British Association. 461 



Secondly, " A report of the London Committe on the same sub- 

 ject," read by Dr. Clendinning. 



Dr. Symonds read a letter from Dr. Spittal, of Edinburgh, stating 

 that by reason of the death of Professor Turner, and in the absence 

 of one of the members on the continent, the Committee of the Asso- 

 ciation had not been able to make any report on the same subject, the 

 investigation of which was committed to them at the last meeting of 

 the Association ; but that it was their intention to go into the subject. 



The third subject introduced was — *^ On the Gyration of the 

 Heart, by Mr. Greeves." The following is an abstract of the paper : — 



1. Muscular fibres can act as levers without a solid fulcrum, if 

 there be another set of fibres set at an angle, and contracting simul- 

 taneously. 



2. A hollow organ may be dilated by the construction of such an 

 arrangement of fibres, if in contracting they become more parallel to 

 a plane passing longitudinally along the axis of the organ. 



3. That there are two spiral, two longitudinal, and one diagonal 

 set of fibres in the heart, interlacing each other. 



4. The ventricles gyrate incessantly to and fro upon their axis. 



a. In systole, or involution, as the left hand pronates. 



b. In diastole, or evolution, as the left hand supinates. 



5. The double spiral curve of the two great arteries forms a com- 

 pensating and regulating movement, causing 



6. i. A diminution of friction. 



7. ii. Steadiness and celerity of motion, on the principle of the 



tilt hammer. 



8. iii. An isochronous action, on the principle of the balance- 



wheel and spring. 



9. iv. The progression of the whole heart. 



10. That the function of the auricle is to maintain the equilibrium 

 of the venous system. 



11. The first sound is produced by the sudden tension and sudden 

 change of gyration occasioning vibration of the ventricular walls. 

 The second sound is from flapping of the sigmoid valves. 



12. The impulse is partly caused by the progression, partly by 

 the atmospheric pressure, and chiefly by the left ventricle, first 

 gyrating into the proper position to do so, carrying the apex 

 against the thorax, with a force equal to the difference of strength 

 between the right and left ventricles. 



13. Bruit de sotiflet in the heart, is the result of increased fric- 

 tion on the pericardium. 



The author said he was aware his views on this subject were sto 

 very different to those generally entertained, that he appeared, as it 

 were, on his trial before the philosophy of the kingdom, as to whether 

 they were true or erroneous. 



Dr. Carson, of Liverpool, after combating some of the propo- 

 sitions of Mr. Greeves, said, he saw nothing to induce him to resort 

 to gyration, when dilatation seemed so natural. It was evident, on 

 grasping the heart of an ox, for instance, that it expanded with great 

 force ; and he had heard nothing to induce him to alter his notion 

 of the dilatation of the heart. 



2 H 2 



