60 PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 



For examination of larger reptiles, and for demonstrations with the 

 gas microscope, a slide four inches long, with two oval concavities, and 

 a narrow groove more deeply cut for the body of the creatiu'e, as 

 shown in the figure, has been devised. With such an apparatus, 

 through which a current of ice-water can be passed, the injurious 

 heating effect which ordinarily attends the use of calcium or electric 

 light to illuminate living specimens is entirely cotmteracted. 



When in use it is only necessary to place the animal (in the case 

 before us a little triton) with some water in the groove of the slide, 

 cover him with a sheet of thin glass, immerse the end of one of the 

 caoutchouc tubes in a jar of water, and then, applying the mouth to 

 the extremity of the other rubber pipe, make sufficient suction to set 

 up a flow of the liquid through the apparatus. The stream of fluid 

 (of course bathing the animal in the cell during its passage) can readily 

 be kept up as in any other siphon for hours or days, and its raj idity 

 exactly regulated by graduated pressure upon the entrance pipe, so 

 that in this way a triton may be examined continuously (as stated by 

 Dr. J. Gibbons Hunt, who had kindly furnished and prepared the slide 

 and specimen) for a whole week without material injury. 



Among the great advantages of this very ingenious contrivance 

 may be enumerated, — first, its security — the animal being prevented 

 from escaping, and the joints of the apparatiis being kept tightly closed 

 by the pressure of the atmosphere ; second, its portability, — the whole 

 preparation, for example, one for showing the circulation of the blood, 

 being made at home, — as was done in this instance, — carried to a lec- 

 ture-room in the pocket, and exhibited to an audience hours after- 

 wards ; and third, its convenience,— this arrangement permitting the 

 removal of the slide at any time from the microscope stage, to make 

 way for other exjieriments, and its instant readjustment when desired. 



Dr. Eichardson invited the attention of members to the remarkably 

 clear and distinct view of the circulation displayed by the aid of this 

 apparatus in the caudal extremity of a triton, beneath one of the micro- 

 scopes upon the table, and pointed out as especially worthy of note 

 the marked prominence of nuclei in epithelial cells covering a portion 

 of the tail, where blood-stasis had occurred, in consequence of a minute 

 puncture, purposely made before incarcerating the reptile ; suggesting 

 that this change was doubtless the visible exponent of that jiatholo- 

 gical alteration of the circumjacent cellular elements, which constitutes 

 such an important, although as yet but imperfectly understood, factor 

 in the inflammatory process. 



The Louisville Microscopical Society. 



The Louisville Mici-oscopical Society was organized on Thursday, 

 January 15, 1874. The following are the officers for the ensuing 

 year : — President, Prof. J. Lawence Smith ; Vice-Presidents, Noble 

 Butler, Dr. C. F. Carpenter ; Treasurer, C J. F. Allen ; Secretary, 

 John Williamson ; Corresponding Secretary, Dr. E. S. Crosier ; Execu- 

 tive Committee, E. C. Gwathmey, Dr. E. E. Palmer, Dr. James Knapp, 

 W. F. Beach, D. T. E. Jenkins. 



