Microscopical Society of Victoria . 
37 
tlieir favourite study, I, for one, will not oppose them; hut calling 
attention to a further study of these objects while in a living state, 
I would point out that like all other minute organisms, their life- 
history will certainly repay investigation and lead on to further 
discoveries in biology. The few notices which have come under 
my observation are directed to this point; as for example, a paper 
by Dr. Lanzi, of Koine, on the u Tliallus of Diatoms,” in which 
he points out that the study of the functions of the tliallus in this 
family is full of interest. This paper leads on to another, on the 
sexual process in diatoms, from which it would appear that there 
are five modes of reproduction of the auxo-spores of diatoms. 
On looking back on work which has been done by men in the 
same line of inquiry which occupies our attention—and I refer to 
work done during several decades past—I notice how gradually 
the workers themselves have become classified, and also how the 
work which has been carried out has brought out facts and 
information which, after having been utilized and properly arranged, 
have been reared up into classified studies. 
In times past we find that workers were, so to speak, acting in 
a desultory way; but their investigations are now assuming a 
much more definite and stable character. And then we find one 
man takes up Petrology, or the study of rocks, and endeavours by 
means which have been perfected through the efforts of others 
who have preceded him, to determine in a more minute and exact 
manner, the chemical and morphological characters of the con¬ 
stituents of our globe, and tliis to an extent far beyond what our 
forefathers of half a century ago could possibly have hoped to have 
done. And not only is this true in one direction, but it is also 
becoming a decided fact in other directions. Take as an example, 
the work with the microscope is beginning now to take form with 
the pharmaceutic chemist, who is turning his attention to the 
investigation of his drugs and chemicals; and this not merely from 
a mercantile point of view, that he may supply the best articles in 
the market, or assist the medical practitioner, but I feel sure from 
a conviction that in a scientific point of view it “ will pay,” i.e. 
it will lead him to the scientific production of reliable pharma¬ 
ceutical substances—their adulterations and variations being but a 
part of his inquiry. 
