TRANSACTIONS OF SECTION I. 883 



mammalian reaction, and the fact that the blood of animals of closely related 

 species is often found to yield reciprocal or group reactions. But these sources 

 of error may be avoided by using only hioli potential anti-sera, reacting with the 

 anti-gen in a dilution of not less than I per 1,000, and by a careful system of 

 controls. The precipitin test, more especially if completed by the still more 

 delicate method of complement-iixation, forms an important and valuable addition 

 to medico-legal procedures of analysis. 



12, The Action of Acid and Alkali on the Grorvth and Division of Animal 

 and Vegetable Cells. By Professor B. Moore and Dr. H. E. Roaf. 



Cells are very susceptible to changes in reaction of their surrounding medium. 

 Echinus eggs, hyacinths, and newts have been kept in solutions of various acids 

 and alkalis, and mammals have been fed with large quantities of acid and 

 alkaline phosphates. Isolated cells are very susceptible to the action of the 

 surrounding medium, while more complex organisms can modify the eflect and 

 protect themselves by neutralising the excess of acid or alkali. Acid shows, 

 even with the weakest strengths, an inhibiting ert'ect on all growth, the nuclei 

 disappear, and the cells degenerate. With hyacinth rootlets the cell walls become 

 enormously thickened, and the cells themselves become swollen. Japanese newts 

 become lethargic in acid phosphate, thus showing a similar inhibitive effect. 

 Alkali, although also causing stoppage of growth at quite low concentrations, 

 shows with still weaker strengths a stimulating effect. Echinus eggs and 

 hyacinth rootlets show increased cell-division, and, with increased strength of 

 alkali before inhibition occurs, the divisions appear to become irregular. Japanese 

 newts show hyperexcitability, thus pointing to increased and disordered action of 

 tbe cells. Mammals, with larg(^ doses of either acid or alkaline phosphates, show 

 degenerative lesions, but the actual ett'ect of acid or alkali is probably masked by 

 excretion and neutralisation. The ' reactivity ' of mammalian blood serum can be 

 altered by large doses of phosphates. 



13. Changes in the Prinitary after Thyroidectomy, 

 By Dr. P. T. Herring. 



TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8. 

 Joint Meeting vnth Section D. — See p. 741. 



The following Paper was afterwards read : — 



A Review of the Tuberculosis Crusade in Ireland. 

 By Sir Robert E. Matheson. 



3 L2 



