107 



duced two examples, first, the utter failure of the very ingenious 

 theory of Dr Murray to explain, on ordinary chemical principles, 

 the simplest and most essential phenomena of healthy Secretion ; and, 

 secondly, the now generally admitted inadequacy of any theory of 

 Inflammation, which does not regard a modification of the affinities 

 peculiar to life, and here termed vital, as the primary and essen- 

 tial change, in the matter concerned in that process. 



2. On the Fatty Acid of the Coceulus Indicus. By Mr 

 William Crowder. Communicated by Dr Anderson. 



The following Gentlemen were duly elected as Ordinary 

 Fellows : — 



1. Eyre B. Powell, Esq., Madras. 



2. Thomas Miller, Esq., Rector, Perth Academy, 



3. Allen Dalzell, Esq. 



Monday, 2d February 1852. 



Sir DAVID BREWSTER, K.H., Vice-President, in the 



Chair. 



The following Communications were read : — 

 1. On the Function of the Spleen and other Lymphatic Glands, 

 as originators of the Corpuscular Constituents of the 

 Blood. By Dr Bennett. 



The author had been enabled to study the blood corpuscles under 

 circumstances capable of extending our information with regard to 

 their relations, mode of formation, and ultimate destination. In 

 1846, he had discovered a peculiar condition in human blood, in 

 which the colourless cells were greatly increased in number. This 

 condition he had called leucocythemia, which was always associated 

 with enlargement of the spleen or other lymphatic glands, a circum- 

 stance which had induced him to form the opinion that the corpuscles 

 of the blood originated in these organs. This view he sought to esta- 

 blish by discussing at considerable length the following questions, 

 viz. : — \st. What relation do the colourless and coloured corpuscles 

 bear to each other ? 2d, Where do they originate ? ^d. What is 

 their ultimate destination ? 



From the whole inquiry, which included numerous observations ou 



I 2 



