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PATHOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON. TUESDAY, FEB. 21ST, 1860.
horses had been so diseased in one locality, and these only more frequent in town or country, amongst labourers or the males. Unfortunately the urine had not been examined. The rich, amongst sober persons or the reverse? Dr. GIBB stated that in all the cases he had met with, the stables were well ventilated. patients had been very temperate ; one female so affected (but Dr. HARLEY also exhibited specimens of Diseased Supra. here the primary disease was in the uterus) had scarcely ever renal Capsules.
it
tasted alcoholic drink. He inquired as to the possibility of the Mr. PRICE showed three Calculi which had been removed diagnosis of cancer before enlargement of the organ had oc- from the bladder of a man aged sixty-three by lateral lithotomy and forms of the at three curred, thought that, as regards the different separate operations: the first in 1858; the second a disease affecting the liver, it would be but right to retain the few months after,-on neither of which occasions was any other name of "Farre’s tubers," in recognition of the able descripstone found after the operation had been performed ; at the tion of one form first made by Dr. Farre. third operation, in January last, another was removed. Old Dr. HARDING mentioned that he now believed one characare again returning. teristic symptom to be always present in cases of, and to be symptoms Mr. PARTRIDGE brought before the notice of the Society two pathognomonic of, cancer of the liver-that is, a small sub- cases of Oblique Fracture of the Lower End of the Radius: in cutaneous tumour of the breast; but in the male subject he had a dissection of the parts seven years after the accident; one, a mass similar small had been found it absent found there, though the other a more recent specimen, with a characteristic cast of in the subcutaneous tissue of the loins. He had met with it in the appearance seen during life. the breasts of females so affected in five cases in succession. He Mr. PARTRIDGE also related a case of Dry Gangrene of the it it to a small is often be mass of cancer ; believed painless, is The patient was brought into King’s College Hospital, not, therefore, complained of, and requires to be sought for; Penis.about ten days of fever and delirium, in low condition, it may be the size of an almond or small marble, but at first after not larger than a pea; it is not situated in the gland-substance and with the greater part of the penis in a state of gangrene. of the breast, but just beneath the skin, and most usually a He had had no medical attendance, and had been kept on a little to the outer side of the nipple. If he (Dr. Harding) found very low diet. The organ was soon detached, the wound this small mass, and at the same time discovered any symptoms healed, and the patient went on well. Mr. H. LEE inquired whether the gangrene was due to whatever of hepatic or stomach derangement, he should diagnose poison. syphilitic of in the if no the cancer even other liver, positively presence Dr. O’CONNOR related a case, which had been seen also by sign of this latter condition existed. He had met with one Mr. Thompson, in which fatal disease of the brain was asso. case of cancer of the liver in a child, aged four years. with gangrene of the penis, and in which there was no said that the paper read confirmed what he Dr. MACKENZIE had always felt-the great difficulty, in many cases, of dia- syphilitic taint. fully corroborated Dr. O’Connor’s views of gnosing cancerous affections of the viscus in question, and even theMr. THOMPSON case, which he distinctly recollected. showed that it might be combined with a cirrhotic condition Mr. DURHAM had recently seen cases at Guy’s Hospital in and diminution in volume of the liver. The cases he had seen coincided with the descriptions given by the author. He alluded which gangrene of the penis existed apart from all syphilitic to mental distress and anxiety as, in his opinion, influential in disease. Mr. BARHAM, Dr. WILKS, and Dr. BRISTOWE had seen simi. the induction of cancerous disease of the liver. cases; most of the foregoing were cases of moist gangrene. Dr. HABERSHON referred to the frequency with which gallMr. HULKE had seen a case of dry gangrene in which there stones are met with in cases of cancer of the liver, and also