1889.] MICROSCOPICAL JOURNAL. 165 



description for college use. In consequence of this, it maybe a conven- 

 ience to microscopists when in Paris this summer to be supplied with 

 letters of introduction. By means of such letters, those professors who 

 intend purchasing instruments will have the assistance of competent 

 persons, who are well acquainted with all the prominent makers, their 

 apparatus, and prices. Thus much valuable time may be saved that 

 might otherwise be spent in hunting up dealers and making bargains 

 with them — a rather unsatisfactory operation, especially to those not 

 thoroughly conversant with the French language. Furthermore, it is 

 often a great inconvenience and annoyance, after apparatus may have 

 been purchased satisfactorily, to attend to the details of shipping and 

 passing through the U. S. custom house "free of duty." Messrs. 

 Queen will relieve purchasers entirely of all this care, so that they need 

 have nothing to do but select the apparatus. Another advantage of this 

 arrangement is that there need be no expenditure on the part of col- 

 leges at the time of ordering microscopes, etc. , but, instead, they will send 

 invoices when the goods are shipped from Philadelphia, adding to the 

 maker's prices only the cost of importation. Appai-atus so ordered will 

 be forwarded in weekly shipments as soon as a few pieces are ready, 

 thus saving much time. More time is required to make some pieces 

 than others, and when they are all held for one large shipment in order 

 to reduce freight charges the delay is often very annoying. 



MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETIES. 



Microscopical Society of Washington, D. C. 



May 14, 1889. — The fifth annual soiree was held at the High School 

 building. Dr. G. N. Acker, the President of the Society, delivered 

 the annual address, after which the members of the Society and their 

 friends were entertained with the following exhibits : 



By Dr. G. N. Acker, with Zeiss and Hartnack ; section of human 

 lung, double injection, section of human skin. 



By Dr. E. A. Balloch, with Zentmayer's Histological ; Ova of 

 Trichocephalus Dispar in liver of rat. 



By Dr. I. W. Blackburn, with Zentmayer ; Actinomycosis, and Ac- 

 tinomyces in human pus, which is a disease of the lower animals 

 communicable to man. Caused by the Ray fungus. 



By Prof. E. S. Burgess, with B. & L.'s models and specials; leaf 

 of Saxifrange, Saxifrange virginiensis of Michaux (the different 

 parts were shown successively under five instruments) , epidermis of 

 thin, flat cells with lace-like walls, Stomata or breathing pores (show- 

 ing two elastic guard-cells to open or close the aperture) , Palisade-cells 

 filled with chlorophyll veins (which give the green color to the leaf), 

 vein of the leaf (showing the fibrous tissue and duct to convey air, 

 strengthened by spiral fibres) , protoplasm within an inner cell. 



By Dr. C. T. Caldwell, with B. & L.'s Universal and Student ; 

 Barbadoes Polycystina, book mite. 



By Mr. F. T. Chapman, with B. & L.'s Professional ; electric spark 

 through metal filings. 



By Dr. A. B. Coolidge, with B. & L.'s Universal (Binocular) ; bou- 

 quet of butterfly scales. 



