386 Boyal Society. 



structure of that part of the canal through which they afterwards 

 descend previous to their expulsion from the body. The ova are en- 

 veloped in a tough fibrous membrane in which the traces of vascu- 

 larity, at least after being preserved in spirits, are not perceptible j 

 whilst in birds the ova are attached by narrow pedicles, and are co- 

 vered by a thin and highly vascular membrane. 



From the whole of this inquiry, the autlior concludes that these 

 glands are not adapted to the performance of any constant office in 

 the ceconomy of the individual, but relate to a temporary function. 

 Their total absence, or at least their rudimentary condition, in the 

 male, of which the author could perceive some traces in one speci- 

 men which he examined, and the greater analogy of their structure 

 to a lacteal apparatus than to that of ordinary odoriferous glands, 

 when taken in conjunction with the correspondence of their deve- 

 lopment to that of the uterine system, induce him to believe that they 

 are to be regarded as real mammas. This view is confirmed by the 

 fact, noticed by Mr. Allan Cunningham, that the young of this animal 

 readily takes cow's milk, and may be kept alive by this kind of sus- 

 tenance. 



7. "A Physiological Inquiry into the Uses of the Thymus Gland," 

 by John Tuson, Esq. Communicated by J. C. Carpne, Esq. F.R.S. 



The author is of opinion that the thymus gland is intended for two 

 purposes : the one to serve as a receptacle of blood for supplying 

 the chasm in the circulation occasioned by the great quantity sent 

 to the lungs as soon as the function of respiration commences : the 

 other to serve as a receptacle of osseous matter preparatory to the 

 extensive ossification which is carried on in the early periods of 

 growth. 



8. " An Investigation of the Powers of the simple Supporters of 

 Combustion to destroy the virulence of Morbid Poisons, and of the 

 poisonous Gases, with a view to ascertain the possibility of controul- 

 ing the extension of contagious or epidemic Diseases," by Edward 

 Browne, Esq. F.L.S. Communicated by J. H. Green, Esq. F.R.S. 



The author, after giving an account of the diversity of opinions 

 entertained with regard to the power of chlorine gas to destroy con- 

 tagion, states that this gas exerts a similar disinfecting power on the 

 virus of small pox, and mentions the result of some experiments he 

 tried on gonorrheal matter, on which it appeared to efl^'ect a similar 

 change. Various experiments are stated to have been made with 

 iodine and with oxygen, indicating the same disinfecting agency in 

 these substances. The author conceives that these effects are pro- 

 moted by the heat communicated to the respired air in the lungs. He 

 conceives that sea air possesses a disinfecting power, which he ex- 

 plains by supposing that it contains a portion of iodine. He con- 

 jectures, from analogy, that fluorine and bromine may have the same 

 property. 



9. "Considerations on the Laws of Life, in reference to the Origin 

 of Disease," by Adair Crawford, M.D. Communicated by T. J. 

 Pettigrew, Esq. F.R.S. 



The scope of this paper is to show the insufficiency of all theories 



