SECTIONAL TRANSACTIONS.—I. 351 
pressor reflex appears or not is attributed to whether sufficient diffusion takes place 
to affect the pressor synapses close by. Doses of 0.005 mgm. applied to the depressor 
point increase the depressor reflexes, and when applied to the pressor points after 
cauterisation of the depressor points increase the pressor reflex from the vagus. This 
is taken to show that strychnine can exercise a stimulating influence on the elements 
of either pressor or depressor arcs. In particular, since increase in the depressor effect 
may be caused without rise of blood-pressure or change in the pressor reflexes, it is due 
to independent increase in the inhibitory phenomenon—not dependent upon an 
increase in the tone or the field of motor neurons upon which the afferent inhibitory 
neurons can operate. 
13. Dr. F. W. Eprincr-Green, C.B.E.—The Physiological Aspects of 
the Cause, Prevention, and Cure of Myopia. 
The eye is similarly placed to the ball of a Higginson syringe. The intra-ocular 
pressure varies with the arterial pressure. If a finger be placed on the outlet tube of 
a Higginson syringe when water is being forced in through the inlet, the internal 
pressure in the ball will be still further increased. -This is exactly what happens to 
the eye on lifting a heavy weight which is only raised with difficulty. It will be 
noticed that the veins of the face and neck stand out, thus showing that the return 
of the blood to the heart is obstructed. If the eyes be able to resist the increased 
pressure, no harm will result, but if, through weakness of the sclerotic, this stretches 
under the increased pressure and does not return to its normal shape, myopia will 
be produced. The direct exciting cause of myopia is, therefore, dilatation of the 
eyes through intermittent increase of the intra-ocular pressure. 
Some candidates who, when undergoing the special Board of Trade examination 
in the vision tests, were found to be myopic, have been put back for six months for 
further examination instead of being rejected, and have been given careful instructions, 
with the result that 43 per cent. of those deferred have on re-examination passed, so 
there is no doubt that the eye possesses the power of returning to the normal, but to 
what extent remains to be ascertained. 
AFTERNOON. 
Sectional excursion to the Anti-Gas School at Tipnor and to the 
Diving Tender, arranged by the Captain of H.M.S. Excellent. 
Tuesday, September 1. 
Morning. 
14. Joint Discussion with Section J on The Acquisition of Muscular 
Skill. Opened by Prof. T. H. Prar. 
Recent progress in acquiring muscular skill in work and play, and reasons for it. 
The desirability of recording, describing, and noting skill in a universally accessible 
language. The uneven rate of progress towards this goal in different skills. The 
possibility of theoretically predicting new advances in the uses and beauty of bodily 
activities. 
The psychology of skill. Muscular skill as a special kind of knowledge. ' 
Learning skill from descriptions, diagrams, pictures, and the slow-motion cine- 
matograph. Reasons for success and failure in the pupils may lie in their mental 
make-up. The possibility of improving methods of illustration and of teaching. 
The applications of this study to industry. 
Other speakers: Prof. A. V. Hitz, Mr. E. Farmer, Dr. G. H. Mixes. 
AFTERNOON. 
Sectional excursion to the Royal Air Force Base, Calshot. 