stated thathelhad often met with considerable induration (though was no syphilitic origin. Mr. ADAMS exhibited Casts and Preparations to show the it was sometimes doubtful whether it was of a cancerous nature increase of scars in children by growth pari passn with the or not) just at the orifice of the common gall-duct, thus giving rise to obstruction to the passage of matters through the duct. growth of the rest of the body, a scar of two inches increasing He had seen some cases in which the vena porta was almost full to three in the course of a few years. Mr. ADAMS also showed Disease of the Tarsus, removed by of cancer matter, which, through this vessel, had been driven, as it were, into nearly every part of the organ. Pirogoff’s modification of Syme’s amputation at the ankleDr. HARE replied to the various questions put to him, and joint. Dr. FULLER exhibited a specimen of Thoracic Aneurism stated that the point mentioned by Dr. Harding was, as a diagnostic sign of cancer of the liver in particular, quite new, bursting into the Pericardium. The patient had always enand one which ought in future to be carefully examined into joyed good health until lately. A pulsating tumour above the left clavicle was seen ten weeks before death; aphonia and with a view to its verification. cough were present. The murmur was very obscure, and it was a question whether it was aneurism or not, opinion leaning to the affirmative view. No fixed or constant pains were prePATHOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON. sent ; no hæmoptysis. He left the hospital after two months, and three weeks after was suddenly seized with cough and TUESDAY, FEB. 21ST, 1860. expectoration of very fcetid gangrenous matter. He died in a MR. FERGUSSON, PRESIDENT. week in a state of collapse. Aneurism was found of the ascending aorta, which had burst into the pericardium. The A REPORT by Mr. Hulke and Mr. Adams on a Testicle exhi- upper part of one lung was gangrenous from pressure. bited at the previous meeting by Mr. Holmes was read by Mr. Mr. BARWELL showed specimens for the microscope, to prove HuLKE. It was made up of structure of a fibroid character. that the lamella of bone immediately beneath articular cartilage A report was read by Dr. BRISTOWE on a case of Tumour is really a tubular structure. Dr. BRISTOWE exhibited an example of Coagula in the Right previously exhibited by Mr. FERGtUSSON, showing it to be a Auricle of the Heart. The auricle contained a coagulum, filling specimen of recurring fibroid. Mr. FERGUSSON exhibited the Leg of a Woman which he it; it was laminated, close, and fibrinous in its character. Dr. BRISTOWE also showed a peculiar form of Cancer of the had recently removed on account of a tumour largely involving the calf. It had been three years growing, and was very pain- Uterus, associated with Cancer of the Groin and Lumbar ful ; it was situated under the gastrocnemius muscle, and was Glands of the Liver. The peculiarity was that the cancer was slightly movable. He had attempted to remove the tumour distributed in distinct loculi throughout the organ. Dr. CHOL14ONDELFY showed a case of Perforating Ulcer of the only, but found it necessary to amputate in the lower third of the femur. The tumour was encephaloid in its character. The Stomach. The patient was a young man, aged eighteen, who popliteal artery -and nerve were involved in the substance of was seized with vomiting and acute pain after a hearty supper. He was purged, and felt better next day, in the afternoon the growth. Dr. HARLEY showed Preparations of Bone from Horses that being cheerful and feeling well ; but he died suddenly at eight had died with extensive Disease of the Osseous System. The o’clock the same evening. No symptoms had been observed bones were so soft as to be cut with a knife. The microscope before the attack. showed that the texture of the bone was greatly changed, the At the previous meeting, canaliculi gone, the lacunse indistinct, and many cavities MR. SPENCER WELLS read a report, drawn up by Dr. Wilks, were found. The ribs bent with little pressure, and blood Mr. Curling, and himself, on a specimen of exuded from the tissue. What was most remarkable was, that SPURIOUS HERMAPHRODITISM. the ligaments were found separated from their attachments, Wells had presented this specimen at a former meetin and considerable ulceration of the cartilages existed. Seven
ciated
lar
’
220
Mr.
