170 'J'hb Microscope. 



culiar bright salmon-color, and there was every reason to believe 

 that this deposit was the source of a sample of such earth which 

 had been sent to the Society anonymously more than twelve years 

 ago, and which had attracted considerable attention at the time 

 by reason of its richness. 



Among the objects exhibited were slides of diatoms and of 

 quartz from Alameda beach, mounted by Dr. Riehl, and nine well- 

 stained slides mounted by Dr. Stallard in further illustration of the 

 subject of tuberculosis in fowls. 



A committee was appointed to report at the ensuing meeting re- 

 garding the advisability of holding the annual reception of the so- 

 ciety some time next month. 



April 27, by invitation of Dr. S. M. Mouser the regular fort- 

 nightly meeting of the society was held in his extensive laboratory, 

 President Wickson occupying the chair. 



It was decided to hold' the society's annual reception on the 

 evening of May 28, next, and the President was authorized to ap- 

 point a committee to make the necessary arrangements. 



The death of Dr. Allen Y. Moore, a corresponding member of 

 the society, was announced, and remarks eulogistic of the deceased 

 were made by various members. 



Dr. Henry L. Wagner, who has recently completed an extensive 

 course of study in the leading biological laboratories of Europe, 

 drew attention to a new organism lately found by him, closely allied 

 to the Micrococcus tetragonus which Koch has observed in connec- 

 tion with his investigations on the tubercle-bacilli. The cells of the 

 new organism occur in characteristic groups of four, and its growth 

 in gelatine is very destructive in the appearance of the colonies 

 formed. Dr. Wagner also described and gave the formula for a new 

 culture-medium devised by him, more particularly for use in the 

 study of such organisms as found their natural pabulum upon mu- 

 cous surfaces. Its principle characteristic was the substitution of an 

 alkaline solution of mucin, for the peptone usually employed. Dr- 

 Wagner received the thanks of the meeting for his interesting 

 address. 



The members then proceeded to inspect the methods adopted by 

 Dr. Mouser in the study of bacteria and allied organisms. The vari- 

 ous steam- filters, sterilizers (both hot-air and steam), incubators, etc., 

 ranged along the sides of the laboratory, were duly shown and their 

 operation described. The method of procedure is briefly as fol- 

 lows : Small portions of the material infected by the organism to 

 be studied are placed with a needle-point, previously sterilized by 



