58 THE AMERICAN MONTHLY [March, 
SAN FRANCISCO, CAL. 
At the regular semi-monthly meeting, held on Feb. 23, 1887, the retiring president, 
Dr. Mouser, presented his successor, E. J. Wickson, who thanked the society for the 
honor conferred on him in brief but fitting ferms. $ 
Professor Ashburner exhibited a slide which had been mounted by J. Kinker, of 
Amsterdam, from a specimen of the diatomaceous earth found by Mrs. A. E. Bush, 
of San José, in 1880, among some tidal refuse in Santa Monica Bay. The specimen 
shown in the slide contained two hundred and thirteen arranged diatoms. 
The original ‘ Santa Monica’ find has become notable in the history of microscopy 
as the largest ever discovered on this continent, and Professor Ashburner sent samples 
of it to many of the leading microscppists of the world. M. Bourgoyne, of Paris, the 
famous mounter of microscopical objects, so highly appreciated the liberal share sent 
to him that he forwarded to Professor Ashburner a beautiful mounted slide containing 
a specimen of the earth, in which were two hundred and fifteen arranged diatoms. 
Where the original deposit is to be found is so far unknown, the Santa Monica speci- 
men being only a fragment. There are one hundred distinct species to be distin- 
guished in the Santa Monica sample. 
The value of the diatomaceous earth arises from its adaptability for use in the trans- 
portation and manufacture of nitro-glycerin and other explosives, of which it forms 
the absorbent. The diatomaceous earth known as Avzese/guwhr, which is universally 
employed for that purpose, is lighter and richer in diatomaceous forms than the Santa 
Monica sample. No earth has been found in California, so far, well adapted to this 
purpose. 
Secretary Breckenfeld exhibited a slide by Dougherty, of Manchester, England, con- 
taining a section of the intestine of a rabbit, which had been slit longitudinally and the 
blood-vessels injected with carmine, showing the villi and the capillaries of each villus 
with great minuteness and beauty. A remarkable feature in the preparation was the 
perfect success with which the fine network of capillary vessels was injected with the 
carmine. 
The president said an interesting subject for microscopical investigation by the mem- 
bers would be the reason why pop-corn pops, while other kinds do not. Chemists claim 
that it is on account of the greater quantity of oil contained in the pop-corn becoming 
volatilized by the heat, and he would like to have the matter looked into from the micro- 
scopical point of view. 
A specimen of the Azese/guhr was exhibited by Professor Ashburner, and found very 
rich in diatoms, 
A. H. BRECKENFELD, ec. Secr. 
O—_—— 
BROOKLYN, N. Y. 
A meeting of Brooklyn physicians interested in microscopy was held at the house of 
Dr. Herbert Fearn, 196 Clermont ave., Brooklyn, on Wednesday evening, Feb. 16th, 
1887, whereat a society, to be known as the MEDICAL MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY OF 
THE City OF BROOKLYN, was organized, the specific object of which will be the con- 
sideration of medical microscopy. Hereafter a regular meeting will be held on the 
first Wednesday evening of each month. 
The following officers were elected :—William A. Bates, M. D., president; Arnold 
Stub, M. D., vice-president; Frank M. Hoyt, M.D., secretary; Henry D. Bliss, M. D., 
corresponding secretary ; Albert Brinkman, M. D., treasurer. 
FRANK M. Hoyt, Secr. 
—_0—_—— 
Essex County, N. J. 
This society held its regular meeting at the residence of Dr. J. W. Pinkham, at 
Montclair, N. J. The subject for the evening was‘ Cancer.’ Dr. Pinkham stated that 
cancer was a proliferation of the normal cells, which assume different shapes and forms, 
and exhibit an abnormal tendency. He reviewed the different kinds of cancer, and, 
among other remarks, stated that Fribroma is not generally accepted as a malignant 
tumor, but it is a question if it may not become so when neglected. 
Dr. Allen took exception to Dr. P.’s statement that there is no typical cancer cell, and 
said that the expressed ‘juice’ ofa cancer showed a multitude of forms which when once 
seen could never be mistaken for anything else. A large number of typical cancer- 
ous growths were shown under a number of microscopes. Meeting adjourned till 
March 3d, at Dr. Berry’s, Montclair. Subject: ‘ Development of teeth,’ with original 
paper by Dr. Geo. S. Allen. Jay L. SMIvTH, Seer, 
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