of the Society, suggesting that if a committee were appointed affection of many organs. The ovaries formed two lobulated by the Society, permission might be obtained to take the pre- masses, one rather larger, one rather smaller, than the first. paration out of the bottle and examine it. Dr. Wilks and Mr. They contained numerous cysts filled with clear limpid fluid, Curling were then appointed, with Mr. Wells, as the com- and varying from the size of a hen’s egg downwards. They mittee, and having obtained the necessary permission of Mr. had the same general form and arrangement as in ordinary Pilcher’s executors, to whom the specimen belonged, carefully cases of cystic disease; but their parietes were generally inexamined it, and reported that although externally the cha- filtrated with cancerous deposit, varied from an inch in thickracters were those of an hypospadiac male with undescended ness downwards, and were studded on the inner surface with testes, yet internally the female characters predominated. No small nodulated cancerous excrescences. testes were present. The apparent penis was really an enlarged clitoris. There was a small uterus, and one ovary. The vagina terminated near the external opening of the urethra, but it WESTERN MEDICAL AND SURGICAL SOCIETY. was doubtful whether a communication with the urethra had FEBRUARY 1860. FRIDAY, 3RD, been made after death, or whether the vagina had terminated in a cul-de-sac. The urethra was about three inches long, and MR. A. B. BARNES, PRESIDENT, IN THE CHAIR. at the neck of the bladder was surrounded by dense fibrous tissue, resembling the prostate in general appearance. There MB, MiLNER read the details of a case of The were no traces of vesiculse seminales, nor vasa deferentia. FATAL COMA. only question suggested as to the duality of the sex was the co-existence of prostate and uterus. Mr. Wells added, that The were as follows :-A fat woman, aged thirty he had learned some particulars as to the subject from whom nine, particulars of sanguine temperament, fresh complexion, and It--emthe specimen was taken, and it appeared that she was a maiden perate habits, was, after a few days’ illness from enlarged and lady, and no suspicion of her peculiarity had been excited until ulcerated throat, seized with symptoms of insensibility, the Mr. Pilcher was sent for to pass a catheter for her, when he pupils being dilated, the countenance dusky, and the lips condetected the unusual condition of the external organs. In gested. The author saw her six hours after the seizure, when reply to questions, by Mr. Partridge and Mr. Henry Thomp- she was in a state of complete coma; the breathing being sterson, as to the condition of the prostate, on the presumption that torous ; the arms flaccid ; the legs extended and motionless ; the male prostate was the analogue of the female uterus, Mr. the face somewhat flushed ; the e,, es suffused ; features natural, Wells again read the following passage from the report, showing and not drawn to either side; pulse 120, and weak; skin that the committee did not regard the body at the neck of the warm; contracted, but insensible to the moderately pupils bladder as a true prostate :-" Surrounding the commencement General convulsions followed, lasting about a strongest light. of the urethra was a body corresponding in shape and general minute, and recurred about every quarter of an hour until appearance to the prostate, but scarcely more than half the death, which took place suddenly, nine hours after the comusual size of the adult organ. A section showed its compo- mencement of these symptoms. sition to be a tough, fibrous tissue. No sinus poelilaris nor The post-mortem examination revealed only a congested state veru montanum existed; and no follicles corresponding to the of the cerebral veins. The pleura was partially adherent on prostatic could be seen; nor on section of the prostate near the the right side, the lungs were congested, and the parietes mucous membrane, were any ducts visible, neither any secreof the heart thin. The kidneys were healthy. tion or concretion resembling what is seen in the perfect organ." As she had suffered from profuse menorrhagia previously, The PRESIDENT asked if the committee had found any simi- the author considered, knowing her previous history, that herlar case recorded. nervous force had been exhausted by various causes, and iinally Mr. WELLS replied that in Dr. Simpson’s article "Herma- accounted for her sudden and remarkable death. phroditism" there were cases approaching to this, but none
Mr. RAR?aES exhibited
precisely similar.
Dr. WILKS said that in the museum at Guy’s there were specimens of imperfect males, but none of the character of the
present preparation. In
reply
to another
Mr. Pilcher
question,
Dr. BARRON said he had heard
of the patient distinctly as a lady, and although he could say nothing positively as to the development of the mammae, yet he had no doubt of the sexual organs being the chief peculiarity, or suspicion as to sex would have been excited earlier. She had passed through life as a female, and no doubt presented the chief peculiarities of the sex. The PRESIDENT thought the specimen a particularly interesting one to practical men, as most surgeons called to examine such a case would probably decide that the patient was a male from the appearance of the external organs, while the presence of uterus and ovary and the absence of testes clearly proved the female type to predominate. Dr. BRISTOWE showed several specimens exhibiting unusual forms of
speak
CANCER OF THE LIVER.
