13 



and he mentioned that Dr. Wyman, who has been engaged in 

 experiments of the same kind as those of Dr. Perkins, has made 

 no mention of such an effect. 



Mr. Desor gave an account of some experiments of his own with 

 chloroform on various animals. He found the articulated animals 

 most readily affected. Cottiis resisted its influence for fifteen 

 minutes. Gammarus was paralyzed instantly on coming in con- 

 tact with a drop of chloroform ; they generally recovered after 

 different intervals. Asterias was as if dead for three days, and 

 revived on the fourth. Actinia was affected. In this animal 

 nerves have not been detected, although Prof Agassiz has disco- 

 vered muscular fibres. Their being susceptible to chloroform 

 goes to indicate the presence of nerves. As soon as a drop is 

 put on their tentacles, long white strings come out, the Sperma- 

 tophora, so called. 



Dr. Gould remarked, that in examining ova, the application of 

 chloroform had the effect of stopping the motion of the ovule. 

 The strings mentioned by Mr. Desor, he thinks offensive and de- 

 fensive organs, which the animal thrusts out when irritated. The 

 stinging power of these animals is well known ; it is sufficient to 

 enable them to destroy small animals, and at a considerable dis- 

 tance. It probably resides in these threads. 



Dr. Bryant remarked, that the effect of chloroform was by 

 some supposed to prove that the capillaries of the nerves of sen- 

 sation, being very minute, were affected before those of motion. 



The President remarked, that Ether belongs to the class of 

 Excitants. The sedative effect is probably the effect of exhaus- 

 tion. Ether excites to increased energy, devouring, as it were, 

 the nervous energy. 



Dr. W. F. Channing stated, that thinking it desirable to have the 

 effect of the inhalation of the vapor of the Hypo-Nitrous Ether 

 tested, as an opinion had prevailed that it was dangerous to life, 

 he had tried it on himself, and found the effect extremely dis- 

 tressing, and such as would probably be fatal, if carried to a 

 great extent. 



Mr. Desor gave a further account of the development of 

 the embryo of the Star-fish, in the study of which he is now 



