690 



which fuse at a gentle heat, and then take fire, with the character- 

 istic lead flame. 



Oxide of diplumbic triethyl may be obtained by heating any of the 

 corresponding salts with strong potash, or by acting on a solution of 

 the chloride with oxide of silver. It is a crystalline body, which 

 fuses into an oil-like liquid, at a gentle heat. 



Sulphuric acid forms an abundant crop of asbestos-like needles 

 when mixed with a warm solution of the chloride of diplumbic tri- 

 ethyl. It may also be obtained by neutralizing a solution of the 

 oxide, and also by the action of sulphate of silver on the chloride. 



Analysis furnished numbers which pointed to the formula 



Pb 2 C 12 H 15 S0 4 orPb 2 (C 4 H 5 ) 3 S0 4 . 



All the salts of this sesqui-ethylated base are volatile, and their 

 vapours attack the eyes and mucous membrane of the throat. In 

 this respect they imitate their homologues in the stannic series. 



In concluding this short abstract, I will only express my belief 

 that a wide field of research is still open for inquiry, and that some 

 promising experiments are at present in hand, from the right under- 

 standing of which we may hope to throw additional light on these 

 interesting substances. 



IV. " On Muscular Action from an electrical point of view." 

 By CHARLES BLAND RADCLIFFE, M.D., F.R.C.P., Physician 

 to the Westminster Hospital, &c. Communicated by 

 JAMES PAGET, Esq. Ueceived February 6, 1859. 

 This Paper was read in part. 



March 17, 1859. 



Sir BENJAMIN C. BRODIE, Bart., President, in the Chair. 



The reading of Dr. RADCLIFFE'S Paper, " On Muscular Action 



from an electrical point of view," was resumed and concluded. 



(Abstract.) 



The author begins by observing, that the signs of electrical action 

 in living muscle die out pari passu with the signs of irritability ; 

 and, as with these latter signs, their last trace has disappeared 

 before the occurrence of rigor mortis. 



