110 



animals, with a view to testing the virtues of ligatures made 

 from the sinews from kangaroo-tails, which he helieved to be far 

 superior to those made of " catgut " so called, because the 

 latter, being made by a process of partial decomposition, were 

 liable to melt away within twenty-four hours when used as a 

 ligature around an artery, and thus occasioning great danger 

 to the patient ; but the sinews from the kangaroo-tails, being 

 in a natural state, would last for many days, and in the mean- 

 time a proper closure of the artery would take place, and the 

 ligature would in time be absorbed. The Home Secretary, in 

 his wisdom, refused the application, and he was obliged to wait 

 for an opportunity to try the experiment upon a human 

 subject. This opportunity occurred, and proved to be emi- 

 nently successful, though the patient died after a lapse of ten 

 days. The death, however, occurred through other causes, and 

 the ligature was then examined, and it was found that the 

 artery was properly closed, whilst the ligature was in process* 

 of absorption, as shown by the section of the artery exhibited 

 by him. 



Professor Tate mentioned that whilst in the Northern 

 Territory Inspector Foelsche had shown him in life the several 

 plants used by the natives there medicinally, including the 

 Sm^costemma ausirale, which is used by the natives as a remedy 

 for smallpox. As the disease supposed to be smallpox had not 

 prevailed amongst the natives there since the occupation by 

 the present white population, there were no means of ascer- 

 taining the reputed virtue of the plant, which extended as far 

 south as the vicinity of Wallaroo. 



The Peesident asked if it was known when the last epidemic 

 of supposed smallpox occurred in South Australia, and the 

 Assistant-Secretary stated that in the early part of 1839, 

 when he arrived here, many of the natives were much pitted 

 with marks, whicTi they ascribed to a visitation just previous 

 to the advent of the white men on these shores. Other 

 speakers followed, and it was mentioned as a curious circum- 

 stance that the disease, which appeared to be so fatal to the 

 aborigines, seemed never to have been communicated to the white 

 settlers ; but it was also pointed out that the epidemic in South 

 Australia occurred before its settlement by Europeans, whilst 

 that in the Northern Territory occurred after the abandonment 

 of Port Essington, and before the advent at Port Darwin of 

 the present settlers. 



The AssisTAyT-SECBETARY mentioned that he had noticed 

 great quantities of blood exuding through the skin and at the 

 caudal extremities of some Port Jackson sharks which he had 

 caught and carefully abstained from wounding in any manner. 

 The body on the softer parts assumed a red blotched appear- 



