MEETINGS OF SOCIETIES. 339 
ROVAL SOCIETY OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 
MICROSCOPICAL SECTION. 
July 14th, 1884. 
Dr. Morris exhibited a series of slides of a filarial worm 
called Strongylus bronchialts, found in the extreme ends of the 
bronchial tubes of sheep. The male worm measured 1% inches 
in length, and the female worm 3 inches in length. Several are 
found coiled round and round in a cluster, generally consisting 
of one male to five or more females. The latter, under the 
microscope, was seen to be sacs filled with an enormous number 
of young in all stages of development, many being perfectly- 
formed worms contained in a transparent eggcase, or capsule, 
which on birth immediately assume an active separate existence. 
The presence of this parasite gives rise to a constant cough, and 
if in large numbers would undoubtedly cause great distress, 
wasting, and possibly death from exhaustion. Their food is the 
slimy mucous of the bronchial tube, and their introduction into 
the system of the sheep would be by clinging to the herbage or 
pasture on which the sheep might happen to browse. Dr. 
Wright exhibited a slide, mounted by Mr. Henry Sharpe, of 
Adelong, of the prokoscis of the blowfly, mounted in biniodide 
of mercury, and showing the minute membranous structure 
whereby the insect appears to be able to close or protect the 
orifices through which it sucks the juices that form its food. Dr. 
Wright displayed a series of test diatoms just received from the 
famous German mounter, J. D. Moller, and prepared with the 
highly refractive medium composed of biniodide of mercury and 
iodide of potassium (index, 1.68). Dr. Morris likewise showed 
a slide of the highest test diatom, Amphipleura pellucida, pre- 
pared by Dr. H. L. Smith, of Geneva, New York, and mounted 
in a medium known only to himself. His slides have excited 
great admiration at the meeting of the Royal Microscopical 
Society of London, for the wonderful clearness with which the 
exceedingly minute markings of this diatom were displayed. 
A few years ago the very existence of these lines was an object 
of doubt, but with the improved oil immersion objectives and 
highly refractive mounting media, no difficulty is now experien- 
ced in counting them even without a micrometer. Dr. Morris 
exhibited a slide prepared by himself of the same diatom mounted 
in phosphorus, and it was unanimously agreed that the resolu- 
tion was quite equal to that of Dr. Smith’s slide. 
Sydney, August 6th, 1884.—Mr. H.C. Russell, B.A., F.R.A.S., 
president, in the chair. 
New Members—Most Rev. Dr. Barry, D.D., D.C.L., LL.D., 
Bishop of Sydney, Rev. J. P. Sutherland, Messrs. A. H. Chester- 
man, and L..C. R. Jones. 
