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Pettenkofer's test, the characteristic colour was beautifully developed.

December 22.-The solution last alluded to was this morning distinctly yellow, very bitter, and formed a precipitate with diluted acetic acid. A musky odour is also perceptible.

On the 21st of December another portion of membrane was covered with the liver-broth and left at the ordinary temperature of the room in which the operation was conducted, 10° C. After thirty hours' digestion, the fluid was in the slightest degree bitter; it was then exposed to a temperature of 50° C. Three hours having elapsed, it was again examined and found decidedly bitter.

December 23.-Cursorily examined the fluid at 4 P.M.; it is noted down as intensely bitter, becoming yellow, with slight musky odour. December 24.-The solution, just undergoing metamorphosis on December 21st, was this day found as yellow as a diluted solution of ox-gall, musky odour distinct, intensely bitter. Another remarkable feature in common with ox-gall as it is separated from the bladder was now developed on pouring it into a glass for precipitation with acetic acid, it was found glairy, and instead of running off like water as it did originally, the drops were viscid like a solution of gumarabic. The bitter taste was now also converted into a sweetishbitter, identical with the organic matter in ox-bile. The solution gave a dense precipitate with diluted acetic acid, and the peculiar reaction of Pettenkofer's test was most satisfactorily exhibited. It may not be considered unimportant to mention, that, on repeating these experiments a few days ago, a portion of the solution, treated as above, was placed in the hands of a bystander wholly ignorant of the matter, with a request to smell without looking at it; the report was, "You are mixing up some indian ink;" indeed, the odour of musk seems to be one of the most important conjunctive indications of the presence of bile, after a few hours' exposure to atmospheric air.

Many more experiments are registered in the author's rough notes; some of these have been repeated within the last few days, all with confirmatory results; the following generalizations therefore appear legitimately deduced from the research :

1st, That the mucus of the gall-bladder is not merely a secretion destined to lubricate the interior of that organ and protect it from

the irritation of its other contents, but is an essential integral portion of the cystic bile.

2ndly, That the gall-bladder is not merely a receptacle and reservoir for the bile, but an organ highly endowed with organic functions; and that the proper secretion of the liver is converted into cystic bile mainly through the agency of its mucous membrane.

In thus breaking up the surface of an interesting field of research, the writer is fully aware that a great amount of labour must still be expended upon its development; he would also be understood to regard these experiments merely as expressing the results of nonvital reactions. We can hardly indeed doubt that, under the influence of vitality, acting through the medium of that most important department of the nervous system, the solar plexus, molecular changes, not improbably analogous to or identical with those which we have described, may be carried on with an energy and efficiency which we cannot hope to witness in the laboratory. Professor Clark, of Cambridge, has already suggested the extension of the research to the case of animals which have no gall-bladder, and in which the hepatic secretion is at once poured into the duodenum, to take its part in the process of assimilation. The conjecture may not be far from the truth, that the mucous lining of the intestinal canal, the parotid gland, the pancreas, the kidney, the urinary bladder, has each its specific predestined function to perform; and that in working out the subject, we may fall upon many a useful fact, many a beautiful analogy, and much to supply the wants and alleviate the sufferings of man.

Thursday the 29th of May having been set apart for the celebration of the Peace, the President announced that the next ordinary meeting of the Society would be held on Thursday, the 12th of June,

June 3, 1856.

The LORD WROTTESLEY, President, in the Chair.

A Special General Meeting was held this day, to consider a proposal from Her Majesty's Government to give apartments to the Society in Burlington House, contained in the following letter:

Treasury Chambers, 22nd May, 1856. MY LORD,-I am directed by the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury to acquaint your Lordship, with reference to the views set forth in your Letter to the Duke of Argyll of the 30th ult., which has been laid before this Board, that Her Majesty's Government are not at present in a position to enable them to state any definite views with respect to the project for the juxtaposition of the principal Scientific Societies in a building to be erected in a convenient and central locality.

