o7(5 Royal Iml'Uulion. 



the puhe is nothing more than the rc-jiction or impetus of tlie 

 blood to maintain its regular motion. The arteries a))pear onlv 

 ns canals through which tlie blood flows in a uniform and conl 

 tinuous current ; dimini.sh the diameter of these canals, and a 

 pulse is immediately perceived. At every junction of a vein 

 with an artery, the internal diameter of the latter is diminished, 

 and hence a pulse always appears. This Dr. P. thinks fully 

 adequate to account for all the modifications of the pulse. 



Part of a very elaborate paper was read, detailing ntmierous 

 experiments on malic acid, analysis of several vegetables which 

 contain this acid, and on the crystallization of malat of lead. 

 Gooseberries, and many other culinary vegetables contain con- 

 siderable quantities of malic acid ; but on discovering that malat 

 of lead sometimes formed crystals, and at others continued in a 

 thick mucilaginous state, the auth.or was induced to vary his 

 experiments to ascertain the cause of this apparent anomaly, 

 when he discovered that it was owing to the presence of another 

 acid. This acid also existing in vegetables when combined 

 with the malic, the solutions of lead in it then assume a crystal- 

 line character. This fact is of great importance, as malat of 

 lead has been deemed to be one of om- most delicate tests or re- 

 agents. 



ROYAL IXSTITUTIOiV. 



Mr. Brande's ninth lecture embraced a general view of the 

 doctrines of chemical aflinity or attraction. This subject, al- 

 though noticed and elucidated by Sir I. Newton, had been but 

 sparingly investigated previously to the ibundation of the French 

 school of chemistry by Lavoisier and his associates: with them 

 it became an object of early attei'tion, and new ideas were formed 

 upon it, which it now became needful to discuss. 



The Professor observed, that at the outset of his present course 

 oi lectures, the distinctive objects and character of chemistry as 

 a science had been explained, but that it vvould have been of lit- 

 tle avail to have dvvelt upon the laws of chemical changes ; that 

 al)out the i)resent period of his history, the wavering and doubt- 

 ful opinions entertained upon this head began to subside into 

 steadiness and certainty, and the bickerings of unsupported hy- 

 j)othesis to vanish before the steady light of theories deduced from 

 experiment and observation. 



We were now also called upon to consider the improvements 

 in the language of chemistry, and the grand nomenclatural re- 

 form which in 17^7 was presented to the chemical world under 

 the sanction of the united names of Lavoisier, Morvcau, Ber-r 

 tholletj and Fourcroy. 



Mr. 



