358 



Anniversary Meeting. 



[Nov. 30, 



firmed b_y subsequent inquiries, the fact whicli lie and Kolliker enunciated, 

 that profound differences exist between the action of the poison on the 

 contractile tissue itself and its action on the endings of the motor nerves, 

 remains as a fundamental doctrine of physiology. The discovery of the 

 properties of urari had, moreover, all the contingent advantages of the 

 invention of a method. Urari has proved of indispensable advantage 

 as a means of physiological analysis ; its use in this respect is second 

 only to that of chloroform and other anaesthetics. Many of the most 

 important results in physiology gained during the last quarter of a cen- 

 tury would probably have never been reached without the assistance of 

 urari. Indirectly, therefore, we owe these to Bernard and Kolliker. 



We are also indebted to Bernard for what was his earhest work, an 

 important research on the functions of the pancreas, more especially on 

 the use of the pancreatic juice in the digestion of fat. This alone was 

 an important addition to physiological science ; but it retires into the 

 background before the more important labours on which I have dwelt. 



Lastly, in addition to these special researches, physiology has been 

 enriched by a series of general lectures on the nervous system, on 

 digestion, on poisons, on the properties of blood and other animal 

 fluids, in which Bernard not only brought forward many other observa- 

 tions of interest and importance, as for instance those on carbonic-oxide 

 poisoning, but also directed his readers in a lucid and striking manner to 

 general considerations of great value. * 



Some of the views which he has thus put forward have not stood the 

 test of subsequent investigation ; but many of them, for instance the 

 conception of the blood as an internal medium on which the several 

 tissues live, have become part and parcel of the higher physiological 

 teaching of the day ; and by the exposition of his general views, Bernard 

 has done service to physiology quite commensurate with the fruit of 

 his more special inquiries. 



[The Medal was received for M. Bernard by His Excellency the Prench 

 Ambassador.] 



The Eumford Medal has been awarded to M. Pierre Jules Cesar 

 Janssen, Eor. Mem. E-.S., for his numerons and important researches on 

 the radiation and absorption of light, carried on chiefly by means of the 

 spectroscope. 



Eor the last 16 years Janssen's labours have been unceasing ; and he 

 is continuing them Avith unabated vigour at the present moment. 



His first communication dates from 1860, in which year he recorded 

 some observations on the absorption of radiant heat by the interior of 

 the eye. This thesis gained for him the Doctorat es sciences physiques. 

 In 1862 he published the first section of his celebrated researches on the 

 origin of the telluric lines of the solar spectrum : he gave us the new 

 form of spectroscope of which we are only now beginning to take full 



