1813.} Royal Society. 65 



cession. The muriatic acid seemed to have answered worst. 

 The other acids, in several cases related, removed the symptoms 

 without inducing a deposition of uric acid. 



On Thursday, the 17th June, Mr. Brande's paper was con- 

 cluded. Another case was related, in which the deposition of 

 the phosphates in the urine was put a stop to by the use of 

 carbonic acid, produced by mixing lemon juice and carbonate of 

 potash, and drinking the mixture while in a state of effer- 

 vescence. From these cases Mr. Brande concludes, 



1 . That when the alkalies, from any circumstance, cannot be 

 used to put a stop to the deposition of uric acid in the urine, 

 then magnesia may be employed with advantage. 



2. That the deposition of the phosphates may be put a stop to 

 by the use of mineral acids. 



3. That the vegetable acids produce a similar effect, and that 

 they may be employed in much greater quantity, without injuring 

 the digestive organs. 



On the same evening a paper was read by Mr. Axlay, of 

 Bristol, on the phenomena of electricity. He began by stating 

 what he considered as his peculiar theory of electricity; but 

 which does not appear to differ from that of Cavendish, unless 

 the fourth proposition be considered as peculiar. The theory 

 consisted of the following propositions : — 



1. A fluid exists called the electric fluid. 



2. It is attracted by all matter, with a force inversely as some 

 power of the distance. 



3. Its particles repel each other. Hence it is elastic and 

 compressible. 



4. Electrics have a stronger affinity for it than non-electrics. 

 From this theory he explains the different phenomena of 



electricity; very nearly, as far as I could judge, without seeing 

 the figures to which a reference was continually made, in the 

 way already employed by Mr. Cavendish, and other electricians; 

 with this exception, that he does not suppose that matter is 

 repellent of matter, as follows from the theory of jEpinus. 



On Thursday, June the 24th, a paper by Sir Everard Home, 

 Bart, was read, containing additional observations on the squalus 

 maximus, or great shark. Two of these fishes were caught at 

 Brighton last December, and one of them was brought to 

 London. It was particularly examined by Sir Everard and Mr. 

 Clift, and thi> paper stated the result of the new observations. 

 The figure given by Sir* Everard along with his former paper is 

 - t, except that a fin between the anus and tail is wanting. 

 The liver is wry tender, and consists of six lobes. The gall duct 

 is dilated ;it the extremity which enters the intestines, the object 

 of which seera i to be to prevent the bile from returning into the 

 liver. There M no gall bladder. The heart is very powerfully 



\ol. II. N° I. E 



