298 



guinea-pigs rendered epileptic in consequence of an injury to the 

 spinal cord. 



This observation derives its importance chiefly from the fact that, 

 if epilepsy is an affection which naturally exists among guinea-pigs, 

 it must be very rare, as I have never seen it except in the progeny 

 of individuals operated upon and rendered epileptic; and yet 

 the number of healthy guinea-pigs that I have kept for months 

 is really immense. It seems therefore that we can conclude, from 

 these observations, that epilepsy, or an affection which very much 

 resembles it, may be transmitted from parents to offspring, even 

 when it has been accidentally produced in one of the parents, at 

 least in one species of animals. 



February 9, 1860. 

 Sir BENJAMIN C. BRODIE, Bart., President, in the Chair. 



The Right Honourable Sir Edward Ryan was admitted into the 

 Society. 



The following communications were read : 



I. "On the Resin of the Ficus rubiginosa, and a new Homo- 

 logue of Benzylic Alcohol." By WARREN DE LA RUE, 

 PhJ)., F.R.S., and HUGO MILLER, Ph.D., F.C.S. Com- 

 rnunicated by Mr. DE LA RUE. 



(Abstract.) 



In this communication the authors give an account of a new alcohol 

 homologous with benzylic alcohol (C u H 8 O 2 ) which they have found 

 occurring in the state of a natural acetic ether in the exudation from 

 an Australian plant known as the Ficus rubiginosa. 



This acetic ether, for which they propose the name of Acetate of 

 Sycoceryl, constitutes about 14 per cent, of the crude resin ; the re- 

 mainder consisting principally of an amorphous resin which they 

 name Sycoretin. 



The different degree of solubility of the various constituents in 

 alcohol, afforded the means of the separation of the one from the 

 other ; none of them present any remarkable properties except the 



