and is termed "folliculus aeris." Within this membrane is the albumen, or white, or glaire, and this encloses the yolk, surrounded with the yolk-bag, or membrana vitelli. Between the albumen and vitellus, are seen the two chalaza, attached by their one end to the vitellian membrane, while the other floats free in the albumen. Upon the lateral surface of the membrane, we notice the "cicatricula," or what is vulgarly called the "tread of the cock," which, by being situated on the smaller portion of the sphere of the yolk, is always uppermost, in whatever position the egg happens to be placed.

During incubation, the folliculus aëris becomes gradually larger; the albumen is thinner and more turbid, and is partly consumed by the chick for nourishment, and partly escapes through the shell by evaporation; the cicatricula, by enlarging, forms the amnios, which contains the colliquamentum, or fluid in which the embryo is at first immersed: the umbilical vessels are expanded on the amnios, and on a membrane lining the shell, and which is called the chorion. On the second day of incubation, the embryo is first observed as a gelatinous filament. On the third day, the punctum saliens, or heart, is recognized by its motion; and the spine with the rudiments of the brain and eyes, are to be seen. On the 4th, the abdominal viscera and the rudiments of the extremities appear. On the 5th are seen the respiratory organs. On the 6th there is voluntary motion. On the 9th, ossification commences; and, on the 21st, the chick bursts the shell and escapes. In the year 1826, Professor Hüschke, of Dresden, made the singular discovery that, in the early stages of the developement of the chick, there are to be seen three fissures, or slits, on each side of the neck, and that these fissures correspond with three bronchial arches, or true gills, each of which is supplied with a bronchial artery, which arises from the aorta; these appearances may be observed from the 4th to the 7th or 8th day of incubation, at which time the bronchial arches have disappeared, and are superseded by lungs, and the pulmonary vessels take place of the bronchial ones.

This metamorphosis of a bronchial into a pulmonary apparatus, is one of the most singular and unlooked-for phenomena of the animal organization, and is, according to Carus, to be regarded as a beautiful exemplification of the law of developement that all the animals of a higher grade attain, step by step, and by passing through certain preliminary conditions of existence, to their complete evolution. According to some German writers, among whom is our author, the same changes may be traced in all the mammalia, as well as in all birds, during the very early stages of foetal life.

The 9th and last plate gives some very good figures of the process of generation in some of the mammalia:-In them, the mode of evolution is, or at least appears to be, very different from what we have observed in the other classes of vertebral animals, since we no longer find that the young being is furnished with a yolk, or any similar supply of nourishment, Professor Carus, however, considers that the vesicula umbilicalis ought to be viewed as a part analogous to the vitellus, and as connected, somehow or other, with the growth of the embryo while in utero; and we know that, after birth, the food is drawn from the mamma of the mother, in the secretion of milk, which is not unlike to a thin or dilated vitellus. Respiration, we have reason to believe, is effected in the very young embryo by bronchiæ, afterwards by the vascular web of the allantois; and, in a later stage, by the vessels of the chorion, which, when conglomerated into one or several masses, receive the designation of placenta or cotyledons.

Figures 1 and 2 are a beautiful illustration of the appearances of an eight week ovum of the sheep; the amnion, chorion, allantois, vesicula umbilicalis, arachus, &c. are very clearly seen, and also the anastomoses by arches (so as to look not unlike to bronchia), of the blood vessels of a cotyledon.

Figures 3 and 4 exhibit the embryo of a bat; and the 4 following figures represent the young of a marsupial animal (Didelphis Virginiana).

Reflections by Dr. B. It appears that gastro-enteretic inflammations have the effect of greatly weakening the action of the heart, and of thus enfeebling the cutaneous circulation, while at the same time the blood is congested in the viscera. In such cases we do not approve of the employment of purgatives, or of any stimulants; and allow only emolient drink at intervals, employ frictions on the surface, and large warm poultices to the belly. If one part of the abdomen appears more congested than another, leeches are to be put on that part, and to be repeated according to circumstances. This plan of treatment must be undeviatingly persevered in, till the spasmodic contraction of the bowels ceases, and the peristaltic movements are re-established, the indications of which are the relaxation and pliancy of the abdominable muscles, which so faithfully correspond to the condition of the intestinal superfices; then, but not till then, are we to give nourishment. In short, our treatment is comprehended in three things; viz. local bleeding, external warmth and frictions of the surface, and lastly, patience.-Anal, de la Médéc. Physiol.

