1864. | Physiology. 751 
worm yet known were the sole cause of the fatal echinococcus disease 
of Iceland. 
Dr. John Davy read a paper, “ On the Salmonida, chiefly relating 
to their Generative Functions.” His observations were in part made 
on the parr of the sea-trout (Salmo trutta), and the object of his in- 
quiry was to ascertain if it, like the parr of the salmon, exercises the 
generative functions. He concluded that the probabilities were in 
favour of this view. In the young of the brown trout he has never 
found the testes more than rudimentary. He does not believe that the 
sea-trout breeds on its return from the sea into the rivers, as is the case 
with the salmon, for the ovaries he has examined at this period of the 
growth of the fish are in little more than a rudimentary state. He 
thought that with regard to the salmon, sea-trout, common trout, and 
charr, the evidence was rather in favour of them breeding only in 
alternate years, or at least not in successive years. 
Mr. Frank Buckland, “On the Natural History of the Oyster,” in 
which he related the attémpts that had recently been made to promote 
the artificial cultivation of oysters. He pointed out that this year 
there had been a failure in the oyster spat, and submitted that the 
investigation into the cause of this failure was a proper subject of 
inquiry for scientific men. 
Mr. E. R. Lankester read a paper, “On Certain Points in the 
Anatomy of the Earthworm.” The parts to which he directed atten- 
tion were, firstly, three undescribed pairs of glands connected with the 
cesophagus ; and secondly, the reproductive system. The glands are 
situated in the twelfth and thirteenth segments of the body. The 
most anterior pair lie in the twelfth segment; they contain a dense 
crystalline mass. The two posterior pairs lie in the thirteenth seg- 
ment; they contain a milky fluid. The author calls them esophageal 
glands from their relation to that tube. His observations on the repro- 
ductive system coincided almost entirely with those of Dr. Hering, and, 
in all essential details, with M. d’Udekem. 
Puysiotocy. (Sub-section D.) 
President's Address.—Turner on Nutrient Arteries for the Lungs. 
Foster on Muscular Irritability.—Herapath on Indigo in Pus.—Davy 
on the Temperature of the Seaes.—Gibb on Action of Bromides of 
Lithium, Zinc, and Lead.—Hayden on Fat and Sugar as Respira- 
tory Food.—Smith on the Nutritive Principles of Food. 
Tue introductory address by the President, Dr. Edward Smith, F.R.S., 
consisted of an elaborate and highly interesting report, “ On the Pre- 
sent State of the Dietary Question.” He reviewed the dietaries of 
the various prisons, which he considered to stand at present in a very 
unsatisfactory state; the dietaries of hospitals, schools, and other edu- 
cational establishments. Referring to “ Bantingism,” he pointed out 
that the system of reduction was in numerous cases quite inapplicable. 
3E2 
