304 
Head flat, not very distinct from neck, scaled, with following 
exceptions :—Roostril, anterior frontals ; nasals (double, with the 
nostril between); mental; upper (12) and lower labials. 
Gular depression; small groove anterior to orbit; orbit 
surrounded by scales ; eye small, pupil vertical, iris silver grey, 
with dark longitudinal streak. 
Rudimentary hind limbs, scales small, greatly increasing in size 
as they approach ventrals ; colour above greyish brown, verte- 
bral series of dark brown irregular spots, confluent towards neck ; 
lateral series of dark brown spots. Belly whitish, mottled with 
dark brown ; post orbital dark brown streak. 
Length of specimen 21 in, A sand snake of sluggish dis- 
position, especially during day-time.—Did not attempt to bite 
when handled. 
Fam. £/apide. Gen. Ophiophagus. O. Elaps.—The Hama- 
dryad, a male specimen caught by snake charmers at Agumbi, 
Western Ghauts, South Canara. Since dead, the skin having 
been secured by a member of the Basil Mission, I measured 
the snake when alive, and found it to be 10 ft. 6 in. but it was 
probably more, as it strongly resisted being stretched out. 
Colour brownish black, with about thirty bands on fore part of 
body, formed by dull yellowish interstitial skin. A yellow V 
mark with the apex towards head on upper part of hood: dark 
band beneath hood. 
The Canarese call the snake ‘‘ Kalinga havre,” and state it 
to be common in the jungles along the Ghauts. I hope before 
long to procure a live specimen. 
Fam. Crotalide. Gen. Trimesurus, Sp.—Scales 21, ventrals 
153, subcaudals 58. Head scales strongly heeled. Colour dark 
reddish brown, irregularly marked with pale reddish brown, 
forming pale centred lateral ocelli. A series of ‘pale yellow 
irregular dots arranged in a Jatera] stripe. This specimen has 
been forwarded to Dr. J, Shortt, F.L.S. 
A specimen of the Dadoia elegans, the Tic Polongo of 
Southern India and Ceylon, was lately brought me having the 
belly pure white, unmarked with the usual brown spots. 
A Tahsildar ina Northern Talug reports the occurrence of a 
large venomous snake, black above and red beneath, This 
I think will prove to be Callophis (Elaps) nigrescens. 
Mangalore. E. H. PRINGLE 
BRITISH MEDICAL ASSOCIATION. — AB- 
STRACT OF DR. SANDERSON’S ADDRESS 
ON PHYSIOLOGY 
N his address on Physiology before the British Medical 
Association, Dr. Sanderson gave a résumé of the 
most important physiological work that has been done 
during the past year. Commencing with the circulation 
of the blood, he considered it to be resolved into several 
constituent processes, such as arterial pressure, velocity 
of blood-current, and contraction or relaxation of mus- 
cular fibre. He referred to a very elegant method adopted 
by Dr. Marey of Paris, and illustrated by him to the 
members of the Association, by which the influence of 
arterial resistance on the heart’s rapidity may be demon- 
strated on the excised heart of the tortoise, the number of 
pulsations being proved to vary inversely as the vesistance 
and not as the blood pressure, a fact previously known, 
but not before so clearly illustrated. He then referred to 
the observations of Mr. Dewar and Dr. M‘Kendrick, in 
which they have shown that the normal electromotive 
force in the optic nerve is reduced in intensity when it is 
receiving the impression of light, a “negative variation ” 
of the current being the result. Dr. Jackson’s and Dr. 
Ferrier’s pathological and physiological studies as to the 
localisation of the sources whence originate some 
of the voluntary movements in certain parts of the 
surface of the brain were shown to have a very 
important bearing on the progress of cerebral phy- 
siology; Dr. Ferrier having arrived at a method 
by which one at least of the highest functions 
of the nervous system can be brought under the control 
of experimenta investigation. With reference to the part 
played by Bacteria in the living organism, Dr, Sanderson 
remarked that observations respecting them were, though 
very numerous, not sufficiently connected to allow of a 
NATURE 
| Aug. 14, 1873 
ready summary ; the facts added during the year being, 
first, that in certain persons apparently healthy, and in 
many animals, organisms belonging to this class are 
always found in the blood ; secondly, that in all acute 
inflammations which are attended with the destruction of 
living tissue, Bacteria are to be found in the exudation 
liquids ; and thirdly, that in relapsing fever living beings 
are present in the blood, which exhibit characteristic 
forms. 
Dr. Sanderson in the latter part of his address gave 
many reasons in favour of the combination of the study 
of medicine with that of physiology. It has been said 
that theoretical physiology has led to injurious medical 
treatment, ¢.g., to the over-feeding and over-stimulating 
treatment of disease ; to the unreasonable disuse of vene- 
section ; to the neglect of antimony and other so-called 
antiphlogistics, and to the purgative treatment of cholera. 
But are the theories on which these changes of treat- 
ment have been based, physiological in the proper sense? 
Decidedly not. Taking the action of mercury as an 
example. It has been proved to have no influence in 
increasing the secretion of the liver; nevertheless, blue- 
pill is of undoubted value in certain well-defined dis- 
turbances of the digestive organs. From these facts, 
however, it is not right to assume that mercurial remedies 
are useless, or that they act beneficially by exciting the 
secretion of bile ; such inferences are not physiological, 
but result from the manner in which practical men 
throw undeserved discredit upon Science by attempting 
to apply its facts without any sufficient knowledge of their 
bearing. Therefore it is highly desirable for the welfare 
of both Medicine and Physiology that a distinct line of 
demarcation should be drawn between them. 
The speaker then entered upon subjects of a more 
purely medical nature, giving an excellent vészmé of the 
present position of our knowledge respecting the nature 
of fever and pyrexia generally. 
LAKES WITH TWO OUTFALLS 
Go years ago a discussion took place concerning the 
possible or actual existence of lakes possessing out- 
lets into two distinct watersheds, so as to render one 
watershed continuous with the other, If even one such 
lake could be shown to exist, the question would of course 
be resolved in the affirmative. I have frequently heard 
mentioned as an instance a certain lake at the summit of 
the Romsdal in Norway, and having lately spent a day or 
two at each end of this lake, I have taken advantage of 
the opportunity to examine each of the outlets with care. 
I have thus convinced myself that it ought not to be 
quoted as a proof of the natural existence of such lakes. 
The piece of water in question is called the Lasdés- 
kougens Vaud, or sometimes the Lesje Veerks Vaud ; it 
lies between the posting stations of Mélmen and Lesje 
Jernverks, at an elevation of 1,992 Norwegian feet, or 
2,050 English feet above the sea level, occupying, for a 
length of about seven miles, the highest part of the great 
valley which in its south-eastern part is known as the 
Gudbrandsdal, and in its north-western part as the 
Romsdal. There can be no doubt that from the eastern 
extremity of the lake flows a small stream, which forms 
one of the sources of the Laagan or Logen River, while 
from the western extremity descends a much lar, 
stream, which is the principal source of the river Rauma. 
Since the Logen, after passing through Midsen Lake, be- 
comes a part of the great river Glommen, and thus falls — 
into the Skaggerat at Frederichshald, while the Rauma 
reaches the sea through the Romsdal Fjord, it follows 
that the whole of the south-western part of Norway is en- 
circled by water. 
On examining the eastern exit of the lake, however, it — 
soon becomes apparent that the outflow is artificially re- — 
gulated, The water is retained at this end by a great 
