Monthly Mi ical 
330 PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. Journal Tee 1 tere. 
laboratory of the University of Oxford during the previous week in 
repetition of those of Dr. Bastian, were communicated to the meeting, 
and the question was declared to resolve itself merely into one of the 
exclusion of germs. A number of other points of great interest as 
bearing upon the general subject were touched upon by the speaker, 
who was listened to throughout with the greatest attention, and 
resumed his seat amidst great applause. A cordial vote of thanks to 
Mr. Lowne for his very able and important paper was carried unani- 
mously, and the proceedings terminated, as usual, by a conversazione, 
at which microscopical objects of interest were exhibited by Messrs. 
Conder, Hainworth, Meacher, Quick, Slade, and T. C. White. 
BricHTON AND Sussex Naruran History Socretry.* 
August 25th. Microscopical Section. Mr. T. H. Hennah, Presi- 
dent, in the chair.—An evening on mounting microscopic objects, when 
practical instruction in some of the different methods of mounting 
objects for the microscope was given by the following gentlemen :— 
Mr. Hennah showed how to mount diatoms as day objects, in the 
course of which operation he gave a caution against using a pipette in 
taking them out of the store bottle, giving preference to a glass rod. 
He next illustrated the mode of mounting in glycerine jelly, one 
of the most valuable agents in preserving animal tissue or vegetable 
preparations ; and pointed out that objects could be temporarily pre- 
served in it, and laid by without fear of injury, until time could be 
found for finishing the preparation, 
Dr. Hallifax gave instruction in this method of making shallow or 
deep cells for objects mounted in fluid, and detailed the experiments 
he had made with different substances to form a cell of any thickness, 
which should be permanent, and, at the same time, not be acted 
upon by the medium in which mounted. He had found a mixture 
of marine glue and shellac gave the best results. : 
Several ingenious contrivances for removing minute objects from 
fluid, floating them on the slide in the exact position required, as well 
as a modification of the turn-table for enabling the brush to be held 
steadily in a perpendicular manner, were also shown by Dr. Hallifax. 
Mr. Wonfor showed how to fix cells with marine glue, and illus- 
trated the process of mounting dry objects, from the fixing the cell to 
the finishing the slide ready for the cabinet. For dry objects he had 
found nothing so permanent as glass cells, or, what was cheaper, brass 
rings, either of which could be easily attached by marine glue, the 
most trustworthy cement for fixing. He had tried a great variety of 
cells, and found objections to all but glass and metal. 
Mr. Wonfor also exhibited one of Dr. Mathews’ improved turn- 
tables for making shallow cells, and pointed out its superiority over 
the old form. 
The comparative value of different cements was discussed, and 
several practical hints in minutiz of mounting and preparation were 
given by the same gentleman during the evening. 
* Report furnished by the Secretary. 
