The Minutes of the Dublin Society from May the 4th to the 25th Inclusively
May the 4th 1685
A forme stone most exactly resembling a Cockle was shewne by Mr Ashe, twas found in the midst of a huge Limestone at the same place in Westmeath where those formerly sent to the Society were got. He also presented thread made in Connaught of the Roots of trees, its colour very white, twas fine and much stronger than usual. Dr Mullen read a very particular Account of the dissection of the Monstrous double Catt mentioned in the Minutes of February 23th 1684/5, and explained all the figures accurately. Mr Ash produced an Account of the Wind weather, higth of the Mercury in the Barometer for the last month taken at Trin: Colledge.
May the 11th
A letter was read from Mr Musgrave dated March the 31th 1685 containing severall Observations of Dr Turberville of Saturn; the Minutes of the Oxford Society from March 10th to the 31th were read, the thanks of the society were ordered to be returned for them, And a Copy of Dr Plots Desiderata in Chymistry desired. Mr Molyneux observed upon occasion of Dr Listers Account of the Motion of Mercury in the Barometer for the last year, that the heights thereof were not always equall in London and here, yet they did generally rise and fall together, especially in all remarkable Changes. A Draft of the Vessell found in York, sent by Mr Musgrave was shewn. Mr Molyneux presented the Description and Draft of a very ingenious Hygroscope or weatherclock (as he calls it) invented lately by him, which by a piece of Whipcord, and a Weight with an Index, shews the least alteration or Variety in the moisture of the Air. Mr Molyneux goeing for England, Mr Ashe was chosen secretary.
May the 18th 1685
Dr Willoughby in the Chair
The minutes of the Oxford Society from March 31th to April 23th 1685 were read, and the thanks of the Society ordered to be returned for them; upon reading the Account of Dr Wallis's extracting the Root of a Number of 53 places in the dark, the Society was informed that one of their Members had by the help of Memory easily extracted the Root of a number of 13 or 14 places, goeing on in an Arithmeticall Progression of odd numbers, as 1 3 5 7 etc. and could have proceeded with equall facility, he supposed also that the root of an Unity with many Cyphers might be so extracted with yet greater ease. Quere whether the Dr had any particular method for the doeing of this. A Copy of Mr Leeuwenhoecks letter concerning the the salts of wine and Vinegar etc. was desired; as also Dr Gardens Discourse of weather. The Demonstration of Mercators Propositions de Quadr. Circuli (if not printed in the Philosophical Transactions) was earnestly desired by the Society, and Dr Wallis's thoughts of it. Mr Ash presented a very odd Insect which grew to a tree in a large husk or shell, together with a letter to him giving an Account thereof, and the History of Insects in generall from Monsieur Dorchaize, the thanks of the society were ordered to be returned for this Letter. Dr Mullen gave an Account of a Patient of his, who had a frequent strong Pulse in the very top of his head, which seemed to shoot up from his Heart; when this Pulse beat most strongly there was a totall intermission in the Wrists; when it beat weaker in the Head, there was a defection and remission in the Pulse of the Wrists; whence he collected, that the Circulation of the blood might perhaps be wholly stopd downwards, when this extraordinary Pulse hapned in the head.
Mr Ashe informed the Society, that he lately saw in the Country a Horse, whose yard was fixed about 2 Inches below the Anus; twas in as large proportion as any other Horse has, and when erected, stood prominent from the Buttock; it had also 2 Teats under the belly, it seemed to have all the courage and Vigour of stone horses, but to want their lust or appetite for Mares. This gave occasion to Dr Willoughby to discourse concerning Hermaphrodites, one especially (that passd for such) which he saw in Dublin, and of which he gave the Society an Account. Mr Ashe likewise related the History of the Gentlewoman in Down, who upon sight of a naturall that was carryed about to beg, brought forth exactly such another, not only resembling it in features, and particularly in the red Eyes, like those of a Perret, but also imitating all his awkward gestures; he produced some of the hair of each, both so remarkably white as not to be distinguished. Dr Mullen gave an Account of a monstrous Chicken with 2 Bills, and also, of an Egg, which at the big end had a fleshy substance in figure, like a Glass drop, the smaller part hanging out, at the extremity of which was a drop of blood; the shell was not quite closed; this fleshy substance taken out was as big as the largest Glass drop, included in a Membrane very tough, the Inside a Collection of thin small Tunicles around close in that Membrane, the yolk and white much less then ordinary. Accurate figures hereof are taken by Mr Sandyes. Dr Mullen then undertook to give an Account to the Society out of Antient and Moderne Observations, what has been said of great remarkable stones, taken out of the bodies of Animals. Mr Tolet was then nominated Treasurer in Mr Pleydells place.
May the 25th 1685
Mr Aland a Gentleman of Waterford communicated to this Society, a Method of finding the Longitude by considering the distance of the Moon from the Sun, its Latitude from the Ecliptick and distance from the other Planets; he has invented a particular scale to reduce Planets to the Ecliptic, and another Instrument to take their distances; he professes to have made a dozen observations, and not errd two minutes, which error he imputes to the smallness of his Instruments; Ordered, that Mr King, Mr Tolet, & Mr Ashe do examine this Method, and give an Account thereof to the Society the next Meeting.
Mr Tolet discoursed of the History and severall ways of finding the Longitude hitherto thought of, with their particular inconveniences.
Sir
I here send you our Minutes from May the 4th to the 25th. I suppose Mr Molyneux has communicated all before that time; I have likewise inclosed some of the hair so remarkably white mentioned in the Minutes of May the 18th. If I can any ways be serviceable to you here, be pleased freely to command
Sir
your very humble servant
St. Geo: Ashe
Trin: Coll: May
the 30th 1685
Read June 24:1685
Entered LB.10:166