Medical News

OF MR GOODSIR18 PAPER ON THE ULTIMATE SECRETING STRUCTURE, AND ON THE LAWS OF ITS FUNCTION.! Read at the Royal Society of Edinburgh on the 3Oth March. After referring to the labours of those anatomists who had verified Malpighi's doctrine of the follicular nature of gland ducts, the author alluded to Parkinje's hypo1 The Report of this Society we are unable to give in continuation of that in a former number, but we hope to do so in our next. 1842.] MEDICAL NEWS. 477 thesis of the secreting function of the nucleated corpuscles which line these ducts. In a rapid sketch of the results of inquiries since the appearance of Miiller's work " De Penitiore Structura Glandularum," and more particularly of the observations of Henle and others on the closed vesicles which are situated at the extremities of certain ducts, Mr Goodsir stated, that no anatomist had hitherto " proved that secretion takes place within the primitive nucleated cell itself, or had pointed out the intimate nature of the changes which go on in a secreting organ during the performance of its function." Numerous examples were now given of secretions detected in the cavities of nucleated cells of various glands and secreting surfaces. Among these secretions were the ink of the cephalopoda and the purple of janthina and aplysia; bile in an extensive series selected from the principal divisions of the animal kingdom; urine in the mollusk; milk, &c. The wall is believed by the author to be the part of the cell engaged in the process of secretion. The cavity contains the secreted substance, and the nucleus "is the reproductive organ of the cell. A primitive cell engaged in secretion is denominated, by the author, a primary secreting cell; and each cell of this kind is endowed with its own peculiar property, according to the organ in which it is situated. The discovery of the secreting agency of the primitive cell does not remove the principal mystery in which the function has always been involved; but the general fact that the primitive cell is the ultimate secreting structure, is of great value in physiological science, inasmuch as it connects secretion with growth as functions regulated by the same laws, and explains one of the greatest difficulties in physiology, viz. why a secretion flows from the free surface only of a secreting membrane?the secretion exists only on the free surface inclosed in the ripe cells which constitute that surface. The author then proceeded to the consideration of the origin, the development, and the disappearance of the primary secreting cell, a subject which necessarily involved the description of the various minute arrangements of glands, and other secreting organs. After describing the changes which occur in the testicle of the squalus comubicus, when the organ is in a state of functional activity, and in the liver of careinus maenas, it was stated that these were selected as examples of two orders of glands, denominated by the author vesicular and follicular. The changes which occur in the first order of glands consist in the formation and disappearance of closed vesicles or acini. Each acinus might be first a single cell, denominated by the author the primary or germinal cell; or, secondly, of two or more cells enclosed in the primary cell, and produced from its nucleus. The enclosed cells he denominates the secondary cells of the acinus, and in the cavities of these, between their nuclei and cell walls, the peculiar secretion of the gland is contained. The primary cell, with its included group of cells, each full of secretion, is appended to the extremity of one of the terminal ducts, and consequently dees not communicate with that duct, a diaphragm formed by a portion of the primary cell wall stretching across the pedicle. When the secretion in the group of included cells is fully elaborated, the diaphragm dissolves or gives way, the cells burst, and the secretion flows along the ducts, the acinus disappearing, and making room for a neighbouring acinus, which has in the mean time been advancing in a similar manner. The whole parenchyma of glands of this order is thus, according to Mr Goodsir, in a constant state of change ?of development, maturity, and atrophy, this series of changes being directly proportional to the profuseness of the secretion. In the second order of glands, the follicular, as exemplified in the liver of carcinus, the germinal cell or spot is situated at the blind extremity of the follicle, and the secreting cells, as they advance along the follicle, become distended with their peculiar secretion. Among other general conclusions deducible from these observations, it appeared that ducts are to be considered as inter-cellular passages into which the secretions formed by cells are cast. Finally, the author inferred from the whole inquiry, 1st, That secretion is a function of, and takes place within the nucleated cell; and, 2d, Growth and secretion are identical,?the same process under different circumstances. 