Learned Societies. 517 
second, Mr. J. Wilcock, gardener to Dr. Pattison, St. John’s 
Wood. Twelve Lilies of the Valley.—First prize, Mr. W. 
Bartlett, Shaftesbury Road, Hammersmith. Six Begonias. 
First prize, Mr. R. Marchand, gardener to E. Oates, Esq., 
Bydrop House, Hanwell; second, Mr. G. Wheeler, gardener, 
Twelve British Ferns.—First prize, Messrs. J. Ivery and 
Sons,nurserymen, Dorking; second, Mr. J. James. gardener. 
Miscellaneous. —Silver gilt medal to Mr. W. Paul, for collec- 
tion of roses in pots; silver medal to Mr. W. Paul, for collec- 
tion of roses in pots.— At arecent meeting, seeds of the “coca” 
plant, of Peru, were presented by M. A. Dixon. Professor 
Bentley was pleased to hear that the Society had obtained 
seeds of this interesting plant, which is quite distinct from 
the cocoa-tree, from the seeds of which chocolate is made. 
Many extraordinary virtues, says the Lxamzner, are attri- 
buted by the South American Indians to the coca leaf; 
they say it supplies the want of ordinary food, and that an 
Indian with a quid of coca in his mouth will keep up his 
strength and vigour without any food for four or five days 
together. It enables them to climb mountains with ease,and 
without experiencing any difficulty in breathing. Various 
maladies are also said to be cured by it. Although these 
properties appear to be much exaggerated, there is no 
doubt that those who use the coca are enabled to bear 
fatigue and abstinence for a length of time without the 
feeling of hunger or weakness. The plant is extensively 
cultivated in South America; about thirty. millions of 
pounds are annually consumed. The Assistant-Secretary 
(Mr. Sowerby) had great hopes that the plant would suc- 
ceed in the gardens; he intended to make experiments with 
the leaves, and report the result to the Society. 
THE STATISTICAL SOCIETY.—At a meeting of this So- 
ciety, on Thursday,the 16thult, Dr. Guy, Professor of Foren- 
sic Medicine, King’s College Hospital, &c.,read an important 
paper “On the Mortality of London Hospitals,” and inci- 
dentally on the Deaths in the Prisons and Public Institu- 
tions of the Metropolis. The reading of the paper was 
listened to with great interest, and was followed by an 
animated discussion, in which Drs. Balfour, Hyde Salter, 
Peacock, and others took part. 
ROYAL INSTITUTION OF GREAT BRITAIN.—At the 
general monthly meeting, on the 2nd ult., William Spottis- 
woode, Esq., F.R.S. in the chair, Charles John Leaf, Esq., 
John Neal, Esq., and Evan Wynne Roberts, Esq., were 
elected members of the Royal Institution. 