1. The liver of a man, sixty-eight years of age, who died from scirrhus of the stomach, liver, peritoneum, lungs, and other organs. The cancerous affection of the liver, instead of existing under the form of tumours more or less isolated, had extended from the transverse fissure along Glisson’s capsule, surrounding the ducts and their attendant vessels almost to their smallest ramifications. 2. The liver of a girl, sixteen years old, who had suffered from encephaloid disease of the pelvis, liver, kidneys, and some other parts. In this case the liver presented numerous encephaloid tumours from the size of a hen’s egg downwards, a large number of which contained cysts with flocculent parietes, and transparent or slightly opaline fluid contents. The cysts existed not only in the larger growths, but equally in those between the size of a pea and that of a tare. He stated that he had met with two or three other examples of cystic cancerous hepatic tumours (one of which he placed before the meeting) ; but that in each of these a solitary cyst only had been present. Dr. BpiSTOWE also exhibited a specimen of CAXCEB ATTACKING CYSTIC OVARIES,
from
a
woman,
aged sixty-four,
who had died of
cancerous
a
specimen
of
POLYPUS OF THE HEART.
It had been taken from a child, four years old. It grew from the right auricle, and was quite organized in its attachment to the walls of the heart ; it passed into the right ventricle, and was adherent to one of the columnae cordis.
Mr. BARNES also showed
a
specimen of
FIBROUS TUMOUR OF THE
UTERUS,
which he had removed after death from a widow, who had suffered from profuse menstruation for years. Four months ago, (October, 1859,) the tumour first commenced to distend the os ; it gradually came down into the vagina, and death resulted from the profuse haemorrhage which occurred. The tumour was about nine inches long, the same in circumference, and of nearly the same size throughout its attachment to the walls of the uterus, from which it grew by a broad base, the pedicle appearingto be occupied by a cyst. Mr. JAMES LANE exhibited AN INSTRUMENT FOR DILATATION OF STRICTURES OF THE RECTUM.
It consisted of a small piece of bladder attached to a gumelastic catheter, which passed through the bladder, and was furnished with a stop-cock, by which it could be filled with water, which caused the necessary pressure.
HARVEIAN DR. E. HART
DR. LEVISON read
a
SOCIETY.
VINEN,
PRESIDENT.
short communication
ON SOME PHENOMENA OF THE NERVOUS LIFE OF
ANIMALCULES,
which he had noticed whilst making microscopic observations. He said that it was regarded as a physiological axiom, "that there must be a brain and spinal nerves to manifest conscious*’ ness and volition." Yet this did not appear to be the law in the case of animalcules, as the latter possessed neither a brain
221
it
tasted alcoholic drink. He inquired as to the possibility of the Mr. PRICE showed three Calculi which had been removed diagnosis of cancer before enlargement of the organ had oc- from the bladder of a man aged sixty-three by lateral lithotomy and forms of the at three curred, thought that, as regards the different separate operations: the first in 1858; the second a disease affecting the liver, it would be but right to retain the few months after,-on neither of which occasions was any other name of "Farre’s tubers," in recognition of the able descripstone found after the operation had been performed ; at the tion of one form first made by Dr. Farre. third operation, in January last, another was removed. Old Dr. HARDING mentioned that he now believed one characare again returning. teristic symptom to be always present in cases of, and to be symptoms Mr. PARTRIDGE brought before the notice of the Society two pathognomonic of, cancer of the liver-that is, a small sub- cases of Oblique Fracture of the Lower End of the Radius: in cutaneous tumour of the breast; but in the male subject he had a dissection of the parts seven years after the accident; one, a mass similar small had been found it absent found there, though the other a more recent specimen, with a characteristic cast of in the subcutaneous tissue of the loins. He had met with it in the appearance seen during life. the breasts of females so affected in five cases in succession. He Mr. PARTRIDGE also related a case of Dry Gangrene of the it it to a small is often be mass of cancer ; believed painless, is The patient was brought into King’s College Hospital, not, therefore, complained of, and requires to be sought for; Penis.about ten days of fever and delirium, in low condition, it may be the size of an almond or small marble, but at first after not larger than a pea; it is not situated in the gland-substance and with the greater part of the penis in a state of gangrene. of the breast, but just beneath the skin, and most usually a He had had no medical attendance, and had been kept on a little to the outer side of the nipple. If he (Dr. Harding) found very low diet. The organ was soon detached, the wound this small mass, and at the same time discovered any symptoms healed, and the patient went on well. Mr. H. LEE inquired whether the gangrene was due to whatever of hepatic or stomach derangement, he should diagnose poison. syphilitic of in the if no the cancer even other liver, positively presence Dr. O’CONNOR related a case, which had been seen also by sign of this latter condition existed. He had met with one Mr. Thompson, in which fatal disease of the brain was asso. case of cancer of the liver in a