1890.] Papillary Muscles of the Heart. 83 



Hence in this case a fair portion of the papillary contraction has 

 taken place before the blood begins to pass from the ventricle, or 

 to speak more correctly, before the pulse wave can be propelled 

 along the aorta, consequently the papillary contraction is shewn 

 but incompletely upon the pulse wave, only its latter part is 

 represented in the pulse, the papillary wave appears at a lower 

 point on the ascent of the curve than under normal conditions, 

 the greater portion of the blood being expelled by the long con- 

 tinuing systolic contraction; in fact, the jxipillary factor of the 

 pulse is small, the systolic remainder considerable. It is interesting 

 to note that where the intra- arterial pressure is greatly increased 

 the intra-cardiac pressure curve shows the same tendency toward 

 anacrotism ; the papillary wave, instead of forming the apex of the 

 curve, may be comparatively low down upon the line of ascent. 



(4) Mr S. F. Harmer exhibited some living specimens of a 

 Land-Planarian (Rhynchodemus terrestris, 0. F. Miiller) found in 

 Cambridge. This animal was first described as a native of England 

 by Rev. L. Jenyns (Observations in Natural History, London 1846), 

 who discovered it in abundance in the woods of Bottisham Hall, 

 near Cambridge. In the present instance, a search (made by 

 kind permission of R. B. Jenyns, Esq.) in the same locality resulted 

 in the discovery of a few specimens; and it was ascertained subse- 

 quently that R. terrestris is by no means uncommon in Cambridge 

 (King's College, Botanic Gardens). It may readily be found 

 by examining the damp lower surface of logs of wood which have 

 been lying for some time on the ground. Since the first discovery 

 of the animal in England, it seems to have been very seldom 

 found : but from its wide distribution in Europe generally and 

 in England, and from the fact that it is not very likely to be 

 found unless it is specially looked for, it is probable that this 

 animal is much commoner than is usually supposed. Several egg- 

 capsules of R. terrestris were discovered on May 15, on examining 

 fragments of rotten wood among which some specimens of the 

 animal had been kept for a week. 



VOL. VII. PT. II. 



