VOL. LXXXII.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. 207 



under the tongue : the axilla is the next best in order, and the worst, the lower 

 part of the groin ; for the scrotum and the parts of generation lose their heat on 

 the application of cold more speedily perhaps than any other part of the body, the 

 extremities not excepted. 



N. B. The water employed in the expts. related, contained salt in the propor- 

 tion of 1 to 24. Instead of saying that the men saved were most of them natives 

 of Carolina, I find I ought to have said, men long accustomed to that country 

 and other warm climates, but not most of them natives. 



XI. A Meteorological Journal, principally relating to Atmospherical Electricity ; 

 kept at Knightsbridge, from May Q, 1790, to May 8, 1791. By Mr. John 

 Read. p. 225. 



A description of Mr. R.'s instruments for collecting atmospherical electricity, 

 was before given at p. 52 of this volume. It is here so far altered as to bring it 

 within side the house, so high as the house extends, besides a considerable pro- 

 jection above it ; the particulars of which contrivance may easily be imagined; and 

 besides may be seen in Mr. B.'s separate publication on these subjects. 



The whole perpendicular height of both parts of this apparatus taken together, 

 from the moist earth to tlie point at the top of the rod, is 6l feet. If the insula- 

 tion could be constantly kept in due temperature, with respect to heat and cold, 

 Mr. B. imagines it would always be electrified. When he finds that the moisture 

 in the air has so much injured the insulation of the high pointed rod, that it will 

 not retain a weak electricity, in that case he makes use of a hand-exploring rod, 

 which is about the length and thickness of a common fishing-rod, with plenty of 

 small wire twined round it from end to end. The method of using it is simple 

 and easy. Having first warmed the glass legs of the stool, he places himself on 

 it, and raises the rod into a vertical position, keeping it so for a minute or two; 

 he then with a finger of the other hand touches a sensible electrometer, and if 

 the threads open, it is sufficient. But should the electrical state of the atmos- 

 phere be too weak to produce that effect, which seldom happens, then in that 

 case, he adds to the rod a lighted torch, and places it as remote from his hand as 

 the strength of the rod will bear, and repeats the experiment; thus circumstanced, 

 it has never yet failed. This apparatus requires a constant attention, especially 

 during a disturbed state of the atmosphere. From the room in which the ap- 

 paratus is placed he is seldom absent one hour, excepting the time of sleep. 

 Other remarks are repeated the same as in Mr. B.'s first paper above referred to. 

 The journal follows, the same also as before mentioned. 



Mr. B. then gives the following monthly account of sparks, and of positive and 

 negative electricity, as indicated by the pith-ball electrometer, connected with the 



