bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
3. On the Horizontal Force of the Earth's Magnetism
Authors: Broun John Allan , Tait  
Published: June 2016

The conclusions of this paper are derived from observations made at Makerstoun in Scotland; Toronto, Canada; Trevandrum, Travancore, and Singapore, East Indies; St Helena, the Cape of Good Hope, Hobarton, Van Dieman's Island, &c. The author has corrected and discussed all the observations published made in the colonial observatories.The observations have been found affected by different errors, and frequently the series have been broken. An attempt has been made to correct these series; and, in general, to render the series as near the truth as possible. The grounds for all these corrections are given in an appendix.
5. On some Derivatives from the Olefines
Authors: Guthrie Frederick 
Published: June 2016

This paper is supplementary to, and forms the sequel of, a series of papers which have been published in the “Quarterly Journal of the Chemical Society of London.”In continuing the examination of the behaviour of the olefines towards compound halogens, certain compounds previously described have been submitted to a test of homogeneity, of which the following is the principle:—“If a body be partly dissolved in a solvent, and if the dissolved part and the undissolved part, or the dissolved part and the whole, or the undissolved part and the whole, have the same composition, then the body is a simple one.”
2. Contributions to our Knowledge of the Structure and Development of the Beroidæ
Authors: Allman  
Published: June 2016

In this communication the author gave the results of some careful observations and dissections he had made of a species of Beröe (Idyia), obtained in abundance during the last summer in the Firth of Forth.In the anatomy of the adult animal, several points were described which seem to have been hitherto either overlooked or imperfectly examined. In the digestive system, the author noticed the presence of two richly ciliated membranous semi-elliptical flaps, which just before the stomach terminates in the narrow neck which leads into the bifurcating funnel, spring from its walls, and extend, by their free extremities, into the neck and commencement of the funnel.
2. Notice of the Catadioptric Altitude and Azimuth Circle
Authors: Sang Edward 
Published: June 2016

This little instrument differs from the ordinary theodolite in the means by which the direction of the object under examination is indicated.The simplest contrivance for marking the direction of a distant object is a straight rod. This, with the very obvious improvement of studs at the ends, was the only instrument available to the ancients for astronomical observations; it is yet employed in gunnery, and even by surveyors in the plain-table and cross-staff.
5. Notice of the Ravages of the Limnoria Terebrans on Creosoted Timber
Authors: Stevenson David 
Published: June 2016

The author stated that it would be difficult to estimate the value of any chemical or mechanical process whereby timber might be rendered permanently impervious to the ravages of the Limnoria terebrans, that small but sure destroyer of timber structures exposed to the action of the sea.The ravages of that crustacean were first observed in 1810 by Mr Robert Stevenson, the engineer of the Bell Rock Lighthouse, in the timber supports of the temporary beacon used by him in the erection of that work. Having forwarded specimens of the insect, and of the timber it had destroyed, to Dr Leach, the eminent Naturalist of the British Museum, Dr Leach, in 1811, announced it as a “new and highly interesting species which had been sent to him by his friend Robert Stevenson, civil engineer,” and assigned to it the name of Limnoria terebrans (Linnean Trans., vol. xi. p. 370, and Edinburgh Encyclopædia, vol. vii. p. 433).
1. Some Account of the Magnetic Observatory at Makerstoun, and of the Observations made there.
Authors: Broun J. A. 
Published: June 2016

The observatory is situated on a rising ground forming the left bank of the Tweed, and is at a distance of about fifty yards from the Astronomical Observatory. It is built of wood; copper nails were used, and all iron carefully excluded from the building.The plan of the observatory is rectangular, 40 feet long by 20 broad: It is divided into one large room to the north, 40 feet by 12, and two ante-rooms to the south, with the lobby and entrance doors between.
3. Account of Experiments to Measure the Direct Force of the Waves of the Atlantic and German Oceans.
Authors: Stevenson Thomas 
Published: June 2016

