SCIENCE, 
162 
He described the methods used to obtain specimens of 
the animal and vegetable life to be found three or four miles 
below the surface of the ocean. He then made a logical 
and lengthy argument to show that the low forms of deep 
sea life may furnish another link in the line of proof which 
is causing scientific men to tend so largely to the evolution 
theory. 
The paper was lengthy and will appear in full in the pro- 
ceedings of the Society. 
Thursday’s Session. 
Following the reading of the minutes, the Executive 
Committee reported the name of P. L. Hatch, M. D., of 
Minneapolis as a member of the Society. He was duly 
elected. 
The secretary also read a report of the Executive Com- 
mittee in reference to amendments to the constitution. 
The amendments propose the election of honorary mem- 
bers ; the election of secretary and treasurer for three years ; 
making the vice-presidents the auditors of the treasurer’s 
accounts and the treasurer the custodian of the society’s 
property ; making the terms of the officers begin at the con- 
clusion of each annual meeting; and providing that if any 
member shall fail for two years to pay his dues he shall 
forfeit his membership. The report was accepted and the 
amendments will come up for action next year. 
The Executive Committe also adopted a resolution 
which was approved by the Society, limiting the sale of the 
publications on hand, viz : The Proceedings of the Indian- 
apolis and Buffalo meetings, to the members of the society 
to fill out sets. This action was deemed necessary in view 
of only a limited number of copies of these proceedings be- 
ing on hand. 
The nominating committee reported the following officers 
for the ensuing year: 
President — J. D. Hyatt, president of the New York Mi- 
croscopical Society. 
Vice Presidents — Geo. E. Blackham, M. D., Dunkirk, 
N. Y., and W. B. Reoner, M. D., Cleveland, O. 
Secretary — Prof. Albert H. Tuttle, Columbus, O. 
Treasurer — Geo. E. Fell, Buffalo, N. Y. 
Executive Committee — W. H. Brearly, Prof. J. H. Fisher, 
Prof. Albert H. Chester. 
The report was adopted, and they were duly elected. 
“ Demonstration of Capillary Circulation in Man,” was 
the title of a paper by Dr. D. C. Hawxhurst, of Battle 
Creek, Mich. 
The process of examining the capillary circulation in the 
lip of a man was described. The lower lip was rolled over 
a support, and the microscope arranged to view the circu- 
lation. 
Proper means were taken to steady the head. Clamps 
were applied to the lips so as to cause an engorgement of 
the capillary vessels. The method was that of a German 
scientist. 
A power of about 100 diameters was used. The speaker 
related many interesting experiments, and also explained 
the effects produced by treating the lip with chloroform, 
ammonia, acids, glycerine, etc. 
The paper was discussed by Dr. Seiler and Mr. Fell, 
these gentlemen deeming the power too low to be of much 
service. Dr. Seiler stated that other portions of the body 
were better adapted for viewing the circulation than the lip, 
and did not believe the method pursued would be fraught 
with results of scientific value. 
The next paper was by Dr. Carl Seiler, of Philadelphia. 
“ Describing an Improvement in a Microscope Stage.” He 
said last year at a meeting of the society he set forth the 
necessity for certain improvements in the microscope of 
the future, one of which was an increased movement of 
the stage, giving at least four inches play in each direction. 
Mr. Walmsley, agent for R. & J. Beck, cf London, had a 
binocular made by that English firm, embodying the im- 
provements suggested. Dr. Seiler exhibited the instru- 
ment, which he said was particularly valuable in examin- 
ing large specimens, such as sections of tumors, the vocal 
organs, or anything requiring a large stage movement to 
bring the whole of the specimen successively into play. 
W. H. Bullock, of Chicago, described a microscope 
which he had specially arranged for examining rock sec- 
tions. It was arranged with improved facilities for minute 
measurements, and had admirable arrangements for illumi- 
nation of opaque objects, etc. 
He also described a new section cutler devised by Prof. 
Burrill, of Illinois. It had some valuable features about it, 
notably the manner of holding the knife so that it could be 
inclined to any angle, with reference to the cutting surface. 
