6.^.6 



NATURE 



[OcTOIiKR 29, 1S96 



Heidman and himself as lo the bacteriology of the oyster. The 

 research dealt with the following points : — 



(1) The i<lentification and difi'erentiation of Bacillus typhosus 

 and B. coti iomnntitis. This was determined by the difference 

 (a) in fermentation ; (/') indol production ; (c) milk changes ; 

 ((/) character of growth in potassic iodide potato gelatine; [e) 

 behaviour in gelatine ; {f) motility. 



(2) The action of sea-water upon the growth of B. typhosus. 

 There is no evidence of their multiplication, but the microbe can 

 be detected under laboratory conditions for fourteen days after 

 infection of the water. 



(3) The bacteria present in the alimentary canal of the oyster. 

 In cultures kept at 37° C. the microbes were almost entirely 

 B. coli, and varieties of Proteus ; but the deduction that the 

 presence of these indicates sewage contamination could not, in 

 the opinion of the authors, l>e made without special further 

 research. The fresh oyster contains comparatively few bacteria 

 anil a small percentage of />. coli. 



(4) The infection of the oyster with Bacillus typhosus. The 

 research showed that this organism did not multiply in the 

 oyster tissues even when these were thus infected ; it further 

 showed that on subjecting such infected oysters to a running 

 stream of pure, clean sea-water, there was a complete disappear- 

 ance of /)'. typhosus in from one to seven days. 



Dr. Kohn ailded a chemical report upon the presence of iron 

 and co]>per in the white and green varieties of oyster. It has 

 been slated that the green colour of the gills of Marennes 

 oysters is associated with an excess of iron in tliese. The 

 author used an electrolytic method of analysis which, by decom- 

 posing the organic material, enables the minute quantities of 

 metal present to be determined v\ilh consideraljle accuracy. 

 The results showed that there was no excess of iron in the gills 

 of green as compared with white oysters. Copper was found 

 to be present in both the green and white varieties, but the 

 slight excess in the gills of the former variety appears to be 

 insuflicient lo account for their colour ; a conclusion which is 

 confirmed by Prof Herdman's experiments as to the production 

 of the green colour in oysters grown in very dilute saline 

 solutions of iron salts. 



Dr. -Abram and Mr. Marsden read a paper on the detection 

 of lead in organic fluids. The method employed consisted in a 

 modification of that of von Jaksch. The fluid is mixed with 

 ammonium oxalate in the proportion of I grm. to 150 cc. of 

 fluid, and a strip of magnesium free from lead is immersed for 

 twenty-four hours. The magnesium strip is discoloured if lead 

 is present, and the following confirmatory tesls may be applied : 

 (a) warm strip with crystal of I, forming iodide of lead ; (b) 

 dissolve with HCl, and treat solution with sulphuretted hydrogen. 

 The method is at bottom an electrolytic one, and gives results 

 when lead is present in either water or urine in the proportion 

 of I in 50,000. It is simple, and is applicable to all forms 

 of organic fluid in which lead is suspected to exist. 



CONFERENCE OF DELEGATES OF THE 

 CORRESPONDING SOCIETIES. 

 T^HK first meeting of the Conference took place on September 

 17 ; Dr. Carson was in the chair. 



The proceedings began with the reading of a short paper 

 by .Mr. Ceorge Abbott, general secretary of the South- 

 Eastern Union of Scientific Societies. In this paper Mr. Abbott 

 remarked that while local Natural History Societies had done 

 much good work, yet that in many cases their efibrls had been 

 weak, irregular and desultory, the chief cause of failure having 

 been, in his opinion, want of organisation. He thought that a 

 step in the right direction had been taken by the Unions of 

 Scientific Societies already existing, such as those of Yorkshire 

 and the East of Scotland, but considered that the British As- 

 sociation did not sufficiently foster such unions, and that some 

 |ilan was necessary to organise Ihe local societies under the 

 guidance of the Association, which should, through an organis- 

 ing secretary, help to bring these unions into being. He sub- 

 mitted the following plan for consideration ; — 



Districts. — The United Kingdom should be divided into 

 fifteen or twenty districts, in each of which all Natural History 

 Societies should be afiiliated for mutual aid, counsel, and work. 

