66 Royal Society. 



who may not gain information in many im}3ortant particulars ; and, 

 for ourselves, we beg, most unequivocaly to acknowledge that we 

 have acquired many useful and important hints, on subjects even of 

 every-day occurrence. 



XIV. Proceedings of Learned Societies. 



ROYAL SOCIETY. 

 May 3. — A PAPER was read, entitled, " Rules and Principles for 

 ■l\. determining the dispersive ratio of glass, and for com- 

 puting the radii of curvature for achromatic object-glasses : sub- 

 mitted to the test of experiment. By Peter Barlow, Esq. F.R.S." 



May 10. — A paper was read, entitled, " Some observations on 

 the effects of dividing the nerves of the lungs, and s'jbjecting the 

 latter to the influence of voltaic electricity. By A. P. Wilson Philip, 

 M.D. FR.S." 



When the nerves of the eighth pair, supplying the lungs, are di- 

 vided, the animal breathes with difficulty, and speedily dies of suf- 

 focation. If the lungs are examined after death, their cells are found 

 so completely filled with a viscid fluid as to obliterate them entirely, 

 as well as the air-tubes. They sink in water, and from a descrip- 

 tion by Mr. Cutler, which is stated at length by Dr. Philip, it ap- 

 pears that they are rendered impermeable to injections. These par- 

 ticulars having been described, the author states, on his own testi- 

 mony and on that of various other gentlemen who have witnessed 

 the fact, that if the due degree of voltaic electricity be transmitted 

 through the lungs by those portions of the nerves which remain at- 

 tached to them, no affection of the breathing supervenes, and the 

 lungs, after death, are found quite healthy, unless the electricity 

 has been applied of such power, or for so long a time, as to cause 

 inflammation, in which case the appearances on dissection are those 

 of inflammation, and not those produced by mere division of the 

 nerves. 



A paper was also read, entitled. " On the change in the plumage 

 of some Hen Pheasants. By W. Yarrell, Esq. F.L.S." Communi- 

 cated by \V. Morgan, Esq. F.R.S. 



The last shooting season having been unusually productive of hen 

 pheasants, which have assumed more or less the plumage and ap- 

 pearance of the male, much discussion has in consequence arisen 

 on the cause of this change ; and the author, having had many op- 

 portunities of examining the facts, as respecting both the pheasant 

 and the doniestic fowl, was induced to notice the internal pecu- 

 liarities which invariably accompany this transformation. According 

 to an opinion of John Hunter and of Dr. Butter, this change only 

 takes place at an advanced age; but Mr. Yarrell considers the facts 

 in his possession as at variance with this idea, and that the appear- 

 ances in question may occur at any period of life, and may even be 

 produced artificially. 



In all the instances examined by hira the sexual organs were 

 found diseased, and to a greater or less extent in proportion with 



the 



