414 Analyse* of Books. [Dec, 



it expels oxygen from its combinations, though it is driven ofT from 

 phosphorus and sulphur by oxygen. 



Iodine, when put into ammonia, forms a black powder, which 

 detonates when dry. According to Davy,' it is a compound of iodine 

 and azote. 



Four grains of hydrate of potash are saturated by 6"^ grains of 

 iodine. One grain of hydrate of soda requires 2*1 grains of iodine. 

 The first of these estimates gives the weujht of an atom of iodine 

 Il-lo'O, the second 10 - C80. My own experiments raise it as high 

 as 12-5. 



Mercury absorbs nearly three fourths of its weight of iodine. This 

 paper terminates with some observations on nomenclature. But as 

 they have been stated already in a former number of the Annals, I 

 consider it unnecessary to repeat them here. 



7. An Account of a Family having Hands and Feet with Super- 

 numerary Fingers and Toes. By Anthony Carlisle, Esq. F.R.S. — 

 This singular structure exists in the family of Zerah Colburn, the 

 remarkable American calculating boy, who was exhibited two 

 winters ago in London. The family belongs to the state of Ver- 

 mont, in~North America. There are five fingers upon each hand 

 and six toes on each foot. The supernumerary finger is upon the 

 outside of the little finger of each hand, and there is a metacarpal 

 hone with all the necessary appendages to it. The finger is regularly 

 formed. The same remark applies to the feet. This peculiarity 



been propagated in the family for at least four generations. A 

 woman of the name of Kendall had it ; she married Mr. Green, 

 who was naturally formed ; they had eleven children, all of them 

 with five fingers and six toes. One of the daughters of this marriage 

 married David Colburn, who was naturally formed ; they had four 

 children, three with five fingers and six toes on each hand and foot, 

 one with one hand and foot naturally formed, the others with the 

 monstrosity. Abiah Colburn, a son by this marriage, having the 

 peculiarity, married a woman naturally formed ; they have eight 

 children, three naturally formed, and five with the peculiarity; one 

 of these five is the calculating boy. 



8. Experiments and Observations on the Influence of the Nerves 

 of the Eighth Pair on the Secretions of the Stomach. By B. C. 

 Brodie, Esq. F.R.S. — An opinion had been advanced by Sir Eve- 

 rard Home that the various animal secretions are dependant on the 

 influence of the nervous system ; and this opinion seemed strength- 

 ened by some physiological experiments of Mr. Brodie. The object 

 of the present experiments is to show that the mucous secretion of 

 the. stomach produced by the action of arsenic on that organ is pre- 

 vented by cutting the nerves which supply the stomach. Four cases 

 are related of dogs poisoned by arsenic, in which the nerves of the 

 stomach were cut, and the mucous secretion did not take place. 



•'». O/i \a Fossil 'Human Sk< It ton from Guadaloupe. By Charles 

 Konig, Esq. F.R.S. — This fossil excited considerable interest in 