The author has attempted to supply a great desideratum in the practice of marine engineering, by instituting a series of experiments to ascertain what force the waves exert against opposing barriers.For this purpose he suggests, in some peculiar situations, the use of columns of water or of air, by which the force of each wave can be ascertained; in the one case by the rise of the water-column, or in the other by a pressure-gauge, shewing the same result in atmospheres by compression.
3. On the Use of Metallic Reflectors for Sextants, and on the Determination of the Errors arising from Non-Parallelism in the Mirrors and Sun-Shades of Reflecting Instruments.
Authors: Adie John 
Published: June 2016

The object of this communication was to shew that, by the use of metallic reflectors for sextants, greater accuracy was obtained in the observed angles, and also that larger angles could be observed. Objects were seen reflected by metallic mirrors, which could not be seen when glass was used; and that when the alloy was formed of pure metals, it was not subject to rust or tarnish, even when exposed to action of the sea air.The author then exhibited a sextant fitted with these mirrors, which had been employed for a season in the survey of the north coast of Scotland, under Mr Mossman, and read extracts of letters from that gentleman.
2. On the Solvent Action of Drainage Water on Soils.
Authors: Wilson John 
Published: June 2016

The author, being resident for a time in East Lothian, in order to study the system of agriculture, it occurred to him that the very extensive and complete drainage must materially affect the soil by removing large quantities of its soluble ingredients.He was disappointed, owing to an accident, in examining, quantitatively, the water which had been first collected for the purpose; but on examining, qualitatively, some that was collected after the drain had been running very copiously for 36 hours, he found it to contain 18.4 grains of soluble matter per gallon. This was chiefly the usual salts of lime and organic matter.
1. Notes on the Topography and Geology of the Cuchullin Hills in Skye; and the Traces of Ancient Glaciers which they present—(concluded).
Authors: Forbes  
Published: June 2016

The first part of this paper refers to the relations of the hypersthene rock of the Cuchullin Hills to the adjoining formations.The author undertook the observations here detailed without the slightest view to publication. He made only brief notes on the spot, collected but few specimens, and drew the first sketch of a map which accompanies the paper, for his own amusement and information. Finding, however, that the published writings of geologists contained little or no notice of some facts which he had clearly established, he undertook this paper as a groundwork for future and more systematic researches.
2. Results of the Makerstoun Observations, No. 1. On the Relation of the Variations of the Earth's Magnetism to the Solar and Lunar Periods.
Authors: Broun J. A. 
Published: June 2016

The observations from which the following results are deduced, were obtained during the years 1844 and 1845, by means of the bifilar magnetometer, described in the Makerstoun Observations for 1841 and 1842; they are corrected for temperature by a method previously described.From the Observations for the year 1844, the diurnal variation of the horizontal force is found to consist of two maxima and two minima;theminimum occurs at 10h20mA.M. (Makerstoun mean solar time is used throughout),themaximum at 5h30mP.M.; a minimum occurs at 2h20mA.M., and a maximum at 5h30m, or 40mA.M.: two inflexions occur in the mean curve between 3hand 4hP.M., and between 8hand 9hP.M. The periods of maxima and minima vary throughout the year, and the morning maximum is greater than the afternoon maximum in winter.
2. On the appearance of the Great Comet of 1843, at the Cape of Good Hope, with illustrative Drawings.
Authors: Smyth C. P. 
Published: June 2016

This comet attracted much attention from its excessive brightness at and near its perihelion passage, as well as from the length and form of its tail. The drawings were intended to represent these particulars, and the changes which occurred during the time that the comet remained visible from the Cape Observatory.It was seen for a short time, but not generally, before the perihelion passage, which took place on the 27th February 1843; and it ceased to be visible by the naked eye towards the end of March, though it could be discerned with the telescope till the 19th April.
2. Notice of Polished and Striated Rocks recently discovered on Arthur Seat, and in some other places near Edinburgh.
Authors: Milne David 
Published: June 2016

