338 



lar function was greater, the sooner the heart was examined after the 

 death of the animal j and that if the trials were made after the lapse 

 of a certain time, the rigidity which gradually supervened on the mus- 

 cular fibres of the heart, and of the carnece columna attached to the 

 margins of the valves, brought them into more complete apposition 

 and led to the accurate closing of the passage. This effect, however, 

 was never so perfectly accomplished in the tricuspid, as in the mitral 

 valves. 



The author regards this peculiarity of structure in the tricuspid 

 valve as an express provision against the mischiefs that might result 

 from an excessive afflux of blood to the lungs, analogous to a safety- 

 valve ; and as more especially advantageous in incipient diseased 

 enlargements of the right ventricle. He adverts to the conditions of 

 the heart during the foetal state of existence, in which the same ne- 

 cessity of guarding against excessive pressure does not occur, and 

 where the structures are found to correspond to the variation of func- 

 tions. A similar adjustment of the right auriculo-ventricular valve 

 to the peculiar circumstances and habits of animals may also be 

 traced by extending the inquiry to various classes of animals. 



" Report of a Committee for collecting Information respecting the 

 occurrence of, and the more remarkable Phsenomena connected with, 

 the Earthquakes lately felt in the Neighbourhood of Chichester." By 

 J. P. Gruggen, Esq. Communicated in a letter to P. M.Roget, M.D., 

 Sec. R.S. 



This paper contains an authentic report of the shocks of earth- 

 quakes which, during the last two years, have been felt at Chi- 

 chester and the surrounding country j drawn up from accounts given 

 by various correspondents, in answer to printed queries extensively 

 circulated. The first shock occurred on the 18th of September, and 

 the second on the 13th of November, 1833. Another and more se- 

 vere shock was felt on the 23d of January, 1834, and in the latter end 

 of the same year two slighter shocks were experienced, namely, one 

 on the 27th of August, and the next on the 2 1st of September; the 

 last, which was less than any of the former, took place on the 12th of 

 January, 1835. 



The Society then adjourned over Whitsun week to meet again on 

 the 18th instant. 



June 18, 1835. 

 Sir JOHN RENNIE, Knt„ Vice-President, in the Chair. 

 June 1& — The following papers were read : 



" Discussion of Tide-Observations made at Liverpool." By J. W. 

 Lubbock, Esq., V.P. and Treas. R.S. 



The author has here presented to the Society, by permission of the 

 British Association for the Advancement of Science, a discussion by 

 M. Dessiou of about 14,000 tide-observations made at Liverpool, on 

 the plan similar to that adopted with regard to the London Dock ob- 

 servations. The first book contains the moon's transits, classified 



