1889.] MICROSCOPICAL JOURNAL. 45 



MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETIES. 



San Francisco Microscopical Society. 



Wednesday, Oct. 24, 1888. — The subject of anthrax in meat, which 

 is at present receiving much attention from the California Board of 

 Health, provided a subject for deliberation and research among the mi- 

 croscopists. A section of cow's liver containing a large number of anthrax 

 bacilli was presented by Dr. Stallard. Though not very distinct, the 

 germs were easily discernible, and were by no means calculated to 

 increase the observer's appetite for liver puddings. 



Mr. Norris exhibited one of Bourgoyne's slides, containing a speci- 

 men of diatomaceous earth, found some years ago by an officer of the Coast 

 Signal Service on the beach at Santa Monica. The specimen is es- 

 pecially interesting, as one like it has never yet been found. Some of 

 the members thought that it had been washed from the shores of Santa 

 Catalina Island, while others inclined to the opinion that it had come 

 from the bottom of the sea, though how it could have detached itself 

 from the parent mass and risen to the surface of the water was ap- 

 parently a rather knotty question. 



Among those present at the meeting was Dr. Thomas Porter, of Aus- 

 tralia, who presented the society with a fine collection of Australian 

 polyzoa, for which he received a unanimous vote of thanks. 



o 



Essex County, N. J. — F. Vanderpoel, Secy. 



Dec. 6, 1888. — Met at the office of Dr. Brown in Montclair. The 

 subject announced was a discussion of Mr. Carter's paper, but there 

 was really a continuation of his paper. Mr. Carter had a number of 

 fine forms of desmids which were examined through the tube by all 

 present. Mr. C. H. Loomis also exhibited a number of mounted speci- 

 mens. The desmids exhibited by Mr. Carter were mounted in carbol- 

 ized water. Eitastrum was observed through a 4-" objective of 85 and 

 later through another (I") of 125°, both being used with the binocular 

 with very good stereoscopic effect. By his homogenous immersion \" 

 and the double tube a good stereoscopic effect was obtained even with 

 this high magnification. Other forms exhibited were : Xanthidium, 

 Penium digitus, Closterium intermedium, Closterium acuminatum , 

 Cosmarium botrytis. 



One of Zeiss' high-class stands was exhibited with a number of ac- 

 cessories, and was critically examined. Opinions varied with regard 

 to its appearance, working qualities, etc., but it certainly did not com- 

 pare as favorably with the stands made in this country as one might 

 think who had read the late attacks upon American stands. 



December 20, 1888. — This evening was devoted to the comparison 

 of objectives in the possession of the different members. Mr. Carter 

 opened the tests by resolving the markings on Amphipleura pellucida 

 (in Smith's medium) with his horn. imm. |", the illumination being 

 obtained through an Abbe condenser provided with a diaphragm, the 

 opening of which was quite small, and placed at the extreme left of the 

 centre. The resolution was very fine. A Tolles amplifier did not im- 

 prove it ; in fact, the latter seemed to operate disadvantageously. 



Mr. J. Lee Smith showed one of the same diatoms (in balsam) upon. 



