PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 189 



introduced a metallic chimney for microscope lamps, similar to the one 

 brought there that evening, but he used to put a glass tube inside, 

 which he thought was more simple. 



Mr. Wenham explained that his idea in making that chimney was 

 not so much for simplicity as for the purpose of providing one in 

 which a blank slide could be made available in case of breakage, that 

 being a thing which everyone was sure to possess. He had tried the 

 plan of putting an exterior tube to increase the draught, but he found 

 that it did not succeed. 



The Secretary thought that Mr. Wenham's idea was a good one, 

 and would relieve microscopists from a great deal of trouble if they 

 happened to be away in the country. He found that he never could 

 get such a thing as a chimney for a microscope lamp at a country 

 shop, and the consequence was, that if he met with an accident to his 

 chimney he had to wait until he visited London before he could get 

 another. 



Mr. Beck observed that this chimney was cylindrical, and many 

 paraffin lamps had flat wicks, and would not burn well with a straight 

 chimney ; they required one bulged out at the bottom and tapering 

 towards the top. His own idea was that a flat wick lamp was far 

 superior to any other for microscope use, because so much better light 

 could be obtained by using it with the flame turned edgeways. 



Mr. Wenham said that the chimney which he had brought was 

 used on a flat wick lamp ; it slightly elongated the flame, but was found 

 to burn very well. 



The President said that many years ago when he had occasion to 

 go carefully into the subject of lamps, he found that the best flame was 

 obtained by a flat wick bent into a circular arc ; this would always burn 

 in a straight chimney. 



Mr. Eichards had used a small circular wick in his lamps. 



A paper was read by the Secretary, entitled " Some Additional 

 Notes on the Microscope and Micro-spectroscope," by Mr. E. J. Gayer, 

 Surgeon H.M. Indian Army, being a continuation of his paper upon 

 the same subject read at the December meeting. (The paper will be 

 found at page 147.) 



A vote of thanks to Mr. Gayer for his paper was unanimously 

 carried. 



A paper was also read by the Secretary, " On a Minute Plant found 

 in an Incrustation of Carbonate of Lime," by Dr. Maddox ; the paper 

 was illustrated by coloured drawings and specimens exhibited under 

 the microscope. (The paper will be found at page 141.) 



The thanks of the Society were unanimously voted to Dr. Maddox 

 for his communication. 



The Secretary hoped if any gentlemen present had paid special 

 attention to this subject, that they would look at the object, and give 

 the meeting the benefit of their opinions. It was curious that this 

 plant was so much better preserved than the other vegetable matter 

 with which it was associated ; this would seem to show that it was of 

 more recent growth. He also observed that Dr. Maddox stated that 

 it did not seem to be parasitic on the moss. 



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