Royal Society. 57 



The writer of the paper now proceeds to describe the most re- 

 markable and important gland of the human ceconomy, namely, the 

 sanguiferous. 



The jejunum and ileum constitute the secreting element of this 

 organ. The ileo-csecal valve or verminiferous appendage is the ex- 

 cretory duct in a rudimentary state. The colon, though enormously 

 developed in a longitudinal direction, must be regarded as the re- 

 ceptacle ; the sigmoid flexure folded upon itself like the letter S (as 

 in the cervix of the gall-bladder) is the cervix of the colon recep- 

 tacle ; the rectum or the efferent duct completes the system. 



The function of this system is not fully known ; the tract is lined 

 ■with mucous membrane and glandulje for the secretion of air and 

 other products of the blood. It can scarcely be denied that the in- 

 testinal tube, in its structure and form and arrangement of the ele- 

 ments, bears the closest analogy to the glandular apparatus as seen 

 in the other large viscera of the human body. 



The jejunum, as its name implies, is generally empty ; it is con- 

 voluted, and its parietes are covered with a net-work of capillaries; 

 it resembles therefore in all these particulars the tubes which form 

 the secreting tissue of the testicle and kidney, and differs from them 

 but in size. The jejunum and ileum, regarded as a continuous tube, 

 constitute a magnificent secreting structure, and its function is pro- 

 bably something more than the supply of the air and mucus gene- 

 rally contained in its canal. It has been suggested, that the blood, 

 the lymph and the faeces owe their existence to the active capillaries 

 of the mesenteric arteries, but some certain proofs are still wanting 

 in confirmation of this opinion. 



In the lung-gland, or pneumatiferous organ, the vesicular struc- 

 ture is the secreting element ; it secretes carbonic acid : the rami- 

 fications of the bronchia ending in the two bronchi represent the 

 excretory duct ; the trachea is the receptacle ; and the glandular 

 appendage covering; the cervix (or cricoid cartilage) aad marking 

 its position, passes by the name of the thyroid. 



The efferent duct commences at the cricoid and ends at the carti- 

 laginous orifice of the nostrils. 



The lacrymiferous organ is formed ujion the same plan as the 

 preceding ; but in consequence of some peculiarities of development, 

 that, together with the simpler secreting structures, will be reserved 

 for a future opportunity. 



Nov. 30. — Aimiversury Meeting. — The President, the Earl of 

 Rosse, K.P., M.A., addressed the Society as follows : — 



Gentlemen, 



I am happy that it is in my power again to congratulate you on the 

 progress made in the researches which have been carried on, aided 

 by the (jrant the Government have placed at your disi)osal : after 

 an experience of more than three years we may say with confidence 

 that much has been accomplished. At first there were some mis- 



