SCIENTIFIC PROCEEDINGS. 



Abstracts of the Communications. 



Thirty fifth meeting. 



College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University. October 

 20, 1908. President Lee in the chair. 



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The influence of alcohol and other anesthetics on developing 



embryos. 



By CHARLES R. STOCKARD. 



[From the Laboratory of Embryology and Experimental 

 Morphology, Cornell Medical College, New York City^\ 



In previous experiments I had found magnesium salts to 

 induce peculiar defects in the eyes of fish embryos. When eggs 

 are subjected to such solutions, a large percentage of the embryos 

 present all degrees of the cyclopean defect, while other individuals 

 develop a normal eye on one side of the head with its mate on 

 the other side small and defective or entirely absent. This latter 

 condition was termed Monophthalmictim asymmetricuni to distin- 

 guish it from true median cyclopia. 



It seemed probable that these defects were due to the anes- 

 thetic properties of the magnesium solutions and to test this sup- 

 position eggs have been treated with several other anesthetics ; 

 alcohol, chloroton, chloroform and magnesium again. All of 

 these act particularly upon the developing central nervous system 

 and sense organs. Other parts of the body are somewhat delayed 

 in their rates of development but are normal in appearance. 



Alcohol gave the most decided and interesting results. When 

 used in certain strengths it causes from 90 to 98 per cent, of the 

 embryos to show typical defects in the head region. The eyes 

 are either cyclopean, asymmetrically monophthalmic, both small, 

 poorly formed and deeply buried in the head or entirely absent. 



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