from the Coal Measures of Tor bane-hill. 
45 
so distinctly peculiar, that I should question the competency, at least, of 
any party who, after com[)aring the microscopic appearances of the two 
substances in question, could hint at a i-esemblance. The Torbanehill 
mineral, on the other hand, is as thoroughly devoid of organic structure, 
or of any regular arrangement of its component parts, as is a mass of 
jelly or a conglomerate of masons' mortar." 
I will now, in the third place, proceed to read the evidence 
given by the witnesses for the pursuer and the defender. 
Professor Quekett. — Examined hy Mr. Macfarlaise. 
You are one of the Professors in the Eoyal College of Surgeons in 
liOndon ? — Yes. 
What chair do you occupy ?— The chair of Histology. 
What is the object of that study? — An examination of the minute 
tissues or structure of plants and animals. 
I believe you have devoted a great deal of study and attention to that 
subject ? — Yes, for the last twenty years. 
You have published a catalogue of the preparations in the College of 
Surgeons of London, descriptive of the various tissues ? — Yes. 
And you have yourself a very extensive collection? — Yes, I believe the 
largest in Europe. 
You conduct your investigations with the aid of the microscope? — Yes. 
And have you made careful investigation into the structure of the 
various coals, as well as other minerals ? — Yes. 
Have you in this way had occasion to examine the most of the known 
coals in England and Wales ? — Yes, about seventy varieties. 
Have you also examined varieties of Scotch coal ? — Yes. 
What have you discovered to be the tissue of coals ? — They show us a 
woody tissue. 
Have you found structure of that description in all the varieties to 
which you have referred ? — All the varieties of coal. 
More or less distinct, I suppose ? — Yes. 
Now, have you examined the Torbanehill mineral ? — Yes, in every 
possible way microscopically. 
Were specimens of the mineral delivered to you ? — Yes, some time ago. 
By whom ? — By Mr. William Forbes and a Mr. Rettie. I have the 
specimens here. 
Now, did you subject those specimens to a very careful examination ? — 
Yes, very careful. 
You tried them in every possible way, and repeatedly? — Yes, and 
repeatedly. 
Did you make a great many sections out of them ? — Yes, an immense 
number. 
So as to give you every possible opportunity in tracing their structure ? 
— Yes. 
What result did you come to? — That the Torbanehill mineral is dif- 
ferent from anything that I ever saw in my life before. 
Did you discover any trace of organic structure ? — Yes, when plants are 
accidentally mixed with it. 
You were enabled to ascertain when it was so ? — Yes, 
Perfectly ?— Perfectly. 
But in the substance itself? — No structure — that is, what the micro- 
scopists would term an organic structure. 
Is it different in that respect from all the varieties of coal you have 
examined ? — Decidedly so. 
