42 
PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 
cicatricial patch described by Mr. Fail-lie Clarke ; he did not think 
it cicatricial in character, for it could be scraped off ; and suggested 
its being owing to some chemical change on the mucous surface. It 
was not the rule to find the “ birds’ nests ” of epithelium in epithe- 
lioma of the tongue ; but he had usually observed an abundant infil- 
tration of small cells under the epithelium, as in ichthyosis linguae. 
The second cause for cancer following this disease, given by 
Mr. Fairlie Clarke, was useful in explaining those cases where the 
direct extension of the disease from the original patch could not be 
observed. He had never verified Mr. Needham’s observation of 
hypertrophied papilla;, though he had heard that condition described 
before. 
Microscopical Society of Victoria, Australia. 
The usual monthly meeting of this Society was held September 
24, 1874, at eight o’clock. There was a good attendance of members, 
and Mr. Ralph took the chair. 
Dr. Sturt exhibited some Gippsland limestone, containing fora- 
minifera, pointing out many of its characteristics and demonstrating 
the mode of manipulation for preparing and mounting the stone. He 
said the indications it presented showed the deposit had been accumu- 
lated close to the beach, but he could not state the exact locality. He 
did not profess to have examined it thoroughly, but hoped the slight 
accouut he had given might induce members to give that and other 
similar deposits a careful examination, which could be accomplished 
without much special skill. Dr. Sturt said he had received some 
specimens from Geelong, and also exhibited some crystalline limestone 
from the interior, extremely pure in character, and he hoped that 
persons throughout the colony would forward to the Society any 
specimens for examination. 
Mr. Sydney Gibbons, F.R.M.S., exhibited the cuticle of synapta, 
with anchors in situ — a small marine animal allied to the holothuridee, 
or sea cucumbers — one of which w'as a known article of commerce, 
under the name of beche-de-mer. The synapta differed from the other 
echinodermata in not having ambulacra — the little feet by which star- 
fish, &c., move about. Its motion was vermi grade, creeping along by 
contractions and elongations, like those of a worm. This mode of 
progression was facilitated by the skin being studded with minute 
calcareous plates, in each of which a minute anchor was socketed. 
Knowledge of the animal in a state of nature was limited, and there 
was uncertainty as to the species, owing to the difficulty of preserving 
it for observation, the creature having a trick of committing suicide 
by bursting itself to pieces when caught. Mr. Gibbons also introduced 
to the Society the echinococcus (a hydatid), the immature form of a kind 
of tapeworm, which was only found in the mature state in animals of 
the dog family. In the larvae form it was a common tenant of cysts 
or hollow tumours formed in various cavaties of the human body. He 
said there could be no doubt that much disease occurred as a conse- 
quence of the very common practice of dogs licking the faces and 
