164 



irregularity exists in the numerical results ; but whether these arise 

 from irregularities in the distribution of the terrestrial magnetism, or 

 from any active agency of a volcanic nature, or other cause, the au- 

 thor does not venture to decide. 



January 31, 1833. 



JOHN WILLIAM LUBBOCK, Esq. M.A., V.P. and Treasurer, 

 in the Chair. 



A paper was read, entitled, " An experimental Inquiry into the 

 Treatment of Tic Douloureux." Bv W. R. Whatton, Esq. F.S.A. 

 M.R.C.S. Communicated by P. M.'Roget, M.D. Sec. R.S. 



The author, after giving a brief account of the history of neuralgia 

 facialis, and of the opinions that have been entertained of its nature, 

 states the results of his trials of morphia applied to the skin, when 

 denuded of cuticle by the previous application of a blister. The form 

 he usually employs is that of a cerate, composed of eight grains of 

 the acetate of morphia, finely powdered, to an ounce of simple oint- 

 ment or lard, one dram of which is applied every eight hours. After 

 a few weeks the proportion of the acetate is doubled, and occasionally, 

 in very severe cases, a cerate, containing twenty or twenty-four grains 

 in the ounce, was used. He relates a number of cases in which this 

 treatment was perfectly successful in curing the disease, even when 

 it had been of long standing, and had resisted every other mode of 

 treatment. 



February 7, 1833. 



WILLIAM GEORGE MATON, M.D., Vice-President, in the Chair. 



The Very Rev. George Chandler, D.D., Dean of Chichester j 

 Woronzow Greig, Esq. M.A. ; and the Rev. Frederick Nolan, LL.D. ; 

 were elected Fellows of the Society. 



A paper was read, entitled, " On the relation which subsists be- 

 tween the Nervous and Muscular Systems in the more perfect Ani- 

 mals, and the nature of the Influence by which it is maintained." By 

 A. P. W. Philip, M.D., F.R.S. L. & E. 



The author, after referring to his former papers which have at dif- 

 ferent times been read to the Royal Society, and published in their 

 Transactions, is led to view the brain and spinal marrow as the only 

 active parts of the nervous system ; the nerves, whether belonging 

 to the class of cerebral or ganglionic, together with their plexuses 

 and ganglions, serving only as the means of conveying and combining 

 the various parts of the former organs, and therefore being passive 

 with reference to their functions. This view of the subject is directly 

 opposed to that which has been adopted by many physiologists, who 

 consider these ganglions as the sources, and not the mere vehicles, 

 of nervous influence. In order to determine this point, the author 

 made the following experiment on an animal that had been pithed 



