THE MICROSCOPE AND MODERN MEDICINE. 
175 
barrier reefs to atolls, and of fringing to barrier reefs. Earlier 
theories to account for peculiarities of atolls and barrier reefs. 
Those of Chamisso, Darwin, and Dana. More recent views, 
founded on widely extended researches. The work of Semper, 
A. Agassiz, Murray, Guppy, and Walther. Upraised coral atolls 
and their significance. Biological conditions of coral reefs. Growth 
dependent on biological necessities of polypes. Existence of sub- 
marine banks. The possibility of their being raised by globigerina 
deposits. The first growth of coral on these. The more rapid 
growth of the peripheral coral stocks. The formation of the lagoon. 
The centrifugal growth of an atoll. Summary, and conclusion in 
favour of Murray's views. 
THE INFLUENCE OF THE MICKOSCOPE ON 
MODEEN MEDICINE. 
SYLLABUS OF LECTURE BY W. H. BRENTON, M.R.C.S. 
(Read 6th December, 1888.) 
Gradual perfecting of the microscope. Advances during the last 
century. The cellular structure of the body. The structure, 
reproduction, and life history of cells. Schwann's theory of cell 
formation. Relation of the animal to the vegetable kingdom ; of 
the higher to the lower animals. Modifications of the cell. 
Terminations of sensory and motor nerves. Lymph stomata. 
The blood circulation in the capillaries. Characteristics of lymph 
and chyle, and origin of chyle corpuscle. Absorption in the 
intestine. Cell exudation in inflammation. Changes in numerical 
relation to each other of blood corpuscles. The germ theory; 
origin. Fermentation and putrefaction in relation with micro- 
organisms. Physico-chemical theory. Position of micro-organisms 
in vegetable kingdom. Kinds ; origin \ habitat in nature. Cohn's 
classification. Immersion lenses. 
