134 



8. " An Investigation of the Powers of the simple Supporters of 

 Combustion to destroy the virulence of Morbid Poisons, and of the 

 poisonous Gases, with a view to ascertain the possibility of controul- 

 ing the extension of contagious or epidemic Diseases," by Edward 

 Browne, Esq. F.L.S. Communicated by J. H. Green, Esq. F.R.S. 



The author, after giving an account of the diversity of opinions 

 entertained with regard to the power of chlorine gas to destroy con- 

 tagion, states that this gas exerts a similar disinfecting power on the 

 virus of smali-pox, and mentions the result of some experiments he 

 tried on gonorrheal matter, on which it appeared to effect a similar 

 change. Various experiments are stated to have been made with 

 iodine and with oxygen, indicating the same disinfecting agency in 

 these substances. The author conceives that these effects are pro- 

 moted by the heat communicated to the respired air in the lungs. 

 He conceives that sea air possesses a disinfecting power, which he 

 explains by supposing that it contains a portion of iodine. He con- 

 jectures, from analogy, that fluorine and bromine may have the same 

 property. 



9. " Considerations on the Laws of Life, in reference to the Origin 

 of Disease," by Adair Crawford, M.D. Communicated by T. J. 

 Pettigrew, Esq. F.R.S. 



The scope of this paper is to show the insufficiency of all theories 

 which attempt to account for the phenomena of the living body, either 

 in health or disease, by an exclusive reference either to the solids or 

 to the fluids which enter into its composition ; or to the influence of 

 an abstract and unknown principle of life; or to that of physical or 

 chemical agents ; or to the functions of the nervous, or of the vas- 

 cular systems. For the establishment of the sciences of physiology 

 and pathology upon the most solid foundations, the author is of opi- 

 nion that all the circumstances above mentioned should be duly taken 

 into account, and allowed their respective and proportionate degree 

 of influence. 



10. " On the Water Barometer erected in the Hall of the Royal 

 Society," by J. F. Daniell, Esq. F.R.S. Professor of Chemistry in 

 King's College, London. 



The author having long considered that a good series of observa- 

 tions with a water barometer would be of great value as throwing 

 light upon the theory of atmospheric tides, of the horary and other 

 periodic oscillations of the barometer, and of the tension of vapourat 

 different temperatures, was desirous of learning whether any such 

 series of observations had ever been made. But he could meet with 

 none having any pretensions to accuracy ; for neither those of Otto 

 Guericke, in whose hands the water barometer was merely a philo- 

 sophical toy, nor the cursory notices of the experiments of Mariotte 

 upon this subject contained in the History of the French Academy of 

 Sciences, can be considered as having any such claim. The difficul- 

 ties which opposed the construction of a perfect instrument of this 

 kind long appeared to be insurmountable ; but the author at length 

 proposed apian for this purpose, which, having been approved of by 

 thelate Meteorological Committee of the Royal Society, wasordered 

 by the President and Council to be carried into execution. 



