1813.] Analysis of the Chyle of the Horse. 225 



was one from a horse afflicted with the glanders, which, though 

 taken from the thoracic duct, was colourless, and contained only 

 a small quantity of fibrous matter. This was, no doubt, the 

 reason why it did not coagulate spontaneously, and why it only 

 showed very small traces of that substance by analysis. It was 

 also much less charged with albumen, as was obvious from its 

 greater fluidity, and from its not coagulating when heated. It 

 contained, however, a notable proportion ol fatty matter. 



This difference seems to announce an exception to the general 

 principle which I pointed out above ; namely, that the propor- 

 tion of fibrous matter increases as the chyle approaches more and 

 more to the place where it mixes with the blood ; but this differ- 

 ence may depend upon the nature of the aliments, or perhaps 

 upon the diseased state of the digestive organs of the animal. 



I shall finish this paper by remarking, that if the bile, the 

 gastric juice, &c. contribute to the formation of chyle, as phy- 

 siologists think, these substances must undergo a complete de- 

 composition, since not the slightest traces of them can be per- 

 ceived in the animal fluid which constitutes the subject of this 

 paper. 



I shall observe, likewise, that the comparison which some 

 persons have established between chyle and milk, in conse- 

 quence of the external appearance of the two fluids, has no real 

 foundation; for chyle contains nothing which agrees exactly 

 with the constituents of milk. 



Article X. 



Astronomical and Magnelical Observations at Hackney Wick. 



By Col. Beaufoy. 



Astronomical Observations, August 11, 1813. 



Beginning of ihe Lunar Eclipse 13° 41' 41" Apparent Time. 

 Immersion ) . , , . (II 09 40 > „ ~. 



Emersion \ of ! + Aquarius j n 5g Q1 j Mean Time. 



These observations were made under very favourable cir- 

 cumstances ; and as no diminution of the star's light took place, 

 the opinion of some of the French astronomers that the moon 

 is surrounded with an atmosphere, seems extremely impro- 

 bable ; or at least, admitting it is so, the air must be exceed- 

 ingly attenuate. The thinness of the moon's atmosphere (if 

 be any; is further corroborated by the great sharpness of 

 the lunar horns in solar eclipses. 



Vol. II. N° III. P 



