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The Royal Society: Science in the Making

Paper, 'An account of the bones of animals being changed to a red colour by aliment only' by John Belchier

Reference number: CLP/12ii/66

Date: 1736

Description

Belchier discusses the circulation of blood within bones and describes a phenomenon in which the bones of hogs were turned a red colour through diet. The hogs were fed bran that had been boiled in a copper with printed calicoes in order to clear the fabric. The cartilege and marrow of the bones remained white, but the hard portion of the bones turned red.

Subject: Physiology / Chemistry

Published in Philosophical Transactions as 'An account of the bones of animals being changed to a red colour by aliment only'.

Read to the Royal Society on 25 November 1736.

Reference number
CLP/12ii/66
Earliest possible date
1736
Physical description
Ink on paper
Page extent
4 pages
Format
Manuscript

Creator name

John Belchier

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Citation

John Belchier, Paper, 'An account of the bones of animals being changed to a red colour by aliment only' by John Belchier, 1736, CLP/12ii/66, The Royal Society Archives, London, https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/clp_12ii_66/paper-an-account-of-the-bones-of-animals-being-changed-to-a-red-colour-by-aliment-only-by-john-belchier, accessed on 18 August 2026

Link to this record

https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/clp_12ii_66/paper-an-account-of-the-bones-of-animals-being-changed-to-a-red-colour-by-aliment-only-by-john-belchier

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  • Classified Papers

    The 'Classified Papers' of the Royal Society are papers from British and international natural philosophers and scholars categorised according to subject areas.

    Dates: 1592 - 1741

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