I >u. Clark on tlie Arithmetical Calculation of Solids. 101 



violent sense of heat and pain in the region of the stomach, and at length 

 passed off by a profuse perspiration, without having occasioned any 

 narcotic symptom, except a slight giddiness. It is obvious, therefore, that 

 the recent important discovery of the influence of ether over the sensibility 

 of the nerves, depends entirely on the mode in which the ether is adminis- 

 tered, and not on any hitherto unknown power possessed by it as a physio- 

 logical agent. 



Tin; [(receding observations, with respect to ether, arc confirmed by the 

 tat t familiarly known with respect to alcohol, that persons employed in 

 bottling spirits, if not habituated, are readily intoxicated ; and that this kind 

 tf intoxication is almost immediately relieved by going into the open air. 



[The remainder of this paper will appear in an appendix, as the wood-cut by which it 

 is to be illustrated is not yet in readiness."] 



lOf/t March, 1847. — The Vice-President in the Chair. 



Messrs. Charles Watson, and J. H. H. Lewcllin were admitted mem- 

 bers. 



Mr. Smith of Deanston finished his oral account of the progress of 

 mechanism. 



31s* March, 1847. — The Vice-President in the CJiair. 



Dr. Peter Stewart was elected a member. 



The Vice-President read the following letter from Professor Clark of 

 Aberdeen: — 



XXV. — On a method by the late John Wilson, Esq. of Thornly y of facilitat- 

 ing the Arithmetical Calculation of the Contents of Solids. By Thomas 

 Clark, M.D., Professor of Chemistry^ Marischal College, Aberdeen. 

 (Communicated in a letter to the Vice-President.) 



I have been sorry to observe in the newspapers the death of Mr. Wilson 

 of Thornly. The event recalls to my mind an important discovery of his 

 in calculation, which is extensively applicable to most of the ordinary 

 operations of mensuration. It was mado by Mr. Wilson many years ago, 

 but it lies buried, and, I fear, unnoticed and unknown in his Survey of 

 Renfrewshire. 



The following is the form of statement that makes most obvious the 

 practical bearing of Mr. Wilson's discovery: — 



1 Cubical Foot = 1728 cubical inches. 

 « = 2200 cylindrical inches, 



f = 3300 spherical inches. 



I = G600 conical inches. 



True, the result is not strictly accurate: for, indeed, no finite number 



