1886.] 



MICROSCOPICAL JOURNAL. 



219 



In the flower stalk he had found some 

 ducts which seemed to be complete rings, 

 resembling the so-called fairy rings in 

 some species of plants. Upon immersion 

 in glycerin they became detached. 

 Specimens of tissues stained by the dye, 

 and also of the ducts, were shown. 



The 49th regular meeting was devoted 

 to an exhibition of specimens, consisting 

 chiefly of diatoms and urinary deposits, 

 which had been prepared for the Society 

 by some of its members during the sum- 

 mer. Dr. Schaeffer showed crystals of 

 diabetic sugar prepared after Beall's me- 

 thod of evaporation upon the slide. Dr. 

 Taylor showed photographs of the butter 

 crystal, and those of beef fat and lard, 

 and also photographs of oleomargarine, 

 showing clearly the differences between 

 these articles. The photographs were by 

 B. Persh and Walmsley. 



E. A. Balloch, Rec. Seer. 



San Francisco, Cal. 



The regular fortnightly meeting of the 

 San Francisco Microscopical Society was 

 held September 8, Dr. S. M. Mouser 

 presiding. 



After the routine business had been 

 disposed of, the Secretary exhibited some 

 specimens of 'jasperized' wood from 

 the petrified forest at Chalcedony Park, 

 A. T. This material, by reason of its 

 extreme hardness and great beauty, is 

 beginning to be extensively used in the 

 manufacture of jewelry and for various 

 ornamental purposes. Under the micro- 

 scope, the woody fibre with its charac- 

 teristic markings was seen to be perfectly 

 preserved. In fact, it is in many cases 

 possible to determine not only the genus, 

 but even the species, by a microscopical 

 examination. In the specimens which 

 were examined, some chalcedonic con- 

 cretions of unusual regularity and beauty 

 attracted much attention. 



Some exceedingly minute 'jumping 

 seeds ' from Calaveras county, each prob- 

 ably containing an insect larva, were 

 shown by the President and referred to 

 Dr. Bates for further examination. 



A number of very handsome slides of 

 algae and foraminifera, mounted by A. 

 Durrand, F. R. M. S., who was present 

 as a visitor, were examined with much 

 interest. 



The advisability of giving the annual 

 exhibition during the ensuing month was 

 discussed, and the matter was referred to 

 a committee. 



A. H. Breckenfeld, Rec. Seer. 



San Francisco, Cal. 



The semi-monthly meeting of the San 

 Francisco Microscopical Society, held at 

 its rooms, 120 Sutter street, Sep. 22, 1886, 

 attracted a large attendance. 



The committee appointed at the last 

 meeting to examine into the advisability 

 of holdingthe annual reception next month 

 reported strongly in favor of the proposi- 

 tion, and after some discussion it was 

 unanimously decided to hold the reception 

 on the 1 6th prox., provided a suitable hall 

 could be obtained for that date. From 

 present indications there is scarcely a doubt 

 that as regards the number of exhibitors, 

 the number of microscopes used, and the 

 variety and beauty of the objects shown, 

 the coming exhibition will be the best ever 

 held on this coast. 



Pursuant to announcement Dr. Stallard 

 delivered a brief address on "Endarteri- 

 tis," or morbid development and subse- 

 quent degeneration of the interior coat of 

 arteries. The structure of the three lay- 

 ers of tissue of which arteries are composed 

 v/as described in detail. The interior coat, 

 it was explained, was most liable to become 

 morbidly affected. When the blood is 

 forced through an artery at an abnormal 

 velocity the interior layer manifests a dis- 

 position to resist the increased pressure 

 by thickening, and should the pressure be 

 of long continuance it frequently results 

 in the formation of a tissue lining the in- 

 terior of the artery which, constantly in- 

 creasing in thickness, obstructs the flow 

 of blood through the vessel more and more, 

 until in many cases the artery is com- 

 pletely closed. This morbid growth is 

 frequently traversed by pseudo blood-ves- 

 sels, but ultimately becomes completely 

 disorganized, usually by fatty degenera- 

 tion. During the complete or partial ob- 

 literation of an artery, nature usually at- 

 tempts to remedy the evil by a greater flow 

 of blood through the adjacent smaller 

 blood-vessels, and under the unusual pres- 

 sure these frequently burst. 



Dr. Stallard then exhibited a very large 

 number of preparations showing arteries 

 in their normal condition, as well as during 

 the gradual progress of the disease. Some 

 twenty fine inicroscopes were used for this 

 purpose. The preparations were stained 

 with various re-agents and were much 

 admired for their beauty and interest. 

 The subject was further illustrated by a 

 large number of photographs and draw- 

 ings, all well executed. 



The Secretary exhibited a slide of the 

 beautiful diatom Arachnoidisctis Ehren- 

 bergii, the frustules of which had been 



