1$22.] Philosophical Transactions for 1822, Part II. 459 
refused-one of -11 grains weight. A similar bar of cast-iron 
became capable of lifting 37 grains ; and after it had acquired 
this power, its magnetism was nearly destroyed by five blows 
with the north pole upward. 
The strong magnetising effect of percussion on soft steel 
induced Mr. Scoresby to apply the property to the formation of 
magnets. In accomplishing this object he took particular care 
that no magnetic substance should be used in the process, 
which he describes in the following terms : 
“J procured two bars of soft steel, 30 inches long, and an 
inch broad; also six other flat bars of soft steel 8 inches long, 
and half an inch broad, and a large bar of softiron. The large 
steel and iron bars were not, however, absolutely necessary, as 
common pokers answer the purpose very well; but 1 was desi- 
rous to accelerate the process by the use of substances capable 
of aiding the developement of the magnetical properties in steel. 
The large iron bar was first hammered in a vertical position. It 
was then laid on the ground with its acquired south pole towards 
the south; and upon this end of it, the large steel bars were 
rested while they were hammered; they were also hammered 
upon each other. On the summit of one of the large steel bars, 
each of the small bars held also vertically was hammered in suc- 
cession, and in a few minutes they had all acquired considerable 
lifting powers. Two of the smaller bars connected by two short 
pieces of soft iron in the form of a parallelogram, were now 
rubbed with the other four bars in the manner of Canton. These 
were then changed for two others; and these again for the last 
two. After treating each pair of bars in this way for a number 
of times, and changing them whenever the manipulations had 
been continued for about a minute, the whole of the bars were 
at length found to be magnetized to saturation, each pair readily 
lifting aboye eight ounces!” 3 
XX. On the Alloys of Steel. By J. Stodart, Esq. FRS. and 
Mr. M. Faraday, Chemical Assistant in the Royal Institution. 
(Communicated by J. Stodart, Esq. FRS.) 
We purpose to give this most important paper entire in an 
early number of the Annals. 
-XXI. Some Observations on the Buffy Coat of the Blood, &c. 
By John Davy, MD. FRS. 
This communication consists of observations on the three fol- 
lowing subjects ; which, though important to the medical philo- 
sopher, are devoid of general interest ; viz. the cause of the buffy 
coat which appears on blood drawn from persons labouring under 
pslannetery: disease; the fallacy of a prevalent opinion that 
he age of those morbid adhesions connecting serous membranes, 
which are so often met with in dissection, may be guessed at by 
their strength; and the effusions of serum found after death in 
the cayities of serous membranes. The author thinks, in con- 
