Dept.] 
NATURAL SCIENCES OP PHILADELPHIA. 
17 
Dr. H. Hartshorne inquired whether the mode of separation might possibly 
account for this appearance of the vessels ? 
Dr. Woodward mentioned that the wood cuts in Carl Wedl's " Rudiments 
of Pathological Histology" show a splendid arrangement of the vessels in n. 
number of new formations, cancerous and otherwise. 
The Report of the General Committee was presented by its Recorder, Dr. 
Walter F. Atlee, and adopted. 
The subjects recommended by the Committee for immediate investigation 
are the following ; 
1. The formation of fat in the bodies of animals, when fed only on food con- 
taining no oleaginous matter. 
2. The changes occurring in the excreta during fevers and inflammations. 
3. The exact cause and nature of the rigor mortis. 
4. The influence of the alkaloids, morphia, quinia, cinchonia and strychnia, 
upon the metamorphosis of tissue. 
5. The circumstances which determine the existence of sugar in the blood, 
and which occasion its presence in the urine. 
6. The physiological position of the blood-fibrin. 
7. The elimination of ammonia from the lungs in health and disease. 
8. The absorption of muscular fibre ; in which portion of the alimentary 
'janal is it eflected ? 
9. The statistics of height, weight, &c., of the human race in North America. 
10. The variations in the amount of ozone in the atmosphere, and their con- 
nection with epidemics. 
11. The influence of ingesta on the composition of milk. 
12. The existence of an epithelium in the air-vesicles of the human lung. 
13. The comparison of mucus, pus and exudation- corpuscles, &c., with eacli 
other, and with the white corpuscles of the blood, and their relation to epithe- 
lial structures. 
14. The minute anatomy of nerves and nerve-centres. 
Other subjects, which had been proposed to the Committee, were also re- 
ported as appropriate for future investigation. 
A member of the Department was named in connection with each of thei 
above subjects, to act as Chairman or Director of a voluntary committee of 
such members, or others, as may desire to take part in their investigation. 
On the adoption of the Report, a brief discussion occurred, as to the pro- 
priety of publishing the above list of subjects, in anticipation of the accom- 
plishment of results. It being understood, however, that the object in view 
was to invite and encourage joint labor, which, without some publicity, would 
be impossible, authority was given for printing one hundred copies of the Re- 
port for the use of the members. 
Nov. 1st. Dr. J. J. Woodward read a paper entitled ' ' Remarks on a remark- 
able form of the basic Phosphate of Ammonia and Magnesia occurring in the 
urine of a patient suffering under cancer of the bladder." The committee 
on Organic Chemistry, to which this paper was referred, reported in favor of 
its publication in a medical journal to be selected by the author. 
Dr. Hammond read the following paper : 
On the Action of certain Vegetable Diuretics. 
BY WILLIAM A. HAMMOND, M. D. 
Assistant Surgeon U. S. Army. 
The ensuing investigations consist mainly of repetitions of those performed 
some years since by Krahmer, and subsequently by Bird. They have reference 
to the appreciation of the influence of squill, juniper, digitalis and colchicum, 
over the quantity of the urine, its specific gravity and the annount of its solid 
1858 ] 3a 
