OF THE VETERINARY MEDICAL SOCIETY. 285 
stituting, in a great measure, the liquor amnii, by which the 
fluid is rendered more fit for the support of the foetus. 
He asked, If some important function is not performed here, 
why are the vessels so tortuous? He was well aware that the 
secretion of urine, which is evidently going on in the foetus 
would rid the blood of its watery parts to a certain extent, still 
the tortuosity of the vessels remained to be accounted for. Con- 
tinuing his essay, he said, “ passing through the umbilical cord, 
just before it reaches the umbilicus, are two veins; these unite, 
forming one trunk, which proceeds into the abdominal cavity of 
the foetus, in order to reach the liver, where the blood is again 
subjected to a purifying process.” 
This was another proof, in his opinion, in favour of the view 
which he had taken : since, if arterial blood were received by 
the mother, what necessity was there for its passage through the 
liver? Why not go directly into the posterior cava? That the 
liver secretes bile, and a large quantity too, is proved by the ( 
inspissated masses of this principle, which are found in the 
intestines of the foetus. 
Other members agreed with Mr. Rush, that no direct com- 
munication by continuity of vessels exists between the mother 
and the foetus, since, were this the case, the pulsations of the 
two would of necessity be alike, whereas it is well known that 
those of the latter are much more frequent than the former : every 
derangement also in the circulation of the one would be parti- 
cipated in by the other. 
March 1 5th, 
Mr. Rush’s essay was continued in discussion, awakening 
much argument, the spirit of which has been embodied above. 
The Society’s certificate was awarded to Mr. Rush. 
March 19 th. 
A special meeting was granted to Mr. Fagan, in order that he 
might introduce a paper on the more common diseases incidental 
to the foot of the horse ; but as circumstances did not admit of 
more than one evening being devoted to its consideration, a few 
of them only were discussed. The essay itself abounded with 
sound practical, and, consequently, useful information, and it 
afforded an animated debate. 
Of contraction he appeared to take the same view which Mr. 
Sumner had done ; that it is more commonly the effect of an 
internal disorganization of the sensitive parts of the foot than a 
disease per se. His remedial means were also similar. 
Inflammation of the lamina This affection he had witnessed 
as a very common sequela of attacks of the lungs ; when, from 
von. ix. p p 