The well-hole was so arranged that it could be raised and 
lowered by the micrometer screw, carrying the material to 
be cut with it. This, it was claimed, offered some advantage 
over the ordinary “ well hole.” The arm which carried and 
supported the knife worked on a brass plate, a correspond- 
ing portion of the arm working in a groove cut In the plate, 
insuring with even an unsteady hand a true and perfect sec- 
tion. It was claimed that sections, the ,- ( j Vir of an inch in 
thickness, could be cut with this apparatus. 
Mr. W. H. Griffith, of Fairport, N. Y., read the last paper 
of the Session, describing the new Griffith Club Portable 
Microscope. He took from his pocket a small narrow case 
which he opened. Inside was discovered the disjointed 
parts of a microscope. On placing them together, which 
was done in a very short time, a very complete instrument 
was the result. With this little instrument, which we cannot 
now describe very minutely, the lowest to »he highest 
powers may be used. It is provided with the Society screw, 
coarse and fine adjustment, the latter on a principle believed 
to have never before been applied to the microscope, and 
which is capable of being used on larger stands. The bodv 
is composed of tubes which may be drawn out to the stand- 
ard length of ten inches. In the field this little instru- 
ment may be used to advantage, being provided with a 
wood screw by which it may be secured to the side or 
branch of a tree or even to a fence-rail. It may then be 
used with the highest powers. The mirror is hung so that 
it may be used for transmitted or reflected light. If the 
owner is in need of a turn-table, by simply arranging a few 
screws and laying the instrument down on its side he may 
go to work “ ringing ” slides to his heart’s content. The 
instrument was made for Mr. Griffith by Messrs. Bausch 
and Lomb, of Rochester, N. Y. 
Prof. T. J. Burrill, Professor of Botany and Horticulture 
at the Illinois Industrial University, followed with a paper on 
“ The So-called Fire-Blight of the Pear and Twig-Blight of 
the Apple Tree.” His remarks, bearing as they do upon a 
subject of general interest, are given at some length. 
He said the widespread and disastrous disease of the 
Pear tree, called Fire-blight, and that no less prevalent and 
alarming one known as Twig-Blight of the Apple tree, are 
due to the same immediate agency. They are identical in 
origin, and similar in their pathological characteristics, 
as a priori reasoning might have indicated. The Quince 
and probably other plants, among which may be named 
the Butternut, the Lombardy Poplar, and the American 
Aspen, also suffer from the same disease. From descrip- 
tions it was very probable that the “ yellows ” in the Peach 
will be found due to a similar cause. The immediate and 
exciting cause is a living organism producing butyric fer- 
mentation in the carbonaceous compounds, starch, etc., in 
the cells of the affected plants, especially in those of the 
bark outside of the liber. This organism, if really specifi- 
cally distinct, is closely allied to the butyric vibrion of 
Pasteur and Bacillus amylobacter of Van Tieghem. The 
disease has been known in this country over 100 years. 
Various theories have been advanced, and one by one dis- 
proved, except the one of fungus growth. In 1878 the 
writer announced to the Illinois Horticultural Society the 
discovery of bacteria apparently connected with the dis- 
ease. His investigations were carried on in an orchard 
where there were 94 Apple trees, 20 Pear trees and 1 Quince. 
“ After finding myriads of bacteria in the fluids of the dis- 
eased tissues,” he said, “ I inoculated several Pear and Ap- 
ple trees with what to me, at the time, were unsatisfactory 
but not uninstructive results. Beginning on the first day 
of July, 1880, I experimented in various ways at different 
times upon 66 trees of the Pear, Apple and Quince. Of the 
numerous applications of the virus upon the unbroken 
bark or leaves none were successful. Of the inoculations 
there were successful 63 per cent, of the Pear, 30 per cent, 
of the Apple, and 100 per cent, of the Quince. Upon the 
Pear and Quince trees used for the experiments, the disease 
appeared only in a single case except as the direct result 
