406 Proceedings of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. 
permanently dependent on the condition of the nervous system, 
the author conceives that two advantages to the science will re- 
sult : 1. That greater simplicity and precision will be given to our 
views of the office of the nervous system ; and, S. That a more 
systematic arrangement of the science, than has been usually 
attempted, will be authorized. 
The animal life of Bichat, sensation, thought, voluntary and 
instinctive motion, are manifestly dependent on the condition of 
the nervous system, and therefore on the functions of organic 
life, by which that condition is maintained. What may be cal- 
led the chemical functions of organic life, secretion, nutrition, 
&c. are manifestly dependent on the vital property of irritabili- 
ty, as residing in the muscles of involuntary motion ; but this 
property of irritability has only an indirect dependence, either 
on the rest of the organic functions, or on any of the animal, — 
on the former for the supply of blood, — and on the latter for 
the arterialization of the blood supplied. There may be irrita- 
bility where no action of nerves, and even where no nutrition is 
going on ; but there can be no nutrition, and no action of nerves 
without irritability. Hence the exercise of this property ap- 
pears to be the most fundamental of all the functions of living 
bodies ; and it seems as reasonable and expedient to begin the 
study of the animal economy, by an examination of its laws, as 
to begin the study of the actions of a machine at the point where 
the moving power is applied. 
March 1. — A paper by Mr Patrick Neill was read, entitled. 
Description of a Singular Hail Storm in Stronsay.” This pa- 
per will appear in a future Number of our Journal. 
At the same meeting. Dr Yule read a paper “ On the Coni- 
ferae, with remarks on the use of Larch Bark in the Tanning 
of Leather.” This paper is printed in the present Number, p.315. 
March 15. — A paper by Dr Brewster was read, On the 
Optical and Physical Properties of Tabasheer.” An abstract of 
this paper was given in our last Number, p.l47. 
April 5. — ^A paper by Robert Bald was read, On the tem- 
perature of Air and Water in the Coal-mines of Great Britain.” 
An abstract of this paper is given at p. 134. of our last Num- 
ber. 
