On the Rhythmic Contractility of the Spleen. 229 



Carulla (J. F. P.) [Address to the Nottingham Section of the 

 Society of Chemical Industry.] 8vo. London 1895. 



The Author. 



Cauchy (A.) CEuvres Completes. Tome X. 4to. Paris 1895. 



Ministry of Public Instruction, Paris. 

 Galilei (Galileo) Opere : Edizione JSTazionale. Vol. V. 4to. 



Firenze 1895. Ministry of Public Instruction, Kome. 



Hale (H.) An Iroquois Condoling Council: a Study of Aboriginal 

 American Society and Government. 8vo. [Ottawa] 1895. 



The Author. 



Roscoe (Sir H. E.), F.R.S., and Harden (A.) A New View of the 

 Origin of Dalton's Atomic Theory : a Contribution to Chemical 

 History. 8vo. London 1896. The Authors. 



Springthorpe (J. W.) The Teaching of Science in Matters of 

 Health. 8vo. [Brisbane'] 1895. The Author. 



January 30, 1896. 



Sir JOSEPH LISTER, Bart., President, in the Chair. ' 



A List of the Presents received was laid on the table, and thanks 

 ordered for them. 



The following Papers were read : — 



I. " On the Rhythmic Contractility of the Spleen. Preliminary 

 Notice." By E. A. Sohafer, F.R.S., and B. Moore. Re- 

 ceived January 10, 1896. 



(From the Physiological Laboratory, University College, London.) 



The authors have investigated the rhythmic contractility of the 

 spleen, which was discovered by Eoy {Journ. Physiol., vol. 3), aud 

 the influence of nerves, drags, and animal extracts upon it. For this 

 purpose the changes in its volume have been studied by aid of a 

 specially constructed plethysmograph, so arranged as to afford the 

 least possible obstruction to the blood-vessels entering and leaving 

 the hilum. Under these circumstances, the spleen exhibits evidence 

 of responding immediately by alterations in volume to every altera- 

 tion in blood pressure, respiratory and cardiac, and a fortiori to such 

 greater changes as are produced by compression of the aorta (contrary 

 to Roy). This is even manifest when the organ is left connected with 

 the rest of the vascular system by one artery and vein only. The 



