50O PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [aNNO 1721. 



duced than from sound wood, yet here it is quite contrary, the decayed part of 

 this tree yielding in quantity as aforesaid, and the other, or sound part, yield- 

 ing no more than other wood. 



Having given an account of this strange and unusual production, we 

 shall give our thoughts respecting the solution; which we should not at- 

 tempt, but that being on the spot we have examined the tree, and 

 considered what, by the marks found on it, has, in all probability, happened 

 to it; and therefore suppose ourselves, in some measure, capable of giving as 

 true or truer judgment concerning it than wiser and more ingenious men can 

 be, who have not had those advantages. All which we do with humility and 

 modesty submit to you. In all probability it was struck with lightning many 

 years since, being torn from the top of its trunk to the bottom, on that side 

 which is now decayed, and which yielded the aforesaid salt, there being a 

 channel from top to bottom, about 5 inches wide, as we suppose at first, which 

 the length of time had closed. And under this bark, the wood next to it was 

 black, supposed to be caused by the lightning. 



Hence we conjectured, that the wood having been thus exposed to the air 

 and water for so long a time, this was the occasion of its becoming defective 

 in that part; and that the lightning having penetrated the wood, had so altered 

 and disposed the parts and pores of it, the figure and texture of the parts 

 appearing very different from other rotten wood, to attract, receive in, and 

 retain the nitrous salt of the air, which through so long a space of time could 

 not but be in great abundance. Just as salt of tartar, or other alkalis, being 

 exposed to the air for some considerable time, will be wholly reduced to a 

 nitrous salt, as Glauber says, and its quantity also increased very considerably. 

 Not that the lightning had so calcined the wood as to reduce it to a perfect salt, 

 but yet, by penetrating, it had calcined it in such a measure, as to give it a 

 like property or disposition of attracting the nitrous salt of the air, as alkalis 

 of wood that have been fully calcined. 



Now if it should be objected, that the nitre in this wood, being volatile, 

 would fly away in burning the wood, we answer, that though nitre cannot be 

 fixed, and reduced to an alkaline salt, by calcining it per se; yet it may be so 

 by the addition of the powder of charcoal. And here we suppose the wood to 

 be so altered by lightning, in which this nitrous salt was lodged, as served 

 instead of coal in the burning of it. 



An Account of a Foetus that continued 46 Years in the Mothers Body, By Dr. 

 Steigertahl, F.R.S. N° 367, p. 126. 

 Anna Mullern, of the village of Leinzelle, near Gemund in Suabia, of a 



