562 



acid neutralised by any alkali, or by phosphate of soda, the fluid 

 becoming more acid when boiled. A solution of earthy phosphates 

 in biphosphate of soda also gives a precipitate on boiling, if some of 

 its acid reaction is removed by any alkali. The fluid when boiled 

 becomes more acid to test-paper, indicating the formation of a more 

 basic earthy phosphate. A result precisely similar is obtained when 

 common phosphate of soda, phosphate of lime, and a little biphos- 

 phate of soda exist together in solution ; and by varying the quan- 

 tities of each of these substances, the various phenomena which the 

 urine occasionally presents may be imitated. The time at which the 

 alkalescence of the urine from fixed, alkali generally occurs, indi- 

 cates the existence of some alkaline phosphate, or of some carbonated 

 alkali in the food. 



" On the Nerves of the Uterus." By Thomas S. Beck, Esq. 

 Communicated by Sir Benjamin C. Brodie, Bart., F.R.S. 



The object of the author in this communication is to record the 

 results of his dissections of the nerves of the uterus, both in the unim- 

 pregnated and gravid states, with a view to determine if any changes 

 are observable in them in these two conditions. He enters minutely 

 into the anatomical details of the formation of the great splanchnic 

 nerve, the composition of the semilunar ganglion, and the distribu- 

 tion of the branches proceeding from it to the different abdominal 

 viscera. His conclusions are, that while the ovaria derive their 

 nerves from the renal, the fallopian tubes from the hypogastric, and 

 the bladder, rectum and vagina from the pelvic plexus, the nerves 

 supplying the uterus are continuations of the hypogastric plexus, 

 and that they undergo, during pregnancy, no further change, either 

 in size or position, except that which is the simple consequence of 

 the enlargement of the organ over which they are distributed, and 

 that they undergo no other change during a second pregnancy. He 

 thinks it probable, moreover, that the vessels of the uterus do not 

 decrease in size after parturition, but are only contracted in their 

 cavity. • He notices several points relating to these subjects, which 

 are still open to further investigation. The paper is accompanied 

 by highly finished drawings of the appearance of the dissected parts. 



"On a Peculiar Source of Deterioration of the Magnetic Powers 

 of Steel Bars." By William Sturgeon, Esq. Communicated by 

 S. Hunter Christie, Esq., Sec. R.S. 



The author concludes, from various experiments on the changes 

 in the magnetic force of steel magnets produced by subjecting them 

 to blows with a wooden mallet, or other modes of creating tremors 

 or vibrations among their particles, that the most apparently trifling 

 mechanical agitation is sufficient to occasion a considerable diminu- 

 tion of magnetic power ; that this loss, when it has taken place from 

 such a cause, is permanent ; and that in every case, after reaching a 

 certain point, it attains its maximum, a fact M'hich implies, in every 

 magnet, the possession of a specific retentive force, of which it can- 

 not be deprived by any further mechanical commotion of its parti- 



