1892.] MICKOSCOPICAL JOUKNAL. 75 



Mr. Hanks stated that the metallic lustre was not owing to the pres- 

 ence of gold or other metal, but entirely to its laminated structure, like 

 the pearl. A microscopic examination revealed its structure plainly, 

 and the lines of concentric rings were visible. If the entire mass should 

 be cut into sections or disintegrated^ the nucleus would be found 

 around and upon which the layers were deposited. 



Concretions, or calculi^ are found in many animals and in diflerent 

 organs of the body. They differ according to the part in which they 

 are found and to the food of the animal. Those found in the carnivo- 

 rous animals resemble those found in man, and ditier from those found 

 in animals which feed only on vegetables. They are mainly phosphate 

 of lime, phosphate of magnesia, or ammonia phosphate of magnesia. 



The Corresponding Secretary reported the receipt of two donations 

 of diatomaceous material. The first was sent by K. M. Cunningham 

 from Mobile, Ala. The second donation was from a peat-bog near 

 Amherst. Nova Scotia, and was referred to Mr. Breckenfeld to examine. 



February j, i8g2. — This being the annual meeting, called out a 

 good attendance. The Treasurer's report showed a net gain of twenty 

 members during the past vear, and after paying all the expenses of fit- 

 ting up the new rooms and apparatus there remained on hand almost 

 $300. Dr. S. M. Mouser, who has been a member of the Society for 

 nineteen years, was made an honorary member. 



The election of officers resulted as follows : President, A. H. Breck- 

 enfeld ; Vice-President, Dr. J. M. Selfridge ; Recording Secretary, 

 William E. Loy ; Corresponding vSecretary, George O. Mitchell; 

 Treasurer, Charles C. Riedy. Of these officers the Vice-President, 

 Recording Secretary, and Treasurer were re-elected ; a voteof thanks was 

 accorded to the officers of the past year, to whose untiring energy so 

 much of the Society's prosperity was due. 



Dr. M. C. O'Toole read a very interesting paper on " Observations 

 on Structural Changes in Diseases of the Heart," illustrated with mi- 

 croscopic specimens. 



The preparations shown by Dr. O'Toole were made from the heart 

 of a lawyer who died about fifteen years ago. A contest by the life 

 insurance company, which disputed the liability on account of sonie 

 peculiar phases of the death, led to an expert examination of the organ, 

 with the result that a jury promptly gave judgment for the widow and 

 against the contesting company. 



Dr. Jacobs exhibited a longitudinal tooth section, and made some 

 interesting statements regarding tooth structure and tooth diseases. 



Microscopical Society of Calcutta. 



i8gi . — This was the 4th year of this Society, during which papers 

 were read by W. J. Simmons on (i) Englena viridis^ (2) a vertic- 

 ulated amceba, (3) micro-organisms in the General's tank, (4) rights 

 and obligations of members ; by J. Wood Mason on (i) a method of 

 investigating living infusoria, (3) Clat^irulina elegans ; by W. J. 

 Simpson on (i ) cultivations on sterilized potatoes of certain jrganisms ; 

 by T. H. Holland on (i) centering of high powers of the microscope, 

 (3) embryology and growth of crystals ; by W. M. Osmond an exhibi- 

 tion of photo-micrograjDhs. 



The Society has 78 members, of which 16 are charter members, and 



