( 5 °* ) 
1881.1 
NOTES. 
The occurrence of diatoms in the London Clay has been con- 
firmed by Mr. W. H. Shrubsole, F.G.S. They were first noticed 
during the sinking of a well at Sheerness in 1877-8, and described 
in the “ Proceedings of the Geologists’ Association ” (vol. v., 
p. 355) ; but, as the appearance of diatoms were not at that time 
familiar to the author, they were described as minute unknown 
fossils ; their appearance was that of metallic specks, or, under 
a slight magnifying power, minute disks of iron pyrites, having 
a boss in the centre and the edge slightly turned up all round. 
In 1877 Mr. Shrubsole had an opportunity of examining a slide 
of Aulacodiscus Oreganus, and was struck with its resemblance 
to the unknown minute fossils. The examination of specimens 
of clay was renewed, samples from wells at Sheerness — of dates 
1781 and 1812 — examined, and diatoms discovered, but only in a 
narrow well-defined zone at a certain level. Further observation 
has shown that they exist over a wide area, but still at the same 
level. Most of the diatoms are pyritic pseudomorphs, but a few 
are obtainable which have not been completely mineralised, and 
will bear examination with high powers and transmitted light. 
The paper concludes with some observations by Mr. F. Kitton, 
Hon. F.R.M.S., and a list of species determined by Mr. Shrub- 
sole, Mr. Kitton, Dr. Bossey, Dr. Stolterfoht, and Mr. G. D. 
Brown. 
A Parliamentary Return shows the number of experiments 
performed on living animals during the year 1880 by medical men 
and others licensed under the Adt. The experiments were in 
most cases performed at laboratories connected with the univer- 
sities in England and Scotland, or at hospitals or veterinary 
institutions. The experiments numbered 31 1, of which only 114 
can have been the cause of any pain, and of these all but 17 were 
of a kind involving no more pain than is experienced in ordinary 
vaccination. The painful part of the proceeding in the 17 cases 
involving pain was made under anaesthesia, and no appreciable 
suffering can be said to have been indicated beyond confinement 
until the wounds healed or until the animals were killed. The 
most important results have been acquired in the elucidation of 
an obscure and fatal disease termed anthrax, which attacks sheep 
and cattle, and also persons engaged in wood sorting. Of this 
series of experiments 29 were undertaken at the instance of the 
Royal Agricultural Society, and 40 at that of the Medical 
Department of the Local Government Board. 
