138 Proceedings, &c, for 1883. 



to be read before the meeting ; when printed, members would have an 

 opportunity of reading it for themselves. 



Dr. T. S. Ralph read his paper on " The Occurrence of Bacteria 

 (Bacilli) in Living Plants," after which he exhibited under the 

 microscope some specimens of water-plants within whose unbroken 

 cells he considered bacteria to be visible. 



Mr. Ellery thought that possibly many of the phenomena of 

 fermentation might be due to the presence of bacterial life. Dr. 

 Ralph said that he had found bacteria in dry tea-leaves, arising, no 

 doubt, from the part fermentation they had undergone in preparing 

 them for the market. Dr. Jamieson expressed some doubts as to 

 the nature of the organisms shown by Dr. Ralph under the micro- 

 scope ; they scarcely agreed with ordinary descriptions of bacteria, 

 and were more likely to be mere organic particles. If they were 

 bacteria within enclosed cells, it was impossible to account for their 

 appearance except on the supposition that spores had entered 

 through minute holes in the walls. 



Dr. Ralph then expressed his desire that this line of experiment 

 should be taken up and pursued carefully by independent observers. 



Mr. P. Behrendt then read his paper, " Modern Fireproof and 

 Watertight Building Materials — Traegerwellblech and Asphalt." 



Dr. Rudall read his translation of a paper on " The Germs of 

 Blennorrhagia." 



Mr. Joseph read a paper on "Incandescent Lamps for Surgical 

 and Microscopical Purposes," and exhibited specimens. 



June lith, 1883. 



Present, the President (in the chair) and 19 members and associates. 



Mr. Outtrim, Mr. Fraser, and Mr. Mills were introduced to the 

 meeting. 



Mr. Naylor was elected as a country member ; Capt. Rowan and 

 Dr. Louis Henry, as members ; and Mr. W. P. Steane, as an 

 associate. 



Mr. Ellery proposed that Mr. Hyde Clarke, of London, should 

 be elected a corresponding member of the Society. This motion 

 was seconded by Dr. Neild, and carried unanimously. 



The Hon. Librarian reported the receipt of 76 volumes and 154 

 parts of scientific transactions since his last report. 



Mr. G. R. B. Steane read his paper on "Hydrology." 



Mr. Ellery said that much importance must be attached to these 

 investigations of the frequency and amount of sudden rainfalls. 

 Such knowledge must be of use to the farmer and to the engineer ; 

 but he disagreed from Mr. Steane in the assertion that the rains are 



