The minutes having been read and other business transacted, the Chairman
called upon Dr. Harvey to Tend his paper on " Sponges."

Dr. Harvey stated that sponges had lately been raised into a separate sub-
kingdom—Polystomata—from their former place as the highest order of the
Protozoa. He then proceeded to describe the three varieties of sponge, the
horny, the calcareous and the siliceous, these terms describing merely
their skeletons, for the living sponge comprises numberless colonies of
minute amaeboid animals that have a common integument, although they are
separate individuals as far as their own internal economy is concerned.
They are ciliated, and by that means keep currents of water continually in
motion, which bring them particles of food and oxygen. The water is
constantly entering by the minute apertures that are to be seen in all
sponges, and passing out by the large openings. The calcareous sponges
build up their skeletons of large numbers of minute calcareous spicules,
while the silicious use flint for the purpose of giving them strength, and
these are often of very beautiful shapes. The only sponges utilized are
the " horny " whose skeleton is composed of a substance known as keratode,
that is very similar in composition to the hair and claws of the higher
animals. The doctor then proceeded to give an account of what is known of
the methods of reproduction in this sub-kingdom. The paper was admirably
illustrated by numerous diagrams, and by specimens obtained by the members
who had attended the excursion to the North Beach on the Saturday
previous, which allowed the enormous variety of sponges to be obtained on
the the [sic] west coast. The Rev. C. G. Nicolay exhibited a sponge nearly
two feet in diameter from Sharks' Bay, and the Secretary specimens of
those silicious sponges known as Venus' Flower Basket, Eupletcella
aspergillum.

Doubtless the sponge industry will in the future assume considerable
importance on the West and North West coasts, while now there is a large
field for the Naturalist in collecting, describing, and naming them.
The next excursion of this Society will be to the Helena Valley on the
first Saturday in April, and on the Monday following a paper will be given
on the “Spectroscope” by the honorary secretary, Mr. Bernard H. Woodward....

The launch first proceeded to Freshwater Bay, when Mr. Alpin Thomson was taken on board, with an oyster dredging net, which he kindly placed at the disposal of the Society. Some dredging was then attempted, but owing principally to the large mesh of the net, with no results save a few shell-fish and a crab.  After dredging for some time the order was given by Mr. B. H. Woodward, the indefatigable Secretary of the Society and the chief organizer of these enjoyable outings, “Full steam ahead to Peppermint Grove.” There the party disembarked, and after some slight refreshments a start was again made, this time for Rocky Bay, where the dredging was more successful, several pieces of sponge, which, under the microscope, may possibly reveal some interesting forms of animal and vegetable life, being obtained.

On the homeward journey Peppermint Grove was again touched at, to pick out some of the party who had remained on shore, and Perth was reached a few minutes before half-past six.

In spite of the partial success of the dredging operations, all were unanimous in the opinion that a thoroughly enjoyable and pleasant afternoon had been spent. The weather was perfection, and as it was the first time that several of the party had been down the Swan, they saw the river under the most favourable circumstances, and were enthusiastic in their praise of its beauties. It is intended, we understand, to make a similar excursion at some future date, when if possible a dredge specially made for obtaining specimens will be used. This evening the usual monthly meeting of the Society will be held at the offices of the Geological Department, at 7.30, when Dr. Tratman will read a paper on the insect locally known as the “chick-chick.”...

The Doctor began his address by discussing the position of the bacteria in relation to the animal and vegetable kingdoms, and although favouring their being placed in the vegetable kingdom, yet advised, owing to there still being some doubt, that they should be named microbes, which simply means “small living things.”

He then described their appearance, consistence, and mode of life, advising a simple classification of spheres, rods, filaments or spirals, according to their shape. He further recommended, however, a functional classification, namely, Chromogenic – pigment forming; Septic – Putrefactive; Zymogenic – Fermentative; Pathogenic – producing specific diseases.
 

