EXPLORATION OF THE PLANT BEDS OF NORTH GREENLAND. 57 



kno-mng that the hypothesis was correct. I feel convinced, on this longer 

 experience, that by continued labour vre shall be able to pronounce the pre- 

 cise physiological meaning and value of aU the organic compounds, to extend 

 the knowledge of the cm-ative action of these compounds to every condition 

 of disease that is physically remediable, and to bring therapeutics into the 

 position of a positive science. 



Postscript. 

 "WTiile these Transactions have been in preparation the opportunity has 

 been afforded me of testing the action of bichloride of methylene as a general 

 anaesthetic on the human subject, and with the happiest results. On October 

 15th of last year (1S67), having first inhaled the vapour myself to complete 

 anaesthesia, I afterwards administered it to a lady wliile Mr. Spencer Wells 

 performed one of the formidable operations in surgery. Not one imfavour- 

 ablc symptom resulted, and since thc7i the bichloride of methylene has been 

 in frequent use in surgery. Tp to the present time (January 20, 1S6S) no 

 untoward event has followed its administration. — E. "W. K. 



Preliminary Report of the Committee for the Exploration of the 



Plant Beds of North Greenland, appointed at the Nottingham 



Meeting, 1866. 

 Mr. "WnYMPER, one of the Members of the Committee, having made arrange- 

 ments for visiting Greenland, a meeting of the Committee was held on the 

 4th of April, in London, and it was there resolved that the sum of £1U0 

 voted by the British Association for the purposes of this exploration be 

 handed to Mr. Whymper, on his giving a written undertaking to fulfil the 

 conditions laid down by the Association, as far as lay in his power. 



In addition to this grant, Mr. AVhymper was further assisted by a grant of 

 .£200 from the Government Grant Committee of the Eoyal Society. 



Mr. Whymper started from Copenhagen about the 20th of April, taking 

 with him as assistant Dr. Eobert Brown, a gentleman already well known 

 for his explorations in North-west .imerica, especially as to the Natural 

 History of British Columbia. 



Since the expedition left Copenhagen, no intelligence from it has been 

 received by this Committee. 



The description of the plant remains from North Greenland which have 

 been already brought to these countries has been completed by Prof. Oswald 

 Heer of Zuiich, and his work on the ' Fossil Plora of the Polar Eegions ' is 

 now nearly printed, and will be published in a short time. 



Egbert H. Scott, Sec. 



