I30 THE MICROSCOPE. 



in the tissues, but in small circumscribed masses which with the 

 development of the doctrine of the cellular structure of the animal 

 body, were considered as cells. 



" 2. With the growth of the conception of the unity of life, the 

 complex structure of man has been investigated through the lower 

 animals, and adipose tissue is now recognized by all as composed of 

 protoplasmic cells, simply holding their fat in readiness for the use 

 of the body. 



" 3. This paper attempts to show that by the study of adipose 

 tissue in a very simple form, the conflicting views as to the origin of 

 the fat cells may be harmonized. And while its main thesis is that 

 fixed unbranched, connective tissue corpuscles may become fat cells, 

 it also holds that the special or migratory cells of Rauvier and others 

 may likewise serve as fat reservoirs, and finally our knowledge in its 

 present state points unmistakably to the conclusion, that after a cell 

 has given up its fat it reassumes in full its previous functions." 



Prof. Chas. B. Parker, of Cincinnati, suggested the possibility 

 of the fatty tissue being a veritable organ, somewhat of the nature 

 of a gland, basing his idea upon the afferent and efferent vessels, 

 nerves and lymphatics which it is found to possess. This Dr. Thos. 

 Taylor opposed in quite an extensive discussion. 



Prof. Rogers was down for a paper on " The Naked-Eye Visi- 

 bility of Single Ruled Lines Not Exceeding i- 100.000 of an Inch in 

 Width." Unfortunately, he was summoned away by telegraph before 

 his paper was reached. It was, therefore, read by title, as was also 

 the two following papers, their authors being prevented from partici- 

 pation in the meeting by reason of sickness : " The Vegetable 

 Nature of Croupous Membrane," by Dr. Ephraim Cutter, of New 

 York. "The Fasoldt Stage Micrometer," by S. E. Mendanhall. 



Next Dr. Mercer spoke of the " Stereoscopic Effects Obtained 

 by the Powell & Leland High Power Binocular Arrangement," after 

 which Henry Mills alluded briefly to the " Microscopic Organisms 

 in the Buffalo Water Supply and Niagara River." For lack of time 

 Dr. Lester Curtis' paper on " Micro-organisms Found in the Blood 

 of a Case of Tetanus," was read by title. A half hour was then 

 allotted to discussion of various themes. Prof. Chester, of Hamil- 

 ton College, described a simple method of making cell rings. Prof. 

 Allen Y. Moore demonstrated an ingenious modification of the 

 ordinary camera lucida, consisting of a silvered disk somewhat 



