British Association. 459 



The reading of this paper, many of the propositions of which were 

 illustrated by preparations in a high state of preservation, occupied 

 one hour and a quarter, and commanded much attention. The 

 following abstract will give our readers an outline of its contents : — 

 Mr. Carmichael commenced his paper on Tubercles with some 

 remarks upon the great prevalence of these formations, and then 

 proceeded to detail their appearances according to the descriptions of 

 Leennec and Carswell. He adverted to the use of the term scro- 

 phula, which he considers a cloak for ignorance ; and having stated, 

 that Drs. Todd, Clark, and Carswell believe in the identity of 

 scrophula and tubercle, disputed this position, and likewise their 

 opinion, that tubercles are inorganizable deposits. Among other 

 objections, he urged the inconsistency of representing enlarged cervical 

 glands, and pulmonary tubercles as identical, since it is well known 

 that the former may be injected, but not the latter ; and of main- 

 taining the non-inflammatory origin of tubercles, together with the 

 view that these bodies are lifeless matter ; since, if such is their 

 nature, they must excite inflammation in the tissues which contain 

 them. He allows, however, that the scrophulous constitution dis- 

 poses to tubercles, but only in the same manner as to cancer. 



Mr. C. next adverted to the generally recognized connexion between 

 scrophula and disordered digestion, and claimed the priority of this 

 observation, by reference to a work which he published in 1810. 

 He then proceeded to argue, at considerable length, in favour of the 

 parasitical origin of tubercles, pointed out the absence of vascular com- 

 munication between these bodies and surrounding parts, and observed, 

 that so long as the former retained their vitality no inflammation 

 takes place. The author declared his opinion, that carcinoma must 

 likewise be arranged among the entozoa, and having indicated the 

 division of a cancerous formation into a medullary and a cartilaginous 

 portion, assigned to the former an independent vitality, the latter 

 being only a barrier which nature sets up against the parasite ; and 

 showed that the containing cyst belongs to the surrounding tissue. 

 The cartilaginous portion, he stated, might be injected, but not so 

 the medullary. Tubercles he considers more allied to carcinoma 

 than to scrophula. Having spoken of a difference between fungus 

 medullaris, and fungus haematodes, he proposed to arrange the 

 formations which had passed under review, as constituting four 

 species of entozoa: — 1. Turbercles found in the lungs; 2. Tubercles 

 found in the abdominal organs; 3. Fungus medullaris and haematodes; 

 4. Carcinoma. 



The author concluded by stating, that the doctrines of the inde- 

 pendent vitality of tubercles was making considerable progress among 

 the physicians of Germany. It was the business of the profession to 

 point out the means of prevention rather than the cure of this disease. 

 Wholesome nourishment, pure air, temperance and exercise, were the 

 great preventatives. It was remarkable that the agricultural popula- 

 tion were comparatively free from these affections — a circumstance 

 which he accounted for, by the digestive organs being in a more 

 healthy state, and furnishing the alimentary canal with fresh 

 supplies of nourishment to supply the waste which was constantly 



VOL. IV. 2 H 



