Observations on the Comet. 395 



come general, of the existence of iron in the blood ; which 

 he appears to think wholly unfounded. He took a review 

 of the process by which the living animal converts its food 

 into chyle, and thence into blood; investigated the nature 

 of scrum, and analysed this fluid with much greater minute- 

 ness and scientific accuracy than have hitherto been used. 



LXXIII. Intelligence and Miscellaneous Articles. 



To Mr. Tilloch. 



Sir, JjEiNG a student of astronomy, and possessing a very 

 scanty astronomical apparatus, I feel much indebted to 

 those gentlemen who have kindly communicated the various 

 observations on the comet, that have appeared in your 

 journal. The following elements of the orbit deduced 

 from the observations of Sept. 5th, given in your work. 

 Combined with two ot my own made with a sextant, Sept. 

 30ih and Oct. sOih, will be found, I believe, to represent 

 the whole series yet published with considerable accuracy. 

 If I am not anticipated in the same results, you have my 

 leave to publish them. 



Perihelion distance 1,03557. 



Passage of perihelion Sept. 12th at ?*> 31"" Greenwich 

 mean time. 



Long, of ascending node 140^ 2-/ 



Inclination of the orbit 73 3 



Long, of perihelion ......... 74 57 



Retrograde. 



I am, sir, 



Your most obedient servant, 



St. Andrews, T. J. 



i-lst Oct. 18U. 



P. S. I venture to suggest, what I have often wished, 

 that the astronomer royal, or any other gentleman who 

 makes observations under a well ascertained meridian, would 

 sometimes favour us by communicating in the periodical 

 journals, the observed times of occuUations and solar ecli pseS. 

 I am satisfied that it would lead to many observations of 

 the same kind elsewhere ; and thus both excite a spirit of 

 astronomical observation, and improve the geography of 

 the countries where our monthly publications circulate. 



RUSSBL 



