92 THOMPSON YATES LABORATORIES REPORT 
On two occasions the advice of the Department has been sought regarding the composition 
of certain foodstuffs ; and, obviously, it could be of practical assistance in many questions of 
municipal and commercial interest, e.g.^ the composition and physiological value of new foodstuffs, 
fruits, &c., or the pharmacological value of samples of variable drugs like ergot, digitalis, cannabis 
indica, &c., or of new drugs. 
THE DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICAL PHYSIOLOGY 
The Departmen t of Physical Physiology has also devoted most of its attention to the 
students ; but Mr. J. S. Macdonald, the Assistant Lecturer on the subject, has also been engaged 
in active original research, the results of which, it is hoped, he will publish in an early number of 
these reports. 
Most work has, however, been spent on the preparation for the systematic lectures, which 
have, indeed, been more of the nature of lecture-demonstrations. The time spent has been very 
considerable, but now that the course with its experiments has been once arranged, it will require 
to be varied only in small details from year to year, and much more leisure for research will be 
possible. Besides the ordinary course of lectures, another specially adapted for teachers has been 
given. For the first time also ladies, of whom 3 attended the ordinary and i the teachers' 
course, have been admitted to lectures on Physiology during this session. 
