Section of Medical Science. 59 
“ When foreign matters capable of affecting the constitution ge- 
nerally, and of being diluted in its solids and fluids, are brought 
into contact with the serows and mucous surfaces of the body, 
with the ewtis vera, and with the interstitial cellular tissue of dif- 
ferent organs, the resulting phenomena exhibited by the blood 
in the veins give evidence that these vessels are the sole agents 
employed in this variety of absorption.” These four points are 
discussed by reference to a variety of experiments, to which the 
author adds the following from his own researches, as bearing on 
the question of absorption of foreign matters by veins of the cel- 
lular tissue. 
Exp. 1. Having made a fistulous opening in the abdominal parietes 
of a dog, he took advantage of the period when a complete granu- 
lating surface should be formed, to apply to it very freely the solu- 
tion of pruss. potass. On killing the animal three minutes after the 
application, and applying the appropriate chemical test to the blood, 
it was seen to exhibit traces of the prussiate. 
Exp. 2. He induced the formation of a granulating surface four 
inches square in extent in the fleshy substance of the back of a 
large cat, and then retained pledgets of lint moistened with 13 of the 
usual solution of the prussiate of potash in contact with this surface 
daring the space of four hours. A fair indication of the presence 
of the poison in the blood was seen, on submitting to the usual test 
the blood from the carotid arteries, both in its fluid and coagulated 
states, while no indication whatever of its presence was observed in 
the lymph. 
These experiments now put forth as evidence in favour of the 
doctrine of absorption by the veins of foretgn matters, from the 7- 
terstitial cellular tissue of the animal body, when taken along with 
the previous experiments also adduced to prove the absorption of 
foreign matters from the surface of the eutis vera and the different 
mucous and serous superficies, would appear to justify a conclusion— 
that the absorption of foreign matters occurring from the interstices 
and surfaces of the body occurs solely through the channel of the 
venous system. 
Observations on the effects of Cold on different parts of the Human 
Body, and on a mode of measuring Refrigeration. By Dr. 
OsBORNE. 
In this communication Dr. Osborne began by adducing some 
facts to show the importance of cold, viewed as a cause of disease. 
He stated, that of 57, the entire number of patients on the preced- 
ing day (13th August, 1835,) in Sir Patrick Dun’s Clinical Ho- 
spital, 34 could distinctly refer to cold as the cause of their com- 
plaints, contracted in the following manner: in 12 from damp 
clothes, 5 from damp feet, 3 from bathing, and 14 from cold air 
when heated. This proportion, however, would probably be very 
different in winter. The direct effect of cold on the air-passages of 
the lungs is almost restricted to inflammation at the rima of the 
glottis, and this is usually caused by suddenly rushing from heated 
