THE NEW BIOLOGICAL LABORATORY.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 9364, 13 March 1896, Page 3

THE NEW BIOLOGICAL LABORATORY.

That portion of the city which goes by the name of the Educational part has always been considered one of the attractions of Christchurch, and its beauty has been considerably enhanced by the Biological Laboratory, in connection with Canterbury College, whioh haa recently been ereoted. This is a small but picturesque looking structure, built of the same hard grey stone as that of the other College buildings. In architecture it differs from the others, in that it is flanked by a tower which rises several feet above the main roof of the main building. The tower is surmounted with a dome, ou which it is intended to place the telescope which was given to the College by the late Mr Townshend. The main object, however, for which the building is intended is to afford facilities to the increasing number of biological students to purine their studies with proper appliances. A biological course is a very elaborate one, and unless the science can be followed in some place where there are plenty of specimens on which to practise the student is placed ab a great disadvantage. Moreover, it was found that a number of those Christchurch students who intended to tafee up the study of medicine could not do so without incurring the expense of going down to Dunedin for the first"year of their course, before going Home to London or Edinburgh. This want has now been supplied, as it haa been arranged that the preliminary stages of the medical course can be gone through here. The fact; that four students are already availing themselves of their new opportunities shows that, in this ; respect alone, the new Biological Laboratory will be of invaluable assistance to Canterbury students. The interior of the building ia fitted up with all the latest improvements. The lecture room is well ventilated, and capable of accommodating fifty people writing, and a hundred more at a popular lecture. At the back there are several glass cases containing model specimens in gelatine, papier- mache* and wax, of the vegetable kingdom. The first compartment contains models of bacteria made in gelatiue, very much enlarged, some of them 25,000 times their original size. The models show the various processes of development. They are most ingeniously and delicately constructed, and, being clever reproductions of actual specimens, will be very useful for lecture purposes, both scientific and popular. Among others are those bacteria fouud in typhus cases, and also in putrefactions. The next case, devoted to the higher forms of vegetable life, is perhaps even more interesting. Conspicuous among these is a spike of the common oat. This is made of papier-mach6, and so ingeniously that it can be taken to pieces and all the internal structure can be seen. Models ofbluoaud white moulds, feme, and numerous other plants are also there, all constructed on the same principle. Leaviug the vegetable kingdom, we come to some forms of the animal kingdom. Therein a series of wax models showing the development of the chicken. This will be of great use ia the study of embryology. There are two other series, one showing the development of the heart, and the other that of the ear. Even to those who are nob scientists these models must be extremely interesting, on account of the ingenuity shown in their contrivance alone. It is the intention of Professor Dendy to deliver a course of popular lectures, and these models will be of great use for illustrations. The last case contains various skeletons of different orders of mammalia. The ordinary mechanical appliances of the room also show the care taken to have everything made on the latest designs. The " blackboards" are made of ground glass on cloth, something like the material used for drawing slates. They take the various coloured crayons well, and rub out much better than those boards made on the old style. Two large automatic frames, made of slats on broad tapes hang down the wall, on which diagrams can be put. Aβ, many as eighteen or twenty illustration* can thus be shown at a time. Another part of the furniture is a fine binocular telescope, the gift of Captain Button. The main laboratory, which is downstairs, is larger even than the lecture room, and contains every convenience for dissecting and microaoopic work. There are two long benohes at which twenty-one oan work a*\ at a time. Eaoh student is provided with a cupboard, box of dissecting instruments and microscope, while at intervals on the table there are sinks let into the woodwork with water laid on. Aβ most dissections are performed in water, the use of these.ie readily seen. There are aome glut oases in this room also of . actual specimens from the lowest types of animal life to the highest forms of mammalia. All these are tabulated on cards with great care, so that a. glance will show to what particular olaafr family, or. order a specimen belong* - Leading from the main laboratory » a room sot apart for those students who are working for honours examinations; this is fitted up in the same manner as the other room ; a store room, and another for making up chemical solutions need largely in biological work completes the laboratory.' The science of biology is one.of the most) fascinating besides one of the most" useful studies one can pursue, and the Ohriscchurcb, people can be.congratulated on having such tacilitioa towards knowing, something outside the ordinary round of ' daily life ' within easy reach in this well designed, elaborate; and thoroughly equipped. Biolo-