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its curvature with the convexity to the left,and crossed the second and third dorsal ver-tebrae to the right side; the small intestinesthen commencing, took their direction fromright to left, and entered the caput coli inthe left ilium; the ascending colon passed upthe left side of the belly, the descendingdown the right side, to form the sigmoidflexure in the right iliac fossa.The disposition of the bloodvessels wasalso reversed. The inferior vena cava was

placed at least half an inch to the left of theaorta; the left renal artery was the longer ofthe two, and passed behind the vena cava;whilst the right emulgent vein crossed be-fore the aorta, and the right common iliacvein passed behind the left common iliacartery.

Although a complete transposition of thecontents of the abdomen existed, with theexception of the wide separation of thegreat bloodvessels, the several visceramaintained their position with relation toeach other, as when distributed in a naturalmanner.—Indian Jour. of Med. Science. ,

ARTERIOTOMY.

ARTERIOTOMY has long been regarded asan operation of great therapeutic value inwounds .of the head, with compression, oreven concussion of the brain, in apoplexy,in convulsions proceeding from cerebral

congestion, in ophthalrnia, in otalgia, in ery-sipelas of the face and scalp, in inflamma-tions of the brain. Also in mania, epilepsy,&c., but it has fallen into disuse, from thedifficulty of extracting a suitable quantityof blood from the temporal artery, and thepainful delay which often attends it, even inthe hands of the most dexterous surgeons.Those who accredit the difference whichexists between arterial and venal blood, par-ticularly with respect to the gases, will beglad to peruse the subjoined statementfrom the Archives Generales de Nfedecine for IFebruary last, respecting a suitable methodof performing arteriotomy.M. MAGISTEL in that work recommends,

in opening the temporal artery, that we Ishould penetrate, by puncture, the twelfthof an inch below the artery, as far as theaponeurosis, with a small and slightly curvedbistoury. The point of the bistoury is tobe held as a lancet (in the second position),and then carried under the vessel, obliquely Iforward, and from below upwards, cuttingthe artery and integuments inwardly andoutwardly. M. Magistel prefers operatingupon the left temple, for in operating on theright temple the left hand must be used.The flowing of the arterial blood will be fa-voured by the action of mastication, if thepatient can perform it. M. Magistel, in

order to secure the artery after a sufficientquantity of blood is taken, recommends theapplication of a small square compress,about one third of an inch in thickness,which should be secured by several turns ofa bandage. If this be properly done theblood will readily be stopped, and the arterywill soon cicatrize.

For this communication M. Magistel re-ceived the thanks of the Royal Academy ofMedicine, and the memoir was transmittedto the publishing committee of the Academy.

MEDICO-BOTANICAL SOCIETY.

May 25, 1836.

! Tms association, which was originated (ob-’ serves the gentleman who has reported theI proceedings for us on the present occasion)by that unfortunate man known about townfor some years as " Professor Frost," hasbeen gradually recovering from the shockits credit had received by the exposure ofthe " humbug " employed in its formation.The sarcasm launched against it by Mr.Babbage, in his work on "The Decline of

! Science in England," was not undeserved."Since," said this author, "its creation hasdone the greatest possible injury to

the sci-entific reputation of the country, the best

atonement left in its power is, a speedy actof suicide." Actual suicide, however, wasunnecessary, and for the last four years, theMedico-Botanical Society, though it inclu-ded in its roll moie crowns and coronetsthan any other scientific body in Europe,yet only could be said to, "like a woundedsnake, draw its slow length along." Theexertions of Dr. Sigmond, Dr. Hancock,Mr. Burnett, and Lord Stanhope, have beenchiefly instrumental in recovering it from itsinanition.

AQuLous INFUSIONS.—After the formalbusiness of the evening was concluded, Dr.SIGMOND read a short paper from Mr. AL-sop of Chelsea, on " an improved mode ofmaking and preserving aqueous infusions."The author had, like many others, been ledto observe that a stratum of fluid of a darkercolour than the rest, surrounded the mace-rated substance, and formed a barrier be-tween it and the lighter coloured, and con-sequently less-impregnated fluid. The resultof this state of things is, that the infusionis of unequal strength, and a considerableloss of the soluble matter is incurred. Toobviate this evil, Mr. Alsop has constructedan infusion-jar with a moveable perforatedfloor, upon which the ingredient proposedto be infused is placed.. A sufficient quan-tity of water is poured into the vessel tomake the fluid cover the ingredient com-