• Of the Chromogenic, he mentioned, Micrococcus Prodigiosus, a spherical microbe filled with a reddish oil, giving rise to blood-coloured stains upon whatever it might settle e.g., bread, meat, and articles of food. Also the Protococcus Nivalis which in northern regions gives the snow a reddish tinge, and also the Spirillum which renders rain of reddish colour.

 

• Septic or Putrefactive, represented by the Bacterium Termo, which abound everywhere, and are the agents to which all living nature must bear bow, namely, “Dust to Dust.” So soon as life leaves our bodies, they are at once attacked by millions of these microbes, which reduce them to the primary forms from which there were derived, and thus the mineral constituents again mingle with the soil, and so the equilibrium of nature is sustained, there being no creation, no destruction. Plants draw their nutrients from the soil and air in the form of mineral solution, and are devoured by animals; and animals are in their turn devoured by microbes, and return by means of putrefaction to the soil and serve for the nutrition of plants. It has lately been shown that these microbes exist in enormous quantities in the soil to a depth of about 20 inches, but that at greater depths they are comparatively few. This is a factor of great importance to the sanitarian, for it is thus that organized materials such as excreta and refuse of towns, when placed upon the surface of the soil, are quickly changed, whereas, when placed at a greater depth, are slow to undergo decomposition.  It is probably due to the recognition of this fact that thrifty nations such as the Chinese, who use the refuse of their cities upon the soil for agricultural purposes, outlive other nations, such as the Ninevites, Babylonians, Romans and Athenians, who did not recognize this necessity. Thus though, when properly taken advantage of, they are friends to the sanitarian, they are most deadly enemies to the surgeon. Dr Jameson here described how Sir Joseph Lister had discovered a means of contending against them, now known as “Listerism, or the antiseptic system.”

 

• Of the Zymogenic or Fermentative microbe, he mentioned lactic fermentation or the souring of milk due to Bacillum Lactis, the acetic fermentation, or the conversion of alcohol into vinegar, due to Mycoderma Aceti, and also the various diseases of wine, such as mouldiness, over-fermentation, ropiness, and bitterness, all due to microbes.

 

• Of the Pathogenic microbes, which are of such great importance to the physician, he pointed out that it was daily more and more believed that contagious and infectious diseases, such as fevers, are due to microbes multiplying and flourishing in the system. In some such as anthrax and relapsing fever, this has been demonstrated beyond all doubt, and there are many other diseases in connection with which bacteria have been found, e.g. ague, cholera, diptheria, erysipelas, glanders, leprosy, small-pox, typhoid, and tuberculosis or consumption.  He then showed the probable means of combatting these diseases in the near future.

At the conclusion of the address, an interesting discussion took place on the points raised by Dr. Jameson, and before the members separated opportunity was taken to examine under the microscope the specimens of the diptheria and other microbes which Dr. Jameson had provided to illustrate his address....

Among those present were Lady Robinson, Lady Forrest, [the] Hon. H. W. Venn (Commissioner of Railways), Mr. R. Fairbairn, R.M., Dr. and Mrs. [Jam]eson and Mr. Poole.

The president con[fine?]d his address to pointing out to the members of the Society the great field for labour []he colony which lay before all who felt [original text missing] and inclination for the work. The [Soc]iety, he said, had had a very small beginning, but its objects were very extensive. [The]re had been, during the year, many inter- [esti]ng papers read by members, which gave [gre]at encouragement to the Society to pursue [original text missing] interesting and ennobling work of study-[original text missing] and portraying the beauties in nature [wh]ich were to be observed all round.

Among [the] many subjects to which the attention and [earne]st investigation of the Society should be [dir]ected were the aborigines and their language and customs, and the extensive flora [and] fauna of the colony.

At the conclusion [of] his address, the president was, on the [mo]tion of Dr. Jameson, seconded by Mr. Woodward, accorded a hearty vote of thanks....