26 



molecules, one of the final products being ammonia. Bacterium lactis was 

 described as typical of the zymogenic bacteria. In this group food of a 

 definite and well-known constitution is consumed, and definite chemical 

 products are formed, e.g., B. lactis consumes sugar of milk, one of the 

 products being lactic acid. The anthrax of woolsorters' disease was taken 

 as a type of the pathogenic bacteria for two reasons — its local occurrence, 

 and also because the entire life-history of this organism is well known. It 

 was stated that as regards this group pathologists are generally agreed that 

 a pathogenic bacterium may be regarded as the specific virus of a 

 contagious disease. Notwithstanding the large amount of patient research 

 given to the study of Bacteria by Koch, Klein, and many other workers, 

 it is yet a disputed fact as to whether they should be placed in the animal 

 or vegetable kingdom. Bauman and Salkowski have, however, thrown 

 much light upon the chemical functions of the Bacteria, the remarkable 

 proposition of the first named, that the action of Bacteria pi'oduce 

 antiseptic substances (such as phenol, &c.) which are fatal to their 

 existence, being now supported by direct and independent analytical 

 evidence. With regard to the action of antiseptics, the following facts 

 were related, namely : — that although a prolonged immersion in a 

 1 per cent, solution of perchloride of mercury will not kill the spores of 

 some Bacteria, yet a solution as weak as 1 in 300,000 will prevent for an 

 indefinite period the germination of the spore. The power of germination, 

 is, however, only suspended, as on removal to a nutritive medium, growth 

 normally occurs as if no retardation had taken place. 



The action of heat and cold on Bacteria and their spores then claimed 

 attention, and an explanation of the reason why the spores of some 

 Bacteria can withstand the action of boiling water for some time was 

 stated to be due to the fact that the spore coat is double, and is endowed 

 with non-conducting properties, as regards heat, of a very special kind. 



In conclusion, slides illustrative of the paper, including Bacterium 

 termo, Bacillus tuberculosis, Bacillus anthracis, Koch's Cholera bacillus, 

 and various spore forms of Bacteria, were shown and described. 



At the close of the meeting the following lepidoptera were exhibited 

 by J. W. Addyman, on behalf of Henry Oliver, Jum-., of Harrogate, viz. : — 

 Papilio machaon, Argynis Uuphrosyne, Vanessa lo, V. Aniiopa, Nemiophila 

 plantaginis, Chcerocampa elpenor, Ch. jiorcellus, Thyatira batis, Plusia 

 chryaitis, P. iota, Amphidasis betularia, and Macroglossa stellatarum. 



June 26tu, 1885. 



G, PAUL, "F.G.S., F.RMet.S., on "THE FEETILISATION OF 

 FLOWERS." 



The lecturer furnished illustrations of the various forms of the 

 sexual organs by means of fifty or sixty species of flowers, including 

 a group of lovely orchid blooms {Cattleyas), besides which he exhibited 

 some excellent models of characteristic inflorescence, made on a 



