138 PROCEEDINGS OP PROVINCIAL SOCIETIES. 



striking nature, especially in the form of the tail, which cannot be too closely 

 watched,. Allowances must, however, be made for the fluctuating state of 

 the atmosphere, whose influence will be peculiarly detrimental to observa- 

 tions of so delicate a nature. It need hardly be added, that many of the 

 above suggestions may be expected to prove fruitless upon the present occa- 

 sion, especially as the Comet is not in the most favourable position for ob- 

 servation. Thev will, however, not be considered entirely useless, by those 

 who wish to see the present state of our information with regard to the con ■ 

 struction of these very interesting, but most imperfectly understood, bodies- 



PROCEEDINGS OF PROVINCIAL SOCIETIES. 



MEETING OP THE 

 PROVINCIAL MEDICAL AND SURGICAL ASSOCIATION^ AT OXFORD. 



The members of this admirable Institution^ which was founded 

 at Worcester, in the year 1832, held their general meeting, for the 

 present year, within the walls of the University of Oxford. The 

 council of the Association met on the 22nd of July, at the Anatomy- 

 School, to make the necessary arrangements for the general meeting 

 appointed for the next day, in which they derived every assistance 

 from the exertions of their President, Dr. Kidd, the regius professor 

 of medicine in the University. Previous to the general meeting, 

 many of the members of the Association availed themselves of the 

 opportunities afforded them, hy the kindness and liberality of the 

 authorities, to visit the Botanic Garden, the Ashmolean Museum, 

 the Bodleian Library, the Picture Gallery, all of which were thrown 

 open to them upon the occasion. At the Botanic Garden, a public 

 breakfast was given by Professor Daubeny ; immediately after which 

 Dr. Buckland, the professor of geology, invited the members to his 

 museum, and gave a most interesting demonstration of some of his 

 fossil remains, especially pointing out to the attention of his grati- 

 fied auditors, the peculiarities of structure of the megalotherium, of 

 the saurians, and other extinct animals, and deducing therefrom their 

 natural habits and mode of life. After the conclusion of Dr. Buck- 

 land's demonstration, Mr. Costello performed the operation of litho- 

 trity, before a large assembly of the members. The Anatomical 

 Theatre having been found incapable of holding all the members 

 of the Association who were anxious to see the operation, application 

 was made to the Mayor, who kindly gave the use of the Town Hall 

 for the purpose. 



The general meeting took place in the RadclifFe Library, at half- 

 past one o'clock, and by the hour appointed, upwards of three hun- 

 dred persons had assembled, including, among other eminent indivi- 

 duals. Dr. Gilbert, principal of Brazen Nose College, Dr. Ingram, 

 president of Trinity College, Dr. IMacbride, principal of Magdalen 

 Hall, Professors Buckland, Cooke, Daubeny, Faussett, Kidd, Ogle, 



