At the Anniversary Meeting, December 1, 1851

Dr. Wallich, on the part of the Auditors of the Treasurer’s Accounts, reported that the total receipts, during the past year, including a balance of £156 18 s . 8 d ., amounted to £3938 9 s . 6 d .; and that the total expenditure, during the same period, amounted to £3791 1 s . 0 d ., leaving a balance in the hands of the Treasurer of £147 8 s . 6 d . The thanks of the Society were voted to the Treasurer and Auditors.

On periodical laws discoverable in the mean effects of the larger magnetic disturbances.—No. II

From the discussion of the magnetic observations made at Toronto and Hobarton in the years 1843, 44, 45, the author in a former paper adduced evidence of the existence of periodical laws by which the principal disturbances of the magnetic declination appeared to be regulated. Having since had occasion to examine the disturbances of the Declination at the same two stations in the three succeeding years 1846, 47, 48, he states that he had the satisfaction of finding that the observations of these years confirm every deduction which he had ventured to make from the analysis of the disturbances of the former period; whilst new and important features have presented themselves in the comparison of the frequency and amount of the disturbances in different years , apparently indicating the existence of a periodical variation , which, either from a real or causal connection, or by a singular coincidence, corresponds precisely, both in period and epoch, with the variation in the frequency and magnitude of the solar spots, recently announced by M. Schwabe as the result of his systematic and long-continued observations.

On the change of refrangibility of light

The author was led into the researches detailed in this paper by considering a very singular phenomenon which Sir John Herschel had discovered in the case of a weak solution of sulphate of quinine, and various other salts of the same alkaloid. This fluid appears colourless and transparent, like water, when viewed by transmitted light, but exhibits in certain aspects a peculiar blue colour. Sir John Herschel found that when the fluid was illuminated by a beam of ordinary daylight, the blue light was produced only throughout a very thin stratum of fluid adjacent to the surface by which the light entered. It was unpolarized.

Note relating to M. Foucault’s new mechanical proof of the rotation of the Earth

The experiment which led M. Foucault to his ingenious and interesting researches relating to the rotation of the earth, is stated by him thus:—"Having fixed on the arbor of a lathe and in the direction of the axis, a round and flexible steel rod, it was put in vibration by deflecting it from its position of equilibrium and leaving it to itself. A plane of oscillation is thus determined, which, from the persistence of the visual impressions, is clearly delineated in space; now it was remarked that, on turning by the hand the arbor which serves as a support to this vibrating rod, the plane of oscillation is not carried with it."

Extract from a letter from M. Kämtz addressed to Colonel Sabine (Translation)

I have just completed the memoir on terrestrial magnetism which I mentioned to you in former letters. It would follow from the materials which I have employed, that the horizontal force requires constants which differ from those for the vertical force, and the differences, although for the most part not considerable are sometimes too large, as it appears to me, to be overlooked: it is for observers to decide in this matter.

On the electro-chemical polarity of gases

The author refers to the experiments of Faraday on dielectric induction, to those of Gassiot on the increase of electrical effects of tension, according as the chemical intensities of a voltaic battery are increased, and to other results, which, though supporting the view of a physico-polar state of gaseous substances intervening between oppositely electrified surfaces, have not hitherto shown any change in the arrangement of the gaseous particles dependent upon their chemical characteristics. The electric or voltaic disruptive discharge has hitherto presented only one phenomenon which offers any analogy to electrolysis, viz. that observed by Mr. Gassiot and others, of the positive terminal being more intensely heated than the negative, when the voltaic discharge passes between metals.

Experimental researches in electricity: Twenty-ninth series

In the present series of researches the author endeavours in the first place to establish the principles he announced in the last, with regard to the definite character of the lines of magnetic force, by results obtained experimentally with the magnetic force of the earth. For this purpose he reverts to the thick wire galvanometer before described, and points out the precautions respecting the cleanliness of the coils, the thickness and shortness of the conductors, the perfect contacts, effected either by soldering or cups of mercury; and marks the value of double observations, i. e. observations afforded on both sides of zero.

2. On the penetration of spermatozoa into the interior of the ovum; a note showing this to have been recorded as an established fact in the philosophical transactions for 1843

Referring to a statement by Dr. Nelson, in a paper “On the reproduction of the Ascaris Mystax ,” that the investigations in that paper “appear to be the first in which the fact of the penetration of spermatozoa into the ovum has been distinctly seen and clearly established in one of the most highly organized of the Entozoa,” the author of the present communication remarks, that when Dr. Nelson made this statement he was evidently not aware of what had been published on the subject. In proof of this Dr. Barry refers to his own paper, entitled “Spermatozoa observed within the Mammiferous Ovum” (Phil. Trans. 1843, p. 33), in which he states that he had met with ova of the Rabbit containing a number of spermatozoa in their interior; and to the Edinburgh New Philosophical Journal for October 1843, which contains a drawing in which seven spermatozoa are represented in the interior of an ovum, besides the statement that in one instance he had counted more than twenty spermatozoa in a single ovum.

On rubian and its products of decomposition

After adverting to the obscurity in which the inquiry concerning the state in which the colouring matter of Madder originally exists in this root is involved, the author refers to the change which takes place in the root, especially if in a state of powder, during the lapse of time, and to the little light which has been thrown by chemical investigations on the nature of the process by which the change is effected. He states that it has been suspected by several chemists that there exists originally some substance in madder, which, by the action of fermentation, or oxidation, is decomposed, and gives rise by its decomposition to the various substances endowed either with a red or yellow colour, which have been discovered during the chemical investigations of this root. In his papers on the colouring matter of madder, he has described four substances derived from madder, only one of which is a true colouring matter, but all of them capable under certain circumstances, as for instance in combination with alkalies, of developing red or purple colours of various intensity.

On the functions of the membrana tympani, the ossicles and muscles of the tympanum, and of the eustachian tube in the human ear, with an account of the muscles of the eustachian tube and their action in different classes of animals

The author commences his paper by making some observations on the general arrangements of the ossicula auditûs . The malleus and incus being firmly connected together by ligaments, are considered as a single bone, forming an elastic arch, the anterior extremity of which is firmly attached to the Glasserian fissure, the posterior to the anterior part of the mastoid cells. This arch is kept steady by the actions of the tensor tympani. The movement of this arch is that of rotation; and it is effected by the tensor tympani muscle. When this muscle contracts, the lower part of the arch, consisting of the handle of the malleus and the long process of the incus, is drawn inwards; by this action the membrana tympani is rendered tense, and the stapes being pressed towards the cavity of the labyrinth, the fluid in the latter is compressed.