DR. BEALE^ ON THE TISSUES. 183 



for future consideration,, being hitherto too speculative ac- 

 cording to present observation. 



The slides most remarkable for clear and well-defined 

 markings are Nos. 2 and 8^ which I most highly prize. I 

 cannotj however, record the associates of No. 2, being picked 

 out specimens, but whomsoever may possess, or be enabled to 

 obtain Hyalodiscus subtilis, Californian specimen, associated 

 with Biddulphia Roperi, and Aulacodiscus oreganis, as per 

 slide No. 8, may account himself fortunate, and will find 

 therein ample field for exercise both mental and manipula- 

 tive, and in the end discover it hardly possible to lay the 

 subject aside, without contemplating for what purpose the 

 Supreme Architect of Nature builds up such inconceivably 

 minute forms, in such vast abundance, so widely diffused, 

 and with such superb embroidery, and yet to be almost 

 beyond human gaze with all the resources and appliances of 

 modern art at command. Do the lower existences behold 

 these hidden gems, and wonder and give praise ? 



p. s. I must state, also, that I have satisfactorily seen the 

 decussations &c., upon No. 4 slide, and also upon an ad- 

 ditional slide. 



No. 9, Californian, associated with Rhizosolenia. 



An Abstract of Dr. Beale's Lectures on the Structure and 

 Growth of the Tissues of the Human Body. Delivered 

 at the Royal College of Physicians, April — May, 1861. 



Lectures I & II. 



After alluding to the great interest of studying the 

 structure and growth of the tissues, and the important 

 bearing of this investigation on physiology and medicine, the 

 lecturer observed that the history of the changes which occur 

 in the tissues from the commencement of man's existence to 

 its natural close, is a history which can never be made perfect. 

 We can hardly hope to see the outline of such a work as this 

 firmly established on well-ascertained facts ; but how could 

 our time be more usefully employed than in collecting and 

 arranging materials, and urging on by every means in our 

 power researches which may assist in furthering the progress 

 of this never-ending but most important inquiry ? 



Were the elements of physical science as generally taught 

 as the elements of arithmetic, we should not have to deplore 

 the influence exerted by the table-turners, the spirit-rappers, 

 and the whole class of medical impostors. These men live 



