

Miscellaneous Intelligence. 287 



further suggested that the regular evaporation of moisture from the 

 leaves was checked by the cold, whilst its supply to them from the 

 plant was continued, and hence the collection of liquid, which, as the 

 ice formed from it was thawed, would be evaporated as usual through 

 the pores of the leaf. 



2. On the Mechanism and Functions 



Man ; with the introduction of a case of 



jf the Organs of 



tigrew, (Royal Society, Alhen.,No. 1126.) — After a few prefatory ob- 

 servations upon the pleasure derived from the study of anatomy, more 

 especially when assisted by the labors of the scientific chemist, the nat- 

 ural philosopher and mechanician, — the lecturer entered upon the sub- 

 ject above mentioned ; first describing the situation of the larynx and its 

 contiguous parts. Its skeleton was made up of a number of parts; the 

 material chosen for which was gristle, the best vibratory substance found 

 in the frame, — other parts, as the ear, in connexion with sound, being 

 formed of a similar fabric. It consisted of many parts, as it was to be 

 elongated, shortened, widened or narrowed. The gristles were to be 

 held together; this was effected by bands of an inelastic nature, by 

 which means displacement was prevented ; the parts were acted upon 

 by groups of muscles (the moving powers of the body) ; the muscles 

 (as waste took place upon any movement) were well supplied by arte- 

 rial or nourishing blood, the refuse being returned by the veins into the 

 circulating system again to undergo purification in the lungs. The 

 muscles were put into action by the nerves ; these emanating from the 

 brain and upper part of the spinal marrow, and thus under the control 

 of the will. The connexion of these nerves with those of respiration, 

 the heart, lungs, and stomach was described ; and an especial ganglion 

 (dissections of which from various animals presented by the late Sir 

 Astley Cooper to the lecturer were exhibited) giving exquisite se 

 tions to the opening to the larynx as an entrance to the lungs was, from 

 its great importance, particularly dwelt upon. A set of vessels, called 

 absorbents, removed the effete materials of the organ. Internally the 

 'arynx presented a smooth membrane, having the power of secreting 

 a fluid of a glairey nature for the purpose of preventing injury to the 

 ^ore delicate parts from the passage of the air to the lung cells. At 

 the upper part of the larynx, beneath the mucous membrane, four vocal 

 cords were described, two upon each side ; these bounded the cavity of 

 the ventricles leading to the sacculi of the larynx. Upon the action of 

 the vocal bands depended the pitch of voice. All sounds emanating 

 f rom the larynx were simple, the larynx being with regard to the voice 

 what the reed is to the hautboy or clarionet. Many experiments were 

 shown proving that the primitive sound was produced by the vocal 

 bands forming^ the edges of the glottis; and the peculiar baa-ing of the 

 lamb was imitated by an apparatus contrived and attached to the lar- 

 ynx and windpipe of a dead lamb. Other points in connexion with 

 the subject were illustrated by numerous specimens upon the table, and 

 * new instrument kindly lent for the occasion by Mr. Wheatstone. 

 The damper in this instrument was particularly described as illustrating 

 the action of certain muscles in the human body upon the thyroid 

 g'and ; thus presenting the continued vibration of one sound into anoth- 

 er—Sir Charles Bell's theory being revived by the lecturer, and sup- 



