314 Proceedings of Societies. 
“On the Coal Miners of Durham and Northumberland, their Habits 
and Diseases.” By Dr Witson. 
‘On the Dietaries of the Labouring Classes.’”” By Dr Epwarp Smita. 
*€On the Calabar Bean.” By Mr Tuomas Nunne tty. 
‘© On a Parasitical Acarus of the Anodon.” By Mr R. Garner. 
‘©On a Miners’ Safety-mask for supporting Life in Fire-Damp and 
other Noxious Vapour.” By Mr B. W. Ricuarpson. 
‘*Qn How to restore Drowned Persons, Patients in Chloroform <Acci- 
dents, &c.’’ By Dr Kipp. 
‘‘On the Normal Position of the Epiglottis.”’” By Dr Grorex D. Gis. 
‘On Voluntary Closure of the Glottis, independently of the Act of 
Breathing.” By Dr George D. Grizz. 
“Note on the Change of Attitude which takes place in Infants 
beginning to Walk.”” By Dr Cuezanp. 
“On the Reciprocal Action between Plants and Gases.” By Mr R. 
Garner.—In this paper the author brought forward the subject of the 
natural inhalations and exhalations of plants, and of the effects on vegeta- 
tion of certain non-natural contaminations of the atmosphere, such as occur 
in coal and mining districts, consisting for the most part of sulphurous and 
hydrochloric acids, and of ammonia. Different plants have different 
susceptibilities for such influence, and a kind of rude metrical table may be 
constructed, in which the greater or less impurity of the atmosphere may 
be shown from the effects on plants. ‘Thus the rhododendron, or yucca, 
or aucuba will flourish in an air fatal to the common laurel; wheat will 
luxuriate when a holly or oak will die. Annuals suffer least, evergreens 
much. The paper gave the result of many experiments on plants by 
means of gases, &c., applied to the leaves and roots. Some plants which 
appear naturally to luxuriate in the coal strata, as the oak, holly, or some 
ferns, soon die, he stated, when the mines began to be worked. ‘Trees 
lose their leaves earlier than in other districts, and, as a rule, evergreens 
suffer much. One thing was fortunate: annuals suffer less, for instance, 
corn and wheat do well when nothing else could, and perhaps the exhala- 
tions in question might even tend to ripen them. 
“On the Physiological Action of the Uterus in Parturition.’ By 
Dr Donkin, 
“On the Condition of the Uterus after Delivery in Certain of the 
Mammalia.” By Professor RotixEston. 
“On the Ligamentous Action of the long Muscles in Man and other 
Animals.” By Dr Crieuanp. 
Section E.—GEOGRAPHY AND ETHNOLOGY, 
President—Sir R. I.. Murcuison. 
“ Proposed Inter-Oceanic and International Transit Route across Central 
America.’’ By Captain Beprorp T. Pim. 
‘Journey from Tientsin (North China) to the Capital of Mantchu 
Tartary.” By Captain G. Fiemina. 
