1875-1876.] l 77 



joint production of two of the most eminent physicists of the day — 

 Professors Tait and Clarke Maxwell. The conclusions at which 

 these distinguished philosophers had arrived, so far from impugning 

 Revelation, distinctly avowed the agreement of the Christian 

 Scriptures with the latest and most recondite theories of the ablest 

 scientific men of the day. The address concluded with an appeal 

 to both the students of science and the theologians of the period 

 to cultivate friendly relations, instead of provoking conflict, where 

 both should be viewed as contingents of one great army whose 

 common object was the promotion and defence of truth. The 

 affairs of the Club, Dr. Macllwaine stated to be in a highly pro- 

 sperous state. Their members numbered above 200. One thou- 

 sand copies of the " Guide Book" prepared for the visit of the British 

 Association had been sold, and the remaining copies were still on 

 sale. He remarked, with allowable pride, on the contributions to 

 science by several members of the Club, to Messrs. Stewart and 

 Wright's papers on the Mosses of the Province of Ulster, and on 

 Foraminifera and other microzoa, and to the researches of Mr. 

 Swanston in the fossils of the lower Silurian deposits. The address, 

 which took an hour in delivery, was listened to throughout with 

 marked attention and interest by all present. 



On 15th December (William Gray, Esq., M.R.I. A, Vice-presi- 

 dent, in the Chair), Dr. J. M. Johnston Scott read a paper on 

 • The Vegetable Parasites of the Human Body." 



The sketch given by Dr. Scott of the vegetable organisms which 

 live upon the human subject, showed clearly the importance of 

 the study of these structures, on sanitary grounds, as well as from 

 a scientific point of view. He minutely described their, natural 

 history, social and geographical distribution, as well as the peculiar 

 effects produced by their presence in the skin. The Saprophytes, 

 or division of parasites which live on the dead and decompos- 

 ing human body, were passed over with a mere allusion to the 

 labours devoted to their study by several eminent continental 



