41 
along it, so that when all were ]it a line or sheet of flame 
would be produced which might be gently passed along and 
made to play on every part of the floor, walls, and roof of 
the room, beginning near the end at which the fan works 
and going gradually towards the door ; by this means any 
spores adhering to the walls would be destroyed, and no air 
could pass back to pollute the walls or floor which had been 
thus purified. A stove might be arranged at the door end 
of the room, by which cotton garments to cover the ordi- 
nary clothes of the surgeons and attendants might be heated 
to a temperature presumably sufficient to destroy or 
paralyse the vitality of any spores which might have been 
adhering to them, and where the knives and other appliances 
used might be previously heated, and where water used in 
washing the wounds might be previously heated under 
pressure. With such an arrangement at an hospital it seems 
to me that one interesting mode of investigation into some 
most important subjects might be commenced. 
MICROSCOPICAL AND NATURAL HISTORY SECTION. 
November 5th, 1877. 
Charles Bailey, Esq., in the Chair. 
Mr. Hurst exhibited some specimens of dried plants 
from Alexandria, mostly of the Genus Silene. 
Mr. Rogers exhibited some specimens of the rare British 
Moss Bartramidula Wilsoni (B. & S.) from the neighbourhood 
of Barmouth. It had not been noticed for forty years. 
