122 REPORT— 1864. 



On Cell TJieories. By J. T. Dicksoii. 



The author adverted to the recent progress in the synthesis of organic materials, 

 and remarked that some physiologists had endeavoiu-ed to show that it was as easy 

 to form cells out of unorganized matter as to make organic substances ; but, from 

 the absence of the life-element, he compai-ed such uianufactm-es merely to models. 



On the Use of Milk and Scotch Barley as an Article of Biet. 

 By George Fkean. 



The author suggested that a larger supply of milk might be obtained. It is not 

 generally known that the Government have a convict establishment at Dartmoor, 

 in Devonshire. The convicts have been employed in reclaiming waste lands, and, 

 after various experiments, are allowed to keep cattle. They have at this time 

 one of the best herds of cows and calves La the coimty, in number 184, producing 

 upwards of 100 lbs. of butter per week, of delicious taste and quality, and this, too, 

 on a comparatively small acreage of land, the peat laud yielding nutrition in abun- 

 dance. This is a sample and experiment on perhaps the worst and most luifavom-- 

 able corner of 80,000 acres of laud. An uustiuted supply of mUk to the childi'en 

 of the labouring population would lead to the use of iScotch barley, rice, oatmeal, 

 &c. An excellent beverage may be obtained with Scotch barley and skimmed 

 milk at small cost. 



On the Vocal Organ of the Corixa, an Aqiuitic Insect. 

 By E. Gaener, F.L.S. 

 This insect, when confined m a vessel of water, is remarkable in producing a 

 continuous sound, distinct from any produced by striking the sides ot the vessel. 

 The legs are elevated simidtaneously with the noise, and friction might be pro- 

 duced iipon the edge of the elytra, or by means of a projection or process at the 

 base of the first pair of legs ; there is also a little sac, which is probably accessory 

 to the soimd, situated at the base of the under-wings on each side, containing a 

 little club-like body of a shape similar to the poisers of a fly or tipula. 



On the Various Forms assumed hi/ the Glottis. 

 By Geoege DuNCAi^ Gibb, M.A., M.t)., LL.D., F.G.S. 



The author stated that it had been an accepted notion that, for the most pai-t, 

 the glottis assumed a triangular form ; and this view was taught almost to the pre- 

 sent horn'. This led him to go into the question of what were the various forms 

 assumed by the glottis, and in what manner did they arise. In stating this pro- 

 blem, he briefly considered the relation that subsisted between the true vocal cords 

 and the thyro-arjlenoid muscles ; and he then made some observations upon, and 

 briefly described the arrangement of, the muscidar fibres, especially as lately made 

 out by M. Battaille, which he said had much to do in regulating the form of the 

 glottis. He adopted that author's division of the muscle into three bimdles, and 

 approved of the name of triceps laryngea, which he had given to it ; he also con- 

 firmed the accuracy of Battaille's researches. He then entered upon a description 

 of the manner of action of the various fibres, and its influence in giving a form to 

 the glottis. This varied from an isosceles, equilateral, or right-angled triangle, to a 

 lozenge or barrel, circular, oblong, lanceolate, elliptic, pyiiform, or arched and linear 

 form. The commonest of these was an isosceles triangle ; and a rare form was a 

 right-angled triangle, which he had never met with unless in women, when the 

 larynx is shallow from before backwards. A parallel or oblong glottis he explained, 

 and showed how it occurred ; he had seen it several times, but necessarily nari'ow, 

 because the vocal cords, under such circmnstances, could not be separated more 

 than one or two lines at their point of origin. A more remarkable form than any 

 of these was the reversal of the triangle, the glottis, dming the utterance of conti- 

 nuous falsetto soimds, assuming the shape of a narrow Y, then a naiTow Y, and 

 then a narrow oblong, before the termination of the experiment. The cause of 

 this, with an illustration, was given. A pear or bulbous shape, like the new foim 

 of wine-decanter, and an arched form, composed of the naiTOw segment of a circle. 



J 



