124 



circular canals and vestibule ; the former are more than one and 

 a half inch in length, and the latter would contain the whole 

 internal ear of the human body. 



The spleen consisted of an immense number of lobules, or 

 small spleens, the largest of which did not exceed one quarter of 

 an inch in diameter. 



In the stomach were found the remains of a Dog fish, which 

 had been swallowed whole, and of two or three other fishes not 

 recognized. 



Dr. Burnett read a paper on ^' The organic relations of 

 some of the Infusoria, including investigations concerning 

 the structure and nature of the genus Bodo. (Ehr.) The 

 following are extracts. 



*' In regard to the question, — What characteristic in organic 

 animal matter shall constitute an individual, I feel satisfied of 

 this much, — that cell-processes, however closely interwoven 

 they may be with the expressions of individual life, cannot be 

 considered as constituting the groundwork of its definition. 



" The tailed Monads of the genus Bodo are the most inter- 

 esting, from the fact of their having a long, filamentous tail, 

 which is their locomotive organ. On this account, and because 

 from their form being more definite, they are more distinctly 

 visible than any other particles of this family, I have devoted 

 considerable time to them. Those which are found in the 

 intestines of the common House fly, or in those of the Frog, 

 answer very well for studies of this kind. 



" Those in the Fly when first seen resemble in shape a kernel 

 of rye. They are about ^oV o" °^ ^^ inch in length and ^^Vtj '^^ 

 breadth. Attached to the body is a delicate, hair-like tail, four 

 or five times its length. In contact with water the body becomes 

 larger by endosmosis, assuming a perfectly spherical shape, so 

 that, when magnified with my highest power, it is nearly an inch 

 in diameter ; permitting the most thorough and satisfactory 

 study of its structure. This presents no peculiarities but those 

 belonging to cells. It is a closed cell-sac, with a filiform cau- 

 date process, and endowed with the actions of cell-membranes, 

 namely, endosmosis and exbsmosis. In the interior of this sac 

 are found sometimes a few granules, and sometimes a nucleus. 



