Front Matter

The only official reprint authorized by The Royal Society of London PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS: Giving some ACCOUNT OF THE Present Undertakings, Studies and Labours OF THE INGENIOUS, In many Considerable Parts of the World. VOL. XX. For the Year 1698. LONDON: Printed for S. Smith and B. Walford, Printers to the Royal Society, at the Prince's Arms in St. Paul's Church-yard. MDCXCIX. To the Right Honourable JOHN Lord SOMMERS, Lord High Chancellor of England, President of the Royal Society: And to the Council and Fellows Of the said ROYAL SOCIETY OF LONDON, FOR THE Advancement of Natural Knowledge. This Twentieth Volume OF THE PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS Is humbly Dedicated By Hans Sloane, S. R. Secr. THE Honourable the East-India Company, having received from Mr. Samuel Browne, a Physician who has liv'd Seventeen Years in their Service at Fort-St George, or Madaras, in the East-Indies, a very considerable Collection of dried Specimens or Samples of Plants, Fruits, and Drugs; together with an Account of his Observations of the Uses of them, by the Natives and others of those Parts, both in Physick, Dying, &c. have very generously and for the Publick Good, presented them to the Royal Society of London for improving Natural Knowledge: Who considering the great Use and Improvement may be made of such Collections, have ordered that the Publick shall have the Benefit of this Present, by receiving the whole Account that came with them, from time to time in these Papers, and by taking care that the things themselves shall be preserved from Corruption in their Repository, where recourse may be had to them by the curious, so soon as they are put into such a Condition, as not to suffer by being handled. PHILO. PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. For the Month of January, 1698. The CONTENTS. I. Part of a Letter of Mr. Will. Derham, Rector of Upminster, dated Dec. 6. 1697. Giving an Account of some Experiments about the Height of the Mercury in the Barometer, at Top and Bottom of the Monument: and about Portable Barometers. II. A Letter from Dr. Wallis of Jan. 11. 1697. To Dr. Sloane, concerning the Effects of a great Storm of Thunder and Lightning at Everdon in Northamptonshire, (wherein divers Persons were killed) on July 27. 1691. III. Some additional Remarks on the Extracting the Stone of the Bladder out of those of the Female Sex. By Thomas Molyneux, M. D. S. R. S. IV. Eclipsis Lunaris Observatio, facta Roterdami die 29. Octobris Anni 1697. N. S. A Jacobo Cassini, R. Ac. Parisiensis Socio. V. An Account of a Book, Entitled, Hortus Medicus Amstelodamensis, sive Plantarum tam Orientalis quam Occidentalis Indicæ aliarumque peregrinarum Descriptio & Icones. Autore Joanne Commelino Urbis Amstelod. (dum viverit) Senatore. Et latinitate donatum, Notis & Observationibus illustratum a Frederico Ruyschio, M. D. Botan. Profess. &c. & Francisco Kiggelario, Amst. 1697. Fol. And to be sold by S. Smith, and B. Walford, in St. Paul's Church-Yard. With many additional Remarks by James Petiver, Fellow of the Royal Society. PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. For the Month of February, 1698. The CONTENTS. I. Several Experiments concerning the Preserving of Flowers, Fruit, &c. Communicated by the Right Honourable Sir Robert Southwell, F.R.S. II. A Letter of Mr. W. Derham, Rector of Upminster, dated Jan. 13. 1697. to Dr. Sloane, about a Contrivance to measure the Height of the Mercury in the Barometer, by a Circle on one of the Weather-Plates, with a Register of the Weather, &c. for the Year 1697. III. Part of a Letter from Mr. George Dampier, Dated, Exmouth, November 10. 