oi NATURE 
[ Fune 2, 1870 
I 
containing 48 per cent. of alcohol, Then for three days more he 
returned to water. 
There were thus five periods, viz. of water-drinking, alcohol, 
water, brandy, water. 
Before commencing the experiments, the man, who had been 
accustomed to take one or two pints of beer daily, abstained 
altogether from any alcoholic liquid for ten days. 
During the first few days there was a gradual increase in 
weight, owing probably to the food being rather greater and the 
exercise less than before ; equilibrium was reached on the eighth 
day, and the weight remained almost unchanged during the 
alcoholic period. ‘There was slight decrease after alcohol ; and 
on the last brandy day a slight increase, which was main- 
tained in the after period. The general result appears 
to be that (other conditions remaining constant) the effect 
of alcohol in modifying weight is quite unimportant. The 
results of the experiments may best be given in relation to 
the different functions of the body ; and first in regard to the tem- 
perature of the axilla and rectum, it appeared that when taken 
as above described, alcohol and brandy produced little change 
in the temperature of either the axilla or rectum ; but what effect 
there was, was rather in‘the direction of increase than of diminu- 
tion. Secondly, in regard to the circulation, it was found that 
the pulse was increased both in frequency and volume, rising in 
number from 77°5 before alcohol to a max. of 94'7 with the 
largest doses. The capillary circulation was increased, shown by 
flushing of face and neck, &c. As conclusions from the sphygmo- 
graphic observations that were made, it followed that there was 
increased frequency of the ventricular contractions of the head, 
and increased rapidity of each contraction, the ventricle therefore 
doing more work in a given time, the period of the heart being 
much shortened, and the blood moving more freely through the 
capillaries, so that the increased quantity of blood which it is to 
be presumed was thrown into the arteries, was very quickly got 
rid of. Thirdly, in regard to its action on the renal secretions, the 
authors show there was a decided increase in the amount of 
water eliminated ; but they demonstrate in opposition to previous 
experimenters that, as long as the ingress of nitrogen is the 
same, 80z. of absolute alcohol and 120z. of brandy have no effect, 
or only a trifling effect, on the processes which end in the 
elimination of nitrogen by the urine, and most decidedly do not 
lessen the elimination. Further, the influence of alcohol on the 
elimination of chlorine and phosphoric acid, and upon the free 
acidity of the urine, is inconsiderable. The action of alcohol on 
the elimination of nitrogen by the alvine discharges was probably 
inconsiderable, and no experiments were made upon its effects 
upon the pulmonary excretion. 
Putting together the evidence derived from the pulse as felt 
by the finger, from the state of the cutaneous vessels, and from 
the sphygmographic tracings, it seems fair to conclude that the 
chief effects of alcohol on the circulation in health are on the 
ventricles (the rapidity with which contractions are accomplished 
being greatly increased), and on the capillaries (which are dilated 
and allow blood to pass more freely through them). 
As regards the mode in which alcohol is eliminated from the 
body from the application of a colour test, they are of opinion 
that a good deal must be eliminated by the lungs, and still more 
by the skin. Some also, though only asmall proportion, must 
be given off by the renal and alvine discharges. 
They found that one or two fluid ounces of absolute alcohol, in 
divided doses, increased the appetite ; 40z. lessened it, and larger 
quantities almost entirely destroyed it. 
Estimating the daily work of the heart at 122 tons lifted one 
foot, the heart during the alcoholic period did daily work in 
excess equal to lifting 15°8 tons one foot, and in the last two days 
did extra work to the amount of 24 tons lifted as far. After the 
alcohol was omitted, the heart showed signs of weakness. 
From the general results of the experiments, it appears, that any 
quantity over 20z. of absolute alcohol would certainly do harm 
to this man, and that as every function was performed perfectly 
without it, its use was wholly unnecessary. They concluded by 
remarking that they were hardly prepared, notwithstanding their 
previous experience, for the ease with which appetite may be 
destroyed, the heart unduly excited, and the capillary circulation 
improperly increased. Yet they recognise the great practical 
benefit that may be derived from the use of alcohol in rousing a 
failing appetite, exciting a feeble heart, and accelerating a languid 
capillary circulation, though, for these objects to be fulfilled 
satisfactorily, there is necessity for great moderation and caution. 