child, aged four years. with gangrene of the penis, and in which there was no said that the paper read confirmed what he Dr. MACKENZIE had always felt-the great difficulty, in many cases, of dia- syphilitic taint. fully corroborated Dr. O’Connor’s views of gnosing cancerous affections of the viscus in question, and even theMr. THOMPSON case, which he distinctly recollected. showed that it might be combined with a cirrhotic condition Mr. DURHAM had recently seen cases at Guy’s Hospital in and diminution in volume of the liver. The cases he had seen coincided with the descriptions given by the author. He alluded which gangrene of the penis existed apart from all syphilitic to mental distress and anxiety as, in his opinion, influential in disease. Mr. BARHAM, Dr. WILKS, and Dr. BRISTOWE had seen simi. the induction of cancerous disease of the liver. cases; most of the foregoing were cases of moist gangrene. Dr. HABERSHON referred to the frequency with which gallMr. HULKE had seen a case of dry gangrene in which there stones are met with in cases of cancer of the liver, and also stated thathelhad often met with considerable induration (though was no syphilitic origin. Mr. ADAMS exhibited Casts and Preparations to show the it was sometimes doubtful whether it was of a cancerous nature increase of scars in children by growth pari passn with the or not) just at the orifice of the common gall-duct, thus giving rise to obstruction to the passage of matters through the duct. growth of the rest of the body, a scar of two inches increasing He had seen some cases in which the vena porta was almost full to three in the course of a few years. Mr. ADAMS also showed Disease of the Tarsus, removed by of cancer matter, which, through this vessel, had been driven, as it were, into nearly every part of the organ. Pirogoff’s modification of Syme’s amputation at the ankleDr. HARE replied to the various questions put to him, and joint. Dr. FULLER exhibited a specimen of Thoracic Aneurism stated that the point mentioned by Dr. Harding was, as a diagnostic sign of cancer of the liver in particular, quite new, bursting into the Pericardium. The patient had always enand one which ought in future to be carefully examined into joyed good health until lately. A pulsating tumour above the left clavicle was seen ten weeks before death; aphonia and with a view to its verification. cough were present. The murmur was very obscure, and it was a question whether it was aneurism or not, opinion leaning to the affirmative view. No fixed or constant pains were prePATHOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON. sent ; no hæmoptysis. He left the hospital after two months, and three weeks after was suddenly seized with cough and TUESDAY, FEB. 21ST, 1860. expectoration of very fcetid gangrenous matter. He died in a MR. FERGUSSON, PRESIDENT. week in a state of collapse. Aneurism was found of the ascending aorta, which had burst into the pericardium. The A REPORT by Mr. Hulke and Mr. Adams on a Testicle exhi- upper part of one lung was gangrenous from pressure. bited at the previous meeting by Mr. Holmes was read by Mr. Mr. BARWELL showed specimens for the microscope, to prove HuLKE. It was made up of structure of a fibroid character. that the lamella of bone immediately beneath articular cartilage A report was read by Dr. BRISTOWE on a case of Tumour is really a tubular structure. Dr. BRISTOWE exhibited an example of Coagula in the Right previously exhibited by Mr. FERGtUSSON, showing it to be a Auricle of the Heart. The auricle contained a coagulum, filling specimen of recurring fibroid. Mr. FERGUSSON exhibited the Leg of a Woman which he it; it was laminated, close, and fibrinous in its character. Dr. BRISTOWE also showed a peculiar form of Cancer of the had recently removed on account of a tumour largely involving the calf. It had been three years growing, and was very pain- Uterus, associated with Cancer of the Groin and Lumbar ful ; it was situated under the gastrocnemius muscle, and was Glands of the Liver. The peculiarity was that the cancer was slightly movable. He had attempted to remove the tumour distributed in distinct loculi throughout the organ. Dr. CHOL14ONDELFY showed a case of Perforating Ulcer of the only, but found it necessary to amputate in the lower third of the femur. The tumour was encephaloid in its character. The Stomach. The patient was a young man, aged eighteen, who popliteal artery -and nerve were involved in the substance of was seized with vomiting and acute pain after a hearty supper. He was purged, and felt better next day, in the afternoon the growth. Dr. HARLEY showed Preparations of Bone from Horses that being cheerful and feeling well ; but he died suddenly at eight had died with extensive Disease of the Osseous System. The o’clock the same evening. No symptoms had been observed bones were so soft as to be cut with a knife. The microscope before the attack. showed that the texture of the bone was greatly changed, the At the previous meeting, canaliculi gone, the lacunse indistinct, and many cavities MR. SPENCER WELLS read a report, drawn up by Dr. Wilks, were found. The ribs bent with little pressure, and blood Mr. Curling, and himself, on a specimen of exuded from the tissue. What was most remarkable was, that SPURIOUS HERMAPHRODITISM. the ligaments were found separated from their attachments, Wells had presented this specimen at a former meetin and considerable ulceration of the cartilages existed. Seven
ciated
lar
’
220
Mr.
