174 PROCEEDINGS OF THE MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON. 



the principle (which is all that is aimed at) of so important a branch of 

 the subject. 



From the reasonable price at which this summary of the existing 

 state of Botanical Science is published, and the really excellent descrip- 

 tion of its matter, we must admit, the medical student has at length 

 been supplied with all that can be desired. 



The Entomologist. Conducted by Edward Newman, F.L.S. London : 

 John Van Voorst, Paternoster- row. 1841. 



THIS was the first of the Monthly Journals which appeared of the size 

 and price of our own, and is devoted to the comprehensive Science of 

 Entomology. We regret there have not as yet occurred in its pages 

 any original observations on the structure of insects which we could 

 notice ; it is chiefly confined to the description of species, and the record 

 of notes connected with the capture of insects, and for these particulars 

 recommends itself particularly to the attention of practical men. 



PROCEEDINGS OF THE MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON. 



November 24th, 1841. N. B. Ward, Esq., F.L.S., Treasurer, in the 



Chair. 



DR. HASTINGS was elected a member. 



A paper was read from the Rev. J. B. Reade, entitled " A Postscript 

 to the Rev. J. B. Reade's paper ' On the process of Charring Vegetable 

 Tissue, as applied to the Stomata in the Epidermis of Garden Rhu- 

 barb/ " in which the author, after alluding to the experiments of Dr. 

 Williams, as communicated to the Society, in August last (see the whole 

 paper, p. 118), which appeared to lead to the conclusion that the pro- 

 cess of charring was of very doubtful efficacy in determining delicate 

 structure, and that the overlying membrane in stomata was really 

 nothing more than an inspissation of organic mucus, raised by heat 

 into contact with the glass, and by the pressure extending as a car- 

 bonised pellicle from one edge of the aperture to the other. With 

 reference to the point in dispute, the author forwarded with the com- 

 munication a portion of cuticle, which, after being immersed in alcohol, 

 distilled water, and dilute hydrochloric acid, was, when perfectly dry, 

 examined by a high power, and the membrane distinctly seen ; it was 

 more evident after the process of charring, and which process was so 

 conducted as to obviate all error arising from pressure. The tissue was 

 placed on a slip of glass, and submitted to the action of heat without 

 being covered by another slip. Thus, both the supposed sources of 

 error were avoided ; the one by the previous removal of organic mucus, 

 and the other by a different manipulation. The paper was accompanied 

 with sketches of the stomata, by Mr. Lens Aldous, the power employed 

 being about 2000 linear. The author concluded by stating, that Dr. 



