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8. “ An Investigation of the Powers of the simple Supporters of Combustion to destroy the virulence of Morbid Poisons, and of the poisonous Gases, with a view to ascertain the possibility of controul- ing the extension of contagious or epidemic Diseases,” by Edward Browne. Esq. F.L.S. Communicated by J. H. Green, Esq. F.R.S.
The author, after giving an account of the diversity of opinions entertained with regard to the power of chlorine gas to destroy con- tagion, states that this gas exerts a similar disinfecting power on the virus of small—pox, and mentions the result of some experiments he tried on gonorrheal matter, on which it appeared to effect a similar change. Various experiments are stated to have been made with iodine and with oxygen, indicating the same disinfecting agency in these substances. The author conceives that these effects are pro- moted by the heat communicated to the respired air in the lungs. He conceives that sea air possesses a disinfecting power, which he explains by supposing that it contains a portion ofiodine. He con- jectures, from analog 1, that fluorine and bromine may have the same property.
9. “ Considerations on the Laws of Life, in reference to the Origin of Disease," by Adair Crawford, M.D. Communicated by T. J. Pettigrew, Esq. F.R.S.
The scope of this paper is to show the insufficiency of all theories which attempt to account for thepheuomena of the living body, either in health or disease, by an exclusive reference either to the solids or to the fluids which enter into its composition; or to the influence of an abstract and unknown principle oflife; or to that ofphysical or chemical agents; or to the functions of the nervous, or of the vas- cular systems. For the establishment of the sciences of physiology and pathology upon the most solid foundations, the authoris of opi- nion that all thecircumstances above mentioned should be duly taken into account, and allowed their respective and proportionate degree
of influence. 10. “ On the Water Barometer erected in the Hall of the Royal
Society," by J. F. Daniell, Esq. F.R.S. Professor of Chemistry in King’s College, London. The author havinglong considered that a good series of observa- ' tions with a water barometer would be of great value as throwing light upon the theory of atmospheric tides, of the horary and other periodic oscillations of the barometer, and of the tension ofvapourat different temperatures, was desirous of learning whether any such series of ohservations had ever been made. But he could meet with none having any pretensions to accuracy; for neither those of Otto Guericke, in whose hands the water barometer was merely a philo- sophical toy, nor the cursory notices of the experiments of Mariotte upon this subject contained in the History of the French Academy of Sciences, can be considered as having any such claim. The difficul- ties which opposed the construction of a perfect instrument of this kind long appeared to be insurmountable; but the author at length proposed aplan for this purpose, which, having been approved of by thclatc MeteorologicalCommittee of the Royal Society, was ordered by the President and Council to be carried into execution.