478 MISCELLANEOUS MEDICAL NEW#. [May MISCELLANEOUS MEDICAL NEWS. TESTIMONIAL TO PROFESSOR REID OF ST ANDREWS. (Abridged from the Fifeshire Journal of March 31.) Oil Saturday morning, a public breakfast was given to Dr Reid in the Black Bull Inn, by the gentlemen attending his physiological class, when an elegant silver pitcher was presented to him in testimony of respect and gratitude for his lectures. About seventy gentlemen sat down to breakfast?W. F. Ireland, Esq., of the Eastern Bank, in the chair; supported by Dr Reid, Professors Gillespie, Alexander, and Jackson, &c. After thanks had been returned, the chairman rose and shortly stated the object of the meeting. Mr Sellar, having been called upon by the chairman, expressed his regret that the class had not devolved the task of communicating their views and feelings to some of the more able and experienced. Having taken a glance of the history of the university, he alluded to Dr Reid, who promised to be second to none of his illustrious predecessors. " You are aware, Mr Chairman, that Professor Reid entered on a course of lectures this session on comparative anatomy and general physiology, and threw open the doors of his class-room to all the inhabitants of St Andrews; and so choked was the class-room, that the poor defenceless skeleton was envied its room, and often disturbed in its quiet quarters, and, in spite of all its ' grisly grins,' was sent rattling hither and thither in search of a resting-place. To many of us this department of science was new?to all it has been rendered exceedingly interesting and useful. 1 Thanks to our respected Professor, there has been produced in all who have enjoyed his prelections, a deep and fondly-cherished relish for a rich, necessary, but too much neglected department of knowledge. It certainly could not fail to strike any one who has had the pleasure of hearing him, that in his clear, masterly, and strictly inductive method of investigating and explaining the phenomena and doctrines of physiology, he bears a most intimate resemblance to his illustrious namesake in the analysis of mind. At the end of each lecture, we found, that instead of having been involved in a mental scramble, and bewildered in a whirl of vague ideas, we had, by the reasonings and illustrations of our teacher, and by the aid of his admirable collection of diagrams, specimens, and preparations, with which he made everything bear on our minds with all the pressure and intensity of palpable facts, found that we had made a sure adI vance, and felt able and anxious to take another step. Our feelings towards him are not merely those of persons gratified, but benefited. He has instructed us in a branch of science intimately connected with the wants and enjoyments of our species, which enables us to avoid those modes of life which do violence to the intentions of the Creator, and which exalts our conceptions of infinite wisdom, power, and goodness? ! the ultimate end of all sound philosophy, or it fails of its noblest aim." Here Mr Sellar argued at some length, for the introduction of physiology as a branch of national education; and continued?" It is not to this memorial in itself that Professor Reid will look: he will look over the sign to the thing signified?to the feelings which 1 prompted it. Sir, I have been deputed by those attending your class, to express their i high opinion of your talents and worth?their sense of the indefatigable zeal you ; have displayed, and their sincere and unanimous thanks. Sir, thanks is a vague term; it is found on every one's tongue, and at the point of every one's pen; but we, as a class, have been feeling ours drawn forth so intensely, that we have been almost wishing they had been visible and tangible. Indeed, we have actually attempted an embodiment of them ; and, if you will allow me, here it is." Here Mr Sellar produced the testimonial, and concluded amid loud and continued applause. Dr Reid then returned thanks; and, after several speeches from the other Professors, &c., and three hearty cheers for Dr Reid, the company separated. UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH. TOWN COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS. There was laid on the table a report from the College Committee on the propriety of altering the regulations which require attendance at University classes exclusively, as 1842.] MISCELLANEOUS MEDICAL NEWS. 479 qualifying candidates for the degree of M.D. In accordance with the suggestion of the Joint Committee of the Fellows of the Colleges of Physicians and Surgeons, and some of the medical and surgical professors of the University, the College Committee recommend .that candidates for medical degrees should be allowed to take four out of the fourteen imperative classes under extra-academical lecturers. With respect to the question as to who should be recognised as the teachers whose instructions should qualify candidates for degrees, equally with those of the professors of the University, the Committee think that the p