2N I ProceeJii)>js of the R(>>fal Uncldy of Victoria. 



ackiiowk-dge tlie services oi Mr. Sutberland as Secretary, 

 and he begoed to move, " 'J^hat we ]jlace upon the minutes 

 the Society's appreciation of the services of Mr. Sutherland, 

 and regret that lie is about to leave us for some time." 



Mr. RusDKN seconded the motion, which was carried. 



A pa[>er entitled "Some Fallacious Observations on 

 Sneezing'' was read by Dr. J. W. Bauiiett. 



The PhksI!)i:.\t said that having done a good deal of 

 sneezing himself during the past fortnight, since the grass 

 had become dry and the smell of hay had been about, his 

 im|)ression was tliat a large portion if not the v/hole of the 

 blast (-fair came through the mouth. 



Dr. JamikS()N said that like most people he had been led by 

 his reading to think that sneezing wasapurjiosive act, carried 

 out with a view to expelling some foreign body from the nose. 

 Since talking to Dr. Barrett about it, however, he had made 

 liUservations for himself, and had conie to the conclusion 

 that, as a matter of fact, in the act of sneezing the air was 

 exploded thr<mgh the mouth. Still, he would not like to 

 say it vvas always so, as a little observation amongst children. 

 led one to lieiieve that a good blast'of air nmst sometimes 

 ])ass throiii'li the nose, because it was not uncommon to 

 observe a;i ejection of mucus following too soon after to be 

 the result of exudation in consequence of the act. However, 

 he agreed veiy fully with what Dr. Barrett had said. The 

 explanation usually given in l)ooks rested on the a.ssuni[)tion 

 that such striking phenomena could not be without purpose, 

 and as coughing had such a clear purpose, it was easy 

 and natural foi- people to think that .sneezing had a similar 

 purpose. Still, Dr. Barrett seemed to be pushing the 

 matter to the other extreme when he said that, as a matter 

 of fact, the upper part of the nasal passages was actually 

 closed off, with the deliberate intention of preventing air 

 going through the nose in sneezing. It was very true that 

 many reflexes had a definite object in view. Winking 

 protected the eye ; the pupil contracted so as to guard 

 the back of the eye from the sudden entrance of strong 

 light ; but certainly moj-e striking phenomena than even 

 coughing or sneezing did occur which were en.tirely purpose- 

 less, oi ill some cases worse than ])urposeless. In one's 

 praeti:-e-, one soMKjtimes came across the ca;-e of a child 

 \rhicli ha<i sustained a severe burn on the skin, and some 



