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and it also came within the bounds of legitimate inquiry toask whether the " cachexias" known as the syphilitic, scrofulous,saturnine, &c., may not have a common bond between them,and identical with that cachexia following no diathetio maladyor eniDoisonment of the blood. In the former cachexias a

dyscrasic speciality was always superadded, (as the terms ofthe proposition implied,) whilst as regarded the latter, itmight be, but such must not necessarily be, the case. Therelations of the cachectic condition in the child were then dis-cussed under the following heads :-First, in connexion withdeficient alimentation and defective hygiene; secondly, as

associated with certain diathetic maladies ; thirdly, as con-nected with, not only several chronic, but certain acute, more orless localized lesions or disorders. These topics being con-

sidered, the reflex influence which the "cachectic condition"itself has in impressing a 1 eculiarity of type, &c., upon localinflammatory and other diseases arising in a system under itssway was then adverted to. From what had been stated, itwas not improbable the author might be accused of havingmixed up two great forms of systemic debilitation undoubtedlydistinct in their nature and associations. It might even beurged against him that he had thrown into one the severalcachexias associated with several different specific diseases,dyscrasies, or diathetic states, such as syphilis, tuberculosis,rachitis, &c.,—that which follows defective alimentation andhygiene, and that consequent upon severe structural changesof the gastro-intestinal mucous surface. Of course, in answer,he would reply that, except as regards degree, he believed thefundamental cachexia was much the same in all, and that thepoint where a difference existed was in a superaddition to thecachexia rather than in the cachexia itself. Particular reasonsfor this opinion were then given, Mter which the author pro- ceeded to inquire as to what constituted the most fundamentalchange in the economy that we could arrive at, as connectedwith, if not genetic of, the cachetic state. In most instancesit would be found that where a condition of spanaemia existed,there was defibrinization of the blood, a diminution of its redcorpuscular element, and frequently an increase of the blood’salkalinity. The latter did not occur, it must be admitted, inthe cachectic state associated with scorbutic manifestations,even if the salts of potash were not diminished. Still the lateinquiries of Messrs. Paget, Bennett, (Hughes,) Wharton Jones,&c., and illustrations deducible from comparative physiologyand the diseases of adult life, might be brought forward insupport of the views now asserted; at least, so their authorwas of opinion. Of course, a more profound analysis might beattempted-viz., what is (it might be asked) the pcculiaritywhich thus so absolutely necessitates this impoverished con-dition of the blood ? This is the most difficult inquiry of all,because the more extreme generalization. But even this mustbe undertaken, and though most imperfectly, as the authoradmitted, the present paper had offered its vid.A discussion of some length ensued, in which Mr. Ross, Dr.

Brinton, Dr. Andrew Clark, Mr. Power, Dr. Webster, Dr.Chowne, Dr. Daniell, and Mr. Hinton took part.

PHYSIOLOGICAL SOCIETY.

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 13TH, 1854.MR. I. B. BROWN, V. P., in the Chair.

THE meeting was well attended.The PRESIDENT made a few introductory remarks. He spoke

of the importance of physiological knowledge in relation to theprogress of medicine, and earnestly recommended the laboursof this section of the Society to the attention of the fellows.There were all the elements in the Society for forming an ener-getic and highly valuable section devoted to physiological inves-tigations, and the industry of the members might soon makethese meetings as large and important as the meetings of thePathological and Epidemiological Societies. It perhaps requiredtime for the fellows of the Society to be made aware of the factthat these meetings took place monthly, and were open to allfellows of the Society.

Dr. CRISP exhibited coloured drawings of the viscera of alarge alligator, taken by measurement, and then read the follow-ing commnnicatian-ON THE MALPIGHIAN BODIES OF THE SPLEEN OF THE ALLI-

GATOR AND CROCODILE, AND ON THE WEIGHT OF THE SPLEENAS COMPARED WITH THE BODY IN THESE ANBIALS.

