NOTES AND MEMORANDA. 285 



ratus bpino; kept tiglitly closed by the pressure of the atmo- 

 sphere ; second, its portability, — the whole preparation beini^ 

 made at home, carried to a lecture-room in the pocket, and 

 exhibited to an audience hours afterwards ; aud third, its 

 convenience, — this arran;^ement permitting the removal of 

 the slide at any time from the microscope-stage, to make 

 way for other experiments, and its instant readjustment when 

 desired. 



The Microscopical Society of Victoria, which, at this early 

 stage of its existence, has a good member-roll, has held its 

 first general meeting at Melbourne, the president (Mr. W. H. 

 Archer) being in the chair. A rich and varied collection of 

 microscopes and objects was shown by members of the society, 

 and during the evening these exhibits were examined wiih 

 interest. The president, in delivering his inaugural address, 

 explained that the society would consist of two classes of 

 persons — viz. skilled workers, who were called members, and 

 students and amateurs, who were called associates. Mr. 

 Archer went on to say that in Victoria there were micro- 

 scopists who were possessors of good instruments, and who 

 knew thoroughly how to use them. The establishment of 

 this society, it was hoped, would induce most of these gentle- 

 men to co-operate, sooner or later, with one another ; for 

 though at intervals certain very valuable special professional 

 work had been accomplished in Melbourne and elsewhere, 

 yet so far as published resiilts were concerned, not only 

 Victoria, but Australia generally, was, microscopically speak- 

 ing, almost altogether an unknown land. The address was 

 followed by some interesting statements and demonstrations, 

 and altogether the inaugural meeting was a very successful 

 one. The holding of ordinary meetings has commenced, and 

 the society appt-ars to have a useful career before it. — London 

 Medical Record. 



The Silver Method. — Dr. Reyher, in his paper referred to 

 above on the cartilages and synovial membranes of joints, takes 

 occasion to discuss the value of the silver treatment in similar 

 investigations, and makes the following remarks: — 



" As is well known, the usual interpretation of the images 

 obtained by means of the silver treatment has been called in 

 question by Schweigger-Seidel, and doubt has been thrown 

 upon the cellular nature of the figures and appearances which 

 are produced in the synovial membrane by means of this re- 

 agent. His objections have been fully answered as regards 

 other organs (e. g., the cornea), in which, with different 

 methods of treatment, corresponding outlines are always 



