66 



Dr. E. F. Bashford and Mr. J. A. Murray. [Jan. 12, 



of 180°. This corresponds in some degree with the bright spot in the 

 centre of the optical shadow of a circular disc. 



The problem which arises when both the source and the point of 

 observation are situated upon the sphere is more difficult. It ' is 

 treated less completely, but some results of interest are obtained for 

 the case of Tec = 10. 



The Appendix by Professor A. Lodge contains tables of Legendre's 

 Functions up to P 2 o for angles ranging at intervals of 5°, accom- 

 panied by a statement of the method of calculation. It is believed 

 that these values may prove useful in other physical investigations. 



" The Significance of the Zoological Distribution, the Nature of 

 the Mitoses, and the Transmissibility of Cancer." By E. F. 

 Bashford, M.D., and J. A. Murray, M.B., B.Sc. Communi- 

 cated by Professor J. Kose Bradford, F.E.S. Eeceived 

 January 12, — Eead January 21, 1904. 



[Plate 2.] 



The object of this communication is to relate some results of 

 the work conducted under the immediate direction of the Executive, 

 Committee of the Cancer Research Fund during the past year. We 

 believe that these results will convince others of the important 

 practical assistance which biologists generally can give in the further 

 elucidation of certain problems of cancer which must be settled before 

 preventive and curative measures can be devised. It will also be 

 made evident that the elucidation of cancer is something more than a 

 problem of human pathology. 



We shall adduce evidence tending to show that the wide zoological 

 distribution, the character of the mitoses, and the transmissibility of 

 cancer, are nearly related phenomena with a common basis. 



The fundamental significance of ascertaining the extent of the 

 zoological distribution of cancer was recognised by the Cancer Research 

 Fund from the first, and determined the prosecution of definite lines of 

 inquiry, not only with the object of eliciting new facts in regard to 

 •the zoological distribution itself, but also with the object of dis- 

 covering cancer in animals well adapted to cytological and experi- 

 mental observations. 



Zoological Distribution. 



Within the past year specimens of malignant new growths have 

 accumulated from all the domesticated animals and from many other 