Mr Milne stated, that, in the gully situated between Arthur Seat and Sampson's Ribs, a great extent of rock had been recently exposed (by the removal of clay and other superficial deposits) which was found to be smoothed as well as furrowed or scratched.The gully is about 30 feet wide, at the lowest level to which it has been hollowed out, and at one part, both of its sides are composed of these smoothed furrowed rocks; but, in general, it is only on one side, viz., that next to Arthur Seat, that rock exists. There, the appearances of smoothing and rutting extend for about 80 yards.
2. On the mode of occurrence of Gypsum in Nova Scotia, and on its probable origin.
Authors: Dawson J. W. 
Published: June 2016

In this paper, the author, after a general description of the geological character of the country, describes the superficial deposits which he divides into—1.The unstratified drift or boulder formation. This, the lower of the two superficial deposits, is characterised by the circumstance, that most of the materials have been derived from the rocks on which they now rest, or those in the vicinity. The fragments are angular, and altogether devoid of any regular arrangement. This unstratified drift, however, does contain boulders from distant localities, which may generally be traced. The appearances indicate that the materials have been transported from the northward, and also, to a less extent, from the southward, and, indeed, in various directions.
2. Geological Notices.
Authors: Fleming  
Published: June 2016

(1.)Additional example of Diluvial Scratches on the Rocks in the neighbourhood of Edinburgh.The author stated that, recently, an opportunity had presented itself of observing, at a newly-opened sandstone quarry,dressed and scratched surfaces, at an elevation above the level of the sea greater than any examples of the same kind of diluvial action as yet recorded, as occurring in the neighbourhood. The locality is eastward of the east Cairn Hill, in the Pentland Hills, at a place termed “Thomson's Walls,” and its elevation, according to Knox's map of Mid-Lothian, is 1400 feet.
3.On the rate of Progression of the Himalayan Glaciers.
Authors: Strachey Lieutenant R. 
Published: June 2016

Mr Strachey's letter contained some interesting observations which he has been making on the motions of the glaciers in the Himalayan mountains; and his measures, conducted on the plan of Professor Forbes in the Alps, are the earliest that have been taken in Asia. The Pinduree glacier, on which the observations were made during cold weather, was found to move 3 feet 1 inch in 5 days at the centre, and at the sides about 1 foot 5 inches.Lieutenant Strachey's former Researches on the Glaciers of the Kumaon Himalaya (published in one of the Indian Journals), have satisfactorily proved the existence of glaciers in lat. 30° 20′, which present in detail all the phenomena of those of Europe.
1. An Attempt to compare the Exact and Popular Estimates of Probability.
Authors: Terrot  
Published: June 2016

The author began by defining probability as being that state of mind in which we are inclined to believe a proposition, without being absolutely convinced that it is true. Objectively, every proposition is either true or false; subjectively, it may be certainly true, probable, or impossible.The measure of probability he shewed to be the same as the measure of the cause producing it; that is, the ratio of the reasons inclining us to believe a proposition, to the whole number of reasons bearing upon it, whether for or against; all of which reasons are founded, either upon necessary inference from experience, or from testimony.
3. Note on the Refractive and Dispersive Powers of the Humours of the Eye, determined by Experiment.
Authors: Adie John 
Published: June 2016

The author's object in undertaking these experiments, was to discover if the achromatism of the eye could be accounted for by the differences in the dispersive ratios of the fluids forming that organ.The indices for several of the fixed lines were determined in the aqueous humour; with the crystalline no satisfactory result could be obtained.
4. A few unpublished particulars concerning the late Dr Black.
Authors: Wilson George 
Published: June 2016

The object of this communication was to lay before the Society a few characteristic incidents concerning Dr Black, gathered from Mrs Elizabeth Wordsworth, who was a servant in his household during the five last years of his life.The facts recorded do not admit of abridgment, but they completely confirmed the accounts contained in the published biographiesof Black, concerning his valetudinarian and methodical habits, whilst they gave no countenance to the statement which had been credited in some quarters, that the great chemist was an avaricious or penurious man.
1. Note respecting the Dimensions and Refracting Power of the Eye..
Authors: Forbes J. D. 
Published: June 2016

