Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-02-10
"sANTA MONICA"
Professor Hanks Contributes
Valuable Specimen.


A very interesting meeting was heic
by the Microscopical Society at lts rooms
on Sutter street last night, Vice-fresi-
dent William Paysant presiding :,
There was no special order Tor the
evening, and, after the transaction OF the
routine business, DIR. O'Toole exhibited
. preparation from cancerous tonsll.
the specimen having been obtained IN an
oneration a short time before the death
Of the subject; also q demona OF the
vault of the pharynx; also a section
through the esophagus, and lastly the
oyaries of young subject. The different
subjects were carefully examined by the
members, and vote of thanks was ex-
tended to DR.. O'Toole for his valuable
contributions.
The most attractive and instructive
feature of the meeting was the presenta-
ton by Professor Hanks of piece OF
diatomaceous earth, found recently on
the beach at Santa Monica by S. o.
Brown. Professor Hanks suggested to
him the advisability OF searching for
specimens with the view Of discovering
something similar to or duplicate OF
the sold Santa Monica" which has be-
come so famous in the scientific world.
NATUkE OF A DlAIOMs
Diatomaceous earth is pet subject
and the hobby OF the veteran micro
scopist. A diatom is a single-celled
plant, bearing a singular relation to the
animal and even to the mineral king
dom, being considered by some as be-
longing partly to the latter, and regarded
as vegetable crystal, differing only
from minerals in having the power OF
locomotion, and Of multiplying through
separation. The study of diatomacea is
most interesting. Their extreme and
varied beauty is source OF constant
pl ,asure to the microscopist.
The beauty of diatoms consists in their
color, their general form or sculpture.
These delicate markings are seen under
the microscope to be processes, knobs,
bosses, concavities, ribs, groovings and
lines, So minute that the highest power
obtainable by the most skillful optician
is required to see them. There are more
than 4 LOCO distinct species of diatoms
which have been classified.
Of all diatomaceous earths, the one
which is the most famous, and contains
20 many forms of beauty, is the " Santa
Monica" which was found by Thomas
B. Woodward, of the United States Coast
survey IN 1870.
1t was found by itself, and there was
no other sign of deposit of the earth in
the vicinity. The deposit from which it
came is not known. Slides of this mate
rial grace the cabinets of microscopists
in all parts of the world, and it is priced
above gold. Search has been made in
different parts of the globe by scientists,
but no rival or equal OF the "Santa Mon
ic :" has been found.
THE SPECIMEN INSPECTED.
The specimen presented by Professor
Hanks was submitted to microscopic in
epection, and the verdict seemed to be
that it was of great scientific value. The
scrapings of the earth examined were
unwashed, and the powers used were not
sufficient to determine whether the spec
linen was a "Santa Monica" or not.
A number of the members discussed
great number of resem blances, but were
unwilling to pronounce Judgment on so
important a subject to the scientific
world without giving the specimen de-
tailed and scientific study.
1t was decided to cut the specimens
into vertical sections and submit them to
3 most thorough microscopic inspection.
If they in any way approach the "old
Santa Monica" parts Of the specimen
will be sent to leading microscopical
societies OF the East and Europe
rs. F. Call.
The specimen of earth here referred to
really came from Redondo Beach, where
q very extensive deposit of it has been
found by Mr.. S. o. Brown. HERALD
readers will hear more of this at an early
date.-[Ed. HERALD.