TRANSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS. 135 
of the relations which they bear to each other ; but it is not true of man, who does 
create new phenomena. 
Notes of Experiments on Digestion. 
By G. Harty, M.D., F.CS., FRCP... 
The communication was illustrated by numerous experiments showing the pro- 
perties of the saliva, the gastric juice, the bile, and the pancreatic secretion. 
The author stated that, contrary to an opinion lately published by Bernard, the 
distinguished French physiologist, he had found that the human saliva contains both 
sulphocyanide of potassium and iron. The latter substance, however, can only be 
detected after the organic matters contained in the secretion are destroyed by burn- 
ing. He had ascertained that a person of nine stone secreted between one and two 
pounds of saliva in twenty-four hours. 100 parts of mixed saliva yielded on analysis,— 
Wiathinet! coin ete! go idint eae adie 99881 
OCG Ateusigmy 0 s.derinique ow'ao 1OG69 
Ferment . 5 
sock re f ‘ ts uae TOAGECE. ds bp oar aa oo & 
Mucus and epithelium J 
Chloride of sodium . . 
Sulphate of potash . . | 
Sulphocyanide of potassium 
Phosphate of lime. . . 
A magnesia . | 
and iron ¢ 2 
The gastric juice, the author said, does not destroy the power possessed by the 
saliva of transforming starch into sugar; consequently the digestion of amylaceous 
food is continued in the stomach. The gastric juice has the property of changing 
cane- into grape-sugar. 100 parts of pure filtered gastric juice, obtained through a 
fistulous opening in a dog’s stomach, yielded on analysis,— 
Re ea ve teeh ede a SE aa 
SL ei erreage la nesipepeare tae slr 
Organic matter, chiefly pepsin. . . + - 2°247 
Chloride of sodium . . ) 
‘ potassium . 
Phosphate of lime . . eee! matter oe) «) 2°247 
3 magnesia . . 
Baw eGR 2k epee vy itary) 
The author made some remarks upon the cause of the gastric juice not digesting 
the living stomach; and said that his experiments showed that it is not so much the 
epithelium lining the organ which prevented its being digested, as the layer of thick 
mucus which covered its walls. When the latter substance is absent, the gastric 
juice attacks the walls of the living stomach and digests them, causing perforation 
and death. As regards the bile, it seems that this secretion takes an active part in 
rendering the fatty matters of our food capable of being absorbed into the system. 
The most curious of all the digestive fluids, however, is the pancreatic secretion, for 
it appears to unite in itself the properties of all the others. It not only transforms 
starch and other such substances into sugar, but it emulsions fats, and even toa 
limited extent, as first pointed out by Pappenheim and Purkinje, digests proteine 
compounds. 
inorganic matter . . . 0°'278 
The Spinal Chord a Sensational and Volitional Centre. 
By G. H. Lewes. 
The spinal chord, the author stated, was formerly believed to be nothing but a 
great nerve-trunk ; and even now its functions have been limited to the transmission 
and reflexion of impressions. That it can conduct impressions to the sensorium and 
reflect them on the motor nerves, producing muscular contraction, is all that physio- 