“Whilst lecturing lately on the subject of Vision, I consulted some recent authorities on the dimensions and curvatures of the refracting apparatus of the eye; and having calculated from them the convergence of rays within the eye, it may save trouble to others to put them on record.“The measures of the eye given in almost every English work on the subject, are those given by Young on his own authority, or that of Petit. In the fifth volume of Dove's Repertorium, I find a series of measures collected by Treviranus from his own and preceding observations, which I have converted below from French lines into decimals of an English inch. In these the curvatures are supposed spherical. In the same work of Dove. I find a series of measures by Dr Krause of Hanover, on eight recent human eyes, which seem to have been made with uncommon care, and in which the deviation of the surfaces from sphericity is noticed.
3. On the Ante-Columbian Discovery of America.
Authors: Elton  
Published: June 2016

The object proposed by Dr Elton, is a summary of the knowledge we possess on the discovery of the Continent of America, by several adventurous European voyagers, anterior to the time of Columbus.This subject, which has been for almost a century and a half well known to the students of northern history, was first made known to the rest of Europe by the publication of theVinlandia Antiquaof the celebratedTorfœusin 1705; and most of the facts given by Dr Elton are extracted from that work.Torfœusproved from existing Icelandic MSS., that America was discovered, and even attempted to be colonized, by his enterprising countrymen, in the end of the tenth and beginning of the eleventh century; and the descriptions transmitted to us prove that they landed on what are now Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island.
3. Notes on Practical Chemical subjects.
Authors: Kemp Alexander 
Published: June 2016

1.On the Purification of Sulphuric Acid.The author, after describing the different methods, recommended for purifying sulphuric acid from nitric acid, namely, boiling with a little sugar, and heating with sulphate of ammonia, both of which had proved troublesome and imperfect, stated, that after trying various plans, the only one which he found to answer well, was the action of sulphurous acid on the oil of vitriol, after diluting it to the sp. gr. of 1·715, or lower. He adds one volume of water to three of the oil of vitriol, passes sulphurous acid gas through the hot liquid till it is in excess, and then boils off the excess of sulphurous acid; or, still better, three volumes of oil of vitriol are added to or diluted with, one of a saturated solution of sulphurous acid in pure water, and boiled. The acid is thus so perfectly purified from nitric acid, that when used for making hydrochloric acid, it yields a product quite colourless, which was not the case with the oil of vitriol purified by any other process.
3. Experiments and Observations on the Arterialization of the Blood
Authors: Gregory William , Irvine W. J. 
Published: June 2016

The object of these experiments was to ascertain some of the circumstances under which the blood changes in colour, from the dark venous to the florid arterial hue.Dr Stevens first showed, that the venous clot deprived of its serum by washing, remained dark even when in contact with oxygen; and that the addition of a saline solution caused it immediately to become florid. He stated also, that a strong saline solution would cause this change in an atmosphere so highly charged with carbonic acid as to prove rapidly fatal to animals.
2. Communication relative to the Fresh-Water Limestone of Burdiehouse, near Edinburgh, belonging to the Carboniferous Group of Rocks
Authors: Hibbert  
Published: June 2016

In his paper, the author explains that the limestone in question, which is confounded with the common carboniferous or mountain limestone of marine origin, is, in his opinion, of fresh-water origin.On an irregular line extending from Joppa on the coast of the Firth of Forth, in a south and south-west direction to the Pentland Hills, strata of mountain or carboniferous limestone crop out at intervals; and their marine origin is indicated by encrinites, the Productus, &c., and corallines. This limestone is developed with least interruption between Edmonstone and Muirhouse, where it is from twelve to twenty feet thick. At this part of the line may be seen fractures and elevations of the strata of limestone and superincumbent shale and sandstone, evidently occasioned by a sudden and violent uplifting force acting from north-east to south-west, and causing the uplifted strata to dip south-east at an angle of 25°. These uplifted beds, between Edmonstone and Muirhouse, and subsequently to Burdiehouse, form the strata which dip under the coalmeasures of Gilmerton, Loanhead, and other sites.
3. Observations on the Fossil Fishes lately found in Orkney
Authors: Traill  
Published: June 2016

