PROCEEDINGS OP SOCIETIES. loo 



^cocccDing^ of ^ocictie^. 



LiNNEA-N Society, April 1st. — Dr. G. J. AUcnan in the chair. 

 Dr. E. Klein gave an account of his microscopical observations on the 

 lymph of sheep-pox. It has been shown that the virus resides in the 

 solid particles of the lymph and not in its fluid portion. These solid 

 particles were shown to be identical with the organisms (Schizo- 

 mycetous Fungi) called by Cohn and Burdon Sanderson "Micro- 

 cocci " ; they are likewise produced by the pus-cells from the granules 

 contained in their interior. Dr. Klein has produced the pocks on sheep 

 by artificial inoculation of these germs. On examination of a pock so 

 produced, the " micrococci " were found in the lymphatic spaces which 

 are formed in the skin at an early stage. They occurred in masses or in 

 myceloid threads ; at a later stage signs of fructification were 

 observed, and conidia of a Fe7iicillium-like character were produced in 

 the spaces. The same giowth is found in the cavities of the pustules 

 subsequently developed. Klein also produced the disease by the 

 injection of lymph directly into the vein ; the pustules formed were 

 quite the same as those produced by innoculation, and the same 

 Penicillium growth was found in their interior. These remarks were 

 illustrated and supported by a series of drawings and by microscopical 

 preparations. 



Bota:nical Society of Edinbubgh. — March 11. — Professor 

 Balfour in the chair. The following communications were 

 read: ''Bearing of meteorological records on supposed change 

 of climate in Scotland," by A. Buchan. He referred to the 

 deep-rooted opinion generally entertained that the climate of this 

 country has changed, and then showed a number of meteorological 

 charts prepared from observations taken at Gordon Castle, Edinburgh, 

 Dollar, and Dunfermline, extending from 1780 to 1870, which proved 

 that during this period there had been no permanent alteration of cli- 

 mate. His general conclusion was that, while there were fluctuations 

 from year to year in the temperature of particular months, there was 

 no such general falling off in summer heat or diminution of winter 

 cold, as had been suggested by Mr. M'^ab, to account for certain 

 phenomena of vegetation. Taking December, he found twelve years, 

 commencing from 1782, in which that month was above the average 

 of temperature ; then twenty years, in which it was greatly below 

 the average ; then nearly a quarter of a century, in which it did not 

 come down to the average ; then fifteen years, in which it was gener- 

 ally under the average ; then five years, in which it was above the 

 average ; then the last five or six years, in which it had been a cold 

 month. Similar fluctuations were observable in January and Novem- 

 ber. Taking July again, he began with a warm period ; then there 

 was a cold period of nearly the same extent as the December cold 

 period, but not so pronounced ; then a period slightly above the aver- 



