1891.] MICROSCOPICAL JOURNAL. 161 



Washington meeting will be no exception to the rule. Indeed, it is 

 probable, from the fact of the meeting of the American Association for 

 the Advancement of Science in Washington only three days after our 

 adjournment, that a more than usually advantageous arrangement may 

 be obtained. 



The museums and libraries, as well as the many other objects of in- 

 terest of the National Capital and its surroundings, will be open to the 

 visits of the members, and special facilities for seeing them will be ac- 

 corded. 



Special hotel rates will also be secured. An announcement of the 

 railway fares, hotel rates, etc., will be made hereafter. 



In view of the facts related and from assurances that we have already 

 received we are justified in saying that there will be present the largest 

 number of old members of the Society ever in attendance at an annual 

 meeting. 



We invite and urge upon all persons, professional or amateur, inter- 

 ested in microscopy and not already on the rolls, to send in their appli- 

 cations for membership to the Secretary, Dr. W. H. Seaman, No. 1427 

 Eleventh street, Washington. D. C. The application should be accom- 

 panied by $3.00, which is the initiation fee and one year's dues. As it 

 is more than probable that the initiation fee will be increased in the near 

 future, it will be to the advantage of all who contemplate membership 

 to send in their applications befoi^e the next meeting. 



An}' further information concerning the Society or the approaching 

 meeting may be obtained on addressing any of the undersigned. 



Frank L. James, President. Box 568, St. Louis, Mo. 



W. H. vSeaman, Secretary, No. 1424 Eleventh st., Washington, 

 D. C. 



C. C. Mellor, Treasurer, No. 77 Fifth Ave., Pittsburgh, Pa. 



BACTERIOLOGY. 



Bacteria in Drinking ^A^ater. — Dr. W. Migula ( Centralbl. f. 

 Bakt. unci Parasitenh. Bd. VIII^No. 12, p. JSJ) makes a contribu- 

 tion to our knowledge of this subject which is really a new departure 

 as regards the examination of drinking water. He points out that, 

 although considerable stress has been laid on the examination of water 

 for pathogenic organisms, there is no reliable rule to guide the hygien- 

 ist in his examinations for the ordinary saprophytic organisms and their 

 relation to the purity of water to be used for drinking purposes. Dr. 

 Migula washes out small flasks with bichloride of mercury, then, after 

 rinsing them with the water to be examined, he leaves a specimen in 

 the flask, which is plugged with sterilized cotton wadding and covered 

 with an india-rubber cap. It is not necessary to pack the flasks in 

 ice as it is assumed that if any of the organisms multiply they will all 

 do so, whilst if the putrefactive organisms (those that liquefy gelatine) 

 grow more rapidly than the others, independent evidence is obtained 

 of the impurity of the water. Cultivations are made in flat glass dishes 

 in order to save the time required in manipulating plates and tubes dur- 

 ing the cooling process. After examining 400 springs, wells, and 

 streams the author has come to the conclusion that where there are 



