TRANSACTIONS OF SECTION I. 795 



The changes in each of these parts are of so special a nature that it is impos- 

 sible to give a short general description of them. In general the changes are of 

 such a kind as if the operation caused some substance to be formed or to soak into 

 the ganglion, and then spread along its nervous connections, bringing about changes 

 in the chemical conditions of the cells of the tissues until the cells are more or less 

 completely destroyed. The alteration spreads along the natural pathAvays only as 

 long as they are intact ; every experiment therefore which destroys the connection 

 produces no trophic etlect. It appears that a spread of this injurious substance is 

 possible both in the special ganglia and in the grey substance of the spinal cord, 

 for the number of altered cells is far greater in the case of the spinal ganglion than 

 in that of the sympathetic ganglion. In the grey substance of the spinal cord the 

 change is seen to spread, not only from the posterior to the anterior horns, but also 

 in the direction from above downwards. In those places where the change has 

 reached the anterior horns it spreads through the anterior nerve-roots, and thus 

 arrives at the muscles. At least one finds in the fibres of the nerves which supply 

 the biceps muscle characteristic changes throughout the whole course of the nerves 

 down the brachial plexus to the muscle. 



7. On the Development of Kidney. By John Berky Haycbaft, M.D., 

 Professor of Physiology, University College, Cardiff. 



The epithelium of the kidney tubules is originally derived from that of the 

 ureter and Wolffian duct, as taught by Kolliker. In the rabbit the ureter branches 

 in the kidney blastema into six or eight tubules, ending in peripheral dilatations, 

 the primitis'e renal vesicles. These vesicles divide again and again as the kidney 

 grows, keeping to the extreme cortex, and their stalks forming the collecting 

 tubules. AH the primary branches of the ureter and many of the above-named 

 collecting tubules become evaginated to form the pelvis. From the primary renal 

 vesicles the rest of the tubules grow out as solid and then hollow processes 

 .and the Bowman's capsule is moulded on a bend of its own tubule, and is not 

 invaginated by a glomerulus. After birth the primary renal vesicles shrink down 

 to the size of an ordinarj^ tubule, but at birth they may be seen as dilatations of 

 the collecting tube when it reaches the extreme cortex and turns round into the 

 region of the convoluted tubules. 



FRIBAT, AUGUST 10. 



The President, Professor E. A. Schafeb, F.R.S., delivered the following 

 address : — 



Before beginning the subject-matter of my address I had conceived it to be 

 necessary, appearing before you as w'e do as a new Section, to offer some sort of 

 apology for our presence. But, on looking up the history of the Association, 

 I find that my task is somewliat different. If I have any apology to ofier at all 

 it is that the Section of Physiology has ceased to appear for many years. 



The British Association was founded at York in 1831 ; and at the subsequent 

 meeting, which was held in this very city of Oxford, amongst other Sections which 

 were established, was one for Anatomy and Physiology. Now, when we consult 

 the records of this Section we are struck with the fact that Medicine early shows a 

 marked preponderance. Thus, in 1833 a physician. Dr. Haviland, is selected as 

 President for the Section; and the secretaries are Dr. II. J. H. Bond, who was 

 Regius Professor of Physic in the University of Cambridge from 1851 to 187:2 ; 

 and Mr. (afterwards Sir) G. E. Paget, who succeeded Dr. Bond in the Eegius 

 Professorship. This preponderance soon came to be recognised in the designation 

 of the Section, for in 1835 we find it entitled Section E, Anatomy and Medicine. 



