150 Proceedings of Philosophical Societies. [Aug. 



city and their Relation to Heat occasioned by the same Agent, 

 by Sir H. Davy. 



July 12. — An Investigation of some Theorems relating to the 

 Theory of the Earth, &c. by M. Wronski. 



On the Peculiarities of the Manatee of the West Indies, by 

 Sir E. Home. 



On a new Compound of Chlorine and Carbon, by Messrs. R. 

 Phillips and M.Faraday. 



This compound was brought to England, and given to these 

 gentlemen by M. Julin, of Abo, in Finland, having been 

 formed during the distillation of green vitriol and nitre for 

 the production of nitric acid. It is a solid crystalline body, 

 fusible and volatile by heat without decomposition, and 

 condensing into crystals. It is insoluble in water, but soluble 

 in alcohol, ether, and essential oils. It sinks in water. It burns 

 with a red flame, giving oft much smoke, and fumes of muriatic 

 acid gas. Acids do not act on it. When its vapour is highly 

 heated in a tube, decomposition takes place, chlorine is given 

 oft", and charcoal deposited. Potassium burnt with it forms 

 chloride of potassium, and liberates charcoal. Its vapour, deto- 

 nated with oxygen over mercury, formed carbonic acid and chlo- 

 ride of mercury ; — passed over hot oxide of copper, it formed 

 a chloride of copper and carbonic acid ; and, over hot lime, it 

 occasioned ignition, and produced chloride of calcium and car- 

 bonic acid. It is composed of chlorine and carbon ; and from 

 the experiments detailed, two parts appear to be formed, of 



1 portion of chlorine 44*1 .... 33*5 



2 portions of carbon 15-0 .... 11*4 



Hence it is a subchloride of carbon. All attempts to form it by 

 other means have hitherto failed. 



On the Structure and Functions of the Nerves, by Charles 

 Bell, Esq. 



The Society then adjourned to the usual period. 



GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



May 4. — The continuation of Mr. Strangway's paper, on the 

 Geology of Russia, was read. 



The central salt district occupies an extensive tract of coun- 

 try, which is partly marked by the course of the Volga, but will 

 scarcely admit of' any precise geographical boundaiy. In the 

 governments of Yaroslaf, Costrenia, and Vologua, salt is made 

 from brine ; and near the Volga, at Balakhna, where there are 

 several brine springs situated in a plain between the hills and the 

 river, one spring, opened in 1818, affords 13° of salt. The 

 general character of the rocks in this district is red sandstone 

 passing into marl, and the soil is, for the most part, very fertile. 



