358 Proceedings of the Royal Society. 
minutes, after being affected with a remarkable combination of tetanic 
spasm and convulsions: but that no effect whatever was produced 
by the resinous extract from the same quantity of roots obtained 
about the same season of the year (midwinter) from the Dalmeny 
cenanthe, near Edinburgh. 
He concluded this notice with an account of some experiments on 
the chemical analysis of cenanthe, observing that he had failed to 
obtain any principle from the Dalmeny seeds or root, by a process 
analogous to that by which conia is obtained from hemlock; and 
that the alcoholic extract of the Woolwich plants, distilled with solu- 
tion of potash, yielded, like hemlock, a little oleaginous-like fluid, 
which was too minute in quantity for him to ascertain its properties 
accurately, but which, on the whole, seemed a volatile oil, and not 
an alkaloid. 
Monday, 19th February 1844. 
Dr ABERCROMBIE, Vice-President, in the Chair. 
The following Communications were read :— 
1. On the cellular Fibre and the Incrusting Matters of 
Plants. By Mr P. F. H. Fromberg. Communicated by 
Professor Johnston. 
2. On aremarkable Oscillation of the Sea observed at various 
places on the coasts of Great Britain, in the first week 
of July 1843. By David Milne, Esq. 
This phenomenon was observed on the 5th July and three follow- 
ing days. It did not occur on all parts of the coast of Great Bri- 
tain. In England, it was observed only on the south shores of 
Cornwall and Devonshire. In Scotland, it was observed on the 
east coast ; and there it was seen at a great many places, between 
Eyemouth in Berwickshire and the Shetland Islands. 
It was only on the 5th of July that the oscillation occurred on 
the Cornish and Devonshire coasts. It prevailed on the Scottish 
coast, however, from the 5th to the 7th July inclusive. 
The phenomenon consisted of a flux and reflux of the sea, beyond 
what could be accounted for by ordinary tides, or any wind prevail- 
ing at the time. The water suddenly rose up and sunk down from 
2 to 5 feet in perpendicular height, producing effects more or less ~ 
striking, according to the shelving character of the shore, 
In regard to the cause of the phenomenon, various had been the 
surmises ; though the general impression seemed to be, that it was 
produced by distant submarine earthquakes. 
The author stated that he could not acquiesce in this view, and 
gave his reasons for saying so. 
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