Lachrymal Sinus of Deer, 99 



the sinuses of the stag by Daubcnton, and called ))y him bezoard de cerf. — 

 This, Dr. Geoghegan, the Professor of Medical Jurisprudence in the Eoyal 

 College of Surgeons, has been kind enough to submit to analysis, the results 

 of which corroborate the inference that the secretion found in the cavities is 

 derived from the cavity itself, and not from the surface of the eye. The 

 existence of the hairs and flakes of exfoliated cuticles in layers proves that 

 the deposit is formed from the surface beneath, and not by evaporation of 

 fluids trickling into the cavity. Dr. Geoghegan's account of the analysis I 

 annex in his own words. 



" The bezoard described by Dr. Jacob is covered by a fine transparent 

 membrane, a good deal resem1)liug goldbeater's leaf ; within this, and arranged 

 concentrically, are four or five lamina;, having a coriaceous appearance ; these 

 seem to be soaked with, the dark brown matter which constitutes the great 

 bulk of the mass. The thickness of these membranous coverings is altogether 

 about a line and a half. The matter contained within this covering is of a 

 dark reddish-brown colour, resembling indurated cerumen, and consisting 

 apparently of a number of fine hairs matted together by a substance of an 

 oleo-resinous appearance. This substance in one specimen was viscid and 

 tenacious, and of the consistence of common turpentine ; while in another it 

 was more friable. Both exhaled a most peculiar odour resembling soft soap 

 made with fish oil, but slightly pungent and aromatic. The more friable 

 specimen had the smell of kreosote when much diluted. The specific gravity 

 of the large mass 1,081. The material has a slightly bitter taste, but does 

 not dissolve in the mouth, and imparts a very slight greasy stain to paper. 

 When heated it swells, grov/s darker in colour, and undergoes a partial fusion ; 

 and if the heat be increased it takes fire, and burns with a bright flame and 

 much smoke, leaving behind a greyish-w'hite ash. A fragment digested with 

 five successive portions of water, imparted to them the peculiar odour of the 

 substance, which w-as, however, dissipated by evaporation. It appears 

 therefore to contain a volatile odorous principle, which is so intim.ately com* 

 bined with the other principles present, that even after digestion in the 

 above mentioned number of waters, the residuum, which wa& but iittle acted 

 on, possessed its peculiar odour nearly as strong as before. The aqueous 

 s olution afforded, on evaporation, a brownish extractive matter, with which 

 nitrate of silver gave a copious precipitate of chloride of silver ; and oxalate 

 of ammonia indicated a salt of lime, most probably lactate. Another portion 

 digested in tsther coloured it yellow, and the solution on evaporation furnislied 

 a yellowish-brown transparent substance, very viscid and tenacious at ordi- 

 nary temperatures, very readily fusible, and exceedingly soluble in caustic 

 potash ; immediately on uniting with them, it exhales strongly the smell of 

 feh-oil soap. This solution is miscible with water without decomposition ; 

 acids precipitate a white matter, and when, subsequent to the addition of 

 acid, the mixture is heated, an oily looking matter floats, and the rest of the 

 Ihiid becomes turbid and milky. Cold alcohol digested on another porticai 

 took up a good deal of yellow viscid matter ; and when evaporated furnished 

 a^ some extractive, soluble in water, probably the same as that afforded by 



