AUCKLAND MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7658, 8 June 1886, Page 6

AUCKLAND MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY.

&. most enjoyable conversazione was given at the Museum yesterday evening by the members of the above society. Guests were invited for eight p.m., and soon after that hour the rooms began to fill, fully 500 having been present during the evening. Interspersed among the ordinary attractions of the Museum were microscopes, with gas jets placed in their vicinity to throw a vivid light un the objects. Suspended midway in the large hall was a large white screen, on which at a later hour pictures were thrown by means of a powerful reflecting lantern.. The great attraction to the visitors in l;ho early part of the evening centred in the lecture-room, where in rows on tables running down the middle of the apartment were some 40 microscopes, in which the preparations were repeatedly changed, and their nature explained by the exhibitors. These included Professor Brown (President of the Institute), Professor Thomas, who contributed 8 or 10 microscopes from the University College, Dr. Parents, Dr. Murray Moore, Messrs. Bartley, Cooper, Trevithiok, Kingsford, Ball, and Pond. Mrs. J. M. Clark also lent a very valuable instrument. There were also, wo believe, other exhibitors whose names we were unable to obtain, so great was the pressure round tho in* struments. The preparations were of the most variod description, including objects from everj class—animal, vegetable, mineral, chemical, etc. ; but certainly the most remarkable was one illustrating, or rather exhibiting in full action, the circulation of the blood. In this, which was, we believe, exhibited by Dr. Murray Moore, a living [ frog was retained in a damped flannel bag, while the web of one of its feet was placed under the lens. Through the vessels of the web the blood was seen meandering in crimson streams flowing rapidly, the apparent breadth of some of tho larger veins being about a fifth of an inch. At nina o'clock the company assembled iu the large hall to witness the exhibition cf images thrown on the screen by a very complete oxy-hydrogen lantern and apparatus, kindly lent by the Rev. Mr. Hill. The views wore borrowed from the Canterbury Philosophical Society, and were clearly explained by Professor Thomas. Commencing with beautiful samples of diatoms and other aqueous vegetation, they next passed into specimens of water animalcu'ae— the samples luxuriating in Auckland drinking water, affording much amusement. A series of parasites next illustrated the adage that Fleas there be that live on men, And these hare lien that lira on them, And thes") hav.' lesser fleas that bite 'em, And so on ad infinitum. The fourth series exhibited insects and their organs, the final preparation being a film of human blood showing the corpuscles. The guests then commenced to disperse, but the attractions of the lecture- room were so enticing that many returned to the microsscopic preparations, and it was past ten before the conversazione finally broke up.