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Royal Med, Soc. of Edinh.—Kirwanian Society. 379 



THK ROVAL MEDICAL SOCIETY OP EDIKBURGH 



Propose as the subject of ihe Prize Essay for the year 1815, 



the following question : • • i 



<' Is azotic gas absorbed in the lungs during respiration? 



f—lf it is not, whence do herbivorous aninials derive their 



azote?" , , ... , 



A set of books, or a medal of five guineas value, will l)e 

 given to the author of the best dissertation on an experi- 

 mental investigation of the subject proposed by the Society ; 

 for which all The members, honorary, extraordinary, and or- 

 dinary, are alone invited as candidates. 



The dissertations are to be written in English, French, 

 or Latin, and to be delivered to the Secretary on or before 

 the first of December of the succeeding year to that m 

 which the subjects are proposed; and the adjudication of 

 the prize shall take place in the last week of February fol- 

 lowing. 



To each dissertation shall be prefixed a motto, written 

 on the outside of a sealed packet, containing the name and 

 address of the author. No dissertation will be received 

 with the author's name affixed; and all dissertations, ex- 

 cept the successful one, will be returned, if desired, with 

 4he sealed packet unopened. 



KIRWANIAN SOCIETY OP DUBLIN. 



May 19th.— A paper " On the question whether alcohol 

 be a product of fcimeniation or of distillation," was read 

 by M. Donovan, Esq. Secretary. 



The paper commenced with a sketch of the ancient opi- 

 nions on the question, and of the evidences upon which 

 they were founded, it was then stated, that perhaps the 

 first chemist who doubted the existence of alcohol in fer- 

 mented hquors was Rouelle the elder, who was led to this 

 supposition from reflecting on the fact that spirit is not 

 produced until the wine or other liquor begins to bcnl. 

 Nearly ihe same opinions, it was observed, were afterwards 

 maintained and enlarged upon by Fabroui. The Florentine 

 philosopher found that by means of sub carbonate of pot- 

 ash he could detect T-i-^rth part of alcohol purposely added 

 to new wine; while, vvhen pure wine was employed, the 

 game test produced no appearance whatever : from this and 

 some other experimenls he concluded '* that alcohol is 

 a product of distillation, and not of fermentation." After 

 noticing the remarks and opinions of several other che- 

 mists, it was observed, that no experimental objections of 

 any importance have been oflTercd to Fabroui's assertions 

 ■' ' unlil 