of the Society, suggesting that if a committee were appointed affection of many organs. The ovaries formed two lobulated by the Society, permission might be obtained to take the pre- masses, one rather larger, one rather smaller, than the first. paration out of the bottle and examine it. Dr. Wilks and Mr. They contained numerous cysts filled with clear limpid fluid, Curling were then appointed, with Mr. Wells, as the com- and varying from the size of a hen’s egg downwards. They mittee, and having obtained the necessary permission of Mr. had the same general form and arrangement as in ordinary Pilcher’s executors, to whom the specimen belonged, carefully cases of cystic disease; but their parietes were generally inexamined it, and reported that although externally the cha- filtrated with cancerous deposit, varied from an inch in thickracters were those of an hypospadiac male with undescended ness downwards, and were studded on the inner surface with testes, yet internally the female characters predominated. No small nodulated cancerous excrescences. testes were present. The apparent penis was really an enlarged clitoris. There was a small uterus, and one ovary. The vagina terminated near the external opening of the urethra, but it WESTERN MEDICAL AND SURGICAL SOCIETY. was doubtful whether a communication with the urethra had FEBRUARY 1860. FRIDAY, 3RD, been made after death, or whether the vagina had terminated in a cul-de-sac. The urethra was about three inches long, and MR. A. B. BARNES, PRESIDENT, IN THE CHAIR. at the neck of the bladder was surrounded by dense fibrous tissue, resembling the prostate in general appearance. There MB, MiLNER read the details of a case of The were no traces of vesiculse seminales, nor vasa deferentia. FATAL COMA. only question suggested as to the duality of the sex was the co-existence of prostate and uterus. Mr. Wells added, that The were as follows :-A fat woman, aged thirty he had learned some particulars as to the subject from whom nine, particulars of sanguine temperament, fresh complexion, and It--emthe specimen was taken, and it appeared that she was a maiden perate habits, was, after a few days’ illness from enlarged and lady, and no suspicion of her peculiarity had been excited until ulcerated throat, seized with symptoms of insensibility, the Mr. Pilcher was sent for to pass a catheter for her, when he pupils being dilated, the countenance dusky, and the lips condetected the unusual condition of the external organs. In gested. The author saw her six hours after the seizure, when reply to questions, by Mr. Partridge and Mr. Henry Thomp- she was in a state of complete coma; the breathing being sterson, as to the condition of the prostate, on the presumption that torous ; the arms flaccid ; the legs extended and motionless ; the male prostate was the analogue of the female uterus, Mr. the face somewhat flushed ; the e,, es suffused ; features natural, Wells again read the following passage from the report, showing and not drawn to either side; pulse 120, and weak; skin that the committee did not regard the body at the neck of the warm; contracted, but insensible to the moderately pupils bladder as a true prostate :-" Surrounding the commencement General convulsions followed, lasting about a strongest light. of the urethra was a body corresponding in shape and general minute, and recurred about every quarter of an hour until appearance to the prostate, but scarcely more than half the death, which took place suddenly, nine hours after the comusual size of the adult organ. A section showed its compo- mencement of these symptoms. sition to be a tough, fibrous tissue. No sinus poelilaris nor The post-mortem examination revealed only a congested state veru montanum existed; and no follicles corresponding to the of the cerebral veins. The pleura was partially adherent on prostatic could be seen; nor on section of the prostate near the the right side, the lungs were congested, and the parietes mucous membrane, were any ducts visible, neither any secreof the heart thin. The kidneys were healthy. tion or concretion resembling what is seen in the perfect organ." As she had suffered from profuse menorrhagia previously, The PRESIDENT asked if the committee had found any simi- the author considered, knowing her previous history, that herlar case recorded. nervous force had been exhausted by various causes, and iinally Mr. WELLS replied that in Dr. Simpson’s article "Herma- accounted for her sudden and remarkable death. phroditism" there were cases approaching to this, but none
Mr. RAR?aES exhibited
precisely similar.