1697. to Mr. William Dampier his Brother, concerning the Cure of the Bitings of mad Creatures; with a Remark on the same by Hans Sloane, M.D. IV. Observationes Sinenses, Communicatae à D. Jacobo Cassini Acad. G Reg. PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. For the Month of March, 1698. The CONTENTS. I. Historia; & Explicatio figurarum, Embryon quatuor Septimanarum, & placentam cotyledoniformem exhibentium, Autore Philippo Jacobo Hartmanno, Phil., & M.D. &c. II. Of the Use of the Root Ipecacuanha, for Loosenesses, translated from a French Paper: With some Notes on the same, by Hans Sloane, M.D. III. Account of a Monstrous Calf with Two Heads. Communicated by the Right Honourable, Sir Robert Southwell, V. P. R. S. IV. A Question in Musick lately proposed to Dr. Wallis, concerning the Division of the Monochord, or Section of the Musical Canon: With his Answer to it. V. Part of a Letter from Mr. Ray, F.R.S. to Dr. Sloane, giving an Account of the Poisonous Qualities of Hemlock-Water-Drop-Wort. VI. Several Experiments about giving Variety of Tinctures to Water, &c. Communicated to L PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. For the Month of May, 1698. The CONTENTS. I. Part of a Letter from Mr. Benjamin Bullivant, at Boston in New England, to Mr. James Petiver, Apothecary, and Fellow of the Royal Society in London. Concerning some Natural Observations he had made in those Parts. II. Part of a Letter from Mr. Anthony van Leeuwenhoeck, F.R.S. concerning the Eyes of Beetles, &c. III. Part of a Letter from Mr. Stephen Gray, about a Way of Measuring the Height of the Mercury in the Barometer more exactly. IV. Part of a Letter from Dr. William Musgrave, Fellow of the College of Physicians, and R.S. to Dr. Sloane, concerning the Cause of the Necessity of Breathing. V. An Account of what happened on Syringing warm Water into the Thorax of a Bitch. By Dr. William Musgrave, Fellow of the College of Physicians, and R.S. VI. Some Observations concerning the Substance commonly called, Black-Lead, by the late Dr. Rob. Plot, F.R.S. VII. An Account of one Edmund Melloon, Born at Port Leicester in Ireland, who was of an extraordinary Size. Communicated by Dr. William Mulgrave, Fellow of the College of Physicians, and R. S. VIII. An Account of the Dissection of a Dog that had Mercury injected into one of the Jugulars. By Dr. Christoph. Pitt. IX. A Letter of Dr. John Wallis, of May 14. 1698. to Sir John Blencowe (one of his Majesty's Justices of the Court of Common Pleas) concerning the Observation of Easter for this present Year, on April 24. 1698. X. A Method of extracting the Root of an infinite Equation. By A. De Moivre, F. R. S. XI. An Account of the Appearance of an extraordinary Iris seen at Chester, in August last, by E. Halley. XII. Account of Books. 1. Voyages and Discoveries in South America: The First up the River of Amazons to Quito in Peru, and back again to Brazil, performed at the Command of the King of Spain, by Christopher D'Acugna. The Second, up the River of Plate, and thence by Land to the Mines of Potosi, by M. Acarete. The Third, from Cayenne into Guiana, in search of the Lake of Parima, reputed the richest Place in the World, by M. Grillet, and Bechamel. Done into English from the Originals, being the only Accounts of those Parts hitherto extant, with Maps. London, Printed for Sam. Buckly, at the Dolphin in Fleet Street. 