] 60 Royal Society of London. 



circulation of the electrical fluid, as is well known, will- 

 commence, which gradually makes a, quantity of air escape 

 j-rear the metallic wire, w^hich, being analysed, is found to 

 be al^nost wholly pure hydrogen. 



- By this new- ihelhod of decomposition we obtain water 

 v*i^y much oxyfitenated, as is jwsvtively proved by the ex- 

 j5eH-\Tient I have given in my Opuscules. 



■ If that which several philosophical physicians have asserted 

 hie true, that oxygen is an excellent remedy in cutaneous dis- 

 ease's, tlie philanthropist may have recourse to the electrical 

 celunin to obtain oxygenateil water, and make numerous 

 experiments'useful to society. In short, what simpler ve- 

 hicle could wc choo.;e, by means of which to Introduce oxy- 

 gen into- the human bodys, than a liquid so necessary to lite? 



XXXII. Proceedings if Learned Societies. 



ROVAL SOCIETV OF LONDON. 



£ EB. 27. The Right Honourable Sir Joseph Banks, Presi- 

 dent, in the chair. — A paper by Mr. Home, '^on a particular 

 a^rcction of the prostate gland," w-as read. It was illustrated 

 by a drawing exhibiting minutely the situation and figure of 

 this newly discovered gland, or rather peculiar nipple-formed 

 elongation of a part of the substance of the prostate gland 

 protruding against the bladder. This disease, which so pain- 

 fully affects the bladder, has hitherto been irremediable, chiefly 

 from its true cause not being known; and it is hoped that 

 this physiological discovery may be of incalculable advan- 

 tage towards relieving the sufierings of patients supposed to 

 be labouring under the effects of calculi and other -urinary 

 .diseases. 



' March C. The President in the chair. — The reading of a 

 commiinicatiopi- from Dr. Herschel, " on the quantity and 

 velocity of the solar motion," was coinraenccd. 



March 13;"'\Tiic President in the chair. — Continuation of 

 the above paper, much n^f- which was of a nature not to be 

 rpad, being rnathet'natical tables of the relative distances of 



the- 



