164 THE MICROSCOPICAL NEWS. 
Cuair oF Biotocy.—The following is from the Atheneum :— 
“A correspondent tells us that the combined chair of biology and 
geology in the Bristol University College is to be abolished in 
consequence of financial difficulties. Should this proposal be 
carried out, the University of Bristol will no longer be in a position 
to send up science candidates for the London University Examin- 
ations, while a powerful argument will be furnished to those who 
have opposed the extension of higher education on the basis of 
voluntary financial support. It is to be hoped that the governing 
body will yet see their way to avoid a step calculated to injure the 
practice and utility of the College.” 
DISORDERS OF THE BLoop.—Dr. B: W. Richardson, F.R.S., is 
preparing for publication a collection of his essays, monographs, 
and papers on “ Disorders of the blood and circulation.” 
ANTI-VIVISECTION.—The opponents of physiological reasearch 
have gained an ally in Gabriel Max, whose last painting, “ Der 
Vivisection,” is intended to enforce their contention of the anti- 
vivisectionists. 
THE CHOLERA GERM.—The Lancet corrects the statement which 
was widely quoted a few weeks ago to the effect that Dr. Vincent 
Richards had successfully inoculated pigs with Koch’s cholera 
bacillus. It appears that Dr. Vincent Richards “has not been 
following in the lines of Koch; but, on the contrary, sees reason 
to believe that the poison of cholera is of a chemical and not a 
vital character, and it is from his endeavour to isolate the virus and 
communicate it to the lower animals that the original but erroneous 
report has arisen.” 
MANCHESTER MicroscopicaL Socrety.—The ordinary monthly 
meeting of the Manchester Microscopical Society was held on 
Thursday evening, May ist, Mr. William Blackburn, F.R.MLS., 
one of the vice-presidents, presiding. A paper was read by Mr. 
Henry Hyde on the Epidermis of Plants and their Appendages. 
The paper was illustrated by prepared drawings of several varieties 
of the hairs of plants, and also by diagrammatic sketches on the 
blackboard. Mr. E, Ward, F.R.M.S., read a short paper on 
Volcanic Dust, illustrated by specimens, some of the finest dust 
being mounted as a microscropic slide for polarization. There 
was a capital display at the conversazione which followed the papers, 
many of the members having brought their microscopes, and 
thereby aiding Mr. Hyde and Mr. Ward in illustrating their papers. 
During the evening Mr. Stanley, F.R.M.S., distributed specimens 
of the mosses recently gathered at Llandudno. 
