VOL XXI.] PHILOSOPHICAL TKANSACTIONS, 34() 



it will give a fine reddish colour, without any effervescence, or other sensible 

 alteration. 



If instead of this wine mixed with acids, you put to the first some drops of 

 any volatile alcalis, as of spirit of sal ammoniac, or such like, it will give a 

 green colour to the infusion. 



The two first-mentioned liquors were brought to a meeting of the Royal 

 Society by Mons. GeofFroy, where the first experiment above recited being 

 made, it succeeded according to expectation. 



A further Account of the China Cabinet. By Hans Sloane, M. D. 



N° 249, P- 44. 



Seeds to clarify water. These seeds come from the coast of Coromandel and 

 Malabar, where they are used for clarifying water. They are about the size 

 of a small pea, only broader and flatter, having striae running from their centre, 

 after the manner of the common nux vomica. In the East Indies they rub or 

 grate them on the bottom of a small earthen basin, wherein is contained some 

 water. This water and powder are put into a large quantity of muddy, or foul 

 water, which is thus clarified. 



Part of a Letter from Mr. IVilliam Derham, to Dr. Sloane ; accompanying his 

 Observations on the Height of the Mercury in the Barometer, Rains, PVinds, 

 &c.for the Year 1698. N° 249, P- 4«- 



The quantity of rain which fell through my tunnel last year, was 122,32 

 pounds: which exceeds the quantity of l6g7, that being only 77,60 pounds. 

 I find foggy weather makes the mercury rise, as well as the north-wind ; as in 

 the month of December, when the mercury was .very high, though the wind 

 was in the southerly points. I submit it, whether the cause be not the increase 

 of the weight of the atmosphere, by an addition of those vapours of which the 

 fog consists, which are manifestly as heavy as the air, because they swim in it 

 without ascending ? These filling up many of the vacuities of the air, without 

 extruding much the parts of air, as I judge clouds do, yet add considerably to 

 the weight of the atmosphere, and so cause the mercury to ascend. The 

 greatest range I have ever observed the mercury to have, is no more than 2,12 

 inches ; it being here never higher than 30,40, nor lower than 28,28 inches, 

 the lowest it ever was, within my observations, was Jan. 24 last, about two 

 o'clock in the afternoon ; about which hour Mr. Townley observed his barometer 

 fall to 27,80 inches, which, he says, was remarkably low. 



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