1884.] Secretion obtained from the Medicinal Leech. 487 



coagulation of myosin removed from muscle, and probably when it 

 causes loss of contractility in a muscle, it is due to the same reason, 

 inducing, in fact, rigor mortis, the essential phenomenon of which is 

 clotting of the myosin. 



In conclusion, then, it may be stated that the leech secretes from 

 its mouth a fluid which destroys the blood ferment without producing 

 any other observable change in the blood. This injected into an 

 animal produces but slight constitutional disturbance, and is elimi- 

 nated by the kidneys. The action on the rabbit is the same as on 

 the dog; on crustacean blood it is inert. It has no action on the 

 curdling of milk, slightly hastening the clotting of myosin, and 

 hastening rigor mortis. 



The Society then adjourned over the Easter Recess to Thursday, 

 April 24th. 



