TRANSACTIONS OP THE SECTIONS. 159 



earliest Electrical Machines employed by mankind," brought before the British 

 Association at its meeting in Dublin in 1857- 



In addition to the facts concerning the employment of the Gymnotusas a remedial 

 electric agent mentioned in that communication, the author has ascertained two 

 otbers of some interest. Humboldt, in his ' Personal Narrative,' refers to a Dutch 

 surgeon named Van der Lott, as having published in Holland a work in the last 

 century * On the Therapeutic Use of the living Gymnotus.' Through the kindness 

 of Baron J. L. de Geer, of the University of Utrecht, the author has learned that 

 Van der Lott's work consisted simply of a letter dated Rio Essequibo, 7th June, 

 1761, and published by one of its members in the ' Transactions of the Haarlem 

 Society of Arts for 1762,' where it may be consulted. The point of chief interest 

 contained in it is the statement that the Dutch colonists, with the sanction of some 

 at least of the medical men, were in the habit of treating, and frequently with suc- 

 cess, lameness, paralysis, and headache, as occurring among their negro slaves. 



The other point referred to by the author is the fact recently ascertained by him, 

 that the use of the Gymnotus continues in Surinam at the present day. Robert 

 Kirke, Esq., of Burntisland near Edinburgh, who resided in that colony for some 

 twenty years, informs him that he was in the habit, as other owners of estates also 

 were, and still are, of keeping two or more living electrical eels in a tank, for the use 

 of the negroes and Indians, who have great faith in the power of their shock to cure 

 rheumatic and paralytic affections. The negroes combine the administration of the 

 Gymnotus-shocks, which they know how to vary in strength, with the application 

 to the ailing part of the fat of the boa constrictor ; but they invariably ascribe the 

 cure, if such is attained, to the shocks. An uncle of Mr. Kirke's, Dr. James Balfour, 

 who practised medicine in the end of the last and beginning of the present century 

 in Berbice and Demerara, was in the regular habit of employing the eels to give 

 shocks, which he said he had found of great use in the cure of rheumatism. 



It thus appears that the native Indians, the imported negroes, the Dutch and 

 English colonists of the districts where the Gymnotus is found, have one or other 

 employed it as a therapeutic electric machine from time immemorial down to the 

 present day. 



The author mentioned in conclusion, that Mr. Kirke had kindly engaged to pro- 

 cure next summer a pair of living Gymnoti for him. He trusted they would arrive 

 safely in Edinburgh, where they would be accessible to all scientific men. 



Physiology. 



Case of Lactation in an Unimpregnated Bitch. By John Adamson, M.D. 



A greyhound bitch, four years old, has never had pups. She is a usual occupant 

 of a hearth-rug along with a cat, with which she has always been on very friendly 

 terms. 



This cat had kittens, and one being spared, it was soon allowed to join the family 

 group on the hearth-rug, where in a short time it rivalled, and almost supplanted its 

 mother in the affection of the greyhound. Before long it was observed to make an 

 occasional attempt to reach the greyhound's teats, the process evidently at first 

 discomposing the bitch, although she generally submitted to it. After a time this 

 occurred regularly, and led to an examination of the teats, which were found to be 

 slightly enlarged, reddened, and to contain a few drops of milk. 



In a few weeks, during which the sucking continued regularly, the glands were 

 noticed to have become much larger, and the amount of the secretion was so great 

 that one gentle squeeze easily caused the emission of six or eight drops from any of 

 the enlarged glands ; it was apparent, indeed, that the kitten was deriving a great 

 part of its nourishment from the bitch. 



About this time the old cat, which had long ceased to notice the kitten, had 

 another litter in a stable in which the greyhound was shut up at night ; and the first 

 intimation of it was given by the appearance of the bitch on her way to the house 

 with a young kitten in her mouth : she exhibited every appearance of maternal affec- 



