172 Dr. E. A. Parkes on the [Feb. 12, 



any gases besides carbonic oxide formed in the experiment. This gas 

 was analyzed by the addition of oxygen and subsequent detonation by 

 the electric spark, the absorption of the carbonic acid by potash, and the 

 removal of the oxygen over by pyrogallate of potash. The results of" the 

 analysis entirely concur with the assumption that the 188' 6 volumes of 

 gas were constituted of hydrogen, marsh-gas, and formic aldehyde in the 

 proportions given below : 



Hydrogen 183-2 



Marsh-gas 0*2 



Formic aldehyde 5*2 



188-6 

 The composition of 100 volumes of the gas being, 



Hydrogen 97*14 



Marsh-gas O'lO 



Formic aldehyde 2-76 



100-00 



Another experiment was attended with similar results, only that the 

 proportion of marsh-gas was somewhat greater. 



The result of this experiment may be considered to be given in the 

 equation C0 2 +2H 2 =COH 2 +H 2 0. I have reason to believe that formic 

 aldehyde is also formed in the reaction of hydrogen and carbonic oxide, 

 and that the marsh-gas found (in both experiments) results from the 

 decomposition of this substance, possibly according to the equation 

 2COH 2 =CO 2 + CH 4 . I do not now dwell upon this subject, as it is 

 my intention very speedily to lay before the Society, together with other 

 matters, the details of the various experiments which I have made in 

 reference to it. 



II. "On the Influence of Brandy on the Bodily Temperature, 

 the Pulse, and the Respirations of Healthy Men/' By E. A. 

 PARKES, M.D., F.R.S., Professor of Hygiene, Army Medical 

 School. Received November 29, 1873. 



In the Proceedings of the Royal Society (Nos 120, 123, and 136) the 

 details of experiments are given which show that in two healthy men 

 pure ethyl alcohol, brandy, and claret, given at intervals during the day, 

 produced no effect on the temperature of the body as measured in the 

 axilla and rectum. 



This result is in accordance with the experiments of several other 

 observers, while there are some experimenters who have noticed a de- 

 crease in temperature in healthy men after the use of alcohol. In some 

 cases of disease in men and in some healthy animals alcohol has caused, 

 it would seem, a decided lessening of temperature. 



