15 



toughness of this was due to bundles of fibrous tissue interlacing in every 

 direction, and forming a very deep layer, at the bottom of which fat cells 

 were introduced. These bundles were also surrounded and intermixed with 

 cells, and for the nutrition of the skin there were provided numerous canals 

 and blood vessels, which, like blood vessels everywhere else, were 

 found in positions of least pressure, occupying the spaces between 

 the bundles. Nutriment was thus conveyed, and life was kept up, a fluid 

 was exuded which saturated the cells, and the surplus was drained 

 off by a set of tubes — the lymphatics or drain tubes. Mr. Stewart 

 then proceeded by means of numerous drawings in coloured chalks upon 

 the black board to describe and explain the position and structure of the 

 Sudoriporous and Sebaceous glands and follicles, the general appearance of 

 the sweat gland and its upward spiral course to its outlet through the 

 epidermis being very clearly shown. The complicated structure of the hair 

 follicle was next pointed out, and the Dermic and Epidermic origin of the 

 root sheath — the layers of which it was composed, the structure of the 

 hair itself, together with its means of nutriment, and its erector muscles — 

 were severally explained ; and a short description of the peculiarities of 

 the skin upon the palm and sole — which were chiefly distinguished by tho 

 absence of hair, regularity of the sweat glands, greater size of the papillae, 

 arranged in rows, and different arrangement of the touch corpuscles — 

 brought a highly interesting and instructive address to a close. In addition 

 to the diagrams which were drawn by Mr. Stewart as he proceeded, the sub- 

 ject was further illustrated by numerous preparations exhibited under 

 microscopes in the room. 



Mr. T. C. White said he had seldom had the pleasure of listening to a 

 more lucid explanation of a complicated subject than that which Mr. 

 Stewart had given them. Mr. Stewart had told them all about the growth 

 of straight hair, but he should like to ask him if he could account for the 

 very curly hair of the negro ? 



Mr. Stewart was afraid he could not say what was the original cause of 

 the curling of the hair; he had examined the negro's scalp and believed it 

 to be a matter of race. It was a curious fact that in making a section of 

 the scalp the hair follicle was fourd to have a curled direction, so that the 

 whole thing — follicle and hair below the skin, as well as above it — was all 

 curly together. He had a slide in which this peculiarity was well shown. 



The President said that Mr. Stewart's knowledge was so complete, and 

 his explanations were so clear, that it was always a pleasure to listen to 

 him, and he was quite sure that all present would feel that what they had 

 heard that evening was no exception to the rule. 



The thanks of the meeting were unanimously voted to Mr. Stewart for 

 his interesting communication. 



Announcements of meetings, &c, for the ensuing month, were then 

 made, and the proceedings terminated with a conversazione, at which the 

 following objects were exhibited : — 



Sections of Human Skin ... ... Mr. W. J. Brown. 



Section of b. adder of Utricular ia vulgaris Mr. T. H. Buff ham. 



