TRANSACTIONS OF SECTION D. 785 



shows, moreover ,that this carrying of fat by the leucocytes of the intestinal mucoua 

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

 subserve in the process of assimilation and absorption. For it appears, from an 

 examination of osmic preparations like those above mentioned, that the leucocytes 

 find their way in large numbers into the commencements of the lacteals, and there 

 become dissolved and completely disintegrated, 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 feod, and their subsequent dis- 

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

 seen 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 passage of 

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

 and the 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 

 of 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 

 ordinary 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 facts above mentioned do not by any means exclude the 

 possibility of a direct passage of the more diffusible fluid substances into the blood- 

 vessels and lacteals. 



6. On a Method of studying the lehaviour of the Germs of Septic Organisms 

 under Changes of Temperature. By the Eev. Dr. Dallinger, F.E.S. 



'The author described a new apparatus invented for this purpose. 



7. On a Vegetable Organism which separates Sulphur. By A. W. Bennett. 



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

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

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

 the salt used in precipitating the sewage, in the form of minute sharply refringent 

 globules. 



8. On the Physiology of Therapeutics of the Chloral Hydrate and Anaesthetics 



generally. By Dr. W. Alexander, 



& On the Growth of Children. By Dr. C. S. MinoT. 



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. HlNGSTON. 



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

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

 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 



