PROGRESS OF MICROSCOPICAL SCIENCE. 23 



spores being entirely closed, and maintaining only a very feeble con- 

 nection of endosmose with the sterigmata. We see, besides, some 

 basidia, the plasma of which has been partly used, keep only three- 

 fourths or a half of their cavity filled with granulations, as I have 

 observed, and figured in a section of the gills of Agarlcus mnrinus ; 

 this diminution of the contents has very likely a connection with the 

 number of spores formed. If we were able to assure ourselves that 

 amongst the tetraspored basidia there are but two generations, each of 

 four spores, that would show another affinity with the thecae of the 

 Ascomycetes, which produce, as is known, for the most part eight 

 spores. There is between the theca and the basidium such an analogue 

 as to the terminal situation of the vegetable axis and to the production 

 of liquid, granulous, oily contents, that we cannot but compare them 

 completely, despite the differences in size and even of form, with pro- 

 ducts which are called upon to fulfil the same physiological function." 



Bacteria in the Blood. — It is now pretty generally agreed that 

 bacteria are almost invariably present in the blood ; therefore the fol- 

 lowing record is not so surprising as it might have been a few years 

 ago. It seems that Dr. Eberth states (in ' Centralblatt,' No. 20, 1873) 

 that he has found in ordinary sweat, as well as in yellow sweat, small 

 oval-shajjed bacteria, which are frequently united in strings of two or 

 three, and endowed with rather active movements. In spots covered 

 with hair they attach to the hair, and often form thick layers, whilst 

 others penetrate into the hair, which then splits and breaks. Colour- 

 ing by means of hfematoxylin brings out the isolated bacteria as well 

 as those collected on the hair. The author thinks that they very 

 likely contribute to produce certain chemical modifications of sweat. — 

 See also ' Lancet.' 



A Collection of Parasitic Fungi. — It seems that under the title of 

 ' Herbarium Mycologicum CEconomicum,' F. Baron Thiimen projioses 

 to form a collection of those parasitic fungi which are injurious 

 (including, also, any that are useful) in forestry, agricultm-e, horti- 

 culture, or in any other branch of industry. The sjiecimens of each 

 sjiecies will be labelled with the scientific name, diagnosis, and any 

 needful remarks, and, where possible, will be sufficiently numerous 

 for a portion to be submitted to microscopic examination. The col- 

 lection will be issued in fasciculi of fifty species, at the price of three 

 thalers each, and may be obtained of the collector, at Tei^litz, in 

 Bohemia. 



Huizingd's Experiments on Abiogenesis. — These experiments arc 

 particularly interesting, coming as they do at the time that Dr. Bas- 

 tian has been before the world with his views. Dr. Burden Sanderson, 

 however, who gave an epitome of them to the British Association, has, 

 we fancy, considerably diminished the force of the arguments in their 

 favour. Huizinga's experiments will be found detailed in full in 

 Pfliiger's ' Archiv,' vol. vii., p. 549. Professor Sanderson says that 

 he begins his paper with the words Multa renascentur qme Jam cecidere, 

 using them as an expression of the recurring nature of this question. 

 He then proceeds to say that he was induced to undertake his inquiry 



