332 Rev. W. H. Dallinger on [May 2, 



to six times as much, proportionally to the weight of the animal, was 

 swallowed. 



The Society then adjourned over the Easter Recess, to Thursday, 

 May 2. 



May 2, 1878. 



Sir JOSEPH HOOKER, K.C.S.I., President in the Chair. 



The Presents received were laid on the table, and thanks ordered 

 for them. 



In pursuance of the Statutes, the names of the Candidates recom- 

 mended for election into the Society were read from the Chair as 

 follows : — 



John Gilbert Baker, F.L.S. 

 Francis Maitland Balfour. 

 Rev. Thomas George Bonney,M. A. 

 Prof. James Henry Cotterill, M.A. 

 Sir Walter Elliot, K.C.S.I. 

 Rev. Canon W. Greenwell, M.A. 

 Thomas Hawksley, C.E. 

 John Hopkinson, M.A., D.Sc. 



The following Papers were read : — 



I. " On the Life-History of a Minute Septic Organism : with an 

 account of Experiments made to determine its Thermal 

 Death Point." By Rev. W. H. Dallinger. Communi- 

 cated by Professor Huxley, Sec. R.S. Received March 26, 

 1878. 



[Plates 8, 9.] 



Nearly four years since, in examining an infusion of animal matter, 

 which had, unfortunately, been diluted with water, and had vegetable 

 substances placed in it, I observed a minute and intensely active 

 organism, which, on closer and more careful examination, I found to 

 be of a form entirely new to me. I therefore determined to endeavour 

 to discover its life-history ; bat the diluted infusion was unsuited to 

 it, and in the course of five days no living form remained. During 

 this time I had been able to determine very little that was consecutive, 

 but had seen enough to lead me to desire to find it again ; and for the 

 two following years I steadily examined all the infusions within my 

 reach, as well as all probable places besides, but in vain. And it was 



John Hughfmgs Jackson, M.D. 

 Lord Lindsay, P.R.A.S. 

 Samuel Roberts, M.A. 

 Edward A Schafer, M.R.C.S. 

 Herman Sprengel, Ph.D. 

 George James Symons. 

 Charles S. Tomes, M.A. 



