58 British Association for the Advancement of Science. 
I may be permitted to add, that the temperature of an ani- 
mal indicated by such a thermometer compared with that of 
the medium in which it is placed, affords a near approxima- 
tion to the degree of respiration, and, inversely, of the irrita- 
bility of the muscular fibre. 
LXV. Proceedings of Learned Societies. 
OFFICIAL REPORT OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE BRITISH AS- 
SOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE, AT THE 
DUBLIN MEETING, AUGUST 1835. 
Communicated by the Council and Secretaries. 
(Continued from vol. vii. p. 513.) 
Notices and Abstracts of Miscellaneous Communications to the Sections, 
continued. 
MEDICAL SCIENCE,—continued. 
Experimental Inquiry into the different Offices of Lacteals, Lym- 
phaties, and Veins in the Function of Absorption. By P. D. 
Hanpysipe, M.D. 
Fe author’s general position is thus stated: “ The lacteals, lym- 
phatics, and veins are endowed each with a peculiar office in the 
general functions of absorption ; for example, 1. The lacteals are 
those vessels which absorb the aliment which is necessary for main- 
taining the nutrition and increase of the body, and exercise the 
property of refusing entrance to all other matters; 2. The lympha- 
tics absorb the elements of the body upon their becoming useless or 
noxious, so as by their final discharge from the system to make room 
for the deposition of new matter, and these vessels possess no ab- 
sorbing power over any substances foreign to the system; 3. The 
veins not only return to the heart the blood after that fuid has ful- 
filled the object of its diffusion over the system, but enjoy the office 
of receiving into the animal system by absorption various foreign 
matters which may be brought into contact with their orifices. 
In support of these views the author presents a short review of 
results obtained by various eminent anatomists and physiologists. 
The following is the order of the subjects discussed : 
Lacteals.—Their distention after a full meal,—their condition as 
observed in living animals ;—effects of ligatures on the thoracic 
ducts of horses. 
Lymphatics,—Anatomical origin of,—analogy of lymphatics and lae- 
teals,—exact resemblance of the lymph prior to its absorption to 
that found in the lymphatic vessels,—absence of lymphatics in 
vegetables,—no proof afforded by examination of lymph that 
lymphatics serve as the channel through which foreign matters 
gain entrance into the system,—no communication between lym- 
phatics and veins except through the great lymphatic trunks. 
Veins.—Analogy between the anatomy and disposition of the veins 
of animals and the vessels corresponding to these in plants, favours, 
the doctrine of venous absorption. 
