ON THE PHTSIOLOGY OF THE LYMPHATIC SYSTEM. 



131 



On heatin];^ the fresh aqueous humour to 56° C. a precipitate of coa- 

 gulated proteid was obtained. This is another proof, in addition to the 

 formation of fibrin already mentioned, that atjueous humour contains 

 fibrinogen. 



We sought for mucin, but found that it was absent. Albumoses and 

 peptones are also absent. 



Kuhn ' and Gruenhagen * have recently described a substance of 

 doubtful nature in the aqueous humour which, like sugar, reduces 

 copper salts, but which is not sugar, as it does not undergo the alcoholic 

 fermentation. We have not made extensive observations in this direc- 

 tion ; we can, however, state that in the eyes of the oxen we have ex- 

 amined this substance is not present in sufficient quantities to produce 

 any visible reduction of Fehling's solution, if the aqueous humour be 

 used either fresh or after the separation of the proteid s from it by acidu- 

 lation and heating. 



The examination of the proteids of the aqueous humour thus shows 

 that although they are present in small quantities they are in kind like 

 those existing in the plasma of the blood (viz., consisting of fibrinogen, 

 serum-globulin, and serum-albumin) ; that therefore the supposition that 

 the aqueous humour is, like lymph, an exudation from the blood rather 

 than a true secretion is fully confirmed. 



Report of the Committee, consisting of Dr. J. H. GtLadstone 

 (Chairman), Professor Armstrong (Secretary), Mr. Stephen 

 Bourne, Miss Lydia Becker, Sir John Lubbock, Bart., Dr. H. 

 W. Crosskey, Sir Richard Temple, Bart., Sir Henry E. Roscoe, 

 Mr. James Heywood, and Professor N. Story Maskelyne, ap- 

 pointed for the purpose of continuing the inquiries relating to 

 the teaching of Science in Elementary Schools. 



This year has been one of continued depression in regard to the teaching 

 of science in elementary schools, and of disappointment in regard to 

 legislative action. 



The return of the Education Department for this year shows again a 

 diminution in the teaching of the science subjects. The statistics of the 

 class subjects for six years are given in the subjoined table, which shows 

 an actual decrease in elementary science, and a comparative decrease in 

 geography :— 



The return of scholars individually examined in the scientific specific 

 subjects shows an actual or relative falling off in every subject except 



» Pfliiger's ArcJiir, xli. 200. * Ibid, xliii. 377. 



K 2 



