561 



which formed its vehicle. In fact the author remarks that the ab- 

 sorption of terrestrial rays by the odour of a flower-bed may exceed 

 in amount that of the entire oxygen and nitrogen of the atmosphere 

 above the bed. 



Ozone has also been subjected to examination. The substance 

 was obtained by the electrolysis of water, and from decomposing cells 

 containing electrodes of various sizes. Calling the action of the 

 ordinary oxygen which entered the experimental tube with the ozone 

 unity, the absorption of the ozone itself was in six different experiments 

 21; 36; 47; 65; 85; 136. The augmenting action of the ozone 

 accompanied the diminution of the size of the electrodes used in the 

 decomposing cells. The author points out the perfect correspondence 

 of these results with those of M. Meidinger by a totally different 

 method of experiment. The paper contains various reflections on 

 the nature of this remarkable substance. 



February 6, 1862. 



Major-General SABINE, R.A., President, in the Chair. 

 The following communications were read : 



I. " Remarks upon the most correct Methods of Inquiry in refer- 

 ence to Pulsation, Respiration, Urinary Products, Weight of 

 the Body, and Food/' By EDWARD SMITH, M.D., LL.B., 

 F.R.S., Assistant Physician to the Hospital for Consump- 

 tion, &c., Brompton. Received January 9, 1862. 



Having been engaged in several researches into the vital actions of 

 the human system, which have extended over lengthened periods, 

 I have necessarily formed opinions as to the best methods of inquiry, 

 and have noticed some circumstances which tend to induce incorrect 

 results. On consideration it has appeared to me that it might serve 

 the interests of science as much to solicit the attention of present and 

 future investigators to the circumstances connected with the mode of 

 inquiry, as to adduce the facts which the inquiries have elicited ; for 

 it cannot be doubted that nearly all the errors which have found place 

 inthis department of physiology have been due to deficiency in the 

 methods of inquiry, whereby only a part of the results arrived at were 



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