380 Miscellaneous. 



read. It was a case communicated by Dr Williamson, of a young wo- 

 man, about 21 years of age living- in a cellar, who, after much pain 

 and violent paroxysms, voided a large gray slug, after which the 

 annoying symptoms gradually subsided. Mr Jenyns considered the 

 specimen in question, now before the section, to be the Limax varie- 

 gatus, which inhabits cellars ; and the Rev. Mr Hope, Mr Curtis, Mr 

 Macleay, and Professor Henslow, mentioned some cases of insects 

 and their larvse having been passed from the intestines. 



Dr Richardson read a communication fromDr Bellingham on the 

 frequent occurrence of Tricocephalus dispar in the human intestines. 

 The author considered that it had been erroneously described by for- 

 mer observers, and stated, that it was found in the intestines of almost 

 every one. Some discussion took place on the subject, in which Dr 

 Richardson, Mr Curtis, Mr Selby, and Mr Macleay took part. 



Prof. Lindley communicated a paper from Mr Ward on the cul- 

 tivation of plants without ventilation. These experiments ori- 

 ginated from Mr Ward's unsuccessful attempts to rear plants in a 

 confined and smoky situation in London. They were made in small 

 bottles and glass cases of various sizes, and houses of twenty five feet 

 in length. They went to prove the possibility of growing plants un- 

 der these circumstances, and would be one of the greatest discoveries 

 made in the manner of transporting living plants from distant coun- 

 tries under a varied temperature. Many cases had been already re- 

 ceived in this county, and the Messrs Loddiges bore testimony to the 

 success which had already attended the plan. On one occasion, plants 

 were shipped at New Holland at a temperature of 80° ; in passing 

 Cape Horn the temperature fell to 20° ; at Rio it rose to 100°; after- 

 wards to 120°; and on arriving in England it again fell to 40°; but 

 when taken out they were in perfect condition, notwithstanding the 

 various changes of temperature they had undergone. This me- 

 thod of growing some plants of no great size in our rooms, and of 

 noticing their various modes of growth, might be apjDlied to many 

 purposes of experiment. 



Mr Yates read the report from the Committee in Liverpool for 

 growing plants on Mr Ward's plan. The green-house which had 

 been erected on the above construction was stocked with eighty spe- 

 cies of plants, and, so far as time had yet been afforded, they appear- 

 ed to be thriving and fulfilling every expectation. The report gave 

 rise to some interesting discussion on the power possessed by plants 

 to exist in vessels excluding the external air, and also on the practi- 

 cability of introducing small animals, or at least those of the lower 

 classes, along with the plants. Dr Graham considered, that with 



