British Association for the Advancement of Science. 313 



Rev. F. W. Hope read a paper 07i Noxious Insects occurring 

 in 1838. These were a beetle (Anthonomus pomonus) which 

 attacked the blossoms of apple trees ; an aphis, which has injured 

 apple trees, hop plants, and wheat ; and the Tipula Tritici (or 

 rather Cecidomyia Tritici)^ a small dipterous insect, whose attacks 

 on wheat while blossoming, for many yea.rs past, are well known. 



Section E. 3Iedical Science. 



A paper was read by Mr. T. M. Greenhow, on the beneficial 

 action of mercury rapidly introduced, in certain cases of Neuralgia. 



Mr. R. M. Glover read a paper on the functions of the rete mu- 

 cosum and pigmentum nigrum in the dark races, and particularly 

 in the Negro ; with observations on a paper on the same subject, 

 by Sir Everard Home. 



In the next paper, Dr. John Reid gave an account of an experi- 

 'niental investigation of the functions of the Eighth Pair of 

 Nerves. 



A paper, by Mr. N. Parr, on the law of recovery and mortality 

 in CholeixL Spasmodica, was read by Dr. R. D. Thomson. From 

 the tables which Mr. F. has prepared, may be deduced the solu- 

 tions of the following problems. 1. The mean duration of the 

 disease. 2. The mean future duration of the disease at any pe- 

 riod. 3. The probability of dying at any period of the disease. 



Mr. James Blake then read a paper on the action of various 

 siibstatices on the animal economy , whe?i injected into the Veins, 

 in which were detailed experiments with various substances and 

 their effect on the vascular system, measured by an ingenious in- 

 strument, which the author called a Hsemadynamometer, an in- 

 strument by which he was enabled to detect the pressure of the • 

 blood in the arterial system, by means of a column of mercury, 

 contained in a bent glass tube, which could be connected with 

 the arteries, and which was attached to a graduated scale. 



Dr. Yelloly (the chairman) showed a model of an improved 

 acoustic instrument, to assist in cases of partial deafness. A re- 

 port upon its value may be expected at the next meeting. 



Dr. Reid gave a brief notice of his researches on the quantity 

 of air required for respiration. 



Dr. Inglis read a paper containing ph?^enologicalretnarks on the 

 skull of Eugene Aram. 



Vol. XXXV.— No. 2. 40 