2. Traite du Cancer, ou l'on explique sa nature. & ou l'on propose les moyens les plus sur pour le guerir Methodiquement. Avec un examen du systeme & de la pratique de Mr. Helvetius. Par Mr. J. B. Alliot, Conseiller du Roy, Medecin ordinaire de sa Majeste, & de la Bastille, Paris, 1698. in 8vo. XIII. A Catalogue of Books lately publish'd, not mentioned in these Transactions. XIV. Extracts out of divers late Accounts and Letters. I. Part PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. For the Month of July, 1698. The CONTENTS. I. An Observation of Two Boys bit by a Mad Dog; Communicated by Dr. Martin Lister, Fell. of the Coll. of Phys. and R. S. II. A Letter of Dr. John Wallis to Samuel Pepys Esq; relating to some supposed Imperfections in an Organ. III. A Letter from Dr. William Musgrave, Fellow of the Coll. of Phys. and R. S. to Dr. Sloane, concerning a Periodical Palsy. IV. Of the Posture-Master. V. An Account of some Effects of Papaver Corniculatum luteum, &c. By Mr. Ja.Newton. VI. Part of a Letter from Sir Robert Sibbald, to Dr. Sloane, concerning several Stones voided by a Boy, &c. VII. Part of a Letter written by Roelof Diodati, Supream Director of the Council of Mauricius; to Mr. Witsen, Burger-Master of Amsterdam, and F.R.S. dated the 8th of August, 1697. concerning an extraordinary Inundation in that Island. PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. For the Month of August, 1698. The CONTENTS. I. Extract of the Minutes of the Philosophical Society at Oxford, March 18. 1683, concerning Irish Slat. II. Some Observations sent from the East-Indies; being in Answer to some Queries sent thither by Richard Waller, Esq; F. R. S. III. Of the Motion of the Stomach, observ'd in a Dog, in July, 1685. By Dr. Christopher Pitt. IV. Part of a Letter from Mr. Edw. Lhwyd to Dr. Martin Lister, Fell. of the Coll. of Phys. and R. S. concerning several regularly Figured Stones lately found by him. V. Remarks concerning factitious Salts; drawn from a Discourse written ten by Seign. Francisco Redi. VI. A Letter from Dr. Rob. Conny, to the late Dr. Rob. Plot., F.R.S. concerning a Shower of Fishes. VII. The way of making Pitch, Tar, Rosin and Turpentine near Marteilles; communicated in a Letter from Nismes, by Mr. Thomas Bent, to Dr. Welsted. VIII. Extract from the Registers of the Philosophical Society at Oxford, October 7. 1684. Concerning a Woman who voided the Bones of a Fætus, above the Os Pubis, and by other extraordinary ways. IX. Part of a Letter from Dr. Ashe, Lord Bishop of Cloyne, dated March the 26th 1687. concerning the Effects of Imagination, the Vertues of Mackenboy, &c. X. Extract from the Minutes of the Philosophical Society at Oxford, Feb. 8. 1684. concerning Rutma and Alcanna. XI. To give Iron the Colour and Tincture of Copper. Communicated by the Rt. Hble. Sir Rob Southwell, V.P.R.S. XII. Away of Gilding Gold upon Silver. Communicated by the same. XIII. A Letter of Dr John Wallis, to Mr. Andrew Fletcher, concerning the strange Effects reported of Musick in Former Times, beyond what is to be found in Later Ages. XIV. Account of Books. I. Basis Botanica; sen., Brevis ad rem Herbarium Manuductio; omnes Plantarum partes, una PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. For the Month of September, 1698. The CONTENTS. I. Part of a Letter from Ralph Thoresby, Esq; F. R. S. to John Evelyn, Esq; F. R. S. concerning some Roman Antiquities lately found in Yorkshire. II. An Account of some Indian Plants, &c. with their Names, Descriptions and Vertues; Communicated in a Letter from Mr. James Petiver, Apothecary, and Fellow of the Royal Society; to Mr. Samuel Brown, Surgeon, at Fort St. George. III. Part of a Letter from Mr. Butterfield from Paris, Sept. 7. 