548 'PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [aNNO1700-1. 



at least it is very probable to me, that these accidents will totally cease, when- 

 ever she comes to have lier catamenia. 



Concerning several Roman Antiquities found near the Devizes in Wiltshire. By 



Mr. Clark. N° 268, p. 758. 

 On Dec. 4, 1699, a person digging in a ground of Sir John Eyles's, near 

 the Devizes in Wiitsiiire, about 2 feet under the surface, took up a pot with 

 a narrow mouth, about 18 inches in its greatest circumference, and 10 inches 

 deep, the clay of a bluish colour, and of such strength and compactness, as it 

 seemed but little injured by time, containing several hundred pieces of ancient 

 Roman coin of different emperors, with a variety of curious figures and devices 

 on the reverses. Most ot them were of copper, and a very few of mixed 

 metal. A great number had the characters effaced, but the legible ones were 

 very fair. It is observable that many of the pieces were gilt with silver, which 

 on several that I have seen seemed very little impaired, though they have lain 

 under ground for some ages, and appeared as inuch cankered as the rest. 

 About the same time, and within a few yards of the same place, were found 

 some pots, made of a very firm and durable clay, of rather strange shapes and 

 different earth ; one of them somewhat resembling an oyster-pot, is about -S-^ 

 of an inch thick, 9 inches in circumference, and 54 in depth, and (or strength 

 and compactness scarcely to be paralleled by any now made; the other is one 

 half of the pot, in which the treasure was found. There is likewise another 

 pot in the hands of another person, of about 1 1 inches circumference, and 3^ 

 deep, wherein was found a whitish powder, supposed by the owner to be the 

 ashes of human bones, and therefore by him taken to be an urn. But the 

 experiment made on the supposed bone ashes, by putting a small portion into 

 the bowl of a clean tobacco-pipe made glowing, it soon appeared to the con- 

 trary ; for the matter immediately kindled into a bright flame, and sent forth a 

 scent somewhat like that of hoofs or horns, though it had a very fragrant smell 

 before. \ 



Extract of a Letter from. Peter Hotton, M. D. Professor of Botany at Ley den, 

 to the Editor, concerning the Lithontriptic f^irtues of Acmella.* N° 208, 

 p. 760. 



This plant is a native of the island of Ceylon. The leaves and seeds of three 

 species of acmella are said to have been administered with remarkable success in 

 cases of stone and gravel. The leaves are gathered before the plant comes 



• This plant was at first designated by Linnxus verbesina acmella, but it was aflei wards removed 

 to the genus spilanthus. This remark applies to the note at p. 44'ii of this vol. of the Abridgment. 



