127 



The pupils continued fully dilated, the iris being reduced to an 

 almost imperceptible circle, the dilatation exceeding that which I have 

 been able to attain even with atropia. I will not dwell more fully at 

 present on this last interesting fact, which is opposed to what we 

 generally meet with in the administration of morphia. Twelve 

 hours after, pupils normal, animal quite well. 



Strychnia and Chloroform. After three minutes' immersion of 

 foot, dilatation of pupils ensued. After five minutes, the immersed 

 limb was very sensitive, apparently more so than normal. Limb 

 removed from solution : spasms about the throat now appeared, 

 which were rapidly succeeded by stiffness of the trunk, increasing 

 into tetanic spasms. Death, two minutes after removal. 



Strychnia and Alcohol. Foot immersed in a solution of alcohol 

 and strychnia for upwards of thirty-five minutes ; no symptoms of 

 strychnine poisoning. Removed from solution and washed. Twelve 

 hours later, no dilatation nor contraction of pupils. 



The above observations evidently show that medicinal substances 

 may be very rapidly absorbed into the circulation under certain cir- 

 cumstances, among which, the most important is the choice of the 

 menstruum in which they are dissolved. 



It remains for us to examine into the effect of temperature, in- 

 flammation, neuro-vascular paralysis, &c., on absorption. But, what 

 is of still more importance, we have to see how far these facts are 

 applicable to man in health and disease. 



Meanwhile, I take this opportunity to state that a remarkable 

 uniformity exists between cutaneous absorption in man and in the 

 lower animals, and I believe that the application of these facts to 

 practical medicine promises to be very important and extensive. 



VII. "On Spontaneous Evaporation." By BENJAMIN GUY 

 BABINGTON, M.D., F.R.S., &c. Received June 7, 1859. 



- (Abstract.) 



The object of this communication is to make known certain powers 

 of attraction and repulsion, hitherto, as far as I know, unnoticed, 

 which are possessed by soluble substances in relation to their solvent, 

 and which, in the case of water (the solvent here considered), are 

 measured by the amount of loss, on spontaneous evaporation, in the 