Nearly all the writers on the spleen that I am acquainted withdeny the existence of Malpighian bodies in fish and reptiles-

an error that a more extended examination of the vertebrateanimals would readily have corrected. These bodies are verydistinct in some of the cartilaginous fishes, and in many reptiles;but in none that I have examined are they so large as in thealligators and crocodiles. The preparations on the table, fromthe spleen of an alligator and of a crocodile, are sufficient evi-dence of this, although when recently taken from the bodythey were more apparent. The. specimen, however, in whichthey have been subjected to the action of dilute nitric aciddisplays them better. They are about the size of these bodiesin the sheep and other of the ruminants; they measured, whenfresh, about the twenty-fourth of an inch in diameter. Anothererror of more importance respecting the spleen is the assertionof every writer that I know of, ’’ That the spleen decreases insize as we descend in the scale of vertebrate animals"-a mis-take that can only have originated in that common source oferror, the lazy system of taking for granted that which previouswriters have stated as correct, and of not investigating for our-selves. It is from this cause that the English works on physiology, and the articles in our Cyclopaediae, (copied mostly fromContinental writers,) are crammed with mistakes, the questiontoo often being, ’’ Where does the information come from ?"-not "Is it true?" From a recent work " On the Spleen, withwhich one of the reviewers was so charmed that he broke forthinto a soliloquy on Truth, I extract the following passage :-" Reptilia.-As we descend in the scale of the vertebrate series,the function of the spleen appears to be considerably reduced inimportance, as shown by the extreme diminution of its size-adiminution more marked than in any other of the vertebrata."But let us test the correctness of this descending scale by theclass of animals in question. I have examined ten of these-four crocodiles and six alligators, varying in weight froma few ounces to two hundredweight. All were inspected soon

after death, and in seven, the bodies and viscera were carefullyweighed by myself, and the alimentary canal measured. Inthe three larger specimens the weight of the body only wasguessed at. In all, the stomach contained stones; and in one,large pine-knots, partly digested. The relative weight of thebody and of the spleen in the ten specimens was as follows :-Crocodiles, 1/528 1/502, 1/1466 a large specimen, the body notweighed, about 1/597; alligators, 1/706 1/900 1/1100, 1/1384; twolarge ones, the bodies not weighed, about 1/891 and 1/1045. Ifthe above proportions are compared with those of some ordersof birds, the alligator’s spleen will be found to be relativelymuch heavier; and when the weight of the tegumentarycovering (possessing but little vascularity) in these Saurians isconsidered, the proportion is greatly increased. It may beremarked, too, that some of the animals above mentioned hadnot fed for several months. If we investigate this descensivescale still further, and examine a lower grade of the vertebrata- viz., fishes, we find a much greater proof of its erroneousnessthan in the reptiles.

Dr. RICHARDSON read a paper

ON THE PRESENCE OR ABSENCE OF BLOOD IN THE ARTERIESAFTER DEATH.

He commenced by alluding to the fact, that the emptiness ofthe arterial system after death had attracted the attention ofthe earliest anatomists, and bad probably given rise to the ideathat the arteries were channels for conveying aereal spirits-an idea which had impeded the labours of all anatomists up tothe time of Harvey. The cause of the emptiness of the arterieshad in modern times given rise to numerous physiological dis-cussions ; but the common opinion of late had been that a con-tractile power in the arteries caused them to empty themselves.To this opinion there were two objections-1. That grantingthe arteries to possess a muscular contractile power, it is noteasy to see how that power can be exerted when all the othermuscles of the body are relaxed, as they are during and imme-diately after the act of death. 2. The arteries were not alwaysleft empty, which they would be if this contraction were thecause of their emptiness. The arteries were found in threeconditions after death-1. Charged with blood, like the veins.2. Absolutely empty. 3. Containing cords of coagulated bloodwith no surrounding serum. In answer to the question, Whatis the cause of these varying conditions? Dr. Richardson saidthat the answer he believed had been given long since by thediscoverer of the circulation of the blood. They were connectedwith certain relative states of the respiration and circulation inthe act of dying. The following was the Harveian explanationas given in the 9th chapter of the treatise " On the Motions ofthe Heart and Blood" :-" And now the cause is manifest,wherefore in our dissections we usually find so large a quantityof blood in the veins, so little in the arteries; wherefore there

