328 On the Quantity of Carbonic Acid Gas [Nov. 



which was only described in the first tract with great conciseness. 

 This new work he entitled Methodus Fl/i.riwiuin, et Sciierum 

 Infin ■tnritm. This last book he meant to publish at the end of 

 an English Translation of the Algebra of Kinckuysens, which 

 he had enriched with notes. But, in consequence of the dis- 

 agreeable disputes into which he had been dragged, by his dis- 

 coveries respecting the different refrangibility of the rays of 

 light, he altered his intention, and the treatise, to the great 

 injury of mathematics, and ultimately, likewise, to the diminu- 

 tion of his own peace, lay unpublished till after his death. 



About the time that this paper of Newton's was sent to London, 

 or about the year \G6S, James Gregory published his Exercita- 

 tiones, a book which contained several important facts connected 

 with the discoveries which Newton had made. In particular 

 there is a new demonstration of M creator's Series for the Hy- 

 perbola. Collins communicated Newton's discoveries to various 

 mathematicians, and among others to Gregory. He first sent 

 him Newton's Series for the Circle, concerning the accuracy of 

 which Gregory at first had his doubts ; but he soon discovered 

 bis mistake, and by pondering over the subject for about a year, 

 there appears sufficient evidence from his letters in the Commer- 

 cium Epistolicum, that he di' ined Newton's method) and con- 

 sequently had the merit of discovering the fluctionary calculus at 

 least in part. But he declined publishing auy thing on the 

 subject, as he states in one of his letters, that he might not 

 interfere with the rights of the original inventor. 



(To be continued.) 



Article II. 



Observations on the Quantity of Carbonic Acid Gas emitted from 

 the Lungs during Respiration, at different Times, and under 

 differti.r Circumstances. By Win. Prout, M.D. Of the 

 College of Physicians, &c. 



(With two Plates.) 



It was discovered by some of the earliest experimentalists on 

 respiration, that the quantity of oxygen gas consumed, and of 

 parbonic acid gas formed, during thrit act, varied very consider- 

 ably in the saint individual, under different states of the system. 

 ' : 'i he circumstance," says Dr. Bostock, " was first noticed by 

 Dr. Crauford, ai;d afterwards more fully investigated by JM, 

 Jurine, of Geneva, and M. Lavoisier, that the respiration of 

 the same animal in different states of the system, and under the 



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