MICROSCOPY. 
SPHZRAPHIDES IN Tea Leaves. — The present interest in the 
question of adulteration of tea leaves gives special importance to 
Mr. George Gulliver’s discovery that the parenchyma of these 
leaves is thickly studded with spheraphides, apparently of oxalate 
of lime, having a mean diameter of about +545 inch. They have 
hitherto escaped notice, being not easy to find on account of the 
opacity and density of the parts. Soaking, or boiling the leaves 
in a potash solution, separates the epidermis (which is composed 
of cells with sinuous margins, and smooth, taper, slightly curved 
hairs, with the addition of oval stomata on the under side) and 
exposes distinctly the parenchyma, nerves, and spheraphides. He 
has found potash equally useful in exposing the crystals in other 
plants. à 
New Microscoricat Socretres.—A new society has been or- 
ganized in Australia, known as the “ Microscopical Society of 
Victoria.” Mr. W. H. Archer is the first President. 
A Microscopical Department of the Providence Franklin So- 
ciety has been established, with the following officers for Re 
present year:— Chairman, Professor Eli W. Blake, Jr. ; Vice 
Chairman, A. O. Tilden; Secretary, Professor John Peirce ; Cabi- 
net Keeper, N. N. Mason; Treasurer, Dr. C. B. Johnson. 
The “Indiana Microscopical Society” was incorporated Feb- 
ruary 16, 1874. It is located at Indianapolis, and holds monthly 
meetings. 
APPEARANCES OF THE BLoop IN Metanosis.— M. Nepveau rep- 
resents that the blood of persons affected with melanotic tamom 
becomes marked by the presence of an excessive proportion 
leucocytes which are also filled with dark granules; the red cor- 
puscles when seen in masses have more or less of a sepia ee 
and the serum contains reddish-brown granules, and flexible cas 
resembling hyaline casts which seem to be derived from 
capillaries. | 
Acuromatic Buxt’s Ere Conpenser.— This unusual ee 
was exhibited by Mr. Ingpen at a late meeting of the Quecke 
Club. 
(638) 
