covered against risk by fire at the expense of the committee. Among the 17 groups is one for "Instruments of precision, with subdivision for Microscopy," as well as one for "Instruments and apparatus aiding instruction in Natural History." Applications should be addressed to the "Ausstellungs-Committee der 60. Versammlung Deutscher Naturforscher und Aerzte," or to Mr. Dreyfus, 44, Frankfurterstrasse, Wiesbaden, where also further particulars can be obtained. Dr. E. M. Crookshank exhibited a series of cultivations of microorganisms, and called attention to the somewhat unusual circumstance of being able to show such a typical series all growing at the same time. Many of the kinds exhibited were by this time tolerably familiar to those who were interested in such subjects; but there were one or two of more particular interest about which he would say a few words. He had sometimes drawn attention to the fact that the chromogenic bacteria generally develope their colour only on the surface of the gelatin, but a specimen now shown formed an exception to this rule. It was interesting as being the first Spirillum which had been cultivated artificially, and being a chromogenic Spirillum had developed its colour in the depths of the gelatin contrary to the general rule. Another specimen was that of Bacillus figurans, seen growing upon the surface of the gelatin. When first described, some persons were sceptical as to the fact of a Bacillus developing such a symmetrical pattern; but it could now be cultivated quite easily, and he should be happy to supply any one interested in the matter with material from which it could be grown as symmetrically as in the example before them. He also showed a micro-organism which had been said to cause the swine fever-or rather, the swine erysipelas-in Germany. It was to be noted that in Germany there had been many cases of swine disease, and that a different organism had been found associated with it there from the one found here and recognised as the cause of Dr. Klein's swine fever. So far as he (Dr. Crookshank) had been able to make out, they were not identical, the German form being an extremely minute Bacillus forming only a cloudy appearance, and seeming to be similar to mouse septicemia. He thought there was good ground for regarding the two diseases as distinct from each other, the German form being swine erysipelas as distinct from swine fever. He also exhibited an example of a Bacillus obtained from putrid fish, which caused the remarkable phosphorescence frequently noticed when fish was decaying. The President complimented Dr. Crookshank on the remarkable series which he had exhibited, illustrative of a department which he had made so much his own. Mr. Freeman exhibited a number of series-sections of the anatomy of spiders, worms, &c., which had been made by Mr. Underhill, of Oxford. They were rather remarkable specimens of section-cutting and mounting, in some instances from 30 to 60 consecutive sections having been obtained from the same spider. Some drawings taken from the slides were also exhibited. The President, referring to a drawing of a longitudinal section through a spider, showing all the organs in situ, asked if the section from which this was taken was included in the series exhibited? Mr. Freeman said that this drawing was not taken from any one section, but was a composite drawing intended to show the internal structure as revealed by the examination of a great number of sections. Mr. Eve said that though bringing microscopic sections to the Society seemed like " carrying coals to Newcastle," he had ventured to bring some specimens of Actinomyces from the jaw of an ox, with a specimen from the Royal College of Surgeons' Museum of the jaw showing what the disease was. The effect upon the animal was to produce tumours in the jaw, and the disease occasionally spread so as to affect the kidneys, intestines, and other parts of the body. The organism consisted of a number of spheres, each having a structureless centre, round which large numbers of Actinomyces were arranged very much in the same way as pins might be stuck on a round pin-cushion. The inflammatory new formation was very much like what occurred in the growth of tubercle or syphilis. The disease could be communicated by inoculation to other cattle, and also in the same way from man to the rabbit. The sections were prepared by staining first with a magenta solution, which selected the micro-organisms, and afterwards with a watery solution of methyl-blue, which stained the tissues. Dr. Crookshank said, with regard to the disease referred to as existing in man, his own view was that there was very little ground for supposing it to be the same as that of the ox. The bovine disease was very clearly marked, and could hardly be mistaken; but he might say that although clinically the two forms of disease might appear very much the same, the fungus which had been found in man differed very materially in its microscopic features from that obtained from diseased cattle. The new method of staining these objects with magenta picric acid would be found very effective; he had tried a great number with success by