After referring to the labours of those anatomists who had verified Malpighi's doctrine of the follicular nature of gland ducts, the author alluded to Purkinje's hypothesis of the secreting function of the nucleated corpuscules of these organs. In a rapid sketch of the results of inquiries since the appearance of Müller's work “De Penitiore Structura Grlandularum,” and more particularly of the observations of Henle and others on the closed vesicles which are situated at the extremities of certain ducts, Mr Goodsir stated, that no anatomist had hitherto “proved that secretion takes place within the primitive nucleated cell itself, or had pointed out the intimate nature of the changes which go on in a secreting organ during the performance of its function.”