1892-93.] FOURTH MEETING. 227 



had particular reference to some crystals of corundum and its gem 

 variety sapphire. They were collected with a number of other minerals 

 at the base of the Laurentian range in the vicinity of Papineau creek, in 

 the township of Carlow. The sapphire was found along the banks of 

 the Yak river, weathered out from a grey granite. It has been stated by 

 Dr. Hoffman, in notes of minerals occurring in Canada, that corundum 

 has only been found in the township of Burgess, Lanark county, Ontario. 



FOURTH MEETING. 



Fourth Meeting, 26th March, 1892, the President in the chair. 



The President, Dr. Clark, and Messrs. Pursey and L. J. Clark were 

 appointed delegates to attend the Conference on Social Problems, on 9th 

 and loth December. 



Donations and Exchanges, 48. 



Dr. Daniel Clark read a paper on " The Brain as the Organ of the 

 Mind." He gave illustrations on the blackboard of the exceptional 

 arrangement in the brain of the blood circulation, and how this differed 

 from the system in other parts of the body. He gave the apparent 

 reasons for this anomalous construction. He described the various 

 structures of the substance of the brain and their functions in the organ- 

 ism, especially as media of sensation and volition. He gave illustrations 

 of how impressions produced on the brain are always retained, and how 

 valuable this law is in memory. The functions of all the bodily cells 

 were related — each according to its kind — and more especially the varied 

 work of brain cells in all mental phenomena. The cells were the ulti- 

 mate physical organisms in relation to mind operations. Brain power was 

 determined by their number more than by brain weight. A small brain 

 well equipped had more tone and energy in it than a large brain not thus 

 endowed. The absolute weight and the relative weight to that of the 

 body were not safe guides to determine brain power. The different 

 definitions of mind were discussed, that of the theologian, that of the 

 metaphysician, and that of the physiologist. The battle of schools 

 raged more over definitions than over facts, as was usually the case. 

 The localization of brain function, according to the modern schools of 

 Fevrier, of Charcot, of Richet, and of Campanini, were explained, as was 

 also the recently published theory of the German Wiessman in antagon- 

 ism to the theory of Darwin in respect to the hereditary transmission of 

 acquired character. 



