224 THE AMERICAN MONTHLY [October, 



collection of paintings and objects of art. In the name. then, of all these 

 associations, distinct in organization, but one in the exalted purpose of 

 elevating the minds of men, I bid you a most cordial welcome here." 



Dr. Wm. J. Lewis, president of the American Society of Micros- 

 copists, made an appropriate response, in which he said that ten years 

 ago the Society — then an infant — first met in Buffalo. He spoke of 

 the encouraging progress made since that time, and concluded by thank- 

 ing the citizens for their kind welcome. 



A recess was then taken, after which the Executive Committee re- 

 ported favorably upon the following applicants, and they were elected 

 members: Dr. \V. C. Krauss, Dr. F. W. Brayton. F. S. Marsh, Fh. 

 G., H. L. Giffbrd, F. A. Ferry, and George Bahrenburg. The min- 

 utes of the previous meeting were adopted. 



Dr. Smith announced that arrangements had been made for dealers 

 and manufacturers of microscopes to exhibit their goods. The excur- 

 sion for the Convention on Friday, he said, would be a trip on the lake 

 and around Grand Island. 



The fiist paper was then read by Prof. T. J. Burrill, of Champaign. 

 111., on "'A Microscopic Stand." Prof. Burrill said that one using a 

 special instrument would naturally have definite ideas about it ; that 

 one could note the general form and qualities of a microscope in a few 

 minutes, but to determine its advantages he must work with it. He 

 then proceeded to give what, in his view, were the desirable features 

 for a microscope stand. A good instrument should be had to begin 

 with ; that an excellent microscope need not be expensive, although he 

 insisted that expense should not be a consideration. If anybody was 

 to have a good instrument, let it be the student, by all means. Discus- 

 sion followed, in which Professors Hyatt, Rogers, Kellicott, and Dr. 

 Fell participated. 



TUESDAY AFTERXOOX. 



The first paper was by Prof. W. A. Rogers, on "A New Method of 

 Determining Temperature from the Reading of Thermometers." The 

 following abstract shows the technicality and principal points of the 

 professor's theme : 



" The justification of a paper on the measurement of temperature as 

 a microscopic communication does not need to be made before those 

 who have had occasion to make use of a standard measure of length in 

 scientific investigations. In the hands of the physician the thermome- 

 ter is quite as much an instrument of precision as the microscope. In 

 fact, the one is a necessary supplement to the other. The numberless 

 ways in which the thermometer plavs an important part in connection 

 with microscopic studies amply justifv every sincere atten.ipt to discover 

 just how far the mercurial thermometer may be relied upon in the 

 measurement of temperature. 



" It has long b°en known that the mercurial range of a thermometer 

 is subject to pulsatory movements, but I am not aware that the nature 

 of these pulsations has ever been investigated. Thus far they have 

 been supposed to be small in amount and irregidar in character. It is 

 the p.npose of this paper to show that these pulsations are always to 

 be found in thermometers ; that they are of sufficient magnitude to de- 

 mand attention ; that the}- occur at fixed and regular intervals in the 

 same thermometers ; that the cycle of changes imlicated by a mercurial 



