The Microscope. 143 



The specimens to which Professor Hanks made special reference 

 were recently received by him from George Senn, who brought it 

 from Santa Barbara under the impression that it was asbestos. It 

 was found in a mining claim owned by John C. Keyes, where it 

 occurs in large quantities and could be taken out by the ton. The 

 speaker noted especially the microscopic characters of the material. 

 When handling it considerable annoyance was experienced from 

 the prickly nature of the minute spicules or acicular fibres that enter 

 the flesh like nettles, and being very sharp and small can only with 

 difficulty be extracted. The microscope showed why this effect was 

 produced. Each slender ciystal breaks in a direction oblique to its 

 sides, and this peculiarity of cleavage produces the keen-pointed 

 needles that so easily penetrate the flesh and skin. 



In the discussion which followed Professor Hanks' essay, Dr. 

 Fredericks, of New York, gave an account of his mineralogical 

 studies in Southern California. He reported finding kyanite at 

 Carga Muchacho gold mines in San Diego county, near Fort Yuma. 

 He remarked the resemblance between the occurrence of minerals 

 at this location to that of Manhattan Island. 



A LECTURE ON CANCER. 



Dr. Douglas Montgomery gave an interesting lecture on the nature 

 of cancerous growths, illustrating his remarks with blackboard draw- 

 ings and excellent microscopical preparations. He pointed to the 

 layers in which the malignant growth originates, traced its course 

 and pictured its effects. The demonstration was clear, and was 

 rewarded with a vote of thanks at its conclusion. A reproduction 

 of the effort is impossible without the drawings and materials by 

 which it was illustrated. 



J. Gr. Clark exhibited a slide of the Edge Hill diatomaceous 

 material donated by William Irelan of the Mining Bureau. The 

 earth was seen to contain only the commoner forms. 



A very interesting object was a slide of marine polyzoa, contain- 

 ing small corals. It was mounted by F. L. Howard, from materials 

 received from Australia, and was shown by Mr. Riedy. 



The society was in session until a late hour. 



Edward J. Wickson, Rec. Sec'y. 



