178 Transactions of tlie Society. 



It is therefore by such means that the true interests of science are 

 promoted. 



It is one of the most admirable features of this Society that it 

 has become cosmopolitan in its character, in relation to the instru- 

 ment, and all the ever-improving methods of research employed with 

 it. From meeting to meeting it is not one country or one continent 

 even that is represented on our tables. Nay more ; not only are we 

 made familiar with improvements brought from every civilized part 

 of the world, referring alike to the Microscope itself and every 

 instrument devised by specialists for its employment in every depart- 

 ment of research, but also, by the admirable persistence of Mr. Crisp 

 and Mr. John Mayall, jun., we are familiarized with every discovery 

 of the old forms of the instrument wherever found or originally 

 employed. 



The value of all this cannot be over-estimated, for it will, even 

 where prejudices as to our judgment may exist, gradually make 

 more and more clear that this Society exists to promote and acknow- 

 ledge improvements in every constituent of the Microscope, come 

 from whatever source they may ; and in connection with this, to 

 promote by demonstrations, exhibitions, and monographs the finest 

 applications of the finest instruments for their respective purposes. 



To give all this its highest value, of course the theoretical side of 

 our instrument must occupy the attention of the most accomplished 

 experts. We may not clesj air that our somewhat too practical past 

 in this respect may right itself in our own country ; but meantime 

 the splendid work of German students and experts is placed by the 

 wise editors of our Journal within the reach of all. 



1 know of no higher hope for this important Society than that it 

 may continue in ever increasing strength to promote criticism, and 

 welcome from every quarter of the world whatever will improve the 

 Microscope in itself and in any of its applications, from the most 

 simple to the most complex and important in which its employment 

 is possible. 



There are two points of some practical interest to which I desire 

 for a few moments to call your attention. The former has reference 

 to the group of organisms to which I have for so many years directed 

 your attention, viz. the " Monads," which throughout I have called 

 " putrefactive organisms." 



There can be no longer any doubt that the destructive process of 

 putrefaction is essentially a process of fermentation. 



Ihe fermentative saprophyte is as absolutely essential to the 

 setting up of destructive rotting or putrescence in a putrescible fluid as 

 the torula is to the setting up of alcoholic fermentation in a saccharine 

 fluid. Make the presence of torulae impossible and you exclude with 

 certainty fermentative action. 



In precisely the same way provide a proteinaceous solution, 

 capable of the highest putrescence, but absolutely sterilized, and placed 



