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PROCEEDINGS OF THE MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY OP LONDON. 



October 19^, 1842. J. S. Bowerbank, Esq., in the Chair. 



A PAPER was read by William B. Carpenter, M.D., " On the structure 

 of the Animal Basis of the common Egg-shell, and of the Membrane 

 surrounding the Albumen." The author found, on examining the 

 thin membrane surrounding the albumen of the hen's egg fmembrana 

 putaminis} , that it consisted of several laminae, each lamina being com- 

 posed of interlacing fibres, between which numerous interspaces are 

 left. On comparing this with a portion of egg-shell decalcified by 

 means of dilute acid, both presented the same structure ; but the lami- 

 nae were more numerous in the latter. He supposes that the deposit of 

 calcareous matter takes place in the interspaces left by the reticulation 

 of the fibres, and concludes that this fibrous membrane is analogous to 

 the chorion of mammalia. A preparation, showing the identity of the 

 two structures, accompanied the paper. Another paper was also read by 

 Arthur Hill Hassall, Esq., entitled, " An explanation of the Cause of the 

 rapid Decay of many Fruits, more especially of those of the Apple tribe." 

 After some preliminary observations, the author proceeded to state, that 

 on placing a portion of decayed apple under the microscope, he observed 

 vast numbers of ramified filaments, passing in all directions between and 

 around the cells of the parenchyma of the fruit ; these filaments were 

 regarded as those of a minute fungus or fungi, which, by insinuating 

 themselves between the cells of the pulp of the fruit, detached them 

 from their connection with each other, destroyed their vitality, and ulti- 

 mately produced a decomposition of their contents. The author then 

 gives his reasons for supposing the fungi to be the cause, and not the 

 effect of the decay ; and concludes by describing the several stages of 

 development of the fungi, and their mode of entrance within the fruit. 

 Specimens of the fungi were exhibited to the Society, after the reading 

 of the paper. 



Ehrenberg on the Power of Vision in the Human Eye, SfC. He con- 

 cludes that there are, putting aside all inorganic bodies, even in the king- 

 dom of organic bodies, whose constituent parts or molecules are 

 generally considered to be the coarsest, magnitudes capable of direct 

 proof, which are in diameter j-g-.oTo-o f a ^ ne 5 an( * others that can be 

 proved indirectly, which may be less than a sixth millionth part of 

 a Parisian line in diameter ; that the ideas often expressed respecting 

 atoms, as subjects of experience, are somewhat too confident ; finally, 

 that the power of the microscopes, which we at present possess, does 

 not in its maximum amount to more than to make distinctly visible 

 long opaque threads of y. 2 ooooo'" diameter, and square superficies or 

 globules of 1 4/000 of a line in diameter ; and that for these latter they 

 must be increased forty times, in order to satisfy what is required for 

 reaching directly those minutest parts of organic bodies, whose existence 

 has been inferred from simple deductions ; and that we are to not to 

 entertain a thought of perceptible, or ever attainable simple matter, or 

 material primitive constituent particles. From Poggendorff's Annalen 



