22 
May 20th, 1874.—Henry Len, Esq., President, in the chair.—-The 
minutes of the previous meeting having been read and confirmed, 
Mr. George Curling and Mr. Jesse Curling, both of Elgin House, 
Addiscombe, were ballotted for and duly elected members. Captain 
John Coare Swaine was nominated for membership. 
The Presment stated that this was the last night of their 
season, according to the bye-laws, but in accordance with a wish 
which had been expressed, the committee had consulted together as 
to the best way of doing something more than expressing their 
thanks to their retiring Secretary (Mr. H. Long), for his exertions 
during the time he had held that office. It was his advertisement 
in the local papers that first brought them together, and most 
punctually and admirably had he performed his duties. This had 
decided them to prolong their stay with each other, and instead of 
separating for the season to-night, to carry on their meetings till 
the 17th of June, when, instead of having their ordinary meeting, 
they would have a friendly supper, and would take advantge of the 
occasion to present to their late Secretary a testimonial, consisting 
of avery handsome stand for a microscope, to which apparatus 
might be added according to convenience. Due notice would be 
given of the supper and the presentation. 
Frank S. Paut, Esq., of Guy’s Hospital, then read a paper on 
‘¢Tym PrepaRATION OF ANIMAL TissuEsS FOR MiIcROSscOPICAL 
EXAMINATION.” 
Mr. Pau said—I am about to bring before your notice this 
evening a branch of Histological study with which it is probable 
many of you are not very familiar ; for amongst the daily-increasing 
number of Histologists, only a few—and that few, almost without 
exception, students of medicine—have devoted themselves to the 
investigation of animal tissues in their higher and more elaborate 
forms. The beautiful shells of the foraminifera, the brilliant scales 
of the butterfly, or the glittering colours of the polariscope, too 
frequently give to the young microscopist an unworthy conception 
of beauty, leading him to preserve the shell of an insect, while he 
ignores its organisation ; or to make pretty pictures with the scales 
of the butterfly, while he remains in ignorance of its alimentary 
canal; his object being for ever to prepare specimens which, by 
the brilliancy of their colours, or the boldness of their structure, 
are able to be appreciated by the outside world, rather than to 
search out the arrangement of complex structures which could only 
be admired by himself and his fellow-workers. Yet it is evident 
that this is passing away, for one sees now, side by side with the 
beetles and flies of the shop, slides of muscular fibre, cartilage, or 
nerve tissue. You will agree with me that it is a move in the right 
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