The geologist has been for some time acquainted with the occurrence of Fossil Fishes in Caithness, and they have been more lately found also in Orkney, especially near Skaill, the seat of W. G. Watt, Esq. in Pomona.The author describes these fishes as imbedded in a dark coloured flag, which lies beneath three feet of soil and loose stone, and eleven feet of solid beds of similar flag, but destitute of organic remains. The fishes are contained in two strata, measuring together about two feet in thickness. The upper stratum contains only fishes belonging to the Cartilaginei, and seemingly the genus Raia; the lower contains numerous fishes that belong to the orders Thoracici and Abdominales, most of them with distinct scales. Almost all of them lie on their bellies or sides, none on their backs, and their attitudes generally bespeak the energy of their final struggles. The fishes of these two contiguous strata are never intermixed.
2. Supplementary Notice on the Chemical Analysis of the Animal Remains of Burdiehouse
Authors: Connell Arthur 
Published: June 2016

Since the Author's former communication to the Society, he has analyzed a portion of a tony fin-ray from the limestone belonging to a fossil fish which has been designated by M. Agassiz, Gyracanthus formosus.The constituents were found to be,He has also analyzed a portion of the fossil scales embedded in the limestone. These scales belong to a fossil genus of fish, to which the name of Megaliclithys has been given by M. Agassiz, and which is supposed to approach in character to the Lepisosteus, or Lepidosteus of Agassiz.
1. On the power of the Periosteum to form new bone
Authors: Syme  
Published: June 2016

The object of the author in this paper is to state certain observations and experiments by which he considers it to be clearly established, that the periosteal membrane, covering the bones, has the power of secreting osseous substance and of forming new bony matter.Duhamel, founding on a false analogy, which he supposed to exist between the periosteum and the bone on the one hand, and the bark and wood of trees on the other, was the first to lay down distinctly the theory that bony matter is formed by the investing membrane of the bones. The experiments and observations of Haller and others on the progress of ossification in young animals were believed, however, to militate against this idea, and tended rather to establish the doctrine, that new bony matter is formed by the pre-existing or old bone. Between these two theories, the opinions of physiologists and surgeons are still pretty equally divided.
2. Abstract of first part of Memoir on the Mid-Lothian and East Lothian Coal Districts
Authors: Milne David 
Published: June 2016

The author commenced his communication by stating, that he should divide his memoir into two parts, the first being devoted to a mere narrative of facts, the second to explanations of these facts.In describing the geological features of the district, he noticed first the stratified or rudimentary rocks, and next the unstratified rocks.The STRATIFIED consist of sandstone, shales, limestones, coal, and clays; which rocks seemed severally to abound or prevail, in the order now stated.
1. Practical Researches on Respiration
Authors: Reid D. B. 
Published: June 2016

The object of the author was to lay before the Society the result of an investigation into the state of the air usually respired in public buildings in this country and on the continent, to shew that the amount of air usually allowed for respiration is far below what is necessary to sustain the system in a healthy tone, and to give an account of the various experiments and observations upon which this opinion was founded.He entered also into an examination of the method that ought to be adopted in introducing and regulating the supply in different apartments.
2. Observations on the Fur Seal of Commerce
Authors: Hamilton Robert 
Published: June 2016

The author states that the Fur Seal merits attention in a commercial as well as a scientific point of view. The South Sea Seal trade, though comparatively of recent origin, has been prosecuted to a much greater extent than the northern; and especially in pursuit of two species of seals,—the Proboscis Seal, or Sea Elephant, for its oil, and the Fur Seal, for its skin.After some preliminary remarks upon the nature of the coats or robes of seals, the author, in the absence of scientific information concerning the fur-seal, turns to the works of navigators and seal-hunters, and finds distinct allusion made to it in the writings of Cook, Clayton, and especially of Mr Weddell, who commanded several expeditions undertaken chiefly for its capture.