VOL. XLIX.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. 621 



quantities in its rectum and colon. But neither here could he spy a single hair, 

 though he examined whole pounds of it, and that portion most carefully which 

 was lodged in the rectum, near the anus. 



These observations might seem at first view to clash with and contradict those 

 he had related : but, on closer consideration, they would be found in reality to 

 confirm them, for this reason, that puppies and colts, when brought forth, have 

 no loose hairs on their bodies; but calves have in great numbers. In the 

 puppies and colt, which he examined, the hairs were so firmly rooted on their 

 skins, that he could scarcely pull any off with his thumb and fingers ; whereas in 

 a mature calf, new brought forth, many are found quite loosened at their roots, 

 and only adhering to their skin by the moisture on it. Therefore in the latter 

 species hairs from the surface may be, and actually are, incorporated with the 

 liquor amnii, and along with it enter the mouth and alimentary canal, which 

 cannot be the case in the former. From these facts Dr. F. infers that the liquor 

 amnii is in a constant natural way received into the mouth, stomach, and in- 

 testines, and therefore must contribute to the nutrition of the fetus. 



XLIIL On the Success of Agaric in Amputations, &c. By Mr. William Thorn- 

 hill, late Surgeon to the Infirmary at Bristol, p. 264. 



Mr. T. here states that he had employed the agaric successfully in 4 cases of 

 amputation. 



XLIF. A Lunar Eclipse observed at Elbing, March 27 and 28, 1/55. By 

 John Mendes Sachetlo Barbosa, F. R. S., and Prof, of Philos. and Physic. 

 p. 265. 



27^ lO** 51™ 15' the beginning was certain. 

 28 1 27 40 the end of the real eclipse. 



131 30 the peimmbra certainly ended, 



XLV. On the Number of People in England. By the Rev. tVm. Brahenridge, 

 D. D., Rector of St. Michael Bassishaw, London, and F.R.S. p. 268. 



There seems to be only two ways of discovering the number of people in 

 England, where at present there are no capitation taxes ; either by the number 

 of houses, or the quantity of bread consumed. As to the first, it is evident that 

 if the number of houses could be determined, it would then be very easy to 

 compute nearly the number of people. For it might be ejisily known by trial 

 what number, at an average, could be allowed to each house, and from thence 

 the whole number of people deduced. In a former letter Dr. B. assigned 6 to a 

 house in town, which he found to be the nearest number, in some parishes, by 

 an account taken ; but he thinks it is still more plain in the country that 6 is 