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is so much in the right ventricle, so little in the left-circum-stances which led the ancients to suppose that the arteries, astheir name applies, contained nothing but spirits during thelife of an animal. The true cause of the difference is this, that asthere is no passage to the arteries, save through the lungs andheart, when an animal has ceased to breathe and the lungs tomove, the blood in the pulmonary artery is prevented frompassing into the pulmonary veins, and from thence into theleft ventricle of the heart, just as we have already seen thesame transit prevented in the fcetus by the want of movementin the lungs, and the alternate opening and shutting of theirminute orifices and invisible pores. But the heart not ceasingto act at the same precise moment as the lungs, but survivingthem, and continuing to pulsate for a time, the left ventricleand arteries go on distributing their blood to the body at large,and sending it into the veins; receiving none from the lungs,however, they are soon exhausted, and left as it were empty."In support of this reading of the subject under consideration,Dr. Richardson now adduced various experiments and observa-tions of his own. He had watched the process of dying inmen and in animals on numerous occasions during the past twoyears, and had observed that whenever the act of dying was atall prolonged, the cessation of the heart’s beat prior to thecessation of respiration was followed by fulness of the arteriesafter death; and, vice versa., that the cessation of the respira-tion prior to the cessation of the heart’s beat was followed byemptiness of the arterial trunks. To this general rule therewere a few exceptions, however. Thus the arteries may beleft empty after death from haemorrhage, although the respira-tion may have outlived the heart. In cases of death fromfailure of the right side of the heart, or from obstruction there,the arteries may again be empty, though respiration continued Ilonger than the circulation. In cases of obstruction in the leftside of the heart, again, the arteries may be full, though theheart may have outlived the circulation; while in suddendeath, where the heart and lungs ceased to act almost simul-taneously, the arteries may be found as full as the veins. Dr.Richardson next remarked on that condition of blood in whichit was found in the arteries in long coagulated threads. Inthese cases the arteries had probably been left full; but theblood in them having coagulated and become separated intotwo parts, clot and serum, the serum was drawn off by osmotic.action, first into the tissues, and afterwards into the veins ortissues, in the same manner as water is taken out of arteries Iinjected with it in dissecting-room subjects. ’.A very animated discussion followed the reading of this

paper.Dr. SNOW contended that the power of the left ventricle was

not sutncient to empty the arteries. The contraction of thearteries during life was shown in the gradual feebleness of thepulse during exhaustive diseases. There must be some otherkind of force in the capillaries to cause the arteries to emptythemselves completely.Dr. CBisp denied the muscularity of the arteries, and their

active contractile power. The elasticity of the fibrous coat ofan artery was contiary to the idea of muscularity. The act of

blushing showed a relaxed state of the vessels, and in thearteries no kind of contraction could be elicited by irritationsimilar to that action which could be so long kept up afterdeath in the intestines and other organs possessing muscularfibres.

Dr. PAVEY urged that the left ventricle could not by itscontraction alone empty the arterial tubes. It must pushsomething, such as a column of air, before it, in order to producesuch an effect. In experiments on animals, he had often ob-served the contractility of arteries, and had seen an arteryreduced by contraction to the condition of an impervious cord.The contraction of arteries after death resembled the con-

tractile power of the bladder, by which the urine was some-times expelled in the dead.Mr. HIRD doubted if the same physical effects could be

produced in the living artery as were produced in the dead.The condition of the blood itself had not a little to do with itsmotion; in the main, however, he agreed with Dr. Richardson.

Dr. HARE contended that the heart could not of itself emptythe arteries. More than this, the arteries could be seen con-tracting in the frog’s foot. In ansemic states, where the heart was feeble, the action of the arteries was often most active.Mr. PILCHER remarked on the elastic property of arteries,

and on their faculty of shortening during a diastole. He be-lieved that cadaveric rigidity extends to the arteries. Thecontraction of an artery was analogous to contractions in othercanals, such as the urethra and lachrymal duct.

