TRANSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS. 110 



wall actually owe their existence to the peculiar condition of the neighbouring 

 Thames. 



5. Typhoid or otlier Fevers cannot be proved to originate from Fcecal Fermenta- 

 tion or Emanations. — It is true that Dr. Murchison has collected numerous cases 

 where the exposure to such emanations has been coincident with the outbreak of 

 fever; but numerous striking exceptions exist which are opposed to his conclu- 

 sions. In Edinbm-gh, typhoid fever has increased as the drainage of the town has 

 extended and been improved — a residt which has been attributed to an imperfect 

 water-supply, rendering the water-closets the means of diffusing faecal emanations 

 through the interior of the houses. If such were the case, fever shovdd increase 

 largely in autumn, when the supply of water is scarce, whereas it is always most 

 prevalent in winter, when the water is abundant. Formerly also typhoid fever 

 was as unknown among those who had water-closets as those who had not. Fur- 

 ther, it should be remembered that the men who are employed almost constantly 

 in the great London drains, though so much exposed to their emanations, ai-e not 

 pai-ticularly liable to fever. 



6. Epidemic fever, and especially typhoid fever, must originate in other causes, 

 amongst which, besides contagion and infection, may be cited starvation, improper 

 quality of food, bad water — especially from springs arising in the neighbourhood 

 of cesspools or chm-chyards — overcrowding, bad ventilation, and tlie numerous 

 iUs arising from poverty and dissipation. Some, like Dr. W. Budd, of Bristol, 

 place the cause in a specific vii-us, always emanating from the body, which may 

 be conveyed by, but never originates in, drains. For my own part, I believe we 

 have yet to discover the cause producing essential fevers. But while there are so 

 many sources of fallacy, we cannot be too cautious in accepting plausible explana- 

 tions, or in acting upon them in our efforts to improve the di'ainage of towns. 



Description of M. Marey's New Sphygmograph. 

 By J. Hughes Bennett, M.D., F.B.S.E. 



The instriuuent is placed on the wi-ist, held by a light clip, the spring acted upon 

 resting on the artery. A slip of white paper moimted on a steel plate is placed 

 horizontally in the line of the vessel, and is moved onwards by clock-work. The 

 paper is brought into communication with a pen connected with the spring on the 

 pulse, and the pulsations are marked upon the paper in wavy lines. 



^ Observations on the Measurements of the Head and Weight of the Brain in 

 696 cases of Insanity. By U. Boyd, M.D. 



On the Lymphatics in the Liver of Man and the Pig. 

 By Dr. L. T. A. Carter. 

 The author explained and illustrated by drawings the extent of penetration of 

 various injecting preparations. From these preparations he concluded that the 

 blood-vessels and lymphatics are in direct commimication with each other. He 

 also described a peculiar relation of the branches of the hepatic artery to the 

 lymphatics. 



On Food as a Source of Entozoa. By T. Spencer Cobbold, M.D., F.R.S. 



This subject was brought before the Association in three papers, treating, seve- 

 rally, of meat, fruit and vegetables, and drink, all of which materials were stated 

 to be more or less liable to harbour parasites of some kind or other. The author 

 dwelt upon the Teenia in their mature state, and spoke of their introduction into 

 the body in a larval condition. There was no doubt that entozoa were intro- 

 duced with vegetable food. Small mollusks harboured larval parasites in prodigious 

 quantities; and they were the source of one or more of the parasites that occa- 

 sionallyjuivaded the human form. These entozoa might be swallowed fi-om water- 

 drinking; but thev were more likely to be taken from water-cresses, or other 

 vegetables of the kind. It was necessary, vsdth all vegetables, that the greatest 

 cleanliness should be observed in preparing them for the table. A small species 



