288 Messrs. Frankland and Lockyer on Gaseous Spectra [Feb. 11 



from that of young persons ; for in the former the diurnal fall occurs at 

 any hour, and not, as is the case with young persons, during the hours of 

 night. 



Concerning the influence of food on the temperature of the body the 

 authors have concluded that none of the diurnal variations is in any way 

 caused by the food we eat. 



The experiments to prove this conclusion are very numerous. Some 

 were made with the breakfast, others with the dinner and tea ; but all point 

 to the conclusion just stated. 



This important question is very fully discussed in the section devoted 

 to it. 



f By cold baths both the surface of the body and the deep parts were 

 lowered in temperature. The temperature of the surface was in some 

 instances reduced to 88° Fahr. ; but the heat so soon returned to all parts 

 as to show that the cold bath is of very little use as a refrigerator of the 

 body. 



The cold bath produced no alteration in the time or amount of the 

 diurnal variation. This began at the same hour, and reached the same 

 amount as on those days when no bath was taken. 



By hot-water or vapour baths the heat of the body could be raised very 

 considerably. Thus, on some occasions, when using the general hot bath, 

 the temperature under the tongue was noted to be between 103° and 104° 

 Fahr., a fever temperature. 



The body being heated considerably above the point at which combus- 

 tion could maintain it, it was then shown with what rapidity heat may be 

 lost, simply by radiation and evaporation. The particulars of these results 

 are given in the paper. 



The experiments tend to prove that hot baths in no way affect the diurnal 

 variation of the temperature. 



V. "Preliminary Note of Researches on Gaseous Spectra in re- 

 lation to the Physical Constitution of the Sun." By Edward 

 Frankland, F.R.S., and J. Norman Lockyer, F.R.A.S. 

 Received February 11, 1869. 



1 . For some time past we have been engaged in a careful examination 

 of the spectra of several gases and vapours under varying conditions of 

 pressure and temperature, with a view to throw light upon the discoveries 

 recently made bearing upon the physical constitution of the sun. 



Although the investigations are by no means yet completed, we consider 

 it desirable to lay at once before the Royal Society several broad conclu- 

 sions at which we have already arrived. 



It will be recollected that one of us in a recent communication to the 

 Royal Society pointed out the following facts : — 



i. That there is a continuous envelope round the sun, and that in the 



