1884. 105 Trans. N. Y. Ae. Sét. 
played other specimens and machinery, in illustration of his paper 
on 
A NEW PROCESS OF CUTTING INTAGLIOS AND CAMEOS, SO AS TO 
PRODUCE THE FINER EFFECTS OF THE ANCIENT GLYPTIC WORK. 
DISCUSSION. 
A MEMBER called attention to the interesting fact, recorded by Pliny 
the Younger, of the emerald of the Emperor Nero, which had been 
cut in the form of a double convex lens. 
The PRESIDENT remarked on the great interest of historical records 
connected with engraved gems, as illustrated by the ancients. Schlie- 
mann’s discoveries of engraved gems had accumulated largely with the 
progress of his excavations. 
The work of the engraver was carried on in the most early times of 
history. The number of ancient gems, represented in the work of 
KING on this subject, indicates that this was then a very common form 
of art. The great hardness of their material has resulted in their fre- 
quent and often perfect preservation for long periods. Gems were cut 
long before the discovery of the diamond, corundum being commonly 
used for the purpose, in powder. There was even reason to believe 
that the first architectural excavation and piercing of granyte had been 
effected by this means. The ancient Pelasgic monuments show 
evidence of having been fashioned by means of bronze tools and this 
mineral in powder. In piercing holes, a tempered solid rod had evi- 
dently been often employed; the principle of the diamond-drill was 
therefore very ancient. 
A paper was then read by Mr. Epwarp W. Mart, illustrated 
by lantern views, on the subject of 
PHOTOMICROGRAPHY——-PROCESSES AND RESULTS. 
DISCUSSION. 
Dr. JULIEN cailed attention to certain present limitations of the 
process, and to new methods and apparatus recently proposed to 
obviate these difficulties. 
The PRESIDENT remarked that hereafter lantern slides will be 
brought into use to display and illustrate the infinitely little as well as 
the infinitely large. The problem of a satisfactory microscopic attach- 
ment to the lantern still remained unsolved at present ; only one or but 
a few persons can well see the same microscopic object at one time. 
The electric light was full of promise in this direction, whether by means 
of storage batteries or of some method for the generation of electricity 