Dr. WILKS said that in the museum at Guy’s there were specimens of imperfect males, but none of the character of the
present preparation. In
reply
to another
Mr. Pilcher
question,
Dr. BARRON said he had heard
of the patient distinctly as a lady, and although he could say nothing positively as to the development of the mammae, yet he had no doubt of the sexual organs being the chief peculiarity, or suspicion as to sex would have been excited earlier. She had passed through life as a female, and no doubt presented the chief peculiarities of the sex. The PRESIDENT thought the specimen a particularly interesting one to practical men, as most surgeons called to examine such a case would probably decide that the patient was a male from the appearance of the external organs, while the presence of uterus and ovary and the absence of testes clearly proved the female type to predominate. Dr. BRISTOWE showed several specimens exhibiting unusual forms of
speak
CANCER OF THE LIVER.
1. The liver of a man, sixty-eight years of age, who died from scirrhus of the stomach, liver, peritoneum, lungs, and other organs. The cancerous affection of the liver, instead of existing under the form of tumours more or less isolated, had extended from the transverse fissure along Glisson’s capsule, surrounding the ducts and their attendant vessels almost to their smallest ramifications. 2. The liver of a girl, sixteen years old, who had suffered from encephaloid disease of the pelvis, liver, kidneys, and some other parts. In this case the liver presented numerous encephaloid tumours from the size of a hen’s egg downwards, a large number of which contained cysts with flocculent parietes, and transparent or slightly opaline fluid contents. The cysts existed not only in the larger growths, but equally in those between the size of a pea and that of a tare. He stated that he had met with two or three other examples of cystic cancerous hepatic tumours (one of which he placed before the meeting) ; but that in each of these a solitary cyst only had been present. Dr. BpiSTOWE also exhibited a specimen of CAXCEB ATTACKING CYSTIC OVARIES,
from
a
woman,
aged sixty-four,
who had died of
cancerous
a
specimen
of
POLYPUS OF THE HEART.
It had been taken from a child, four years old. It grew from the right auricle, and was quite organized in its attachment to the walls of the heart ; it passed into the right ventricle, and was adherent to one of the columnae cordis.
Mr. BARNES also showed
a
specimen of
FIBROUS TUMOUR OF THE
UTERUS,
which he had removed after death from a widow, who had suffered from profuse menstruation for years. Four months ago, (October, 1859,) the tumour first commenced to distend the os ; it gradually came down into the vagina, and death resulted from the profuse haemorrhage which occurred. The tumour was about nine inches long, the same in circumference, and of nearly the same size throughout its attachment to the walls of the uterus, from which it grew by a broad base, the pedicle appearingto be occupied by a cyst. Mr. JAMES LANE exhibited AN INSTRUMENT FOR DILATATION OF STRICTURES OF THE RECTUM.
It consisted of a small piece of bladder attached to a gumelastic catheter, which passed through the bladder, and was furnished with a stop-cock, by which it could be filled with water, which caused the necessary pressure.
HARVEIAN DR. E. HART
DR. LEVISON read
a
SOCIETY.
VINEN,
PRESIDENT.
short communication
ON SOME PHENOMENA OF THE NERVOUS LIFE OF
ANIMALCULES,
which he had noticed whilst making microscopic observations. He said that it was regarded as a physiological axiom, "that there must be a brain and spinal nerves to manifest conscious*’ ness and volition." Yet this did not appear to be the law in the case of animalcules, as the latter possessed neither a brain
221