. Prize Question.—Chalybeate Spa... 145 
lead; and has a separate wooden'cell. They aré suspended 
from a beam-of wood, and having counterpoises are easily 
raised or let down into their cells, The power of this bat- 
tery was tried on the 2d of last month, The'cells were 
filled with water 60 parts, and a mixture of sulphuric and 
nitric acid one part, which was ‘gradually increased till the 
quantity of acid was doubled. Conductors of lead con- 
veyed the electricity to an adjoining shade in which the 
experiments were made. The power of the battery was 
great. It ignited six feet in length of thick platinum wire, 
but could not ignite an equal length ‘of smailer platinum 
wire. Platinum was fused with great facility. Iridium was 
fused into a globule, and proved to be a brittle metal. The 
ore of iridium and osmium was likewise fused, but not 
perfectly. Charcoal kept in a white heat in oxymuriatic 
acid gas and in phosgene gas produced no change on them. 
Tungsten was no way changed by this powerful battery, 
hor was uranium. 
PRIZE QUESTION. 
The Royal Medical Society of Edinburgh has. proposed 
as the subject of the Prize Essay for 1815, the following 
question : . 
“« Is azote gas absorbed in the lungs during respiration # 
If it is not, whence do herbivorous animals derive their 
azote ?”’ : 
_ A set of books, or a medal of the value of five guineas, 
will be awarded to the author of the best Dissertation; and 
members honorary, ordinary, and extraordinary of the So- 
ciety alone are invited to become candidates. The Disser- 
tations to be in English, French, or Latin, and to be de- 
livéred to the Secretary on or before the 1st of December 
1814. The prize to be adjudged in February following,» 
To each Dissertation a motto to be prefixed, and a sealed 
packet must accompany it, containing the author’s name 
andaddress. The unsuccessful Dissertations to be returned, 
if required, - 
A strongly saline aperient and chalybeate spa has been 
discovered at Melksham, Wilts; which has been analysed 
aud brought forward by Dr. Gibbes of Bath. It contains 
nearly seventy graitis of saline ingredients in a pint, which 
are chiefly the muriates of soda and magnesia. The in- 
fusion of galls strikes a purple in the water when fresh at 
the spring. In doses similar to the Chelthenham and 
Leamington waters, it acts on the bowels gently, safely; 
Vol, 42, No, 184, August 1813. K but 
