307 



had led Dr. Hayes to the conclusion that one or more additional 

 beds would be discovered, and this conclusion was publicly- 

 expressed in the course of the trial. 



It was found that the working bed of coal had on both sides a 

 layer, of varying thickness, of a mineral, which analysis showed 

 to be the equivalent of fire-clay of the coal measures. This 

 layer rested in contact with the coal, being really distinct from 

 the laminated shales, which were the next members of the series. 

 With this fire-clay the proto-carbonate of iron occurred, inter- 

 mixed in a laminated, though more frequently, a nodular form. 

 The occurrence of the fire-clay on both sides of the bed con- 

 nected the characters of this deposit of coal with those of the 

 well-known cannel beds in Scotland and elsewhere, and made 

 probable a repetition of the bed within a moderate distance. 

 The recent discovery of another bed, represented as being eleven 

 feet in thickness, is important in an economical view, as this coal 

 has already found its applications in the great arts' of gas manu- 

 facturing, and as a basis material in producing oil. . 



Dr. Calvin Ellis exhibited a cyst of the human liver, contain- 

 ing Echinococci. These entozoa were examined under the 

 microscope, and viewed in different positions ; the circular ar- 

 rangement of their characteristic booklets was visible in most of 

 the individuals. 



Rev. Elias Nason, of Natick, was elected a Resident 

 Member. 



January 16, 1856. 



The President in the Chair. 



Dr. C. T. Jackson exhibited a vial of blood, taken from 

 the heart of a woman who died from the effects of Chloro- 

 form, inhaled at a dentist's office in this city. 



