SCIENTIFIC SUMMARY. 
10 ? 
permeated by it, and all air displaced, a little balsam is dropped into tlie 
prepared cell, when the cover is seized by the forceps, reversed, and placed 
carefully on it, and the mounting is completed in less time than it has taken 
to tell the process. 
The New Sponges. — Mr. Kent has contributed some interesting papers on 
the above to the “Monthly Microscopical Journal.” Readers of these will find 
Dr. Oscar Schmidt’s new work full of interesting details anent the sponges 
found in his recent dredgings. Some of Schmidt’s drawings are indeed beauti- 
ful. The work is almost folio in point of size, and is illustrated by six plates, 
which are unquestionably superior to almost anything done in this country. 
The memoir should be carefully read by those who are interested in the 
subject. 
Passage of white Corpuscles through the Walls of Vessels. — This question 
would not appear to be decided yet, though there is much evidence in favour 
of their creeping out. From the details of a paper by Col. Dr. Woodward, 
in the “ Monthly Microscopical Journal ” for October, it would seem that, 
so far as the structure of the vascular walls and the passage of the white 
corpuscles through them are concerned, the facts appear to be on the side 
of Cohnheim. How, then, with regard to the doctrine of inflammation 
which he builds upon these facts and upon his corneal studies ? Does the 
creeping out of the white corpuscles constitute the essence of the inflam- 
matory process P Do these little movable masses of living protoplasm 
furnish the germs for the elements of new formations? Have pus-cor- 
puscles no other origin ? Are the processes which go on in the cells of the 
inflamed tissue purely passive — mere phenomena of retrograde metamor- 
phosis ? 
JDr. Carpenter's Last Voyage. — Dr. Carpenter has laid the results of his 
last voyage (“ Malta, the Mediterranean, &c.”) before the Royal Society. 
The paper read was full of interesting details. It is not yet published, and 
when it is we shall of course lay it before our readers. Several new species 
have been found, and some curious facts about the distribution of animal 
life have been discovered. The copy of the proceedings containing the Pro- 
fessor’s former paper extends over one hundred pages. The first part deals 
with the apparatus, and it shows us that the author has paid attention to 
even the most adverse criticism of his earlier voyage, and has on this occa- 
sion taken care to have all the apparatus constructed upon the most 
thoroughly scientific principles. It is greatly to be regretted, though, that 
the electric sounding apparatus was found not to work sufficiently well at 
sea to enable Dr. Carpenter and his assistants to employ it. The details are 
singularly minute, and the appended reports by W. Lant Carpenter, B.A., 
B.Sc., Dr. Frankland, F.R.S., and Mr. David Forbes, F-R.S., though short, 
are of an excellent character. 
Pritchard's Infusoria. — A new edition is coming out, greatly improved. 
At a late meeting of the New York Lyceum of Natural History, Professor 
T. Egleston, jun., read a letter received from Dr. Eulenstein, of Berlin, 
speaking of his forthcoming revised edition of “ Pritchard’s Infusoria,” and 
asking for contributions of specimens for the purpose of furthering that 
undertaking. 
Browning's Spectroscope Tables.— 'These are excellent, and produced at a 
