THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
5
medicinal, commercial, and general interest, his remarks being illustrated
by specimens of the various products. The following subjects formed
the main features of the address:—
1. Drugs used likewise for dietetic purposes:—Tea, Cocoa, Nutmeg,
Mace, Cinnamon, Cassia, Capsicum, Seaweed Isinglass.
2. Arrow Poisons:—Strophanthus, Curari, Wabei.
3. Gums:—Gum Arabic, Myrrh, Frankincense, Benzoin.
4. Oils and Waxes:—Cocoa-nut Oil, Cotton Seed Oil, Insect Wax.
5. Resins:—Common Resin, Amber.
6. Artificial Perfumes:—Rose, Violet, Jasmine, Vanillin.
Mr. Holmes' address was extremely interesting, and he was warmly
thanked at its conclusion, on the proposal of Mr. John Spiller, F.I.C,
seconded by Mr. J. C. Shenstone, M.P.S., F.L.S. Afterwards he personally
conducted the members round the Museum, which probably contains
one of the most complete collections of Materia Medica in Europe, very
largely the creation of Mr. Holmes during his many years' labours in the
institution.
THE 432nd MEETING.
Saturday, 31st January 1914.
The second meeting of the Winter Session was held at 6 o'clock as
usual at the Technical Institute, West Ham, Mr. W. Whitaker, F.R.S.,
in the chair.
Mr. William H. Daun, M.A., F.L.S., of 155, Fenchurch Street, London,
was elected a member.
Hybernating Wasps—Mr. C. Nicholson exhibited some hybernating
living wasps, which had been very frequently observed this winter, and
Miss Hibbert-Ware confirmed this. Mr. W. Cole said that it would be
interesting to dissect some hybernating wasps, in order to see whether
they contained parasites (Sphaerularia, etc.), as was the case with Humble
Bees.
Flint Implements of Early Bronze Age.—Mr. Hazzledine Warren,
F.G.S., brought up a series of Flint Implements of Early Bronze Age,
found on the submerged pre-historic surface of the Essex Coast, many
of which showed very close resemblance to implements of the Palaeolithic
Period.
Mr. W. H. Dalton exhibited a "Hand specimen of an anticlinal,"
taken from the crest of one of several such folds in the Lower Silurian
rocks of Parsons' Pond, north-west coast of Newfoundland. It showed
thin strata of sandy argillaceous limestone, bent to a sharp parabolic
curve, as one might bend an unbound periodical, to an interior angle
approaching 45°, under sufficient superincumbent pressure to prevent
disruption, and as it were weld the solid rock to its final degree of flexure.
"Bread" made from Sea-Weed.—Mr. Percy Thompson exhibited,
on behalf of Mr. G. L. Bruce, a specimen of "Laver Bread" from Gla-
morganshire, a much-esteemed delicacy. It was prepared from the
common Laver (Porphyra vulgaris), a common sea-weed on our coasts.
It is dressed by frying in bacon-fat. The "bread" is sold in the markets
of South Wales, and is generally esteemed a luxury in Devon, Wales,