Remark. The above case, though not a rare one, merits a careful study, and illustrates well Broussals' opinions.-ED.

XI.

was hypertrophied and dilated. At the base of the left ventricle, behind the mitral valve, and in the fleshy substance of the walls, there was an abscess, of the size of a filbert, containing a whitish homogeneous pus; the cyst had no opening, either outwardly or inwardly. The rest of this ventricle was not diseased; but the ventricle towards its apex, and the auricle of the right side, presented two patches where the texture had degenerated into a purplish spongy substance, not unlike to ordinary eructile tissue. No disease was detected in any of the arteries, or veins, nor in the other viscera.

Reflections. The preceding case proves, beyond all cavil, that an abscess may form in the fleshy parietes of the heart, without occasioning any marked distress, or very evident sign, and that its formation must result from a local circumscribed inflammation.

The early morbid anatomists frequently mention suppurations, ulcerations, and gangrene of the heart; but we have reason to doubt their correctness; as no instance of mortification of the heart, is now-a-days heard of. Senac is the first author, who accurately describes the degenerations of the heart's texture. He says that the seat of the abscess is always in the cellular tissue connecting the muscular fibres, which are found generally to be little altered by the

BROUSSAIS.

A SOLDIER, aged 19, entered the hospital of Gros Caillon, with a variolous eruption upon him he passed through the several stages, apparently favourably; towards the decline of the disease, diffused abscess formed on the left elbow; the discharge was scanty and of a greenish hue; the fore-arm and hand became prodigiously distended by infiltration, and cold to the touch. At the same time, sloughs formed on different parts of the body, and the patient's strength was quite exhausted;-he died on the 55th day from the attack.

On dissection the heart was found to be larger than usual; but the left side alone

between their bundles. The base of the heart, he states, is most frequently affected. Neither Morgagni, nor Lieutaud have reported any cases. Laennec describes one case, in which he found an abscess in the substance of the left ventricle, near its base, in the body of a child, who had been affected with perecarditis. From the accounts left to us by Senac, Corvisart, and Laennec, it appears that there are no discriminating, or pathognomic symptoms of this degeneration. In some cases, the patients have died suddenly, at the time when they seemed to be in good health; in others, palpitations, and a feeling of strangling had been observed. Of one thing we are assured, that an

lungs is always in proportion to the rapidity and to the quantity of discharges produced, whether by vomiting, purging, sweating, or flow of urine. It is quite a mistaken notion, to suppose that the amendment of a patient begins only when the antimonial ceases to have some sensible effect, or, as it is expressed, when a "tolerance" of the drug is induced. When it checks an inflammation, without causing vomiting or purging, we shall find that profuse sweating or diuresis has generally taken place. But should no evacuation at all occur, the antimonial becomes an irritant to the stomach, and gastritis ensues. Dr. B. has seen this repeatedly take place, and, therefore, dissuades its employment, whenever there are any symptoms of tenderness of the stomach, whether this be primary or consecutive. He narrates the following case. A soldier entered the "Hôpital du Val de Grace," having all the symptoms of an acute pneumonia of both lungs, with a hypertrophy of the heart. He was bled largely and repeatedly, but did not experience relief; indeed the symptoms were aggravated, and the antimonial solution was ordered to be taken every hour. It produced copious purging, but the disease advanced rapidly to a fatal termination.

On dissection, the greater part of the lungs was perfectly normal, congestion being visible only in one part. On an examination of the stomach, its mucous coat was found intensely inflamed, and the inflammation was traced to have extended along the whole extent of the duodenum, as far as onehalf of the track of the ileum. The inner surface was much softend, and in patches converted into the appearance of a boiled pulp. In short, this patient, says Dr. Broussais, died, not from a pneumonia but from an intense gastro-enteritis.— Ibid.

Obs. by Ed. The above report appears to us to be exceedingly imperfect and ill drawn up, and does not do much credit to the enlightened physician, as no accurate diagnosis of the transference of the malady seems to have been made before death.