279 



of Population, Education, Prisons, Insanity, Banks, Insurance, 

 Rail Roads, &c. &c. — From Dr. Edward Jarvis. 

 On the Osteology of the Head of a Hippopotamus, and a Descrip- 

 tion of the Osteological character of a New Genus of Hippopo- 

 tamidce. By Joseph Leidy, M.D. Philada. 4to.— From the 

 Author. 



The Committee to which was referred the paper of Mr. R. 

 A. Tilghman, " On the Decomposition of the Alkaline Sul- 

 phates by Hydrochloric Acid and Chlorine," reported in fa- 

 vour of publication in the Transactions, which was ordered 

 accordingly, and the Committee discharged. 



Dr. Dunglison reported the death of Dr. Brockenbrough, a 

 member of this Society, who died at the Warm Springs, in 

 Virginia, on the 3d inst., at the age of 84 years. 



He also announced the death of Charles Picot, a member of 

 this Society, which occurred in Paris, on the 27th of June, at 

 the as:e of 60. 



Dr. C. M. Wetherill read a completion of his paper read at 

 the last meeting of the Society, which was referred to the same 

 Committee. 



On motion of Dr. Dunglison, Dr. Carson was appointed to 

 prepare and present to the Society, an obituary notice of the 

 late Dr. James B. Rogers, whose death was reported at the last 

 meeting. 



Dr. Charles M. Wetherill read a paper intended for the 

 Transactions, " On a New Variety of Asphalt (Melan asphalt"), 

 being a chemical examination of the asphalt, the subject of 

 the paper of the late Richard Taylor, as published in the Pro- 

 ceedings January 15th, 1852. Dr. W. gave its ultimate analy- 

 sis, relations of ash and volatile matter, electricity, solubility, 

 density, fusibility, and comparison with other asphalts. He called 

 attention to its resemblance to the asphalt from Coxitambo, ana- 

 lysed by Boussingault, and proposed for it the name, Melan As- 

 phalt, in allusion to its beautiful and brilliant black colour. 



This paper was referred to a Committee consisting of Dr. 

 Bridges, Mr. Tilghman and Prof. Frazer. 



On motion of Dr. Dunglison, Dr. Wetherill was permitted to 



