1818.] On the Natural History Society of Moscow. 121 



without any alkaline phosphate ; he supposes it, however, to 

 contain lime, united, as we may presume, to phosphoric acid. 



Dr. Bostock had an opportunity of examining a fluid that 

 was procured from a wound near the elbow joint, which was 

 supposed to be synovia, it consisted of albumen partly in its 

 fluid state, and partly in a state of half coagulation, together 

 with the uncoagulable or muco-extractive matter, which, ac- 

 cording to Dr. Marcet's and his experiments, is always found 

 in albuminous fluids. The salts did not appear to Dr. Bostock 

 to differ from those of the serum of the blood. 



Article X. 



Brief Account of the Imperial Society of Naturalists, at Moscow. 

 By Dr. Lyall, Physician to the Countess Orlof-Tchesminsky. 



The plan for forming a depot for the discoveries in natural 

 history, in the vast empire of Russia, and uniting the friends of 

 this science who wished to lend their assistance for that purpose, 

 and of publishing in Russia the history of the discoveries made 

 in the empire, was conceived by Professor Gotthelf Fischer, on 

 his arrival at Petersburgh, in the year 1804. It was not till the 

 summer of 1805, however, that a few of the Professors of the 

 University of Moscow and of the literati first assembled and 

 adopted the regulations proposed by Professor Fischer. 



The object of the Society is to occupy itself with natural 

 history and the relative sciences, as human and comparative 

 anatomy, chemistry, natural philosophy, rural economy, &c. &c. 



The Society consists of members ordinary and honorary. The 

 ordinary members are divided into resident and non-resident. 

 Shortly after the association above-mentioned took place, his 

 Excellency the late Mr. Mouraviof, Cufator of the University 

 and Colleague of the Minister of Public Instruction, being 

 informed that the Society had begun to meet at the house of the 

 Director, Professor Fischer, presented its regulations to his 

 Imperial Majesty, the Emperor Alexander, who approved of 

 the plan, and, therefore, ordered Mr. Mouraviof to testify his 

 gracious satisfaction and approbation to the Professor. 



Soon after the institution of the Society, the literati, and 

 particularly the cultivators of natural histoiy, including many of 

 the nobility in Petersburgh and Moscow and in the other towns 

 and Universities in Russia ; many of the most distinguished 

 philosophers and naturalists on the continent, chiefly through 

 the extensive acquaintance of the founder and Director, were 

 enrolled among its members. Presents were received from all 

 quarters, of books, objects of natural history, and money. The 



