214 THE AMERICAN MONTHLY [September, 



MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETIES. 



Vermont Microscopical Association. — C. Smith Boynton, 



M. D., Secy. 



June 21, i88g. — The tremendous strides which microscopical science 

 has taken the past few years has resulted in discoveries of the greatest 

 possible good to the public. The truth of the germ theory — that dis- 

 ease and death are caused by micro-organisms — is dependent wholly 

 upon microscopic investigation, and the best minds in the land are con- 

 stantly working upon this great subject. 



To encourage these workers and stimulate new discoveries a prize of 

 $250 for each discovery of a new disease germ will be given by the 

 Wells & Richardson Co., the well-known chemists, and will be paid 

 to the first discoverer of a new disease germ. The wonderful discovery 

 by Prof. Koch of the cholera germ, as the cause of cholera, stimulated 

 great research throughout the world, and it is believed this liberal prize, 

 offered by a house of such standing, will greatly assist in the detection- 

 of micro-organisms that are the direct cause of disease and death. All 

 who are interested in the subject and the conditions of this prize should 

 write to the secretary of the Association at Burlington, Vt. 



o 



San Francisco, Cal. — C. P. Bates, Secy. 



June 26, i88g. — President Payzant occupied the chair, with a large 

 attendance of members. Frank L. James, M. D., and Prof. H. M. 

 Whelpley, of St. Louis, were present as visitors; also, M. R. Roberts, 

 of San Francisco, and L. M. King, of Santa Rosa. The President 

 announced the death of F. L. Howard. 



Dr. James gave an interesting account of a phenomenal class of 

 crystals produced from salicine by the extreme cold method as dis- 

 covered by him several years ago, and exhibited with the polariscope 

 a series of slides which were pronounced by all to be most beautiful. 

 The process depends on bringing a saturated solution of salicine made 

 with distilled water in contact with cold below the freezing point, and 

 the explanation is, that the rapid congelation of. the water interferes 

 with the usual arrangement of the crystals, producing the wonderful 

 series before alluded to, which are entirely unlike any forms resulting 

 from crystallization at the ordinary temperature. The proper manner 

 of making white zinc cement and permanent oxydized enamels for 

 ringing slides formed a portion of his interesting address. 



H. M. Whelpley, of the St. Louis Microscopical Club, addressed 

 the Society on the subject of the microscope in its relation to pharmacy, 

 pointing out the rapid progress being made in the detection of adultera- 

 tions, and the interest manifested generally among pharmaceutists in 

 studying the character and acquiring a correct knowledge of the crude 

 constituents of the materia medica. 



Pond life was illustrated by numerous specimens of Ceratium longi- 

 cornis, and the beautiful little organism, Artemia salina, or brine 

 shrimp. Entomology was represented by prepared slides of the larva 

 of several varieties of the Papilio family. 



Professor Hanks presented for examination a venerable edition of a 

 work on Pharmaceutics, published by Robert Lowell in 1661. Mr. 

 Riedy donated a copy of Trembley's work on fresh water Polypes, an 

 exceedingly rare and valuable book, published in 1744. 



