300 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [aNNO ]6QS. 



Sanscrit, written in a different character from tliat now in use ; in which lan- 

 guage are written in Parana or sacred history ; the Shastram being to them 

 what the Bible is to Christians ; and the four Beads, one of which is lost, con- 

 taining their divinity, law, physic, Etc. and some other books ; this language is 

 not understood by all Bramins, but only by the studious and learned among 

 them. It is evident that several of the languages now spoken in India are de- 

 rived from the Sanscrit, and one of the Bramins wrote a book to show that the 

 present Hindostan is derived from thence. 



On the Motion of the Stomach and Guts. By Dr. Chr. Pitt. N° 243, p. 278. 



In the dissection of a dog I observed that the peristaltic motion of the guts 

 was continued throughout the stomach ; the pylorus being in every waving 

 brought below the very bottom of the stomach, I could manifestly observe a 

 construction in the middle of the stomach, at every motion downward, passing 

 it in so as to be able to compress what was contained in its cavity. And these 

 motions were as regular and orderly as ever I saw it in the guts. I have seen 

 the metion of the stomach in two or three that I have dissected since ; so that 

 we may safely conclude it holds true in all. The motion of the stomach being 

 performed after this manner, may give us a clear account of the quickness of 

 the distribution of the nourishment ; the meat being no sooner opened by the 

 spittle and liquor that we take in, than it has a free motion by the descent of 

 the pylorus into the intestines, which is almost in a full stream from this com- 

 pression in the middle of the stomach. 



Concerning some regularly figured Stones lately found ; and Observations on 

 Ancient Languages. By Mr. Edward Lhwyd. N° 243, p. 279- 



I should have troubled you with some sort of account of our travels, which 

 have been tolerably successful, in discovering several fossil bodies. Several of 

 these are modioli or vertebrae of sea stars ; for I have been long since fully 

 satisfied that all sorts of entrochi and asteriae must be referred thillier; not that 

 I conclude that either these, or any other marine terrestrial bodies, were ever 

 really either parts or exuviae of animals ; but that they bear the same relation 

 to the sea-stars, that glossopetree do to the teeth of sharks ; the fossil shells to 

 the marine ones, &c. You have done me an inexpressible kindness, by pro- 

 curing a correspondence with Mr. Pezron. His notion of the Greek, Roman, 

 and Celtic languages being of one common origin, agrees exactly with my ob- 

 servations : but I have not advanced so far, as to discover the Celtic to be the 

 mother-tongue, though perhaps he may not want good grounds, at least plausible 



