PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 
305 
The following gentlemen were elected Fellows of the Society : — 
George Manners, Esq. ; William Hadden Beeby, Esq. ; George 
Hastings, Esq., M.D. 
Walter W. Eeeves, 
Assist. -Secretary . 
Medical Microscopical Society. 
Oct. 15, 1875. — Jabez Hogg, Esq., Vice-President, in the chair. 
The Cochlea in Birds. — ^Dr. Pritchard explained and exhibited 
specimens illustrative of the structure of the cochlea in birds. 
Artificial Fibrillation of Hyaline Cartilage, — Mr. Cresswell Baber 
exhibited specimens illustrating his paper in the ' Journal of Ana- 
tomy and Physiology ' on the above subject. His observations were 
based upon a statement by Tillmanns, in Max Schultze's ' Archives,' to 
the effect that fresh hyaline cartilage can be fibrillated by macerating 
it for several days in a solution of permanganate of potash, or in 
10 per cent, solution of chloride of sodium. Mr. Baber showed that 
fibrillation of the matrix can be produced by macerating sections of 
hyaline cartilage in solution of chloride of sodium (both 10 and ^ per 
cent.) in lime water, or in baryta water, and in each case after the 
maceration applying momentary pressure to the glass covering the 
section before examining it. The fluid that acted most rapidly was 
baryta water, which produced the fibrillation in half an hour ; while 
permanganate of potash that Tillmanns prefers, he had found uncertain 
in its action. Mr. Baber had found the fibrillation of the cartilage 
matrix in all cases in which he had searched for it, and concluded 
therefore with Tillmanns, that the hyaline matrix is composed of fine 
fibres held together by an interfibrillar cement substance that can be 
dissolved by certain reagents. A discussion followed, and the meeting 
then resolved itself into a conversazione. 
Quekett Microscopical Club. 
Ordinary Meeting, September 24. — Dr. John Matthews, F.R.M.S., 
President, in the chair. 
A paper by Mr. James EuUagar, Hon. Assistant-Secretary to the 
East Kent Natural History Society, " On the Development of Actino- 
phrys Sol," was read. In this paper the results of four months of con- 
tinued observation upon a number of those organisms — kept carefully 
isolated — were recorded. The various changes which took place can- 
not be fully described without drawings, but may be shortly indicated 
as follows : A group of eight, which had become closely united, were 
isolated and examined. In this state they were seen to feed voraciously. 
The author considered the fusion of several specimens to be a prepara- 
tion for encystment. When fully fed, they separated into their 
original number, assuming their well-known form, the pseudopodia 
becoming greatly extended. After some time the pseudopodia were 
gradually withdrawn, and in about six hours had disappeared, the 
centre of the body became darker, and the contractile vesicle ceased 
to pulsate. The central part of the body then divided into two equal 
