14 
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF 
■when they leave the blood, and only become acid by the fermentative pro- 
cesses set up in them, sometimes with extreme rapidity, as in the case of the 
urine. We know that oxalic acid must be the result of some such change ; 
and yet renal calculi of oxalate of lime are not very rare. 
June list. — Dr. J. J. Woodward read a paper entitled " Histological Remarks 
upon a Secondary Cancer of the Pleura;'''' in which evidence was given in sup- 
port of the assertion that cancerous blastema contains fibrin as well as albumen. 
The most remarkable points set forth in the examination of the case narrated 
in the paper, were, 1st, the extent of the pleural surface occupied by the new 
formation ; 2nd, the quantity of the latter and of its exudation ; 3rd, the failure 
of development of its elementary forms beyond the stage of nuclei. 
A brief discussion took place upon the subject of the paper, between Dr. 
Woodward and Dr. Morris ; the paper was referred to the Committee on 
Pathology. 
Sept. Qth. Dr. J. J. Woodward described briefly some recent observations 
made by him upon the cell-wall of pus-cells, separated from their contents by 
endosmose in urine. A more elaborate communication will be made by him 
upon the subject, hereafter. 
Dr. J. C. Morris remarked upon the results of a post-mortem examination 
of a horse, which had been affected with frequent urination, along with other 
symptoms, for some time before death. Bright's disease of both kidneys, in 
the fatty stage, was discovered. 
Dr. Woodward stated that he had observed fatty degeneration of the liver, 
very often, in animals exposed in our markets and elsewhere. Much of the 
mutton of our markets, moreover, he had ascertained to be the meat of tuber- 
culous sheep. 
In connection with the same subject, Dr. Morris alluded to an epidemic 
among horses, in Philadelphia, two years ago, which he considered to have had 
the characters of typhoid fever. Careful examination, in fact, may detect the 
occurrence of most of our ordinary diseases in the domestic animals. 
Dr. Corse had inspected the lungs of three or four hundred sheep, from 
which he had obtained some ten specimens of well marked tuberculosis. 
Nearly twenty-five per cent., however, of the sheep exhibited more or less 
tuberculous deposit ; the existence of which he was enabled to trace to an 
evident connection with bad feeding and keeping. Dr. Corse had also re- 
peatedly found well-marked cancer of the liver in oxen. 
Dr. Woodward stated that the general symptoms and local history of tuber- 
culosis in animals are quite parallel to those connected with its occurrence in 
the human subject ; although the proportionate amount of general or sym- 
pathetic disorder is somewhat less in the former. 
Catarrhal and broncliitic affections frequently occur in cattle. Cysts in the 
kidney, and calculi in the bladder, are common in cattle. Dogs are especially 
liable to cancer ; but it occurs in cats also. Rats appear to be particularly 
liable to a number of diseases. 
Mr. TiLGHMAN inquired whether artificial or abnormal circumstances could 
be shewn by observation to account for tuberculosis in animals ? 
Dr. Woodward affirmed the opinion that such will prove to be the case ; 
although full evidence is at the present time wanting in regard to it. The close 
resemblance of the normal structures in the anatomy of all the vertebrata 
should lead us to expect similarity in their pathology and etiology al*b. 
Sept. 20th. Dr. W.'A. Hammond read a paper " On the Secondary Formation 
of Blood-crystals;" which was referred to a special committee. 
[Sept. 
