Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-04-25
UNDER THE MICROSCOPES.
The Annual Exhibition Of the MicrO-
scOpical Society.

scoPical Society.
ON BAcrERIA-rHE coxPoSENrs or A HUMAN
TEAR-LrrLE CREATURES TO WHOM A DROP or
WATER Is LIKE TEE OCEAN.
The fourth annual soiree Of the Nicroscopical
Society was held last night at the High school
Unlike soirees In general, there was no dancing
and not even music, but all was science About
nve hundred people, friends Of science and friends
OF the scientists were assembled In the exhibition
hall OF the school,, when DR.. W. 81. Seaman
delivered the opening address on the subject OF
bacteria. He said that bacteria Is the name given
TO class OF vegetable organisms that occur in
numbers In almost every conceivable place. After
treating OF the history OF the study Of these forms
Of life. he said that all those creatures that have
the FORM OK bag OF sack AMI take their nourish-
ment from within. from the interior of the bag
may De called animals while those that get their
h0ur1Shnent from without are TO be termed vege-
taoe OF plants Bacteria beloag TO the latter
class; most OF them are endowed with actual
motion, some OF them moving within their spheres
Win grsas rapidty; They are microscopical and
DROP OF wArER
is 10 one or them what a lake or sea Is to hu-
man being They are endowed with different
characteristics, some, for instance, moving toward
the light when placed In q globe OF water, while
others prefer darkness and move from the light.
There are three kinds OF bacteria, said the lee
turer, and he PROCEEDED 10 give their latin names
which sounded somewhat larger than the crea-
lures themselves must be. BY his Kindness in
supplying TRANSACTIONS for the terms 1t learned
that the three forms or the bacteria the round,
or spherical the long. and the spiral StagDant
water fun OF these FORMS some OF them TOO small
10 De discovered by the greatest magnifytng power
available; The smallest that We can appreciate
furnished with skin. They are found cttnglng
together In large numbers. The long variety or the
bacteria Is endowed with u rythmic swinging
mJtion that when once seen Is never forgotten. IL
consists usually OF several Joints. connected by q
thin coating OF gelatlne. Another kind, OF this
same variety begins life as single element, but.
by cons riction, becomes divided into two norrowly
connected cells, with long nlament at each end
that whips about fFanticaliy ID the water They
are very transparent and almost Invisible The
third variety Is larger and Is termed the 'splrie"
and the other with a snakey motion moving,
In the same plane. The latter form OCCASION
ally breaks into numerous sections, like the re-
puted glass snake.
DISEASES CAUSED By BACTERIA.
Bacteria OF certain forms cause diseases, about
thirty different affections being traced directly to
these causes. The three principal ones are erysip-
elias, dphtherla ana tuberculosis OF which latter
consumption Is the most common example.
The study OF bacteria has probably been enyel-
oped in more error through the efforts OF we'll
meaning but Hl-trained scientists than any other
branch or microscopy. The temptation to a GER
tain amount OF notOrtety in connection with some
new discovery Is usually too strong TO be resisted
Considerable, however, has been dOne In the way
view Of determining their danger to human lie
and the means or preventing IL. A portion OF the
tissue OF an animal that has beef affected with
bacterial disease is paced under conditions as ex
actly as possible like thos- under which the dis
ease occurred. Spores are then transplanted from
this matter by flrst running q needle through H.
and then passing u through o tube contalninT
gelatine, on which Ii IS found that those bacteria
that will take hold Of animal Will thrive and grow
equally as well. After u while the growth IS ex-
anained, and II the bacteria corresponds with that
found In the diseased parts, It Is lair to presume
h0f fhn 4 tkatR
ease. It is then treated carefully and watched
BY means OF great deal OF experimentation it has
De discovered that The greatest causes OF bac-
tera diseases are dirt uncleaniness lack or fresh
air ana darkness, and that by avoiding these any
OF these troubles may be prevented.
THE EXHIBITION.
After the lecture the audience was invited to the
dril-room below. where, on tables we're arranged
the exhibits OF the society. DR.. Acker showed pr.
tons OF human lung and muscle, and Dr. Black
burn presented three microscopic views OF blood
vessels OF diseased brain. A lot OF curling.
seope tSat pr Rs enin WIsaed Under T mi,1e
living objects that inhabit drop OF wateA Prot
Z l. Burgess occupied table In the center OF the
room with tve exhibits or fresh-water alge OF the
District A horrible looking creature, resembling
deceased Jersey mosquito, lay stretched out ,
under another object glass Labelled "a parasite OF
who also showed q number or dlatoms. Mr. f. Il.
Chapman showed two objects OF everyday nfeI-
soap-nim and needle-points. The former was ~ A
beautiful green. and the latter resenbled mar ane
spikes; 80 much so, indeed, that onp lady after
looking for minute, reached around for her COM
panion and exclaimed: "Come and see what we
sew WITH
HUMAN TEAR
The most unique exhibit was crystaldzed hu
man tear, shown by DR.. 4. B. Coolidge 1t assumed
beaunful appearance under the glass and made
one feel like weeping, IL seemed so nice.
Dr. Flnt showed a NUMBER or spec mens OF Fo.
raininiiera, which are the microscopic shells OF
marine animals. The falnbillty Ut Lydrant water
was well exposed by Prof.. Rich ,rl Foster xhoSo
microscope brought 10 view an ugly creature.
some delc .te little shells, hat opened. were
labeled the spat Of an oyster. DR.. f. A Gibbs.
e e3 vinegar Eeis Is the name applied TO
gled back and forth fla the eXpanse or a drop Of
vinegar. They are said TO occur In vinegar that
does not contain sulphuric acid, sour paste ana
peppeT-sauce. These were exhibited by Dr. E. y.
Rowland, VINO also showed some beautiful colors
through seienite, by means OF polarized light Dr..
bone, showing the line OF demarkation between
cartilage and the bone structure into which ie
changes DR.. j. NJ. Lamb showed some double
an embryo human foot Coccidae are parasites
found IN the body, and M V. A. Moore had seiecIed
some from the liver OF rabbit
DMrSUTIvE TROUT
Dr. Robt Reyburn showed some trout epos IN
which the switching OF the tails OF the young fish
was plainly seen Some pig-like creatures wad
died and tumbi ed together under Dr. G. B. Youno,s
Instrument. Ladies looked at them Tor tusy a
second and then looked away Some remarked
that they were glad they did not eat It. and others
never touch another piece OF cheese These were
the nuch-maiigned mites, the cheese-miles. DR..
SEAMAN showed the multiple eye Of a beetle and \
section OF onyx by pOlanzed tight
Other exhibits By Drs. RadciIfle Robbins White
and Young, and Messrs. Skinner and Townsend
were very good
The EmperOr's Fever Returns.
IT NOT SERIOUS. HOW EVRR-orErx vrrrop,. go