SCIENCE. 
161 
surface is the only characteristic which affects writing. The 
harder and smoother the surface the better defined is the 
writing upon it, and the better chance there is of determin- 
ing any erasure, change, or interpolation. On paper of good 
quality, with a good pen and readily flowing ink, the lines 
of writing present a tolerably even contour, depending 
upon the rapidity, pressure, the amount of ink in the pen, 
etc. The speaker illustrated at length on the blackboard 
the various widenings or “ webs ” which are always found 
at points where two lines cross, explaining how a variation 
of speed, a change in the kind of ink and other causes 
affected this web. Upon rough paper the lines always have 
a ragged edge ; the webbing is, if anything, less than upon 
hard, smooth paper. As to the pen, he stated that when a 
steel one was used the paper always showed a distinct 
groove or cutting on its surface, especially at the edges of 
the heavy lines. When a pen is old and corroded, the 
paper looks as though cut with a knife. The various quali- 
ties of ink were discussed, together with the effect on the 
appearance of the writing which copying in a letter press 
has. Some inks will not write well on paper that has been 
lithographed, running unevenly, as though the paper were 
greasy. By the fourth condition, the qualifications of the 
writer, the speaker meant his skill, method, physical abi- 
lity, etc. A person much accustomed to writing usually 
writes at a good speed and without hesitation. The writ- 
ing, in quality, is apt to look alike at all points on the 
page. Where writing is done slowly it is not so regular 
and the curves are not so smooth and geometrical. Where 
a habitually light writer attempts to make a heavy stroke, 
the shading is irregular. The same is true where a person 
accustomed to writing with a heavy stroke attempts to write 
light. These differences are such that they can be usually 
discovered with the aid of the microscope, and when a 
writer concentrates all his faculties on the appearance 
and character of the writing it never has the easy, 
flowing appearance which it otherwise would have. The 
tremor in the writing of aged persons, he stated, it was 
nearly impossible to imitate. The fifth condition, the cir- 
cumstances under which the writing was done, had as 
much to do with its appearance as any other cause. One 
who habitually uses a flexible gold pen writes very differ- 
ently with a steel pen. The reverse is equally true. Per- 
sons who are accustomed to write sitting usually cannot 
write as well standing. The practical application of 
these and other facts in the examination of writing requires 
patient investigation, much of it apart from the simple use 
of the microscope. In the great majority of cases the mi- 
croscopic investigation is utterly useless without a corre- 
sponding outside investigation. The signatures to letters 
are apt to vary more than those written elsewhere. Letters 
produced as specimens of a person’s handwriting are very 
apt to prove deceptive. Sometimes it >s impossible from 
expert testimony to determine the character of the suspected 
writing. As an instance, the speaker related that he had 
in his possession a genuine promissory note in which a 
man had misspelled his own name in the signature. Had 
he died and there been a contest as to the signature it 
could hardly have been decided as anything else than a 
forgery. Unfortunately, however, the man lived to pay the 
note, thus spoiling a very good chance for a nice case of 
expert evidence. 
Ex-President Ward discussed this paper at some length, 
his remarks particularly relating to the individual peculiar- 
ities of writers being noticed more or less in their hand- 
writing. He considered it a very important factor in the 
detection of forgeries, etc. 
The next paper was on “Mounting Materials,” by Dr. 
Carl Seiler, of Pniladelphia. He said the microscopists of 
both Europe and America were divided into two classes on 
this important question. Many believed that balsam should 
be the only material used in most cases and others as de- 
cidedly glycerine. He was of the opinion that all tissues 
which can be hardened and cut into sections are best 
mounted in balsam, and such specimens as membranes, 
hairs, cilia, etc., are best mounted in glycerine. If one 
wished to show delicate, fine lines he should use glycerine. 
The advantages of balsam are that it does not destroy 
colors, makes a specimen clear and does not deteriorate. 
The disadvantages are that the specimen is apt to shrink, and 
the process of drying is very slow. The advantages of gly- 
cerine are that delicate membranes may be preserved, while 
its disadvantages are that it always interferes with the color- 
ing. The specimen also tends to deteriorate. Specimens 
mounted in glycerine are very apt to suffer from leakage. 
