580 



gave a corroboration of the fact of the penetration of the ovum by the 

 spermatozoa. Mr. Newport next discovered the spermatozoa within 

 the ovum of the Frog. Meissner soon after confirmed the fact that 

 the spermatozoon penetrates the interior of the ovum of the Rabbit; 

 and, finally, Prof. Bischoff satisfied himself of the truth of Dr. Barry's 

 discovery, which he had been the first to call in question. 



Dr. Martin Barry was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of 

 London on the 13th of February, 1840, and so highly were his com- 

 munications esteemed by the Society, that the Royal Medal was 

 awarded to him, November 30th, 1839. 



Dr. Barry's embryological researches were followed by observa- 

 tions on the formation and changes of the primitive cells in the 

 origin and growth of the tissues of the animal body, and he arrived 

 at new and important conclusions on the importance and functions 

 of the cell-nucleus. 



In his memoir " On Fibre," Dr. Barry first promulgated his views 

 as to the ultimate spiral structure of the muscular fibre ; and he 

 subsequently extended the same views to most of the tissues of orga- 

 nized bodies. These opinions have not been confirmed or accepted 

 by histologists ; although Dr. Barry had latterly the satisfaction of 

 citing a few microscopical observations of eminent botanists which 

 seemed to lend support to certain applications of his favourite idea. 

 " Now that he is no more," writes an eminent physiologist, " it 

 will be more pleasing to endeavour to extract that which was good 

 and true in his works, rather than discuss their doubtful and con- 

 tested points." And Professor Allen Thomson, in the same biogra- 

 phical sketch, writes, " It cannot be doubted that Dr. Barry's 

 researches as a whole gave a decided impulse to the progress of 

 knowledge in the departments of which they treat, partly by the 

 actual contribution of new and valuable facts, and partly by the 

 ingenuity of his speculative views, the vigour with which they were 

 supported, and the discussions to which they gave rise." 



Dr. Barry's latest contributions to science were chiefly notices 

 and comments on the observations of other histologists and physio- 

 logists, which appeared to confirm or countenance his views of the 

 cell-nucleus, the primitive fibre, and the penetration of the zona 

 pellucida by the spermatozoon. " The last few months of his life 

 were employed in a review of his microscopic observations, and in 



