TRANSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS, 103 



mucli below the surface, yet may be shown, by the permeation of colom'ed liquids, 

 to furnish an indirect communication with the vacuities of the deep layer, either 

 by fissm-es or cracks passing between them, or by the more pervious nature of the 

 intervening ti-act. This general arrangement of an upper compact and a lower _ 

 cavernous sti'atimi has a certain analogy with the structoe of the internal tissue 

 of leaves, amounting, indeed, in some cases to so close a resemblance that one 

 might readily compare the shell of some chelouiau reptiles to the parenchyma of a 

 leaf which had undergoue calcification ; and as in the egg-shell we have the pore- 

 like pits on the outer sm-face to facilitate the permeation of the air to the subjacent 

 stratiun, so in floating leaves, which have their stomata on the upper epidermis, 

 we generally have some arrangement to lessen the obsti'uctive influence of the 

 layer of compact tissue between them and the spongy pai'enchyma below. Of this 

 perhaps we have the most striking example in the lai'ge tapering cells in the leaf of 

 the White Water Lily, which, when exposed to the action of an aniUne dye, become 

 very conspicuous objects from the readiness with which they take in the colom-; 

 they somewhat resemble a series of nails diiven through the compact tissue, with 

 their flattened heads immediately under the stomata, and their points projecting 

 into the air-spaces below. As another example of such an arrangement, reference 

 was made to the vacuity under each stomatic opening in the upper layer of paren- 

 chyma in the leaf of the common pond-weed. 



On the Antiseptic Properties of the Sulphites. By Dr. Polli, of Milan. 



Sidphurous acid was said to be the most active agent in arresting all organic fer- 

 mentation. As the acid, however, was not easily applicable in experiment, Dr. 

 Polli had undertaken an investigation as to the action of the sulphites of Hme, 

 hyposidphite of magnesia, sulphite of magnesia, and sulphite of soda. These sub- 

 stances were found to possess all the properties of sulphm'ous acid, with the advan- 

 tage that their action was more miiform and certain and constant. In experi- 

 menting on animals and himself, he found that large doses could be taken without 

 risk. On killing animals treated with sulphites, and others not so ti'eated, he found 

 that the former were most slow to decompose, and, indeed, remained quite fresh 

 when the others were putrescent and oflensive. Ajiother series of experiments 

 showed that in one class the administration of the sulphites was sufficient to efiect 

 a more or less rapid cure in cases where blood-poisoning was present, as in fevers, 

 Ur. Polli was anxious to have it clearly stated that he did not attribute this to any 

 curative power in the sulphites, but to the fact that they arrested decomposition, and 

 by so doing allowed the animal to recover by the recuperative power existing in its 

 own constitution. The author thought his observations conclusive as to the excel- 

 lent influence of the sidphites on certain diseases. 



On Coarjulation of the Blood — a correction of the Ammonia Theory. 

 By Dr. W, B. Eichakdson. 



On some Effects produced by applyinci Extreme Cold to certain parts of the 

 Nervous System. By Dr. W. B. RiCHAEDSOiS^. 



On certain Effects of the Concentrated Solar Bays vpion the Tissues of Living 

 Atiimals immersed in Water. By Geoege Robinson, M.D. 



After adverting to the wonderful effects of the composite natm'e of the solar rays, 

 and to the circmnstance that water of all fluids next to the air is the medium most 

 intimately connected with animal and vegetable life, the author gives an account 

 of the effects he has observed when he has concentrated the solar rays on nu- 

 merous bodies immersed in water. 



The most remarkable results were those obtained in experimenting on small 

 fishes and frogs. To the former the action of the rays, when concentrated upon 

 the head, was immediately fatal ; of the latter the slrin was shrivelled and disco- 

 lom-ed. Even on his own hand the efiect was immediately perceptible, pain followed 

 by inflammation. 



He concluded with remaining, <' Jt would therefore, from tbis particular rela- 