 Existing unions should perhaps be imitated, at any rate not dis- 

 urbed. 



NO. 1409, VOL. 54] 



Ceographical lines should decide their size, which might vary 

 in extent and be dependent, in some measure, on railway 

 facilities. Erom time to time these areas might be subject to- 

 review, and necessary changes made. 



Congi-ess. — Each of such unions would have its annual con- 

 gress attended by delegates and members from its afiiliated 

 societies. This would be held in a fresh town every year, with, 

 a new president, somevvhat after the manner of the IJritish. 

 Association itself The congresses would probably take place 

 in .spring, but two should never be held on the same day. 



These unions would render important help to local societies, 

 would bring isolated workers together, assist schools, colleges, 

 and technical institutes and museums, start new societies, and 

 revive waning ones. Through these annual meetings local and 

 petty jealousies would lessen or turn to friendly rivalries — each 

 society trying to excel in real work, activity, and good science- 

 teaching. 



Further, economy of labour would be accomplished by a precise 

 demarcation of area for each local society. This wiiulil be 

 understood as its sphere of work and influence : in this portion 

 of country it would have a certain amount of responsibility ia 

 such matters as observation, research, and vigilance against 

 encroachments on footjiaths, commons, and wayside wastes. 



These unions might also, through their Central Comniillees, 

 bring about desirable improvements in publication, but it would 

 ])erhaps not be desirable, in all cases, to go in for joint 

 jniblication. In ihis, as in other matters connected with the 

 unions, co-operation and not uniformity nuist be our aim. 



Union Coiunnllees. — Each union would need a general 

 .secretary and a committee, all of whom should be intimately 

 acquainted with methods of work and the best ambitions of 

 local societies. 



Corresponding Members. — Tliis is another necessary develop- 

 ment. Each local society should appoint in every village in its 

 district a corres|ionding member with some distinctive title, and 

 certain privileges and advantages. 



The work asked of him would be to : 



(i) Forward surplus natural history specimens to their 

 Society's museum. 



(2) Supply prompt information on the following subjects : — 

 (a) New geological sections. 



(/>) Details of wells, borings, springs, &c. 



(i) Finds of geological and antiquarian interest. 



(3) Answer such questions as the British Association (;r the 

 local society may require. 



(4) Keep an eye on historic buildings. 



(5) Assist the Selborne Society in carrying out its objects. 

 In return he should be offered 



(1) A.ssistance in naming specimens, and with the formalioti 

 of school museums. 



(2) Free admission to lectures and excursions. 



(3) Copies of Transactions. 



(4) Free use of the Society's library. 



Mr. Abbott concluded with some remarks on the cost of 

 these Unions. They would be maintained by means of small 

 contributions from the affiliated societies. He did not attempt 

 to estimate the expense of an organising secretary, but thought 

 that, whatever it might be, the British Association would soon 

 find itself amply repaid in the greatly increased efficiency of the 

 local societies. 



The Chairman (Dr. Car.son) having invited discussion — 



The Rev. E. P. Knubley gave the results of his experience 

 of the Yorkshire Naturalists Union during the twenty years of 

 its existence. It was, he believed, the largest in the country, 

 having 500 mendiers and 2500 associates. It had thirty-.six 

 affiliated associations. Their work came under five sections, 

 those of geology, botany, zoology, conchology and entomology. 

 In addition they had research committees ; such as a Boulder 

 Committee, a Sea Coast Erosion Committee, and others. An 

 annual meeting was held in one of the Yorkshire towns. 

 Every eflfert was made to get each member to do some special 

 work. 



Mr. M. H. Mills then gave some account of the Federated 

 Institution of Mining Engineers. Each of the societies com- 

 posing it did its work independently, as before the existence of 

 the Federation. The one difi'erence was that there was now a 

 single publication instead of many. 



Mr. Montagu Browne described the constitution of the 

 Leicester Literary and Philosophical Society. As lo payments, 

 for printing, each section was usually self-supporting ; but in. 



