| Description | ' Sir Robert Atkins the Younger was elected.
Sir John Cutler having founded a Lecture, and setled an Annual Stipend of Fifty pounds upon Mr Hook, as Professer during his life, entrusting the Society with the direction and care thereof, was elected Honorary Member of the said Society, and Sir William Petty, Dr Wilkins, Dr Whistler and Mr Graunt were appointed to attend him in the Name of the Society, with the following Order ;
Upon Report made to this Society, by Dr Whistler that Sir John Cutler Knight and Baronett had declared his resolution to bestow upon Mr Robert Hook, during his life an annual Stipend of Fifty pounds, to be paid halfe yearly having already advanced the Summe of Twenty five pounds for the first halfe year, ending at Lady Day next ; In consideration of which yearly stipend, the said Sir John Cutler is willing to referre it to the President , Council and Fellows of the Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledg, to direct and appoint the said Mr Hook how many Lectures he shall read, and when, and upon what Subjects ; or what kind of Enquiries , by way of Experiment , he shall be engaged to prosecute . This Society doth hereupon returne their hearty Thanks to Sir John Cutler for this particular favour to a worthy Member , and for that respect and confidence, he hath hereby expressed towards their whole Body : And they do likewise unanimously agree to admit the said Sir John Cutler an Honorary Fellow of this Society, to have the Liberty of being present at their Meetings , when and as often as He pleaseth , without being obliged to any Payments or other Tasks. And Sir William Petty, Dr Wilkins, Dr Whistler, and Mr Graunt are hereby appointed to attend Sir John Cutler in the Name of the Society , and to represent to him what a senes they have of his Favour, which they have the more reason to value, as being the first Donation, they have been entrusted with of this kind , and which they hope will prove a leading Example to others.
There were read two Letters of Mr Boyle's written to the Secretary of which one gave an account of the death and dissection of the double child, borne at Fisherton, near Salisbury ; vid. that they died the third day after they were borne, oone of them about a quarter of an hour before the other ; and that, being opened, they were found to have their internal parts double, and duely formed and placed, except that the Guts, being continued from the Pylorus of both the Stomacks about 6 Foot , upon inflation afterwards met in a common channel ; and that, from thence to their blind Gutt, the length was aabout one foot , and thence 2 foot to the Fundament , which they had but single, as also the Matrix. The other Letter gave notice of an Anatomical observation made in a Body dissected at Oxford , having but one kidney , and never having had more , seing that the Emulgent Vessels , which use to goe to the right and to the left hand to the respective Kidneys placed in those opposite sides , did terminate in this one kidney , which was neer as big as two ordinary ones , and which was furnished with two Ureters , inserted into the Bladder at the usual places . This person dyed of a Dropsy , at the age of about 35 years , having been notorious for being a stout drinker ; which if he had not been , the Author of the Letter is of opinion , his single kidney might perhaps have served his turne for many years longer.
It was ordered , that Thanks should be returned to Mr Boyle for these communications , and he desired to leave with the Society the Latin Original of Mr William Hand , concerning the dissection of the monstrous Birth ; of which a Copy should be made for him.
An Account was by Mr Hook brought in of an Experiment of Refraction , made with pure and clear Sallet Oyle , which was found to have a much greater Refraction than any Liquor he had yet tryed ; the Angle of Refraction , that answered to an Angle of Incllinatin of 30 degrees being found no lesse than 46 d . 30 ' And the Angle of Refraction , that answered to an Angle of Inclination of 20 . degrees being 29 d . 47 ' Ordered, that this Experiment be made before the Society at their next meeting, and that the Instrument be fixed ; as also , that other Liquors as several wines , Aquafortis , Aqua Regis , Milk etc be tryed and that in several Temperaments of heat and cold .
Mr Hook acqainted the company in writing , with the Success of the Experiment made upon a Dog , cut open alive , and kept so , for about a whole houre , by means of a pair of Bellows and a pipe thrust into the wind - pipe of the dog : whereby the Lungs being blown , the heart continues beating for a long while , after all the Thorax and belly had been displayed , and the Diaphragme in great part cut away .
Ordered, that this Account be entered , and that the Physicians of the Society doe consider against the next meeting , whether and how this Experiment may be further improved .
It being said that air was felt to passe through the Lungs , Dr Goddard conceived , that it might do so upon a stretch , and by more thatn ordinary force ; but if it should do so iin an Animal unopened , and passe in a considerable quantity into his breast , and lodge there between it and the Lungs , it might be a prejudice and hindrance to the motion of the Lungs.
The Star-shoot, vulgarly so called, being again spoken of , it was offered by Dr Wilkins , whether it might not be the matter, that being spewed out of the Earth , would produce a Fungus , if their time of growing was not spent . Dr Merret said , that if it were a Fungus substance , it would turne to water , which it did not do , nor dissolve in Oyle . Others were of Opinion , that the ranknesse of its smell seemed to betray it to be an animal Substance .
Mr Hill mentioned a Book , lately published in Italy as Dr Pope hath written to him , containing 800 sorts of Fungus's.
Dr Merret mentioned , that there were above 100 sorts of them in England.
Mr Henshaw related an Observation he had made in France of the Frog-spawn , and promised to bring it in writing.
Sir Robert Moray made mention of a certain substance seen by him , both floating upon the sea neer the shore, and left also on the shore , being lilke a Gelly or starch , seeming to contract and dilate it self , and being dissolved in water , yeilding a very offensive smell . He was seconded by Mr Henshaw .
Dr Wilkins acquainting the Society , that some of the East India Company were ready to attend them, to give satisfaction to some of their Enquiries , it was ordered, that the President and as many of the Committee for Correspondence, as conveniently could , should give them a Meeting next friday sennight in the afternoon at some place , which between this and that time , they should agree upon .
Mr Evelyn presented the Society with his Book of Architecture , for which he received their Thanks ; the Book was recommended to Dr Goddard's care .
Mr Henshaw presented the Society with his Brother's book called a Register for the Air , He was desired to returne thanks to the Author ; and the Book was left with Dr Goddard.
Sir Robert Moray produced a writtren account of the Earl of Craford Lindsay about setting and Planting of Trees several wayes . He was desired to returne his Lordship the Thanks of the Society .
Mr Palmer produced a very heavy Mineral - stone , conceived to be Tin -oar ; It was recommended to Mr Hook's care to weigh it in water .
Experimentsd for next day : 1 . Of Refractions , 2 . Of making simple Pendula uschrone to Triangels and otyher Figures and Bodies diversly suspended . |