142 



phyfiologyofthe 

 human body j 



difeafes ; 



remedies j 



explanations. 



Philofophy of 

 fire in the ma- 



SCIENTIFIC NEWS. 



The term of concurrence is November 1, 1803. 

 The following queftions were propofed formerly, but the 

 term of concurrence is fixed to the firft of November, 1803. 



1. " What light has the new chemiftry thrown upon the 

 phyfiology of the human body }" 



2. f To what extent has this light been of ufe in rendering 

 us better acquainted with the nature and caules of certain dif- 

 eafes ? And what ufeful confequences, more or lefs grounded 

 on experience, may be thence deduced for improving the prac- 

 tice of medicine ?" 



3. " To what extent has the new chemiftry been of ufe to 

 afford precife notions concerning the action of certain external 

 and internal remedies long in ufe or lately recommended ? And 

 what advantages may be obtained from a more exact know- 

 ledge in this refpect in the treatment of certain diforders ?" 



As many philofophers have mixed hypothefes of flight 

 foundation with the applications they have made of the prin- 

 ciples of the new chemiftry to the functions of the human body, 

 which is no doubt very hurtful to the progrefs of fcience, which 

 might be fo highly improved, if, according to the rule of Lavoi- 

 iier, nothing were adopted either in chemiftry or the applica- 

 tion of its principles, but what fhall be founded on decifive ex- 

 periments ; the Society delires that thofe who (hall anfwer 

 thefe queftions mould precifely diftinguifh facts from hypothe- 

 fes ; and that with regard to the latter, they fhould be merely 

 pointed out, and their flight foundation briefly fhown. For the 

 principal aim of the Society in thefe queftions, is to procure 

 thofe who exercife the practice of medicine and furgery in the 

 Batavian Republic, and are not fufficiently acquainted with the 

 progrefs of the new chemiftry and the application of its well 

 eftablifhed principles to phyfiology, pathology, and theurapeu- 

 tics, fuch memoirs as may eafily fhow them what light the new 

 chemiftry has in effect thrown upon thefe fciences; and alfo 

 thofe doctrines which, being of flight foundation, too haftily 

 adopted, or in themfelves doubtful, are not entitled to con- 

 fidence. 



Judgment will be given feparately upon the memoirs reflect- 

 ing each of thefe queftions. They who propofe to anfwer 

 more than one, are therefore requefted to do it feparately. 

 The above were propofed in 1799. 



4. fl What are the principles of the philofophy of fire, re- 

 flecting the production, the communication, and confinement 



of 





