PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 55 
ago, the same thing; that he had in one live-box the Nitella in 
vigorous circulation, an internode in which the circulation had ceased, 
and that this was crowded with living organisms, the majority of 
which were germs, eggs of animals, and animals themselves. 
In another internode he saw an egg enclosed in a large hyaline 
cell, showing muscular contraction and the play of cilia, and which 
subsequently proved to be a Rotifer. The dead internodes of the 
NitelJa vary in their contents, as shown in the accompanying illus- 
trations of the typical varieties, many of which are to be found in 
Dr. Bastian’s ‘ Beginnings of Life, in his remarks on the Nitella ; 
it will, however, take an immense amount of time and trouble to 
collate all the living forms that are to be found therein. In the 
experiment of treating wheat rootlets with carmine, to show the 
protoplasm, the plant has no difficulty in drawing up the minute 
fragments of colouring matter, by which the protoplasm is made 
evident. The spores or germs of animals are taken up in a similar 
manner, and are nourished and develop into life in the flowing pro- 
toplasm of the plant; and after circulation ceases, a gradual change 
goes on, until you have at last a whole menagerie of animal life, 
from the Rotifer downwards. 
Mr. Chantrell said, in the light of his long familiarity with these 
low forms of life, that for years he had abandoned his belief in the 
line of demarcation between the animal and vegetable kingdoms, the 
relations are so intimate; and that many of our leading scientists 
are now coming to the same conclusion. The paper was illustrated 
by a number of drawings from life; and at the conversazione that 
followed Mr. Chantrell exhibited. a Rotifer alive in an internode of 
the Nitella which was hatched there, and which was making frantic 
efforts to escape. It had been found the night before. An interesting 
discussion followed, in which the President (Rey. H. H. Higgins), 
Dr. Drysdale, Dr. Symes, and others took part. 
Dunsink (N.Y.) Microscopican Socrety. 
Special Meeting, October 31, 1876.—George E. Blackham, M.D., 
President, in the chair. 
Circumstances having rendered it inconvenient for the Society to 
meet in their rooms at the City Hall, Geo. P. Isham, Esq., invited 
the Society to meet at his residence. The invitation was accepted, 
with thanks. 
The attendance of members and visitors was unusually large, and 
there were present by special invitation the following gentlemen, 
members of the Buffalo Microscopical Club, viz.: L. M. Kenyon, 
M.D.; Henry Baethig, M.D.; Henry Mills, Esq.; Geo. E. Fell, Esq. 
The President, after a few words of welcome to those present, 
introduced Professor J. Edwards Smith, of Ashtabula, Ohio, who pro- 
ceeded to read a long and highly interesting paper on “The Use 
and Abuse of the Microscope as an Instrument of Precision.” 
The paper was too long and exhaustive for justice to be done it in 
asummary. It is sufficient to say that Professor Smith took a position 