There are substances which in some cases combine the 
advantages of both, without the disadvantages of either. 
Among these the speaker mentioned Farrant’s medium and 
Damar’s cement. 
This topic was discussed by Treasurer Fell ; Dr. Young- 
husband, of Detroit; Dr. Seiler, of Philadelphia; Mr. J. 
H. Fisher, of Rochester, N. Y. ; Mr. C. M. Vorce ; VV. H. 
Walmsley, of Philadelphia; Secretary Tuttle ; President 
Smith and others. 
The Society adjourned until the afternoon. 
Afternoon Session. 
At this session President Smith announced the Committee 
on the Griffith Award as follows, viz. : W. H. Walmsley, 
Prof. D. S. Kellicott and Mr. J. H. Fisher. 
A work on “Angular Aperture of Microscope Objectives,” 
by Dr. Geo. E. Blackham, F. R. M. S., was presented to the 
Society by the President on behalf of the author, to whom 
the thanks of the Society were extended. 
The discussion of the paper read by Dr. Seiler at the 
morning session was continued, after which Mr. J. H. 
Fisher, of Rochester, N. Y., read a very interesting paper 
entitled “ Notes on the Structure, Development, and Posi- 
tion, of a (supposed) Undescribed Flagellate Infusiorium.” 
He referred at first to the but little explored domain of the 
lowest forms of animal life, which so nearly approach the veg- 
etable.The Infusoriumwhich he described he found in a small 
pond of stagnant water near Mount Hope. The body of the 
little animal was shaped like a cylindrical flask, green in 
color, the mouth resembling the neck of a bottle, and pro- 
vided with a flagellum presumably for both prehensive and 
sustentatory purposes. The animalcule was minutely de- 
scribed, with its habits. It had no red eye-speck. Spines 
were equally distributed over it. It could not be identified, 
he thought, with any known species. Mr. Fisher provision- 
ally named it Laguncula piscatoiis. i 
This paper was discussed by Mr. Lapham, of Northville, 
Mich., who said he had seen an organism almost identical 
with it, except that its outer shell was composed of a series 
of successive plates. 
The next paper was by Mr. William H. Walmsley, of 
Philadelphia, on “The Use of Wax Cells in connection 
with White Zinc Cement for Fluid Mounts.” The methods 
employed by Mr. Walmsley, which he stated had given him 
great satisfaction, both as to the durability of the cell and 
the neatness of the mounts, was essentially the coating of tbe 
ordinary wax cell with white zinc cement. He gave his 
most approved formulae for the preparation of the cement 
which he discovered quite a number of years ago, and ex- 
plained his manner of using it. He exhibited slides with 
cells from four to six years old, which had resisted the action 
of the fluid contained within them, without any apparent 
change. The paper was discussed by Mr. Fell, Mr. Fisher, 
and several other gentlemen. Mr. Walmsley, in reply to a 
question, said the cement would sometimes turn yellow. 
Discussion was here discontinued, and the Society ad- 
journed. 
The address of President H. L. Smith was delivered in 
Whitney’s Opera House in the evening. Prof. Smith said 
he thought they had very great reason to congratulate 
themselves upon the results attained at the two previous 
annual meetings. He might also speak of the wonderful 
improvements which had been made in the microscpe ; 
but these would be less desirable than a discussion 
of some special question. He announced his subject to 
be “ Deep sea soundings, and the relation of microscopic 
Algre to deep sea animal life, with a few remarks upon evo- 
lution.” He began with a glowing description of the won- 
ders and beauties of the ocean. He then related the various 
stages by which it became known that it was possible for 
life to exist at great depths in the sea, and recounted the 
voyages of the United States vessel Tuscarora, and the En- 
glish vessels Challenger and Lightning in their efforts to 
add to human knowledge concerning deep sea life. 
Prof. Smith has in his possession material obtained from 
the soundings made by the Tuscarora. 
