SCIENTIFIC SUMMARY. 
543 
ments the same quantity of combined carbonic acid was found in every case, 
and consequently only that portion of the oxygen which has passed into 
the corpuscles acts in the evolution of carbonic acid. Another series of 
experiments proved that, though arterial blood could be easily prepared by 
artificial means from venous, the latter could not he prepared from the 
former. Hence it would appear that carbonic acid is furnished in the 
combined form by the tissues. 
The Movements of the Heart. — An active controversy took place not long- 
ago in the Imperial Academy of Medicine upon the subject of the move- 
ments of the various portions of the heart. MM. Chauveau and Marey 
represented one side, and the other was taken by M. Beau. The former 
physiologists assert 
1st. As held by Harvey and Haller, the impulse of the heart against 
the thorax is essentially a systolic movement, and is due to the 
contraction of the ventricles. 
2nd. Immediately after the ventricular systole, the walls of the 
ventricles widen and relax, and the blood w T hich was contained 
till then in the auricles, falls by gravity alone into the ventri- 
cular cavity ; in this w T ay the ventricular diastole begins, it is 
only completed by the after contraction of the auricles. 
Old. The instant the auricular systole is over, the walls of the auricles 
relax, yield to the pressure of the blood contained in the great 
veins, and the auricular diastole commences just as the ventri- 
cular systole is occurring. 
To these assertions M, Beau makes the following replies : — 
1st. The impulse of the heart is a diastolic phenomenon, and is due to 
the diastole of the ventricles. 
2nd. The diastole of the ventricles takes place during, and is caused 
by, the contraction of the auricles. Until the auricles contract, 
not a drop of blood passes from the auricular into the corres- 
ponding ventricular cavity. 
3rd. The diastole of the auricles does not commence till after the 
systole of the ventricles. 
It seems to us there is a great deal more of allegation than true 
evidence in M. Beau’s remarks, and we certainly do not feel inclined to 
accept his statements in opposition to the conclusions (drawn from experi- 
ment) arrived at by Professor Dalton, of the United States, who has already 
done so much to elucidate this department of human physiology. — Yide 
Tj Union Medicate , May 17th. 
Medical Prize Essays. — The “ Society of Medicine,” of Gand, announces 
the following as some of the subjects on which essays are to be presented 
in 1865 : — (1) A description of the diseases which may result from employ- 
ment in linen and cotton factories. (2) Rheumatism and the rheumatic 
diathesis. (3) Diseases which result from parasites, and parasites which 
result from diseases, (4) The influence of the syphilitic diathesis on the 
production of internal diseases. (5) The value of studying the anatomical 
lessons presented by post-mortem examinations of the insane. (6) The 
therapeutic effects produced by the compression of aneurisms. (7) The 
action of alkalies in the treatment of diseases. The essays must be 
2 o 2 