Ethnological Society, May 24.—Anniversary meeting, 
Prof. Huxley, president, in the chair. The report of the council 
and the treasurer’s report were read and adopted. ‘These re- 
ports showed that the position of the society was highly satis- 
factory. The President delivered an address, in which he gave 
a history of the efforts which have been made for amalgamating 
the Ethnological and Anthropological Societies, and hinted at 
the desirableness of union being effected between several 
societies having kindred objects. He also referred to the 
encouragement which the British Association had, since the 
Nottingham meeting, given to ethnological science, by allowing 
the Biological section (D) to resolve itself into departments. The 
following is the result of the ballot for officers and council :— 
President, Prof. Huxley, LL.D., F.R.S. Vice-presidents : Dr. 
A. Campbell, Sir John Lubbock, Bart., M.P., F.R.S., E. B. 
Tylor, Thomas Wright. Honorary Treasurer: H. G, Bohn. 
Honorary General Secretary : Colonel A. Lane Fox, Honorary 
Foreign Secretary ;. Hyde Clarke. Council: W. Blackmore, 
Prof. Busk, F.R.S., G. Campbell, Dr. Barnard Davis, W. Boyd 
Dawkins, F.R.S., J. Dickinson, Robert Dunn, J. W. Flower, 
David Forbes, F.R.S., A. W. Franks, Rev. Canon Greenwell, 
A, Hamilton, F. Hindmarsh, T. McK. Hughes, Dr. Richard 
King, Sir R. I, Murchison, Bart., K.C.B., J. F. McLennan, 
Rey. Dr. Nicholas, E. B. Pusey. 
Linnean Society, May 24.—Anniversary meeting. The 
officers and council for the year 1870-71 were elected as fol- 
lows :—President, G. Bentham, F.R.S. Treasurer, W. Wilson 
Saunders, F.R.S. Secretaries: F. Currey, F.R.S., and H. T. 
Stainton, F.R.S. Members of the Council: Thos. Anderson, 
M.D., John Ball, F.R.S., J. J. Bennett, F.R.S., George Busk, 
F.R.S., M. Foster, M.D., A. Grote, J. D. Hooker, M.D., 
F.R.S., Henry Lee, Major Parry, R. C. A. Prior, M.D., T. 
Thomson, M.D., F.R.S. 
Short obituary notices having been read of fourteen fellows and 
five foreign members who had died during the year, the President 
proceeded to deliver his annual address, of which a full report 
will be found in another column. 
Geological Society, May 11.—Joseph Prestwich, president, 
in the chair. Sir William Bagge, Bart., M.P., Colonel James 
Leslie Tait, and Dr. C. C. Carwana, were elected Fellows of 
the Society. 
‘*Notes on some specimens of Lower Silurian Trilobites.” 
By E. Billings, F.G.S., Paleontologist of the Geological Survey 
of Canada. 
The author first described a specimen of Asaphus platy- 
cephalus, in which the hypostome was not only preserved 
in situ, but also the remains (more or less well preserved) 
of eight pairs of legs, corresponding with the eight seg- 
ments of the thorax, to the underside of which they had 
been attached. The appendages take their rise close to the 
central axis of each segment, and all curve forwards, and are 
thus most probably ambulatory rather than natatory feet. They 
appear to have had four or five articulations in each leg. Three 
small ovate tubercles on the pygidium may, perhaps,‘ indicate 
the processes by which the respiratory feet were attached. Mr. 
Billings referred to the large number of Trilobites which have 
been examined, and expressed his belief that only the most per- 
fectly preserved specimens are likely to have the organs on the 
underside preserved. Mr. Billings next described the doublure 
or pleura in the Trilobites, comparing it to that of Zimu/us. He 
then proceeded to describe a row of small scars and tubercles on 
the underside of the pleura, to which both Dr. Volborth 
and Dr. Eichwald believed soft swimming feet or hard horny 
legs had been attached. As these were first seen by Dr. Pander 
in a Russian Trilobite, Mr. Billings has called them ‘‘ Panderian 
organs.” He thinks, soft natatory appendages may have been 
attached to these scars. Mr. Billings directed attention to the 
Protichnites and Climactichnites, which he thinks may now be 
referred to Crustacea, belonging to the division 7yilobita, 
Finally, he described a section of a rolled-up Calymene senaria, 
the interior cavity of which appears to be full of minute ovate 
bodies, from #5 to x45 of an inch in diameter. These small 
ovate bodies the author believes to be eggs. 
‘* Note on the palpus and other appendages of Asaphus, from 
the Trenton Limestone, in the British Museum.” By Henry 
Woodward, F.G.S., F.Z.S. 
Mr. Woodward, when comparing the Trilobite sent over by 
Mr. Billings with specimens in the British Museum, presented by 
Dr. J. J. Bigsby, F.R.S., discovered upon the eroded upper sur- 
face of one of these, not only the hypostome exposed to view, 
but also three pairs of appendages, and what he believes to be 
