PLATE III. FIG. 1.- From a case of Obturator Hernia, showing the ruptured portion, a, found in the sac, and the more annular destruction, b, at the site of the constriction. FIG. 2.-From a Femoral Hernia. Numerous perforations, a, are seen in the knuckle of gut which lay in the sac. Only the thin visceral peritoneum remained intact over b, but the rest of the layers were entire at c. Ulceration beneath the constriction is seen at d. PLATE IV. FIG. 1.-Narrow diaphragm left at site where a ligature had been applied to the intestine of a dog. The ligature made its way through, and the bowel united. FIG. 2.-Dense pyloric-like stricture which developed at the site of constriction in a strangulated FIG. 1.-Aspect of the bowel pulling down of the gut. PLATE II. in Case I. after division of the stricture and The bowel has given way at two points—one at the constriction and one above it. FIG. 2.-The bowel as exposed in Case II., showing the gangrenous area a, and the tail of the omental tag b. FIG. 3.-Lembert sutures so passed as to secure invagination of the ruptured and gangrenous area, and apposition of the healthy area beyond. PLATE III. FIG. 1. From an obturator hernia, showing the ruptured portion, a, found in the sac, and the more annular distinction, b, at the site of constriction. FIG 2. From a femoral hernia. Numerous perforations, a, are seen in the knuckle of gut which lay in the sac. Only the thin visceral peritoneum remained intact at b, but the rest of the layers were entire at c. Ulceration beneath the constriction is seen at d. The destructive changes take place from the mucous surface outwards. PLATE IV. FIG. 1.-Portion of a small intestine of a dog with the arteries injected. A circular band, resembling a pylorus, is seen internally, with the intestine dilated above and below the constriction. The bowel was enclosed in a ligature which was discharged per anum the fourth day after operation, and the animal was allowed to live three weeks subsequently. Preparation in the Edinburgh University Museum. Presented by George Trusted, Esq. FIG. 2.-Narrow pyloric-like contraction which developed at the seat of constriction after operation for strangulated femoral hernia, and which proved fatal seven months afterwards. a, reflected wall of bowel; b, stricture. VII. INAUGURAL ADDRESS: SKETCH OF THE HISTORY By CHARLES EDWARD UNDERHILL, M.B., F.R.C.P. Ed. (Continued from page 747.) IN session 26, Dr Bonnar contributed a laborious paper on a Critical Study of Superfotation, which has been a mine of wealth to subsequent writers on the subject; and Dr Robert Finlay, who shortly after gave up Medicine for the Bar, a paper called "Notes on the History of Ancient Greek Midwifery." During this session Dr Angus Macdonald became a Fellow. In June 1865 the Society determined to find a more suitable hall in which to hold their meetings, and accordingly fixed on No. 5 St Andrew Square, where all the subsequent meetings have been held. Sir James Simpson, who shortly afterwards received his Baronetcy, was the next President, being elected on 29th November 1865. The work of this session was mostly of the ordinary routine discussions, relieved by a paper by Sir W. Turner on a case of Pregnancy in a Rudimentary Uterine Horn, and a fatal case of Cæsarean Section by the President. On 26th April 1866, reference was made in strong terms of condemnation to a letter which had appeared in Punch, dated from Edinburgh, and giving an account of the proceedings of the Society. It was unanimously agreed that if the author could be discovered and was a Fellow of the Society, he should be requested to retire from it. I cannot find that the author ever was discovered. At the beginning of next session the laws were revised, printed, and circulated among the Fellows; with the addition of a new law permitting the admission to the Society's meetings of any registered practitioner introduced by a Fellow. Dr Matthews Duncan, whose name was long absent from the proceedings of the Society, appeared again this session with his well-known paper, "The Production of Inversion of the Uterus." Dr J. Young, in February 1867, contributed two fatal cases of Hæmorrhage from Scarification of the Gums. Dr A. Milne also read an important paper on the Comparative Value of Long Forceps and Turning in cases of Contracted Brim. I find a note of a prolonged discussion at the last meeting of the session in private, on a paper by Dr C. Bell, entitled "Notes on the Case of Sharp v. Wilson." In November of this year Dr Burn was elected President, and during the session Mr C. E. Smith, surgeon of the "Diana," addressed the Society on the Diseases and Midwifery of the Esquimaux, also on the Effect of Protracted Exposure to Cold and Privations on the Human System; and at a subsequent meeting Dr Fraser read a note of a "Primitive Mode of Aiding Labour," extracted from Carver's Travels in North America. The mode consisted in the application of a handkerchief round the parturient woman's neck, till strangulation was nearly produced, and this was believed to increase the expulsive power of the pains. In this session also Dr Matthews Duncan described and exhibited his Cephalotribe; other instruments of the same type were shortly afterwards devised and shown by Sir J. Simpson and Dr Andrew Inglis. The following session (30) is signalised by the decision (on the motion of Dr James Young) to publish a volume of Transactions at the end of the session. Dr Young desired the publication to be an annual one, but this was not at that time thought feasible; and the annual volume did not make its appearance till ten years later. Among other communications was an address by Sir J. Simpson on the Construction and Salubrity of Maternity Hospitals. In the course of his remarks, he alluded to the necessity of having a new Maternity Hospital for Edinburgh. He was of opinion that it should be built on the cottage system, and should not contain more than twenty or thirty beds. Each room should |