The Microscope. 105 



The reports of the Secretary and Treasurer were read, showing 

 a gratifying condition of affairs, financially, and in every other re- 

 spect. On motion, a vote of thanks to the retiring officers was passed, 

 and the President's report was ordered spread on the minutes. 



The balloting of officers to serve during the ensuing year, 

 resulted as follows : President, E. J. Wickson ; Vice President, Dr. 

 Henry Ferrer ; Eecording Secretary, A. H. Breckenfeld (re-elected) ; 

 Corresponding Secretary, Dr. C. P. Bates ; Treasurer, F. L. 

 Howard. 



Febniary 23rd. — The retiring ])resident, Dr. Mouser, presented 

 his successor, E. J. Wickson, who thanked the Society, in brief but 

 fitting terms, for the honor conferred on him. 



Dr. Stallard, who had intended to attend and present a report 

 of his investigations of the bacilli in dairy milk, was unavoidably 

 absent. 



Professor Ashburner exhibited a slide which had been mounted 

 by J. Kinker, of Amsterdam, from a specimen of the diatomaceous 

 earth found by Mrs. A. E. Bush, of San Jose, in 1880, among some 

 tidal refuse in Santa Monica Bay. The specimen shown in the slide 

 contained 213 arranged diatoms. 



The original " Santa Monica " find has become notable in the 

 history of microscopy as the largest ever discovered on this continent, 

 and Professor Ashburner sent samples of it to many of the leading 

 microscopists of the world. M. Bourgoyne, of Paris, the famous 

 mounter of microscopical objects, so highly appreciated the liberal 

 share sent to him that he forwarded to Professor Ashburner a beauti- 

 fully mounted slide containing a specimen of the earth, in which were 

 two hundred and fifteen arranged diatoms. Where the original 

 deposit is to be found is so far unknown, the Santa Monica specimen 

 being only a fi-agment. There are one hundred distinct species to 

 be distinguished in the Santa Monica sample. 



The value of the diatomaceous earth arises from its adaptability 

 for use in the transportation and manufacture of nitroglycerine and 

 other explosives, of which it forms the absorbent. The diatomaceous 

 earth known as Kieselguhr, which is universally employed for that 

 purpose, is lighter and richer in diatomaceous forms than the Santa 

 Monica sample. No earth has been found in California, so far, well 

 adapted to this purpose. 



Secretary Breckenfeld exhibited a slide by Doherty, of Man- 

 chester, containing a section of the intestine of a rabbit, which had 

 been slit longitudinally and the blood-vessels well injected with car- 

 mine, showing the villi and the capillaries of each villus with great 



