Proceedings. cxv 



menced by reviewing the great strides recently made in 

 photography, and the numerous uses to which photography 

 had been apphed for scientific purposes. The medical man by 

 its means could obtain a permanent record of the various changes 

 taking place in the patient under his observation. The botanist 

 had unfolded in his view the growth, the expanding and develop- 

 ment of plants through all their varying changes. The 

 zoologist, the extraordinary positions displayed by animals in 

 walking, running and leaping, and every varying position of the 

 wings of birds during their progress through the air. To the 

 geologist it was almost indispensable by preserving the appear- 

 ance of freshly exposed rock sections. By it the astronomer 

 obtained records of the sun spots and those little understood and 

 erratic projections from the sun's corona. Its use by the 

 microscopist was patent to all, for by it he was enabled to enlarge 

 that multitudinous and glorious display of the minute creatures 

 inhabiting the earth. And lastly, it might be called a terror to 

 evil doers, for, by the detective camera, they could be portrayed 

 in the midst of their evil career. 



Ajyril IQth. — Dr. Carpenter read a Paper "On Microscopic life 

 in Sewer Air, as bearing on the question of Ventilation of 

 Sewers." This paper which is of great practical interest to all 

 interested in the health and prosperity of our town appears at 

 length in our Transactions (Trans., Art. 75). In this highly 

 instructive and scientific paper Dr. Carpenter from an early date 

 showed how the proper ventilation of sewers was the means of 

 averting disease in this town. 



May 8th. — Mr. Eobert Brodie read a Paper (Trans., Art. 76) 

 " On Ancient and Modern Science." In this paper Mr. Brodie 

 traced the gradual evolution of ancient science up to the probably 

 more correct modern, and said although the modern was in 

 accordance with a more enlightened and mature experience, he 

 still gave great credit to the ancient scientists, who had to perform 

 their experiments under great disadvantages, as they were 

 unacquainted with the scientific instruments and data of the 

 present time. It would be only taking up your time un- 

 necessarily to further dilate on this subject, as a full report of it 

 appeared in the Local Press, and an abstract kindly forwarded 

 by Mr. Brodie will also be found in our Transactions. 



September 11th, — At this meeting no paper was read, but the 

 meeting was resolved into a conversational chat, during which 

 many topics of an interesting nature were discussed. 



October 9th. — There was an absence of a paper at this meeting 

 also, but Mr. Mennell made some very interesting remarks on a 

 recent visit to Strathpefl'er, and especially on the " vitrified 

 forts " as they are called, which occur in the North of Scotland 

 in a belt across the island from Inverness to Fort Augustus. 