using orcin and then gentian violet. Mr. Crisp read a circular which had been sent descriptive of a new glycerin-immersion objective, in which he said were crowded as many optical and other errors as could well be compressed into the space. (Supra, p. 645.) Prof. Rupert Jones and Mr. C. D. Sherborn's paper, "Remarks on the Foraminifera, with especial reference to their Variability of Form illustrated by the Cristellarians, Part II.," was read. (Supra, p. 545.) · Mr. G. Massee gave a résumé of his paper "On the Genus Lycoperdon," illustrating the subject by drawings upon the blackboard. (Post.) Prof. Bell said that the Fellows of the Society would probably remember that in the course of last winter he took the opportunity of describing what he had been able to observe in the case of some diseased grouse which had been sent to him for examination. Within the last few weeks the disease, whatever it might be, had been killing grouse in considerable numbers on the moors in the south-west of Scotland, though it did not appear to prevail to any great extent elsewhere. In the month of May last he received some of these diseased grouse in fairly good condition, and he examined them very carefully to see if he could discover any cause of death, because on the former occasion the tape-worms were all that could be found, and these did not seem sufficient to cause death by themselves. The first grouse which he examined this year were fairly well nourished, and again the tape-worms were found; he looked carefully, as before, for the small round-worm (Strongylus) mentioned by Dr. Cobbold, and again he found it to be absent. In this case, however, he found the intestines were inflamed and gorged with blood; not finding anything further, he wrote to say that they should be examined by a pathologist rather than by a helminthologist. More recently he had received from Sir William Wallace a grouse which was in a most emaciated condition, there being hardly anything of it but skin and bone. He examined this, and again found tape-worms, and also Dr. Cobbold's Strongylus. This being so, they had now three sets of grouse which had died from disease; but the only actual fact before them was that the grouse were dead. In the case of the first, though there were tape-worms, there was no evidence that they were the cause of death. In the second case, the birds had died from inflammation of the intestines, the cause of which was not quite clear; and, in the third case, they died of Strongylus. It would therefore appear that what was called "grouse disease" must be either more than one disease, or it must be a disease which would kill the victim in different stages. He was himself disposed to think that there was more than one cause of disease; but up to that time there was no diagnostic sign internally to show conclusively what those causes were. The gamekeepers were a class who were properly supposed to know a great deal about natural history, and they said there were certain outward signs which were sure indications that birds were affected by the disease-they were, however, not comparative anatomists, and perhaps their science generally was to be received with some reserve. Taking as an instance the case of the ptarmigan, a species closely allied to the grouse, it was found that in winter it had a very large number of feathers upon its feet; but as the spring advanced it lost many of these in a natural way. The gamekeepers said that losing the feathers from the feet was a sure sign that the bird was diseased; but as all kinds of grouse more or less lost these feathers about that time of year, this indication of disease fell to the ground, and it had to be admitted that there really was no definition of grouse disease which was acceptable either to the pathologist or to the helminthologist. The action of Land and Water,' in proposing to send diseased grouse to M. Pasteur for examination, had caused great excitement in some quarters, but he would venture to say that, as it was impossible to keep these wild birds healthy in confinement for any length of time (after undergoing the journey from Scotland to Paris) the conditions would not be favourable for the formation of an opinion of great value. What he suggested to the owners of moors was that some professed bacteriologist should proceed to the affected districts and examine the matter on the spot-at their expense, not at his own. The President said that the Fellows would probably remember Prof. Bell's remarks upon the subject last winter, and his exhibition of the actual tape-worms which he had then found. They would not fail, therefore, to be much interested by his additional very practical and interesting series of remarks. Mr. J. G. Grenfell's paper "On New Species of Scyphidia and Dinophysis" was read (supra, p. 558). The following Instruments, Objects, &c., were exhibited:- Mr. Crisp:-Hooke Microscope. Dr. Crookshank :-Series of Cultivations of Micro-organisms. Mr. Eve-Actinomyces from jaw of ox. Mr. Freeman :-Series-sections of the anatomy of spiders, worms, &c. New Fellows:-The following were elected Ordinary Fellows :Messrs. William Ball, Henry F. Dale, and George Day. |