276 [October, 



which was referred to Dr. Wilson, Col. G. A. McCall, and Dr. 

 Watson. 



Mr. Charles Girard read a paper entitled < Historical Sketch of the 

 GordiacijE," which, being intended for publication, was referred to a 

 Committeee consisting of Dr. Leidy, Dr. Hallowell, and Dr. Horner. 



Dr. Fisher read a note from Dr. C. D. Meigs, announcing that he 

 was now prepared to read before the Society his biographical Memoir 

 of the late Dr. Morton. 



Professor Horner narrated a case illustrating the extreme lethargy 

 produced by the action of Carbonic acid gas on the human system. 

 The individual, while engaged in burning lime, had fallen asleep 

 durino- the night upon the edge of the kiln, and had been exposed to 

 the action of this gas for many successive hours. A great part of the 

 right fore arm, arm, scapula, and back had been severely burned, with- 

 out the knowledge of the patient, until he was extricated by persons 

 passing next morning. 



Dr. Leidy presented for the inspection of the members a mutilated cranium of 

 an extinct mammal, formerly characterized by him under the name of Oreodon 

 robustum.* It was one of five specimens of crania of the same species lately re- 

 ceived through Professor Baird from the Smithsonian Institute. When first ob- 

 tained, one side was completely enveloped within a matrix, upon the removal of 

 which the complete dentition of the animal was disclosed. The teeth form a 

 continuous arch as in Anoplotherium. The formula is m. s, p. m. 4, c. J, i.^ 



upon each side. 



Dr. L. also exhibited three inferior molars of the Rhinoceros occidentalis,t of 

 which the posterior measured seventeen lines antero-posteriorly, and ten lines 

 transversely ; the others about fourteen lines antero-posteriorly, and ten lines 

 transversely. 



Dr. Fisher offered the following, which was adopted. 



Resolved, That an invitation be sent by the Secretary, through the 

 Dean of each of the four Medical Colleges, of this city, to the students 

 attending lectures at the respective institutions, to visit the Museum of 

 the Academy on Tuesdays and Fridays, (public days,) and to inform 

 them that they will be admitted upon exhibiting their matriculation 

 tickets. 



Mr. Vaux offered the following, which was also adopted. 



Resolved, That the Committee appointed at a meeting of the 

 Academy, held May 16th, 1851, to select a Biographer of the late Dr. 

 Morton, be requested to obtain a suitable place for hearing the Memoir 

 by Dr. Meigs, and to make such other arrangements as may be 

 requisite. 



* Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci., 5, 238. t Ibid, 119. 



