225 



The thanks of the meeting were unanimously voted to the President for hia 

 paper. 



Mr. T. C, White said that of the many methods of investigation which had 

 proved of value to the practical Histologist, none was more important than 

 section cutting ; without it, in fact, the structure of many organs could never be 

 ascertained. Many kinds of apparatus bad been devised for the purpose of 

 cutting thin sections, but though very excellent in their way, they were for the 

 most part too expensive to come within the reach of the amateur cr student. 

 He therefore introduced to their notice a simple contrivance which he had used 

 with great success for some time, and v^hich consisted of a brass tube inserted at 

 right angles into a brass plate, upon which a plate of glass, with a correspond- 

 ing aperture, was cemented, so as to give a smooth and true surface, upon 

 which to pass the cutting instrument. The substance to be cut was imbedded 

 in an inner tube, and was pressed up with the finger asrequ^.ed. He was aware 

 that several gentlemen in the room had paid attention to the subject, and had 

 met with great success, and he hoped that his reference to the matter would 

 induce them to communicate the results of their own experience to the meeting. 



In pursuance of the subject, the Secretary read a paper by Mr. Walter White 

 on " The Science Gossip Section Cutting Machine," so called from its having 

 been first described in a communication to that periodical, which appeared in 

 August, 1873. One of the instruments was exhibited in the room, and its cost 

 was stated to be not more than 7s. 6d. In this instrument the plug holding the 

 section is propelled by slight blows upon a wedge, instead of the usual screw 

 movement, and it was stated that the substance to be cut being raised by 

 perciissiov , did not suff"er from the efi"ects of unequal pressure as was sometimes 

 the case when a screw was employed. 



The thanks of the Club were unanimously voted to Mr. Walter White for 

 his communication. 



The President said he was himself one of those persons who did not possess 

 a machine for this purpose, but he was accustomed to make sections of sphagnum 

 leaves by inserting them in a slip of soft cork and cutting them by. hand. 

 Sections of the India Rubber Plant (Ficiis Elastica) and others could be cut in 

 this way. 



Mr. T. C. White said that as the President had mentioned Ficus Elastica he 

 might say that he had cut some good specimens of it, one of which he had 

 brought for exhibition. 



The President said that he had himself unfortunately no time to devote to 

 section cutting, but he hoped that those who had would not fail to mount a few 

 sections for the cabinet 



Mr. T. C. White expressed his willingness to contribute a specimen of Ficus 

 Elastica. 



The President having announced the conversational meetii:g for the ensuing 

 month, and that there would be no meeting on December 26th, the names of 

 gentlemen proposed for membership were read and ordered to be suspended, and 

 the proceedings terminated with a conversazicne, at which the following objects 

 were exhibited . — 



Young of Lobster by Mr. Curties. 



Section of Calcedony Mr. Dunning. 



Scales of Dog Fish Mr. Glasspoole. 



Spicules of 8yiiapta ... Mr. Hainworth. 



Pentagonal plates of jEc/iimis Mr. Martinelli. 



