580 



Proceedings of the British Association. 



what information was scattered amongst previous writers, for the 

 purpose of assisting future investigators. 



Mr. Patterson read the substance of two Reports — the one, results 

 of dredging at depths varying from 50 to 145 fathoms off the Mull of 

 Galloway, by Captain Beechey, R. N., drawn up by W. Thompson, 

 Esq. ; the other, results of dredging of the Mull of Cantyre, by Mr. 

 Hyndman and off Ballygally, county Antrim, by Mr. Patterson. 



Mr. Babington read the Report of the Committee for the preservation 

 of Animal and Vegetable Substances. — A large number of simple solu- 

 tions of various salts had been tried, but, with the exception of the 

 sub-carbonate of potash, they had all failed to preserve the specimens 

 for any length of time. The specimens in solutions of this salt were in 

 good condition. Substances in solutions of one part of naphtha to 

 seven of water were in a state of good preservation. Kreosote is a 

 good preservative, but it stains the specimens brown. Bichloride of 

 mercury preserves well, but hardens specimens too much. Vegetable 

 specimens were well preserved in oxalic acid, concentrated acetic acid, 

 naphtha, and kreosote. 



Mr. Moore had used Goadley's solution for the preservation of 

 substances, and found it answer better than spirit. — Dr. Richardson 

 had used Goadley's solution, but did not find it answer. A cheap 

 medium for the preservation of animal substances was still a desidera- 

 tum : at present, spirit he believed best. — Dr. Lankester stated that 

 he had specimens of animal substances preserved by injecting the veins 

 and arteries with arseniate of potash and bichloride of mercury, and 

 the whole immersed in a strong solution of common salt. This plan 

 was pursued in the dissecting room of Dr. A. Lizars, of Edinburgh, 

 and enabled the students to pursue the most delicate dissections years 

 after the death of the subject. 



Mr. Moore, of Manchester, exhibited specimens of parasites found 

 on the salmon in fresh and sea-water. They differed much in structure. 

 The fresh-water parasite left the animal as soon as it arrived at the 

 sea, but the parasite of the salt-water remained on the animal a long 

 time after it reached the river. Specimens of the Argulus foliaceus 

 were also exhibited, which attacked the carp in the ponds of Manches- 

 ter : although they attacked the common carp, the gold and silver carp 

 were quite free from their presence. Might not the presence of the 

 parasites on salmon be a cause of their migration? Did their pre- 

 sence indicate a state of disease ? 



Sir W. Jardine had seen the salt-water parasite on the salmon 50 

 miles above the sea. The abundance of these parasites was looked 



