368 Proceedings of the British Association. 



this country in which they had become entangled. They were ex- 

 tracted from the turpentine whilst it was slowly melting at the 

 warehouse, and then placed in spirits of turpentine to cleanse them 

 thoroughly. In this way they may be prepared in as great beauty 

 and perfection as when newly captured. 



Section E. — Anatomy and Medicine. 



Dr. Macartney read the report of the Dublin Committee, appoint- 

 ed by the British Association, " On the Motion and Sounds of the 

 Heart ;" and the report of the London Committee, " On the Sounds 

 of the Heart," was read by Dr. Clandlning. Dr. Syraonds then read 

 a letter from Dr. Spittal, of Edinburgh, stating, that in consequence 

 of the death of Prof. Turner, and the absence of one of the mem- 

 bers on the continent, the committee had not been able to prepare a 

 report. After that a paper was read " On the Gyration of the Heart," 

 by F. A. Greeves, Esq. 



The President then read a communication from Dr. Brewster, en- 

 titled, " A singular development of Polarizing Power on the Crys- 

 talline Lens, after death," and also a letter from the same, " On 

 Cataract, or a disease resembling Cataract," which, if resisted in its 

 earlier stages, the Doctor believed, from personal experience, might 

 be overcome. For detecting this disease, which generally manifest- 

 ed itself between forty and sixty, the Doctor gave instructions, and 

 further stated, that by attention to diet and regimen, and taking care 

 not to study by night, he had been cured in about eight months. If 

 the affection had not been checked in time, he entertained no doubt 

 it would have ended in cataract. 



Dr. Carson then communicated some " Observations on Absorp- 

 tion." 



Section F. — Statistics. 



A paper on Statistical Desiderata, by W. R. Greg, Esq., of Man- 

 chester, was presented by the Rev. E. G. Stanley. 



Mr. John Taylor, Treasurer to the Association, read a paper on 

 the comparative value of the mineral productions of Great Britain 

 and the rest of Europe. A calculation, he said, was made by Mr. 

 C. F. Schmidt, in 1829, of the value of the mineral productions of 

 Europe, at continental prices ; and, from the accuracy of the state- 

 ments coming within Mr. Taylor's own knowledge, he was disposed 

 to believe in the others. It should be borne in mind that the con- 



