268 Original Vaccine Pock Institution. 



a long period, impregnated with fluoric acid, — a fact which 

 supposes that this acid exists in the earth ; for to suppose, 

 with M. Klaproth, that the phosphoric acid is partly con- 

 verted into fluoric acid, would be to admit an hypothesis too 

 distant from our actual knowledge to appear even probable. 



If the fluoric acid really existed in new ivory and the ena- 

 mel of teeth, it must follow that a chemical analysis 

 would find it in vegetable and animal substances; at least 

 one would suppose that it would be developed in the living 

 animal ceconorav ; which is extremely hypothetical, and 

 without any rational foundation. 



It seems more probable, therefore, that during the long 

 continuance of these substances in the earth, they combine 

 with the fluoric acid. By the former hypothesis the fluoric 

 acid must be supposed to exist over all the world, since 

 fossil ivories, wherever found, always contain this acid ; by 

 the second hypothesis we must be forced to admit the change 

 of some principle in the ivorv into fluoric acid, which is 

 not altogether impossible : in truth, as we are ignorant of 

 the nature of the fluoric acid, we cannot appreciate the man- 

 ner or the cause of these transmutations in the present state 

 of chemistry. 



XLIV. Proceeding 1 ; of Learned Societies. 



ORIGINAL VACCINE POCK INSTITUTION, 



Broad Street, Gulden Square. 



Xji\. Shaw in the chair. — The chairman having stated that 

 it was a subject of conversation, that one of the surgeons of 

 this institution having inoculated his own child for the small- 

 pox, was apparently inconsistent with the declarations to 

 the public bv this establishment, and requiring explanation; 

 it was, — Ordered, that the following letter, with this notice, 

 be sent to the gentleman in question. 



O. V. P. J. July 8, 1S06\ 



Sir, 



I am directed to transmit you the above notice, and 

 to request the favour of an explanation ; but the board and 

 medical establishment beg you to understand, that they do 

 not think they have a right to consider you as acting im- 

 properly, 



