458 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



SUBMARINE TELEGRAPH CABLE. 



The Lo7tdo7i Artizan of Feb. 1, 1859, says, that by experiment it is 

 found that fifty miles of the Atlantic cable, recovered from a depth of not 

 more than 140 fathoms, was become unserviceable for the electric use. 



[London Mechanic's Magazine, Jan. 28, 1859.] 



EXPLORATION OF AUSTRALIA BY BALLOONS. 



To take with them an improved gigantic fire balloon, to be carried col- 

 lapsed, but to be inflated without gas if it should be wanted. Photographic 

 apparatus to be taken for securing accurate bird's eye views.' 



Mr. Veeder moved to dispense with further miscellaneous business, and 

 take up the regular subjects. Carried. 



Mr. Seeley. — Will microscopic observation add important knowledge, or 

 will it, like the science of astronomy, prove to be very limited in its value 

 to the welfare of man ? Will some one tell us how it is relative to human 

 diseases ? 



Dr. Holton said he felt modestly inclined in reference to the latter, al- 

 though great attention is devoted to it. As, for instance, Dr. Virachoux, 

 at Berlin, has 300 students, whose opportunities for microscopic observa- 

 tion are probably equal, if not superior, to others. I saw that school at 

 work with the microscopes. A kind of zig-zag miniature railroad of metal 

 carried the microscope to every student, while the learned Professor lec- 

 tured on the object under view. The tissues of flesh, &e., in a state of 

 disease underwent full examination through the highest magnifying power. 

 As to infusoriae, Ehrenberg devoted his life to their study, and, you all 

 know, with deeply interesting developments of microscopic existence. The 

 supposed (vulgarly) rain of blood proved to be animalculge. In this way 

 some prejudices are removed, which is always positive good. Professor 

 Mitchell's nebula? appiears to have power of concentration, so that the un- 

 formed mass may in due time be concentrated into a globe. What can one 

 say of our knowledge ? God alone concentrates them. Mystery, utterly 

 beyond our penetration, conceals His work from us. We find, by great 

 magnifying power, that matter apparently amorphous, yet is organic. We 

 find, as we suppose, the primitive cell ; it seems to be homogeneous ; yet 

 on its development this little cell contains the organization of all animal 

 and vegetable life. We have examined with anxious desire to learn the 

 true cause of that terrible disease, cancer. The cells do not yet teach us. 

 Our able physicians are closely studying the cause pathologically, and by 

 every mode of access to the truth, thinking, perhaps very reasonably, that 

 when we find what it really is, they can prevent or heal it. They earnestly 

 try every means of diagnosis. 



Prof. Mason was pleased so far, but it reminded him of our lawyer, who 

 lost our cause for us, but claimed the merit of settling a, point of law! 

 Our inquiry is, by what means we may render life more happy and of 

 greater duration. Therefore we seek for the causes of disease. It is the 

 grand question of the age, for there is a manifest degeneracy among us, 



