TRANSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS. 



6H 



On the Effects of Poisons on the Animal (Economy. 

 By Dr. Hodgkin and Dr. Ruppell. 



Dr. Hodgkin and Dr. Riippell, who were appointed at the 

 Cambridge Meeting of the Association to draw up a report for 

 the Medical Section respecting some points connected with the 

 effect of poisons, stated that they were not as yet prepared to 

 present the results of their inquiries ; but Dr. Hodgkin informed 

 the Section that his colleague had paid very considerable atten- 

 tion to the subject, although his extensive materials vi'ere not put 

 together in a form to be offered to the Association. Dr. Hodgkin 

 also laid before the Section the Fasciculi published by Dr. Riip- 

 pell, and read a preliminary paper reporting the progress which 

 he had himself independently made, illustrated by various draw- 

 ings by C. J. Canton, and wax models by Joseph Towne. 



The points alluded to in this preliminary essay were the na- 

 tural structure of the lining membrane of the stomach ; the 

 differences which it presents in its normal and abnormal state 

 in respect of colour, consistence, and equality of surface ; the 

 condition of the mucous membrane of the stomach with respect 

 to follicular appendages ; some indications which may be drawn 

 from the situation of that part of tlie stomach which has been 

 most injured by iugesta; and the different extent to which various 

 noxious agents and their effects may be traced along the course 

 of the alimentary canal. 



The drawings and models exhibited the appearances observed 

 in numerous human stomachs, occasioned by disease, congestion, 

 arsenic, hot water, sulphuric and prussic acids ; and the effects 

 of hot water, alcohol, arsenic, corrosive sublimate, and oxalic 

 acid on dogs or horses. 



Inquiries into the Varieties of Mechanism by which the Bloo^ 

 may be accelerated or retarded in the Arterial and Venous 

 Systems of Mammalia. By Dr. T. J. Aitkin. 



The attention of the Section was particularly directed to four 

 modifications of arterial distribution, as indicated, (1.) by the an- 

 gle at which a branch comes oft' from its trunk ; (2.) the direc- 

 tion of the vessel ; (3.) the subdivision j and (4.) the formation 

 of plexus. 



In illustration of the first, or angle of origin. Dr. Aitkin ex- 

 hibited a preparation of the aorta of the tiger, in which the supe- 

 rior intercostals arose at an acute, the middle at a right, and the 

 lower at an obtuse angle ; from which he inferred that the force 



