SCIENCE- G OS SIP, 



341 



CONDUCTED BY F. SHILLINGTON SCALES, F.R.M.S. 



Royal Microscopical Society, February 19, 

 Wm. Carruthers, Esq., F.R.S., Vice-President, in 

 the chair. The Chairman called attention to an 

 interesting exhibition by Mr. Conrad Beck of 

 typical bacteria as being exceptionally clear and 

 instructive specimens. So clear were they that no 

 difficulty need in future be experienced in recog- 

 nising them. The Secretary, in the absence of the 

 author, read a paper by Mr. Nelson on " Polarising 

 with the Microscope," wherein the use of tour- 

 malines was advocated. One tourmaline, of a 

 smoky tint with the slightest dash of pink, free 

 from veins or specs, and not less than \ inch in 

 diameter, should be mounted in a cap to fit over the 

 eye-piece. The other tourmaline might be of the 

 ordinary yellow green variety, but larger, about 

 /j^ X ^^ inch, mounted in a metal screen, 2| x 

 of inches, so as to exclude all light not passing- 

 through the tourmaline. This screen is to be 

 placed in front of and close to the lamp chimney. 

 Any form of substage condenser can be used with 

 this new arrangement of tourmalines, with the 

 exception of apochromatic condensers, which 

 should not be used in polarised work, because the 

 fluorite used in their construction itself polarises. 

 The images obtained by this new method will be 

 just as critical as those in a microscope where no 

 polariscope is used. The paper concluded with an 

 explanation of the advantages obtained in the 

 adoption of this arrangement in the investigation 

 of phenomena due to the interference of polarised 

 light known as " rings and brushes." Mr. Karop 

 thought it would be a great advantage if a tour- 

 maline prism could be rendered effective, as 

 Nicol prisms were expensive ; he thought, how- 

 ever, that a sufficiently large piece of flawless 

 tourmaline would be as expensive as a Nicol prism. 

 The Chairman announced the death of Mr. A. W. 

 Bennett, the editor of the Society's journal. Mi\ 

 Bennett had been a member of the Council for 

 many years, and had been a vice-president, 



QuEKETT Microscopical Club. — At the meet- 

 ing of February 21st Mr. George Massee, F.L.S., 

 President, was in the chair. The Secretary an- 

 nounced the additions to the library. These in- 

 cluded a very elaborate work on the " Cladocera of 

 Sweden," by Dr. Lilljeborg, presented to the Club 

 by a member and officer of the Club who wished to 

 remain anonymous. The volume contains eighty 

 very fine plates and was handsomely bound. A very 

 hearty vote of thanks was passed to the donor of 

 this valuable gift. The ballot for president, officers, 

 and committee was taken, Mr. Neville and Mr. 

 West being appointed scrutineers. The names 

 recommended by the Committee were unanimously 

 approved. The thirty-sixth annual report was read 

 by the Secretary and the annual financial state- 

 ment by the Treasurer. The adoption of the report 

 and statement was carried unanimously. The 



subject selected by Mr. Massee for his presidential 

 address was that of the Coprophagous Fungi. 

 By means of many coloured drawings he gave the 

 members an idea of the numerous and curious 

 fimgi that were found growing upon dung, and he 

 recommended the study of these organisms to the 

 majority of micioscopists either as a relief to theii*^ 

 normal work or as an interesting occupation. The 

 methods of propagation were clearly explained, 

 and many curious facts were noted in that connec- 

 tion. The general direction of their development 

 was indicated. A passage of the spores through 

 , the alimentary canal of some animal appeared 

 necessary to the continuation of some species. Over 

 seventy difi'erent species were found on one frag- 

 ment of their pabulum. Mr. Massee also described 

 tiae methods of cultivating these organisms and of 

 obtaining pure cultures. The address %vas listened 

 to by the meeting with the greatest interest, and a 

 vote of thanks to the President, proposed by Mr. 

 J. G. Wallei-, seconded by Mr. J. Mason Allen, was 

 carried unanimously. 



A Rare Old Microscope. — The| photograph 

 reproduced herewith represents a, very fine and 

 carefully preserved specimen of the once famous 

 " Pritchard " microscope, which has recently come 

 into my possession. The accompanying pictvu'e 

 will doubtless be interesting to microscopists as- 

 an illustration of the great advance that has been 



The Old " PKiTfii.vRD " Microscope. • 



made during the past century in the construction; 

 of their favourite instrument. Pritchard is pro- 

 bably best known to modern microscopists as the 

 author of " Pritchard's Infusorium " — that wonder- 

 ful book on rotifers, diatomaceae, etc., which has 

 induced so many to take up the microscope as ai 

 hobby and study. Although I do not see his 

 instruments figured in any of the modern hand- 

 books, he was also known as a maker of micro- 

 scopes. Indeed, in the earlier part of the past, 

 century his instruments enjoyed a high reputation. 



