278 
THE MIDLAND UNION. 
Dkc., 1889. 
that was liis surprise that Professor Weismann had apparently 
paid so little attention to the difficulties which the trans¬ 
mission of hereditary diseases would seem to offer to this 
theory of heredity, while he had devoted a whole lecture to 
disprove the supposed transmission of mutilations. For he, 
Dr. Collier, felt sure that hardly a medical man could be 
found, and very few of the general public, who ever thought 
that the effect of mutilations, such as scars, or removal by 
accident (or otherwise) of portions of the body, were in any 
way transmitted to the offspring. 
Professor Hillhouse proposed a vote of thanks to Mr. 
Poulton for his address. After referring to the fact that 
besides those of Darwin and Weismann, there existed two 
other important theories of heredity, those of Niigeli and of 
Strasburger, he pointed out cases existent in the vegetable 
kingdom which were not readily explicable by the Weismann 
theory, which theory he looked upon as in large degree 
unnecessary. The resolution was seconded by Dr. Lawson 
Tait, who supported the view of Dr. Collier as to the trans¬ 
mission of acquired characteristics, and further enforced 
the case of hereditary bleeding as one in point; and a lively 
passage of arms arose between Dr. Tait and Mr. Francis 
Gal ton, owing to the trenchant criticism by the former of the 
use of the word “ heredity.” 
The vote having been carried, the proceedings closed with 
a hearty vote of thanks to Mr. H. M. J. Underhill, Secretary 
of the Oxfordshire Natural History Society, for the admirable 
arrangements he had made for the meeting of the Union. 
CONVERSAZIONE. 
By the kind permission of the University Delegates the 
Conversazione in the evening was held in the University 
(Ashmolean) Museum. About 700 guests were present, and 
they were received by the President, Mr. Poulton, and Mr. 
Underhill, the Secretary of the host society. In addition to 
the remarkable collection of varied and interesting objects 
with which the great Museum and the Pitt-Rivers Museum 
are filled, a programme for the amusement and instruction of 
the visitors was provided, the wealth of which our space only 
enables us in the briefest way to depict. In the Large Lecture 
Theatre in the North Gallerv, Dr. E. B. Tvlor, F.R.S., 
