles into a small space in such a manner as to be at once 

 microscopically examined with a ^gth or J^-th objective, placed on 

 a growing slide, or some form of cultivating apparatus for further 

 observation, or mounted permanently. The difficulty is to select 

 the best cultivatius; medium. Hitherto I have found besides 

 (debris) organic and mineral matters, pollen grains, minute germs 

 of various fungi or protophytes, and excessively minute bodies, 

 ' molecules,' ' globules,' &c. ; none were seen in motion. All 

 seem to vary in abundance with the force of the wind and dryness 

 of the ground. 



" This apparatus is deficient as regards crucial tests, but for 

 general use it is efficient, and may, by continued employment, be 

 of service, If any doubt exist as to the medium furnishing the 

 spores, it can be treated as though it had been exposed ; hence 

 thus far we have fairness in the results. 



•' I believe it will be only by constant, varied, and multiplied 

 research, we shall ever obtain any answer to the important question 

 of ' dust and disease ;' hence my excuse for trespassing on the 

 pages of this Journal, in the hope others may be induced to 

 give the apparatus a fair trial or suggest something more useful. 



*' The examination of the collections made over forty days 

 has shown that in this immediate locality, at this period, the air 

 cannot be considered as loaded with microscopic germs; the 

 largest number visible and counted as such on one cover being 

 twenty-one (not including bacteroid bodies). A few only have 

 germinated ; they are under observation." 



The American Microscopical Society. — At the last 

 annual meeting of the American Microspical Society the following 

 officers were elected : — President, Dr. J. H. Hinton ; 1st vice- 

 president, Mr. Robert Dinwiddie ; 2nd vice president, Mr. T. F. 

 Harrison ; corresponding secretary, Dr. S. G. Perry ; recording 

 secretary. Dr. J. S. Latimer; treasurer, Mr. E. C. Bogert ; 

 librarian, Dr. John Frey; curator, Mr. S. Jackson. Committee 

 on nominations : — Dr. D. H. Goodwillie ; Mr. R. A. Witthaus, 

 Mr. J. W. S. Arnold. 



