1896.] MICROSCOPICAL JOURNAL. 71 



ture was unsuccessful, but the second culture confirmed the diag- 

 nosis, which fact seemed to indicate that the direct examination 

 should always have its place in addition to the culture. 



These bodies are not considered to have any connection with 

 spores, in spite of their superficial resemblance. They are 

 found in the greatest numbers in younsj, freshly growing cultures 

 and are much less abundant in older cultures. They may be 

 readily detected in cultures only a few hours old, and thus made 

 use of to confirm a diagnosis earlier than the full development of 

 the culture. That they are not degenerative forms is evident 

 from the same considerations. Dr. Crouch inclines to attribute 

 a nuclear nature to them, and proposes the name nucleoid 

 bodies. They are evidently connected with the active growth 

 and are absent in the resting-forms. suggesting thus the resem- 

 blance with indirect cell-division. Being particularly abundant 

 during the earlier and more rapid growth, they are readily 

 found in the earlier stages of the disease, and from the ease 

 with which they may be brought out, they acquire a very great 

 practical importance in the microscopic diagnosis of diph- 

 theria. — American Druggist. 



MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETIES. 



Queckett Microscopical Club. — The 328th ordinary meet- 

 ing of this club was held on Friday, Jan. 17th, at 20 Hanover- 

 square, W., Mr. E. M. Nelson, F. R. M. S., president, in the 

 chair. The minutes of the preceding meeting were read and 

 confirmed, and other formal business gone through. The Sec- 

 retary gave notice of a proposed revision of Rule 7, which 

 would be submitted at the next annual general meeting. The 

 list of nominations for president and officers for the ensuing 

 year, as made by the committee, was read as follow: — President, 

 Mr. J. G. Waller, F. S. A.; vice-presidents, Mr. Nelson, F. R. 

 M. S., Dr. Dallinger, F. R. S., Mr. Michael, Pres. R. M. S., Mr. 

 E. T. Newton, F. R. S. The other officers as before, and as 

 auditors of accounts, Messrs. W. I. Chapman and J. Mason 

 Allen. To fill four vacancies on the committee, Messrs. Hem- 

 bry, Ingpen, Western, and Scourfield were nominated by the 

 members. 



