| Description | ' Dr Charleton produced the underjaw of a Pyke of foure foot and 2 inches long, having every other tooth moveable, which hee conceived was for more easy deglutition. He was desired to take notice of others, and to consider withal the whole nature of Swallowing. Hee did upon this occasion, suggest, that those voracious Animals, that: doe swallow others whole, doe not kill them first, but swallow them alive; instancing the Cormorant, that never is seen to swallow any, but live fishes; and in Vipers, that dow not swallowe frogs or Toades but live ones; Coniecturing that the Motion of the live Creature maketh it passe more easily. Hee suggested likewise, that no Animall can swallow under water without being choaked.
Dr Terne was admitted Fellowe of the Society.
Dr Merrett mentioned, that live wormes are sometimes found in the stomacks and guts of Salmons: Hee was desired, to make further observations hereof, in these and other fishes.
This gave occasion to discourse of Equivocall generation, as they speake, and it was considered, whether all Animals, as well vermin and insects, as others, are produced by certain seminall principles, determined to bring forth such, and no other kinds: some conceiving, that, where the animall it selfe does not immediately furnish the seed, there may bee such seeds, or something analogous to them, dispersed thorough the Aire, and conveighed to such matter, as is fit and disposed to ferment with it, for the production of this or that kind of animals; others esteeming[?] that those semina, said to bee carried in the aire would have their seminall virtue inpaired, if not destroyed by it. Sir Robert Moray did suggest, that something from without did concurre to this kind of generation, seeing that ships, when sheathed, are thereby fenced, and kept from rotting and breeding of wormes.
It was resolved upon, that further inquiry should bee made into this matter, in due season: and that the severall Experiments should bee tryd, of putting bloud, flesh, braines, etc together, in a glasse or other fit vessel; as also fran and meale; likewise, cheese moistened with sack etc. And that Dr Merett, Dr Glisson, Dr Charleton, should bee desired to bee Curators thereof.
Dr Merrett was desired to bring in his Materia Vitraria, spoken of in the booke he hath lately translated out of Italian into English.
Dr Charleton brought in his papers, wherein he hath reduced Birds into Certaine families in Latin and English. He had the thanks of the Society for it, and it was ordered to bee kept and hee was desired together with Dr Merrett, to reduce fishes into the like Classes.
Mr Evelyn was desired, against next meeting to make an extract of his discourses concerning the plannting and propoagating of Trees, in answer to the Queries of the Commissioners of the Navy.
Mr Croone was desired to be Curator of the Experiments of breaking wires, and to have them exactly drawne aginst next day.
The Operator was appointed to have things ready against next day for trying the Experiment of the burning of a lampe under water.
The Operator acquainted the Company, that the bigger Silver wire, which was of 1/6 of an inch diameter, required the same wight to breake it, when it was shorter by 1 ½ foot, then afore.
Sir Robert Moray Communicated to the Company a letter written from Paris, concerning a New Method, to heale cut nerves, tendons, and other membranous parts, by sowing them together; as also a new way of healing hydroceles and hernias, preserving the testicles in their strength, and without being obliged to carry trusses. ' |