1698. to Dr. Martin Lister, Fellow of the College of Physicians and R. S. concerning Magnetical Sand. IV. An Ob- PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. For the Month of October, 1698. The CONTENTS. I. A Relation of the Symptoms that attended the Death of Mr. Robert Burdett, an English Merchant of Aleppo, who was killed by the Bite of a Serpent. Communicated by Mr. Aaron Goodyear, who was then present. II. A Letter of Dr. John Wallis, (Geom. Prof. Oxon, and F. R. S.) to Mr. Thomas Beverly; Concerning his Method for Instructing Persons Deaf and Dumb. III. Part of a Letter from Mr. Witlen, Burgermanster of Amsterdam, and F. R. S. to Dr. Martin Lister, fellow of the Colledge of Physicians, and R. S. concerning some late Observations in Nova Hollandia. IV. Some Philosophical Experiments, communicated by the Right Honourable Sir Robert Southwell, V. P. R. S. 1. To make the Globe Looking-glass. 2. To Paint a Globe-Glass, or any other, in Marble Colour. 3. The F f f Magick Magick Lanthorn. IV. Phosphorus Metallorum. V. Part of Two Letters from Dr. Cay, to Dr. Martin Lister, Fellow of the College of Physicians and Royal Society; concerning some Mineral Waters. VI. Excerpta ex literis D. Cassini ad P. Fontenay Mathematicum Regium apud Sinas. VII. Quadratura Logarithmica. Autore Jo. Craig. VIII. An Account of a Gall-Bee, and the Death-Watch. By Mr. Benj. Allen IX. An extract of a Letter from Dr. Rob. St. Clair, to Dr. Rob. Hook, F. R. S. giving an Account of a very odd Eruption of Fire out of a Spot in the Earth near Fierenzola in Italy, with an easy Contrivance of a Lamp to be kept always full whilst it burns. X. A Copy of a Letter from R. P. Vicar of Kildwick in Yorkshire, to a Friend of his in those Parts, wherein he gives an Account of an Extraordinary Eruption of Water, which happened in June, 1686. XI. Some Experiments about Freezing. By Mr. Desmasters. Communicated by Dr. William Mulgrave, Fell. Coll. Phys. and R. S. XII. A Catalogue of Electrical Bodies. By the late Dr. Rob. Plot, F. R. S. XIII. An Account of a Book Histoire des Plantes qui naissent aux environs de Paris, avec leur usage dans la medecine. par Mr. Pitton Tournefort de l'Academir Roy- PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. For the Month of November, 1698. The CONTENTS. I. An Account of a China Cabinet, filled with several Instruments, Fruits, &c. used in China; sent to the Royal Society by Mr. Buckley, chief Surgeon at Fort St. George. By Hans Sloane, M.D. II Remarks by Mr. James Petiver, Apothecary, and Fellow of the Royal Society, on some Animals, Plants, &c. sent to him from Maryland, by the Reverend Mr. Hugh Jones. III. Captain Langford's Observations of his own Experience upon Hurricanes, and their Prognosticks. Communicated by Mr. Bonavert. IV. Concerning the Magnetism of Drills; by Mr. Ballard. Communicated by Dr. William Musgrave, Fellow of the College of Physicians and R.S. V. Part of a Letter from the Reverend Mr. George Lewis, at Fort St. George; to the Reverend Dr. Arthur Charlett, and the late PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. For the Month of December, 1698. The CONTENTS. I. Part of a Letter from Mr. Geoffroy, to Dr. Sloane; from Paris, 21 Dec. 1698. N.S. concerning the Mineral Waters at St. Amand near Tournay and Valenciennes. II. Some Experiments and Observations concerning Sounds. By Mr. Walker; late of Brasen Nose-College, Oxon Communicated by Dr. W. Musgrave, Fell. Coll. Phys. and R.S. III. Further Experiments about Freezing. By Mr. Desmasters. Communicated by Dr. Musgrave. IV. An Account of a Stone bred at the Root of the Tongue, and causing a Quinsie. Communicated by Mr. Bonavert. V. Part of a Letter from Dr. Musgrave, Fell. Coll. Phys. and R.S. to Dr. Sloane; concerning a Piece of Antiquity lately found in Somersetshire. VI. A Letter wherein is given an Account of the Catalogues of Manuscripts lately Printed at Oxford. VII. A further Account of the Contents of the China Cabinet, mentioned last Transaction, p. 390. By Hans Sloane, M.D. VIII. An Account of a Book, Man-