42 THE MICROSCOPE. 



M>!CitUtv^ ^fr0C.t.cttiii0S. 



CAMDEN MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY. 



At the regular stated meeting of the Society, held last 

 night, Mr. Bingham called attention to the fact that the buds 

 of the Magolia Conspicua all point toward the north, the ex- 

 planation being that the sun shining on the south side 

 of the bud causes it to develop faster on that side and thus 

 curve toward the north. Dr. Gross suggested that it would be 

 well to ascertain whether the annular rings are not larger on 

 the south side of the plant. Mr. Bingham also called attention 

 to recent observations in regard to the presence of bacteria in 

 the blood of patients suffering from malaria fever. An inter- 

 esting debate followed, which was participated in by Drs. Gross, 

 Robinson, Howard and Quint. 



The subject of the evening — "Photo Micrography" — was 

 then discussed by Mr. Kain. He spoke of the fact that, in 

 the works which treat upon the subject, the matter had been so 

 surrounded with difificulties that the ordinary microscopist was 

 discouraged at the outset. The recent improvements in dry 

 plate photography, however, have so simplified the process that 

 it is now within the reach of every working microscopist. 



The following were enumerated as some of the advantages 

 of the dry-plate process : 



First — Its convenience. The worker finding an object which 

 he wishes to copy, simply exposes a plate, and if not conveni- 

 ent to develop it at that time it can be laid away in a dark 

 closet and developed at leisure, even though an interval of 

 weeks might elapse. 



Second— 1^\\^ dry plates are sensitive in no small degree to 

 yellow light, and as a large number of microscopic objects are 

 more or less yellow, this property is invaluable. 



Third — The light of a kerosene lamp is amply sufficient for 

 photographing all objects that require a power not greater than 

 a quarter inch objective. 



Fourth — The cost is trifling, the essential apparatus not re- 

 quiring an outlay of more than fifteen dollars. 



Two objects, the foot of a spider and the saws of a saw- 



