4y6 Royal Society. 



and that it is as little likely the potash should be altered by di- 

 gestion, as the muriate of soda itself so constantly taken with 

 our Food, it is worthy of remark, that the potash is in much 

 larger proportion in expectorated matter than in the serum 

 of the blood; so much so, that expectorated matter when 

 exsiccated commonly shows signs of deliquescence on ex- 

 posure to the air. 



June 22. — A letter from Mr. T. A. Knight was read, on 

 the relative influence of the male and female on the size and 

 character of the offspring. Contrary to the opinion of Lin- 

 naeus, Mr. K. considers the female as influencing the size 

 and character, but opposes Mr. Cline's opinion, that large 

 females should be used for breeding ; because, although 

 their legs will be longer in proportion to the size of the foe- 

 tus, yet their bodies will want the due proportion of depth 

 and thickness, and the animal will be less vigorous and 

 powerful. Thus, for instance, foals of large mares and 

 small horses have the chest thin and narrow, whereas the 

 contrary is the case with those of small mares and large 

 horses. Mules from large mares the author found unser- 

 viceable from their want of proportion, and consequently 

 want of strength. 



The Society for improving animal chemistry furnished a 

 paper by Mr. Home, on animal secretions. Mr. H. formed 

 some plausible conjectures on the probable effects of electri- 

 city in assisting the secretion of blood, serum, albumen, 

 and the other animal fluids. He was induced to this opinion 

 bv examining the electric eel, and the immense quantity of 

 nerves which appear necessary to produce the electric power. 



Some interesting additional observations by Messrs. Pepys 

 and Allen were read, on the azote disengaged by respira- 

 tion. The authors in all their experiments on this subject 

 found that a considerable quantity of oxygen was lost in the 

 process of respiration, and that azote was formed ; that an 

 animal can breathe oxygen and hydrogen an hour without 

 any incc nvenience, but that hydrogen alone occasions sleepi- 

 ness. The term azote, they observe, is an indefinite name 

 for all gas that is incombustible, irrespirable, and inab- 

 •orbdble by water , but, from Professors Davy and Berze- 



lius's 



