70 



Two General Propositions in the Method of Differences. By Thomas 

 Knight, Esq. Communicated by Taylor Combe, Esq. Sec. R.S. 

 Read February 27, 1817. [Phil. Trans. 1817, p. 234.] 



Note respecting the Demonstration of the Binomial Theorem inserted 

 in the last Volume of the Philosophical Transactions. By Thomas 

 Knight, Esq. Communicated by Taylor Combe, Esq. Sec. R.S. 

 Read April 17, 1817. [PAi/. Trans. 1817, p. 245.] 



In this note the author expresses his regret at finding that the de- 

 monstration of the binomial theorem, and the first proposition of his 

 paper on the construction of logarithms, formerly presented to the 

 Royal Society, had been previously given by Mr. Spence in his 

 Essay on Logarithmic Transcendents. This author, however, says 

 Mr. Knight, is not particularly happy in the manner of developing 

 the kind of functions treated of in his preface, and therefore in the 

 present note gives a solution of a class of equations of which Mr. 

 Spence has considered a particular case, without however resolving. 



On the Passage of the Ovum from the Ovarium to the Uterus in Women. 

 By Sir Everard Home, Bart. V.P.R.S. Read May 1, 1817. [Phil. 

 Trans. 1817, p. 252.] 



No physiological subject has attracted more attention than the 

 first formation of the embryo in the class Mammalia ; and although 

 it has been ascertained that an ovum is formed in the ovarium of the 

 quadruped, the circumstances respecting its impregnation have not 

 been ascertained. Harvey, and John and William Hunter, have each 

 failed in this inquiry ; Haighton and Cruikshank were equally unsuc- 

 cessful. In this state of our knowledge, says Sir Everard Home, ac- 

 cident has led to that which no predetermined experiments could 

 have accomplished, and has enabled me to detect the ovum in the 

 human uterus. It is so small, that had not the uterus been previously 

 hardened in spirit, it would probably have escaped observation ; and, 

 says the author, it would have been difficultly identified as the ovum 

 from which a child was to be produced, had it not been for the as- 

 sistance of Mr. Bauer, the only person who could so correctly apply 

 the powers of the microscope as to enable him accurately to delineate 

 its organization. 



The history of the case and dissection is as follows. 



A servant maid, twenty-one years of age, left her master's house 

 the 7th of January, 1817, for several hours in the forenoon. On re- 

 turning in the evening she complained of sickness, and went to bed. 

 Next day she continued unwell. The period of menstruation had 

 arrived, but did not come on. She appeared much distressed in her 

 mind. On the 13th she had an epileptic fit, became delirious, and 

 died on the 15th. On examining the uterus it showed signs of preg- 

 nancy ; and circumstances proved that she must have been impreg- 

 nated on the 7th of January, that is eight days before her death. 



