Abstract
THE current number of the Journal of Anatomy and Physiology contains much valuable scientific work, together with its excellent Reports on the progress of Anatomy and Physiology, by Prof. Turner and Dr. Stirling. The first paper is one on the freezing process for section- cutting, and on various methods of staining and mounting sections, by Mr. Lawson Tait. The author prefers the non-employment of chromic acid, picric acid, and other chemically-interfering agents. His section-cutter is a modification of Stirling's, a freezing tank of considerable size being added. The air-bubbles are removed from the sections by the action of boiled water. Logwood and litmus are preferred as staining agents, and their operation is given in proof of the nuclei of cells being, contrary to ordinary ideas, alkaline.—Prof. Flower, in a note on the construction and and arrangement of anatomical museums, makes several very valuable suggestions, which should be specially studied by those who have anything to do with the establishment and construction of biological museums. He shows how that in lofty rooms, with galleries, lighted at the ceiling-wall junction, the preparations have to be arranged according to their manner of preservation; dry, in bottles, and otherwise; which involves the separation of those illustrating any single subject. A series of small side-lighted rooms allows of all the specimens illustrating any single subject, however preserved, being placed in juxtaposition, whilst it separates off the subjects.—Dr. Hollis remarks, with several interesting historical references, on lopsided generation.—The next paper is by Mr. Walter Pye, entitled observations on the development and structure of the kidney. The relation of the capsule to the Mai· pighian tuft is explained upon the peculiarities observed in the developing organ in a manner differing from the results of Riedel. The characters of the ascending limbs of Henle's loops are described in detail. A plate accompanies the paper.—Mr. Lowne, in a note on the mechanical work of respiration, desires to prove that the amount of work performed in the respiratory act is much less than is usually stated, from calculations based on the relation between the velocity of moving gases and the pressure producing motion.—Dr. Howden describes a case of atrophy of the right hemisphere of the cerebrum attended with the same condition of the left side of the cerebellum and the left side of the body, in a woman aged 30.—Prof. Turner figures and describes the Spiny Shark (Echinorhinus spinosus) from a specimen captured near Bass Rock, six-and-a-half feet long. The ureters were found to open into the cloaca by a single orifice. There was no cement gland in the oviduct, from which it is evident that the ova have no horny case. The stomach is succeeded by a pyloric tube; pyloric caeca are absent. In comparing Læmargus and Echinorhinus, which are supposed to be closely related, it is found that the former possesses two large duodenal cæca and no oviducts, whilst in the latter cæca are absent and oviducts developed. Prof. Turner also proves, from a specimen caught off the mouth of the Frith of Forth, that the Postbeagle Shark (Lamna cornubica) possesses a spiracle, contrary to the opinion of most authorities.—Mr. D. J. Cunningham gives notes on the Great Splanchnic Ganglion. In twenty-six cases, he failed to detect its presence in six; it is situated on the body of the twelfth dorsal vertebra; it is variable in shape and size. The same author describes a case of lateral curvature of the spine in connection with hypertrophy of the sympathetic nervous system in the lumbar and sacral regions.—Mr. Dwight makes remarks on the position of the femur and on its so-called “true neck.”—Drs. Kronecker and Stirling describe in detail experiments on the characteristic sign of cardiac muscular movement. The fundamental fact on which the investigation is based is the law of Bowditch, that “the induction current of the weakest strength which produces a contraction of the heart does not produce the weakest of possible contractions.” The fact that aflera pulsation has been developed in the heart of a frog, by a certain stimulation, the organ can be made to continue its beating with a diminished stimulus, is compared to the difference between the effort first required to sound a big bell and that necessary to maintain it ringing. The effect of temperature on the cardiac irritability is shown, the heart reaching its maximum mobility at 25° C. After the discussion of the difficult phenomenon of cardiac tetanus, the authors prove that “the cardiac muscles can only act equally with the help of continually new nutrient fluid.” The paper is deserving of the attention of all physiologists.—Dr. Kronecker also describes a new digestion-oven with a diffusion apparatus.—Mr. J. C. Ewarthas a note on a large organised cyst in the subdural space.—Mr, J. Reoch writes on the decomposition of urea, adducing evidence to show that in urine the urea is changed into carbonate of ammonia by the action of a fungus the germs of which are contained in the atmosphere.—Mr. M. Simpson de scribes the existence of two precaval veins in a dog, a condition constant in the kangaroo and some other animals.
Article PDF
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Scientific Serials . Nature 12, 138–139 (1875). https://doi.org/10.1038/012138a0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/012138a0