TRANSACTIONS OF SECTION D. 



785 



i^liows, moreover, that this carrying of fat by the leucocytes of the inteatiual mucoua 

 membrane is incidental merely to a much more general fimction which they 

 jubservo in the process of assimilation and ahsorption. For it appears, from an 

 i.xaraination of osmic preparations like those ahovo mentioned, that the leucocytes 

 jifid their tvay in larye numbers into the commencements of the. lacteals, and there 

 liKome dissolved and completely di^tinteyrated, so that the proteids which constitute 

 their protoplasm come into solution in the lymph or chyle, and the fatty and 

 other particles which they may contain are also set free. This immigration of the 

 leucocytes into the lacteals during absorption of food, and their subsequent dis- 

 integration in the lymph, is quite independent of the nature of the food, for it is 

 teen just as abundantly with a bread diet as with a fatty diet. It is reasonable, 

 therefore, to infer that the process of absorption is in all cases the same whatever 

 the nature of the food, and consists essentially in a selection by the columnar 

 epithelium cells of the materials to be absorbed from the intestine, the passajje of 

 these to the leucocytes, the carrying of them by the leucocytes into the lacteals, 

 and llie disintegration and solution of the greater number of the thus immigrated 

 leucocytes in the chyle or lymph. It is also very probable that during the sojourn 

 if the absorbed products of digestion in the columnar epithelium and in the 

 leucocytes changes of a chemical nature may occur in them, e.g., that the peptones 

 which are absorbed may become changed again before reaching the lacteals into 

 iidinary proteids. In this way the cells in question may be regarded as fulfilling 

 important functions not only of absorption but also of assimilation. 



It is obvious that the facta above mentioned do not by any means exclude the 

 yossibility of a direct passage of the more diftusible fluid substances into the blood- 

 vessels and lacteals. . 



.'J. On a Method of studying the hchaviuur of the Germs nf Septic Orijanisms 

 nnder Changes of Temperature. By the Rev. Dr. Dallinger, F.E.S. 



The author described a new apparatus invented for this purpose. 



7. On a Vegetahle Organism which separates Sulphtir. By A. W. Bennktt. 



The author gave a description of Begyiaton alba, an organism found in the 

 effluent water from sewage-works, known as the ' sewnge-fungus,' which has the 

 property of separating sulphur out of the organic matter in the water, or in 

 the salt used in precipitating the sew.nge, in the form of minute sharply rei'ringent 



dobules. 



S. On the Physiology of Therapeutics of the Chloral Hydrate and Avaisthetics 

 generally. By Dr. W. Alexander, 



,9. On the Grmvth of Children, By Dr. C. S. Mikot. 



10. On the Proteids of Serum. By W. B. Halliburton and 

 Professor E. A. Schafer, F.B.S. 



11. On the Climate of Canada and its relations to Life and Health. 

 By Dr. W. H. Hingston. 



12. On the Production and Propagation of the American Trotter and Classi' 

 fication of the Spermatozoa and Ova. By Dr. W. McMoNAaii. 



There has been originated by the breeders of America a new type of horse, 

 capable of a high rate of speed, • The American Trotter-Pacer,' with instincts, here- 

 1884. 3 E 



iff: 



A 



,; nil 



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