1884-1885.] 375 



lectures, being devoted to the exhibition of microscopic objects, 

 and the methods of preparing such. The members possessing 

 instruments mustered in considerable force. Twelve micro- 

 scopes, including several of the most perfect and powerful 

 made, with their elaborate appliances, lamps, &c., were during 

 the evening kept in full operation, and the rarity and interest 

 of the objects exhibited were above anything of a similar 

 nature perhaps ever before brought forward at any meeting in 

 Belfast. The general attendance of members was good, and 

 the Society's efforts seemed to be highly appreciated. The fol- 

 lowing is a summary of the principal exhibits : — 



The Rev. H. W. Lett, M.A., T.C.D., illustrated the fructi- 

 fication of mosses, a department of Botany to which he has 

 given special attention. 



Mr. Wm. Gray, M.R.I.A., exhibited a variety of microscopic 

 preparations illustrating the fructification of ferns, stoneworts, 

 Equisetaceae, or horsetails, and marine algae, or seaweeds. He 

 also exhibited some glass models of sponge spiculae. The latter 

 were made by Messrs. Wood, Castle Place, and were remarkably 

 effective and instructive representations of these varied forms. 



Dr. S. M. Malcomson gave a demonstration on cutting, stain- 

 ing, and mounting sections of animal and vegetable tissues. 

 The following is the process applied to the first specimen taken 

 up : — Having selected a piece of the kidney of a sheep, the 

 blood vessels of which had previously been filled with coloured 

 gelatine to show their distribution, he placed it in gum muci- 

 lage on the freezing plate of a Cathcart's microtome, the ether 

 spray of which being then brought into action, the whole was 

 completely frozen in a few minutes, and was then easily cut 

 into excessively thin slices by means of a very sharp knife. 

 These sections, after being floated in water, were immersed in a 

 staining fluid, so as to differentiate the elements of the tissue, 

 and, after being passed through alcohol and oil of cloves, were 

 placed in a drop of Canada balsam on a glass slip, covered with 

 a thin glass circle, and finished in the usual manner by running 

 a ring of cement round the cover. He then went through a 

 somewhat similar process with a vegetable structure. 



