241 



similar process is applicable to the more general resolvent. 

 But what is wanted is a solution Avithout the aid of definite 

 integration. 



Sir John F. W. Herschel^ in a letter to me under date 

 March 15th, 186^, referring to the closing remark in my last 

 communication, calls attention to a paper of his in the 

 ^^Philosophical Transactions" for 1814, "On various Points 

 of Analysis/' "§ IV. On Equations of the First Degree," and 

 also to a paper of his in the "Memoirs of the Analytical 

 Society" of Cambridge, 1813, "On Equations of Differences," 

 in which there is something, Sir John Herschel thinks^ tend- 

 ing to confirm the opinion that the primary forms of inte- 

 grable linear differential equations stand in close connexion 

 with the solvable forms of algebraic equations. In the latter 

 paper, however. Sir John Herschel informs me that he wishes 

 to "repudiate all that occurs from page 100 to page 105, as 

 founded on a mistake." I need hardly add that the writings 

 of so distinguished a member of our Society shall receive, as 

 they deserve, my most careful attention. I hope soon to 

 return to the subject. 



Dr. R. Angus Smith, F.R.S., read a Paper entitled 

 "On the Putrefaction of Blood, No. 2." The following 

 is an abstract. 



When I first began to examine the products of the putre- 

 faction of blood, it was merely with the object of ascer- 

 taining the nature of the gases, and of ascertaining whether 

 any matter in them exists in a so-called organic condition, 

 and, if so, in what quantity. I have ascertained the nature 

 of the gases. So far as I see, however, I have added no new 

 one, but I believe that for the first time I have given the 

 proportionate amount of each. 



I have also decided on a simple and certain method of 

 collecting some organic substances from the gases, namely, 

 the use of caustic potash, ^vhich I find superior to acid salts. 



