18 THE AMEEICAN MONTHLY [January, 



MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETIES. 



Washington, D. C. — E. A. Balloch, Secy. 



November 8, 1887. — The 67th meeting. The paper for the evening was by Professor 

 Burgess, of the Washington High School (see page 13). 



Professor Seaman gave an interesting account of a visit to Mr. Francis Wolle, and 

 of his methods of work. He thought his a fine example of scientific work pushed to 

 its highest development without governmental aid. 



A pleasant feature of the evening was the presence of Mr. Walmsley, of Philadelphia, 

 who showed and explained a ' star ' microscope of Messrs. Beck & Co. The serial 

 number on this microscope was above 15,000, and in the course of his remarks Mr. 

 Walmsley stated that he alone had sold over 5,000 Beck instruments in the United States 

 since his first connection with that firm. The same gentleman also exhibited a number 

 of fine photo-micrographs. 



November 22, 188/. — The 68th meeting. The discussion of Professor Burgess's paper 

 was continued from the last meeting. 



Professor Seaman said that Clathrocystis is very abundant at Babcock Lake, being the 

 most abundant alga in the District. In its beginnings it is like a bunch of grapes, a 

 mass of cells imbedded in jelly ; as it grows the jelly and cells separate and the 

 jelly becomes spherical inclosing the cells, gradually becomes ragged, and presents 

 many openings revealing the cells within. 



Dr. Taylor gave a description and demonstration of his method of making wax cells. 

 He said that much complaint has been made about wax cells on account of their becom- 

 ing ' foggy.' This may occur if cells are made from sheet wax, as in its preparation it is 

 passed between rollers which are continually wet and much moisture is absorbed. The 

 best way of making wax cells is to melt common bees-wax over a spirit lamp ; add to it five 

 percent, of resin ; after the whole ismeltedslightly lower the temperature, but not so much 

 as to solidify the mass in any degree. Slides can then be placed on the turn-table and 

 cells ringed in a moment. A cell can be made and varnished in ten minutes. The 

 wax rings may be covered with a mixture of glycerin and solution of gum-arabic, and 

 cover-glass then be put on and pressed down. The solution becomes hard very soon, 

 and the cover-glass is firmly cemented. 



Dr. Schaeffer said he had long hoped that a good and cheap cell would be devised 

 which would hold balsam. The ideal cell is a glass slide with a depression in the centre. 



Mr. Chapman said he had been using paper cells made by a pair of dividers with 

 one point sharpened. These cells can be cut rapidly, the outer ring being cut first and 

 then the inner. If these cells are soaked in benzole, placed immediately on the slide, 

 and balsam added, the latter will not run. He cements the cell to the slide with bal- 

 sam, mounts m balsam, and rings with balsam, and so far has had no trouble. 



Dr. Seaman and Dr. Schaeffer confirmed the value of paper cells. 



Dr. Taylor said wax cells can be built up, coated with shellac or copal, and made to 

 hold balsam. In his opinion paper cells will be absorbent, but doubtless they can be 

 made non-absorbent by soaking them in wax and coating with shellac and copal. He 

 suggested tinfoil as a material for cells. 



Professor Seaman then demonstrated the method of observing multiple images of 

 any object as shown in the eye of an insect, according to the plan given in ih.t Journal 

 of tJie Nezu York Microscopical Society last year. 



Professor Skinner showed a photograph of a microtome, by Allen, of Providence, 

 R. I., and also Allen's slide for observation of urinary deposits, which is an ordinary 

 slide with a circular groove cut in it. In this the deposits collect. 



San Francisco, Cal. — E. J. Wickson, Secy. 



December ij, 1887. — A letter was read from Arthur J. Doherty upon his proposed, 

 demonstrations of preparing and mounting microscopic objects. The society intends, 

 on his arrival, to hold 6 meetings, each one to be devoted to mounting a certain class 

 of objects. 



J. C. Riimbock, of Vienna, sent specimens of diatomaceous earths from Oomaru, 

 New Zealand, and from Szent Peter and Szakel, in Hungary. There were also dona- 

 tions of the same kind from William Irelan, State Mineralogist, one being from near 



