250 THE AMERICAN MONTHLY [Aug, 



IttlCROSCOPICAL SOCIETIES. 



San Francisco Microscopical Society. 



Aprii 17, 1895. — Dr. Carlson read a paper on anti-toxine. 

 The discussion which followed the reading of this paper 

 showed the popular interest, not only of medical, but other 

 men. President Spencer said the newspaper notoriety given a 

 certain fatal case treated with anti-toxine in the East was un- 

 fortunate, since the general public was easily influenced and 

 formed hasty conclusions, without taking into account other 

 attending circumstances. It is in line with the periodical 

 newspaper scares about the danger from vaccination against 

 small pox, where some unfortunate, with the germs of half a 

 dozen deadly maladies in his veins, dies from one of them 

 and not from the vaccine virus. 



At the close of the discussion, a demonstration of section- 

 cutting was held, and microtome sections to the thinness of 

 one ten-thousandth of an inch were cut by the paraffine meth- 

 od and by the ether-freezing method. Members were very 

 much interested in this demonstration by President Spencer, 

 evidenced by their inquiries into the minutest details of the 

 operation, and on adjournment expressed themselves highly 

 pleased. 



May 1, 1895. — John C. Spencer, M. D., President, in the 

 chair. The routine business included the report of the receipt 

 of valuable periodicals and papers, including the Journal of the 

 Royal Microscopical Society, the Quarterly Journal of Micros- 

 copical Science, American Monthly Microscopical Journal, Na- 

 ture, etc. 



The society's cabinet was enriched by the receipt of ninety - 

 nine vials of soundings made by the steamer Albatross between 

 San Francisco and the Hawaiian Islands. These soundings 

 are very rich in microscopic forms, such as diatoms, polycistina 

 and foraminifera. The soundings are preserved in alcohol, the 

 exact location with date and other memoranda accompanying 

 them, and referred to by corresponding number, making this 

 material of the highest scientific value. The soundings were 

 made from July 1, 1891, to June 30, 1892, and the scientists 



