408 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [aNNO 1753. 



chymous substance, like soft dark coloured liver, only meeting here and there 

 with bony laminae, thin as an egg-shell. 



Those bones were most dissolved which, in their natural state, were most 

 compact, and contained most marrow in their cavities; and the heads of them 

 were least dissolved. This perhaps is the more worthy observation, as it held 

 good throughout, and looks as if the wonderful change they had undergone 

 might be caused by the marrow having acquired a dissolving quality ; for it was 

 evident that the dissolution began withinside, from the bony laminae remaining 

 here and there on the outside, and no where else, and the pain not being in- 

 creased at first by external pressure. 



The periosteum was thicker than ordinary: the cartilages rather thinner; but 

 no where in a state of dissolution like the bones. The day after this examina- 

 tion, some of the whole substance of the leg and thigh bones, that was entirely 

 dissolved into a kind of pulp, was sent to an ingenious chemist; and, by the 

 experiments which he made, he said he could discover neither acid nor alkali 

 prevailing in it. 



XLV. Astronomical Observations made in Surry-street, London. By J. Bevis, 

 M. D., and James Short, A. M, F. R. S. p. 301. 



Eclipse of Venus by the moon, apparent time, July 26, 1753. 

 J gh 2"^ 1 7^ Venus totally hid by the moon. 



17 5 6. . Her northern cusp emerged ; and, a few seconds after, her 



southern one. 



5 31.. Venus was totally emerged. All these with a reflector of 2 feet focus. 



Then her diameter was found to be 324^*, with a new kind of 



micrometer; and also with one of Mr. Graham's sort, in a 2 



feet Gregorian reflector. 



Eclipse of Mars by the moon, Aug. 20. 



17 Q 49^ The moon's consequent limb passed the meridian. 

 8 4. . Mars's centre passed the meridian. 



His diameter then, with both micrometers, 13^. 

 The moon's diameter 31' 21". 



18 6 39t Mars totally hid by the moon with a reflector of 4 feet focus. 



Occultation of (3 Capricorni by the moon, Oct. 5. 

 7 16 50. .The moon's preceding limb passed the meridian. 

 20 4. . A small star, which preceded (3, passed the meridian. 

 '20 1 9. (3 passed the meridian. 



Presently after, the moon's diameter ^sas found to be ig' 48", 

 with the new micrometer, applied to a reflector of 2 feet focus. 



