72 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS, [anNO 1684, 



He also observed a large bed of glands, amounting to about -f of the inside 

 of the stomach, and seated near the pylorus of a jack : the whole bed appears 

 of a brownish red colour, and is divided into several ridges, which run parallel 

 to one another, and the same way with the stomach : for the better contraction 

 of that part, especially when empty; (at which time these glands, being fixed 

 to the inmost coat, are, together with it, drawn up in wrinkles,) that edge of 

 this bed of glands, which is nearest the head of the fish, is indented ; the 

 ridges breaking off suddenly; but at the other end, a little on this side the 

 pylorus, they diminish almost insensibly. 



By these glands, he supposes, at least a considerable share of the menstruum, 

 the great efficacy of which make this fish a fit subject to illustrate the nature of 

 digestion, is separated from the blood; for blood-vessels may be seen in great 

 numbers, on the other side of the glands and inner tunic, by separating it and 

 them from the middle, and muscular tunic. And, as a farther argument of 

 this use of these glands, he has observed that part of the stomach where they 

 are, is generally moister than the other part near the mouth ; and that, in dis- 

 secting jacks whose stomachs have been filled with some large fish of the pin- 

 naceous kind, which must enter with the head foremost, the head, and fore 

 parts of the devoured fish have, as far as the glands reach, been either actually 

 dissolved, or fairly turning into a mucilage ; whereas, at the same time, the 

 other and less bony part of the included fish, being not yet come within the 

 power of the menstruum, has still retained its form and consistence. 



Experiments and Considerations about the Porosity of Bodies, in two Essays. 

 By the Hon. Robert Boyle, F. R. S. Lond. &vo. l684. N" 162, p. 702. 



The author, continuing his endeavours to establish a solid and rational phi- 

 losophy, in this book treats on the small pores of bodies. The book consists 

 of two essays ; the former of them treats of the porosity of animal bodies, and 

 shows that the parts of animals, especially whilst living, are furnished with nu- 

 merous pores ; a fact which is deduced from many circumstances; as from the 

 frame or constitution of the stable parts of the bodies of animals : from the 

 nature of nutrition in animals : from the great plenty of matter daily carried off 

 by sweat, and insensible transpiration : from the entrance of effluvia into ani- 

 mals ; which is evident from the operation of some plasters and vegetable oint- 

 ments ; from the effects of pericarpia, or wrist-bands : and from cantharides 

 used in blistering plasters : from the bringing off the matter of an apites by 

 seige, or urine: from the staining ivory purple with a solution of gold in aqua 

 regia ; blackish with silver, and bluish with copper dissolved in aqua fortis. 

 For proving the porosity of bones, he urges their specific levity; that blood 



