314 REPORT — 1876. 



stalsis, but no other change. "With the coil at 15 there was no movement, 

 but the intestines were more vascular than before, which may, however, have 

 been due to sponging with warm water to remove some blood. 



Experiment repeated with the animal in the bath. There was then no 

 change in vascularity, and no movement, except very slight peristalsis in a 

 single coil. (This cat had suffered from haemorrhage, owing to the liver being 

 bruised in restoring it by artificial respiration. The fact was discovered after 

 the animal was killed, and explained its feeble state during the experiments.) 

 19. — Cat chloroformed. Both splanchnies divided. Electrodes placed on 

 proximal end of left, and the animal immersed in the bath at 100° F. There 

 was at first active peristalsis, and after this had ceased, stimulation, with the 

 coil at 2-5, produced no effect on the vasculaiity or movement of the intes- 

 tines. Repeated out of the water there was still no movement, but the in- 

 testines became less vascular while the current passed, and then somewhat 

 hyperasmic. 



Stimulation of the proximal end of the right splanchnic out of the bath 

 produced active peristalsis. The vascularity varied irregularly, and probably 

 independently, with moderate injection after the current was stopped. 



On the left splanchnic being again irritated after an interval (with the coil 

 still at 25), peristalsis, which had become very languid, was distinctly in- 

 creased. The intestines became pale during the strong contraction of each 

 coil, but otherwise their vascularity was unaffected. 



Stimulation of the splenic plexus reduced the length of the spleen from 3^ 

 to 3^ inches. 



Report of the Committee, consisting of A. Vernon Harcourt, Professor 

 Gladstone, and Dr. Atkinson, appointed for the purpose of collect- 

 ing and suggestitig subjects for Chemical Research. 



Before entering upon the task of forming a list of subjects, the members 

 of the Committee took opportunities of discussing the question privately 

 with other chemists, and found in many cases considerable doubts as to the 

 advisability of such a proceeding. Instead, therefore, of at once inviting 

 suggestions for research, the Committee considered it desirable to ascertain 

 the opinion of English chemists generally as to the feasibility of the proposed 

 scheme. The following Circular was accordingly sent to about fifty chemists, 

 who were either those of the highest oflicial standing, or who were known 

 to be engaged in research : — 



" British Association for the Advancement of Science. 



" April 24, 1876. 



" Dear Sir, — At the last Meeting of the British Association a Committee was 

 appointed, cousisting of Mr. Vernon Harcourt, Dr. Gladstone, and Dr. E. Atkinson, 

 with power to add to their number, to collect and suggest subjects for chemical 

 research. 



" When the matter was discussed by the Committee of the Chemical Section, 

 at whose instance the above-named Committee was appointed, it was thought that 

 a step might be taken towards the organization of chemical inquiry by the for- 



