70 Proceedings. 
biologist is one of degree. Are the difficulties so great as to be 
prohibitive to him? Clearly, no general answer is possible. 
Each worker will balance advantages against drawbacks in his 
own particular case and will come to his own conclusion. Iam 
trying the experiment myself in a small botanical laboratory. 
The work I am doing is anatomical, and I have been attempting 
to keep a record of results by means of a series of photographs. 
My experience is that it is easy to take a fairly good photo- 
graph ofa suitable section even with rough apparatus, but that 
with the best instruments it is difficult to get uniformly good 
results. Many of the difficulties however disappear as one 
gains experience. It is necessary to adopt a uniform method 
of staining which will photograph precisely. A brilliant arti- 
ficial light must be used. The plates and the developer must 
be capable of giving density, for when a very thin section is 
illuminated by artificial light it is difficult to secure sufficient 
contrast. The plates must be backed to avoid halation. I 
have learnt to prefer the long-tube microscope to one provided 
with the short foreign tube because the field is larger, often a 
very important matter. 
Such knowledge is gained by many failures. But when 
photography has once gained a footing in biological Jaboratories, 
there seems no reason why it should not be learnt as regularly 
as the art of microtoming. I believe that as a means of pro- 
viding graphic records of scientific evidence, it will prove a very 
great aid to research. 
SpecraL GeneRaL Mustine, held at Reigate, 21st of October, 
1898. 
The following resolutions were carried :— 
* That Rule V. be amended by the omission of the words ‘ of 
holding ’ down to ‘ therewith or.’” 
“ That Rule XII. be amended by the insertion of ‘ fourth’ 
in place of ‘ third’ before Friday.” 
