10 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [aNNO 1724. 



By all these experiments it is pretty evident, that not any of these metallic, 

 bodies were affected by the lixivium of blood, so as to produce this fine blue. 

 The two metals untried are gold and tin, the latter of which, when dissolved in 

 spirit of vinegar, has so near a resemblance to lead dissolved in the same men- 

 struum, that in all probability the experiments would answer much alike in both- 

 What may be expected from gold, I am not yet so well assured of, as from iron, 

 which when dissolved in sp. vitrioli, will answer all the experiments that have 

 been tried with the solutions of vitriol, and produce as fine a colour ; nor can 

 this be owing to any property in the dissolvent itself, which, though drawn 

 from the same kind of vitriol all along used in these experiments, yet is so 

 altered by the violent fire in its production, as not to answer in any trials to the 

 vitriol itself. 



May we not therefore hence conclude, that iron is the metal, that is the 

 subject of this beautiful colour, produced by means of the lixivium with 

 blood ?* 



The Remainder oj the Bills of Mortalitij, &c. of the several Towns in Europe. 

 Extracted from the Acta Breslaviensia. Bij Dr. Sprengell, F.R.S. 

 N° 381, p. 25. 



A List of those that were Born and Buried in Breslaw, in the Year 17 20, i.e. 

 from the 15th of Dec. 17 ig to the 24th of Dec. 172O. 



Buried 181 6. — Christened, males 564; females 556; total 1120. — Married 

 460 pair. — Among the dead were married men 385, married women 186, 

 widows and widowers 283, bachelors 113, maidens 113: children to 10 years 

 of age, boys 345, girls 300: stillborn, boys 53, girls 30; total 1810. 



Of the year 1721 — In Breslaw — Buried 1482. — Christened, males 610, 

 females 585; total II 95. Married 405 pair. — Among the dead were, married 

 men 301, ditto women 157, widows and widowers 208, bachelors 92, maidens 

 82: children to 10 years of age, boys 324, girls 248: stillborn, boys 42, 

 girls 28; total 1482. 



In Jauer: buried 114 — Christened 124. 



In Vienna: buried 6490 — Christened 4104. So that there died 2386 more 

 than were christened. 



Among the dead were 43 casualties. Besides eiglit persons of 90 years old; 



* Mr. Brown was very right in concluding that iron is the metal which is the subject or basis of 

 tlie blue pigment, produced in these experiments ; but the colouring matter itself, viz. the prussic 

 acid, contained in the lixivium of blood, was at this period of time unknown ; and was not dis- 

 covered till about half a century afterwards, by tlie celebrated Scheele. 



