PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 55 
Mr. J. Jardine Murray, F'.R.C.S.E., called the attention of the 
meeting to the importance of the subject of human and animal 
parasites, and adverted especially to the particular viscera in 
which the Entozoa were most frequently found. He said, that 
our knowledge of their structure and development could only be 
extended by microscopic research, combined with the adoption of 
the experimental method of breeding worms, which was several 
years ago introduced by Dr. Kuchenmeister. He had enjoyed 
an opportunity of witnessing the results of some of these ex- 
periments during his residence at Edinburgh. He also alluded 
to the employment of micro-photography, and pomted to the 
illustrations (by Dr. Halifax) on the table, as affording admirable 
portraits of some of the most remarkable characters presented 
by the Cestoda. He congratulated the club on the variety and 
value of the specimens collected together for inspection that 
eyening, and proposed that they should endeavour, if possible, 
to verity the existence of nerve-fibres in the Nematoda. In this 
view, he had, with the assistance of his friend Dr. Cobbold, that 
afternoon removed some fresh living examples of Ascaris mystax 
from a cat, and he had also procured a large number of active 
Nematodes (belonging tu the genus Ophiostoma) from the 
stomachs of two dog-fishes. In conclusion, he requested Dr. 
Cobbold to offer a few words of explanation respecting the 
various microscopic preparations, specimens of Entozoa preserved 
either in spirit or in carbolic-acid solutions, and also as regards 
the original illustrations which he had been so good as to contri- 
bute that evening. 
Dr. Cobbold, F.1.S., reverted to the pleasure and profit he had 
derived from attendance at the meetings of the club on previous 
occasions, and proceeded to give a general account of the most 
recent discoveries in entozoology, many of which were illustrated 
by the specimens he had brought with him, and more particu- 
larly by that portion of them which had been presented to him 
by Professor Leuckart, of Giessen. Amongst the microscopic 
preparations there were also several interesting specimens for 
which he was severally indebted to the kindness of Dr. Weinland 
(of Frankfort), Mr. Lubbock, F.R.8., Dr. McIntosh (of Perth), 
Mr. Hulke, F.R.C.S., Dr. Lankester, F.R.S8., and to Mr. Murray. 
“The question as to the existence of a true nervous system in 
Nematoda,’’ he remarked, “was one which could not be said to 
be decided, notwithstanding the very positive statements of cer- 
tain recent observers, including Mr. Bastian. ‘The various 
memoirs of Dr. Anton Schneider—an abstract of one of which 
was recently given by Mr. Busk, in the ‘Quart. Jour. Micro. 
Science,’ No. XI, N.S., p. 197—might at first appear quite con- 
clusive, and in favour of the existence both of a peripheral and 
a central nerve-system; but, on the other hand, we found an ex- 
cellent observer, Dr. C. J. Eberth, of Wirzburg, who is probably 
equally well acquainted with the cellular and filamentary tissues 
represented to be true nerve-structures, altogether at variance 
