ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, MICEOSCOPY, ETC. 145 



Year-Book of the Scientific and Learned Societies of Great Britain and Ireland, 



giving an account of their origin, constitution, and working. Compiled from 



official sources. With appendix comprising a list of the leading Scientific 



Societies throughout the World. 1st Annual Issue. 



[R. Micr. Soc. p. 67.] vi. and 226 pp., 8vo, London, 1884. 



Z.— Neues Polarisations-Prisma von E. Bertrand. 



[Abstract (with remarks) of note, Vol. IV. (1884) p. 965. Cf. also supra, 

 p. 133.] 



Zeitsohr. f. Inslruinentenk., V. (1885) pp. 30-1. 

 Zachaeias, O. — See Vogel, J. 



&. Collecting, Mounting and Examining Objects, &c. 



Hardy's Collecting-bottle. — Mr. T. Curties has improved this 

 bottle by replacing the indiarubber strips forming the sides of the 

 bottle by glass, it being difficult to cement the indiarubber with 

 sufficient firmness to the glass. 



Sahnon's Culture-tube.* — The culture-tube of Dr. D. E. Salmon 

 consists of a test-tube-like body or reservoir, of rather heavy glass, 

 about 4 to 5 in. in length and 3/4 in. in internal diameter. Over 

 the top of this reservoir a second hollow piece or cap is fitted. Its 

 internal surface is ground to fit snugly over the ground external 

 surface of the upper end of the reservoir, thus forming a ground-joint 

 union. This cap, about 2|^ in. long, abruptly contracts near its 

 middle into a narrow tube with an internal diameter of about 3/8 in. 

 The third piece, or ventilating tube, is like an inverted U, one limb 

 being about 3 in. long, and 1^ in. longer than the limb, which fits by 

 means of a ground joint over the narrow tube of the cap. The longer, 

 free limb of the ventilating tube lodges a plug of glass-wool from 

 1^ to 2 in. long. The limbs of the ventilating tube are about 1 in. 

 apart. 



The culture-liquid is introduced by removing the cap, which 

 brings with it the ventilating tube, and it is sterilized in the tube. 

 The liquid is inoculated by removing the ventilating tube only. To 

 prevent the ground joints from sticking too firmly, a little sublimated 

 vaseline is introduced between the surfaces of the joint. 



The pipette, used to introduce a drop of fluid containing bacteria, 

 consists of an ordinary glass tube about 1/4 in. in diameter and 2 to 

 8 in. long, one end of which is drawn out into a very fine, almost 

 capillary tube, which must be long enough to easily reach the bottom 

 of the reservoir when introduced through the narrow tube of the cap. 

 A plug of glass-wool occupies the other end, which is closed by a 

 rubber ball. 



The method of inoculating the culture-liquid is briefly as 

 follows : — 



The pipette is first thoroughly sterilized by flaming every portion 

 of it from the tip of the capillary tube to near the rubber bulb, until 

 the contained air is subjected to a temperature of at least 150*^ C. It 

 is usual to bring it to a dull red heat, avoiding the contingency of 

 melting the capillary tube. It is hung with the rubber bulb up to 

 avoid its capillary portion coming in contact with anything while 



* Amer. Mon. Micr. Jom-ii., v. (1884) pp. 185-7. 

 Ser. 2.— Vol. V. L 