I have to state that their Lordships are however prepared so far to concede to the views advanced by your Lordship on behalf of a large number of persons connected with science, as to allow the temporary location of the Linnean and Chemical Societies, in conjunction with the Royal Society, in the present building of Burlington House, on the following conditions, viz.

1. That the removal of the Royal Society from Somerset House shall not prejudice the position of the other Societies located in that building, in regard to the terms on which they are permitted to occupy their present apartments.

2. That the Royal Society shall be put in possession of the main building of Burlington House, on the understanding that they will, in communication with the Linnean and Chemical Societies, assign suitable accommodation therein for those bodies.

3. A common Library to be formed for the use of the three Societies, on the understanding that suitable arrangements shall be made

VOL. VIII.

for the admission thereto, for purposes of reference and study, of men of letters and science, on orders given by Fellows of the three Societies*.

4. The Societies to be allowed the use of the Hall which it is proposed to construct in the West Wing of Burlington House, at such times as it may not be required by the Senate of the University of London, it being distinctly understood that this permission is to be so exercised as not in any way to interfere with the convenience of the University.

5. The Collection of Portraits belonging to the Royal Society to be hung on the walls of the proposed Hall, and to be open to the inspection of the public under such regulations as may be convenient, and subject especially to the proviso in the preceding clause.

6. That the adoption of this temporary arrangement shall not in any respect be held to weaken the claim of the Royal Society to permanent accommodation.

(Signed)

To the President of the Royal Society.

I have the honour, &c.,

JAMES WILSON.

The President having stated to the Meeting the circumstances under which the offer of Burlington House had been made to the Royal Society by Her Majesty's Government, Sir Benjamin Brodie, Bart., V.P., proposed the following Resolution :

"That the Council be authorized to accept and carry out the proposal of the Government as to the occupation of Burlington House, on the understanding that the Hall, which it is proposed to construct in the West Wing, and which is to contain the Portraits belonging to the Royal Society, shall be placed in the custody of the Royal

*The President stated, that he had intimated to the Secretary of the Treasury that, in his opinion, the Council would understand the third condition in the foregoing letter as implying the mutual access to the three libraries by the Fellows of the three Societies for the purposes of reference and study, but not as altering in any respect the ownership or custody of the several Libraries; and that in future, as heretofore, the loan of the books of any of the three libraries should be confined to the Fellows of that Society to which they belong. The President further stated, that Mr. Wilson assented to the above explanation of the minute, so far as it relates to the formation of a common library.

Society, subject to the free use of it by the Senate of the University of London at all times at which it may be required for their Examinations and Public Meetings."

The Resolution having been seconded by Mr. Bell, was put from the Chair, and carried. The Society then adjourned.

June 5, 1856.

The LORD WROTTESLEY. President, in the Chair.

The Annual General Meeting for the Election of Fellows was held this day.

Sir George Back, Capt. R.N., and John Gwynn Jeffreys, Esq., were, with the consent of the Meeting, appointed Scrutators to assist the Secretaries in examining the lists.

The votes of the Fellows present having been collected, the following gentlemen were declared duly elected :

John Hutton Balfour, M.D.
Edward W. Binney, Esq.
Sir John Bowring.
Sir John Fox Burgoyne, Bart.
Philip Henry Gosse, Esq.
Robert Harkness, Esq.
Cæsar Henry Hawkins, Esq.
Manuel John Johnson, Esq.

John Carrick Moore, Esq.
Henry Minchin Noad, Esq.
Edmund Potter, Esq.

Rev. T. Romney Robinson, D.D.
Henry Hyde Salter, M.D.
Archibald Smith, Esq.

Capt. Thomas A. B. Spratt, R.N.

On the motion of Dr. Miller, seconded by Dr. Stenhouse, the thanks of the Meeting were given to the Scrutators, and the Society then adjourned.

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