Dr. MuRPHY thought that all the causes that had beennamed might lead to the results described. The causes named

by Dr. Richardson were probably the main ones, but the othersmight be subsidiary.

Dr. 0. WARD observed that strictures of the urethra crlachrymal duct resulted from local irritation, and could nottherefore bear on the subject of arterial contraction or non-contraction.

Dr. HENRY said that some of the exceptions to the Harveianrule described by Dr. Richardson were scarcely exceptions,but rather extensions of the rule itself. He would like to hearhow Dr. Richardson accounted for the oscillations of blood inthe arteries during feeble states of the circulation, without theaid of arterial contraction.

Dr. CHOWNE would like to hear from Dr. Richardson whathe supposed the arteries contained in cases where they werequite empty of blood. They certainly were not vacuous. Hedid not think that sufficient facts were before us to explain allthe phenomena connected with the state of the circulation andrespiration in the act of death.

Dr. RICHARDSON, in reply, observed, that if the arteries

really contracted after death so as to empty themselves in anyone case, they ought to do so in all. He asserted from obser-vation that the arteries did not undergo cadaveric rigidity.He believed, with Dr. Snow, that there was a force exertedby which fluids in the arteries could be drawn into the tissues,and thence into the veins; that this force was osmotic, andwent on in the dead as well as in the living subject for a time.The violent action of the arteries in exhaustive diseases showeda want of tone in the arterial tunics, and the haemorrhagicpulse was essentially characteristic of the same condition. Hecould not answer the important question put by Dr. Chowneas to what the arteries did contain when empty of blood;certain it was, however, that they were not vacuous. Mr.Pilcher’s argument about stricture of muscular tubes could onlybe brought to bear on this subject when the muscularity of thearteries was proved to be a fact. Oscillations in the arteries,in feeble states, were produced merely by the systole anddiastole of the heart during a period when there was diminishedsupply of blood in the arterial system.

ROYAL SOCIETY.

ON THE FREQUENT OCCURRENCE OF INDIGO IN HUMAN URINE,AND ON ITS CHEMICAL, PHYSIOLOGICAL, AND PATHOLOGICALRELATIONS.

BY ARTHUR HILL HASSALL, M.D.,MEMBER OF THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS, PHYSICIAN TO THE ROYAL

FREE HOSPITAL, ETC.

(Communicated by Professor SHARPEY, Sec. R.S.)

THE present communication embraces some further observa-tions and experiments on the occurrence of indigo in humanurine. From these it appears that the presence of that sub-stance is even more common than the author was led toanticipate from his first inquiries, the results of which werecommunicated to the Society in June last. The author fur-nishes additional proofs of the blue colouring matter in questionbeing really indigo, by converting it into isatine and aniline ;for this purpose it was necessary to obtain the pigment inconsiderable quantity. Contrasting its chemical and rhysi.ological relations with haematin and urine pigment, he showsthat indigo is closely allied in its nature and origin to thosesubstances, and he considers that when indigo is met with inurine in considerable amount, it forms a vehicle for theelimination of any excess of carbon contained in the system.This view is borne out by the important fact, that the greaternumber of cases in which indigo has been observed to bedeveloped in the urine in large amount, have been cases inwhich the decarbonizing functions are greatly impaired, as inextensive tubercular disease of the lungs, and in most cases ofcholera.

Reviews and Notices of Books.

A Manual of Pathological Anatomy. By C. HANDFIELDJONES, M.B., F.R.S.; and EDWARD H. SIEVEKING, M.D.Foolscap 8vo, pp. 788. London: Churchill. 1854.

EVERY ONE who has stndied the science of Medicine as sucha science ought to be studied, must long ere this have arrivedat the conclusion that there are two of its departments-thoseof pathology and therapeutics-in which there is yet much to