1-15 REPORT 1870. 



As the result of their observations, the authors state that — 



1. During bandaging of the tirst lower limb, the pulse-rate increases, and after- 

 wards (generally after a very short interval) falls to about the normal. 



2. Dm-ing bandaging of the second lower limb, the pulse again quickens its pace, 

 returuin"- almost to the normal, but sometimes remaining a fevv beats above the 

 normal. 



3. When both bandages are suddenly let go, there is at once a marked 

 acceleration of pulse-rate, but of brief duration. 



The authors point out the changes which bandaging and uubaudagiug must have 

 upon the disposition of the blood in the circulating system. Thus, on bandaging, 

 the arterial blood is di-iven from the limbs bandaged into the arterial system of the 

 trunk, head and neck, and upper extremities, raising the pressiu-e all over the system : 

 while the venous blood, together with the lymph, are also driven into the rest of 

 the body from the compressed limbs, but arc only able to aflect the pressure in the 

 trunk, iiead, and neclc, being excluded by valves from the upper extremities. 

 Hence the general venous pressure will have a relatively larger increase than the 

 general arterial pressure. 



Ao-ain, on imbandaging, the arterial blood rushes down the lower limbs to fill 

 the previously obliterated vessels, thus diminishing the general pressure of the 

 arterial system; while no such reflux of the venous blood is possible on account of 

 tlie interposed valves of the veins. Jlence, while the arterial pressure is diminished 

 suddenly, the venous remains, for the moment, as it was ; that is to say, the general 

 venous " pressure will experience a relatively less diminution than the general 

 arterial pressure. 



Now, comparing the conditions on bandaging and imbandaging, it will be seen 

 that, in both cases, the relative difference normoUji existitig heticeen arterial (aid venous 

 pressitres on the two sides of the heart is diminished, on bandaging by approximating 

 the venous to the arterial pressure, on uubandaging by approximating the arterial 

 to the venous pressure. May we not, the authors suggest, seek in this coincidence 

 of conditions an explanation of the somewhat imexpected similarity of effect on 

 bandaging the lower limbs and on loosing the bandages ? 



In the course of the discussion which followed, Professor Kronecker, of Leipzig, 

 pointed out that the addition of a large quantity of lymph to the blood on 

 bandaging, by altering the composition of the blood, might well be supposed to 

 aflect the heart's rate, since the heart is now known to be very sensitive to qualita- 

 tive changes in the iluids bathing it. 



On the Morj)Jiolo(/y and Histology of the Nervous System of Antedon rosaceus 

 (Comatula rosacea, Lamlc.). By Dr. W. B. Carpenter, C.B., F.Ii.S. 



On a Hypothesis of the lyerception of Articulate Speech. By Dr. Cassells. 



On the Morphologival Belations of the Lower End of the Humerus. 

 By Professor Cleland, M.D., FJi.S. 



In this communication it was pointed out that the torsion of the humerus spoken 

 of by more than one writer has no existence in nature, and that the limb is deve- 

 loped in its morphological position. While the radius is morphologically anterior 

 to the ulna, the anterior, posterior, external, and internal aspects of the humerus 

 have morphological relations exactly corresponding with those names, so that the 

 flattening of the lower end of the humerus is not a commencement of the expansiou 

 which results in two bones in the forearm. The radius does not belong to the outer 

 side of the humerus, nor the ulna to the inner side ; but the radius is in front of 

 the humerus, the ulna behind it, and the limb is in its morphological position when 

 the forearm is in .semipronation. 



