CCXX111 



at the University of Virginia, at Charlottesville, and received his medical 

 education at the Medical College of the Marjdand University at Baltimore, 

 and after a few years' practice at Vicksburg, Miss., came to St. Louis in 

 1842, where he soon acquired an extensive practice. During the Mexican 

 war Dr. Pallen acted as consulting surgeon at the U. S. Arsenal at St. 

 Louis; was city health officer in 1849, tne y ear °f th e cholera; and was 

 for more than twenty years a distinguished Professor in the St. Louis 

 Medical College, and for several years President of the St. Louis Medical 

 Society. By his varied scientific attainments, and useful counsels and 

 support, Dr. Pallen contributed much to the prosperity of the Academy 

 from its first foundation, and was, as we all know, eminent in his profes- 

 sion, in which he was too arduously engaged to admit of his devoting 

 himself to any special scientific research ; but he was always highly 

 esteemed for his learning and virtues, in all public and private relations, 

 during a long and useful career of faithful service. 



Resolved, That these resolutions be entered and published among the 

 proceedings of the Academy. 



The Corresponding Secretary made his report, calling attention 

 to a publication by Daniel Wilson, in the Canadian ^Journal, on 

 the Relation of Brain Weight to Mental Strength. The result 

 reached by the author is that there appears to be no definite rela- 

 tion between brain weight and mental ability. W T hile many great 

 men have possessed large brains, many have also possessed com- 

 paratively small ones, while other large and apparently healthy 

 brains are almost wholly inactive. 



Mr. Nipher remarked that the same could be said in regard to 

 bodily weight and muscular work. Evidently, in both cases, the 

 achievement depends not only upon absolute capability, but also 

 upon the disposition to work. 



Prof. Potter gave the results of his analysis of the Peruvian lig- 

 nite which had been referred to him : 



ANALYSIS OF PERUVIAN LIGNITE. 



The proximate analysis showed : 



Moisture 1 1 . 15 



Volatile combust 12 



Fixed Carbon 

 Ash 



35 



70-55 

 5-95 



100.00 

 Sulphur 0.205 



Prof. Potter stated that while the proximate analysis is important, and 

 gives a tolerably fair idea of the value of a fuel, it is by no means enough 

 for the determination of its true calorific power. In Germany the ultimate 

 analysis is almost wholly depended upon in obtaining the calorific power, 



