1822.] Proceedings of Philosophical Societies. 391 



Article XIV. 



Proceedings of Philosophical Societies. 



IIOYAL SOCIETY. 



March 28. — On the Anatomy of Whales. By W. Scoresby, 

 Esq. 



April 18. — On the Changes that have taken Place in the 

 Declination of some of the principal Fixed Stars. By John 

 Pond, Esq. 



Extract of a Letter from Capt. Sabine to the President. 



Some Observations on the BufFy Coat of the Blood. 



April 25.— On the Nerves. By Charles Bell, Esq. 



Article XV. 



SCIENTIFIC INTELLIGENCE, AND NOTICES OF SUBJECTS 

 CONNECTED WITH SCIENCE. 



I. Arroio Root. 



Indian arrow root grows wild in every part of the island of St. 

 Michael. At present, it is almost entirely neglected by the natives, 

 but some of the foreign families prepare small quantities of it for their 

 private use. The root in its natural state is extremely acrid to the 

 taste, and if chewed, produces a profuse salivation ; when applied to the 

 skin for some time, it produces heat, redness, and pain. The prepa- 

 ration consists in separating the fecula by careful and repeated washings 

 after the root has been grated ; but the effects produced by handling 

 the root, are so unpleasant, that persons can with difficulty be hired to 

 conduct the necessary operations. — (Dr. Webster's Description of the 

 Island of St. Michael.) 



II. Seeds of the Croion Tigliam. 



It appears, from the experiments of Dr. Nimmo, that these seeds 

 which, yield the very active oil of croton, lately introduced as a pur- 

 gative, consist of, 



Acrid matter soluble in alcohol 27*5 



Fixed oil soluble in oil of turpentine. 32*5 

 Farinaceous matter insoluble in both. 40 



1000 

 Digesting sulphuric ether upon 100 parts of the bruised seeds, 

 throwing the whole upon a filter, covering it closely during the pro- 

 cess of filtration, and washing the residuum with a sufficient quantity 

 of ether, it was found to weigh 4«0 parts, 60 having been dissolved* 



