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diff --git a/old/65867-0.txt b/old/65867-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 7d5aacf..0000000 --- a/old/65867-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,15262 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook of Philosophical Transactions, Giving Some -Account Of The Present Undertakings, Studies, and Labours, of the -Ingenious, in Many Considerable Parts of the World, by Various - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you -will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before -using this eBook. - -Title: Philosophical Transactions, Giving Some Account Of The Present - Undertakings, Studies, and Labours, of the Ingenious, in Many - Considerable Parts of the World - Vol. L. Part 1. For the Year 1757 - -Author: Various - -Release Date: July 18, 2021 [eBook #65867] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -Produced by: Charlene Taylor, Jonathan Ingram, Michael Ciesielski, Eleni - Christofaki and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at - https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images - generously made available by The Internet Archive) - -*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS, GIVING -SOME ACCOUNT OF THE PRESENT UNDERTAKINGS, STUDIES, AND LABOURS, OF THE -INGENIOUS, IN MANY CONSIDERABLE PARTS OF THE WORLD *** - - - - -Transcriber’s Note - -Variable spelling and hyphenation have been retained. Minor punctuation -inconsistencies have been silently repaired. The Errata of the original -edition have been corrected. Other changes made can be found at the end -of the book. Formatting and special characters are indicated as follows: - - [Sidenotes] - _italic_ - +spaced font+ - - - - - PHILOSOPHICAL - TRANSACTIONS, - GIVING SOME - ACCOUNT - OF THE - Present Undertakings, Studies, _and_ Labours, - OF THE - INGENIOUS, - IN MANY - Considerable Parts of the WORLD. - - - VOL. L. +PART I.+ For the Year 1757. - - - _LONDON._ - - Printed for +L. DAVIS+ and +C. REYMERS+, - Printers to the +ROYAL SOCIETY+, - against _Gray’s-Inn Gate_, in _Holbourn_. - - M.DCC.LVIII. - - - - - THE - CONTENTS - TO - PART I. VOLUME L. - - - I. _AN Account of the Earthquake felt in_ New England, _and - the neighbouring Parts of_ America, _on the 18th of_ November - _1755. In a Letter to_ Tho. Birch, _D.D. Secret. R.S. by Mr. - Professor_ Winthrop, _of_ Cambridge _in_ New England. Page 1. - - II. _The strange Effects of some effervescent Mixtures; in a Letter - from Dr._ James Mounsey, _Physician of the_ Russian _Army, - and F.R.S. to Mr._ Henry Baker, _F.R.S. Communicated by Mr._ Baker. - p. 19. - - III. _Extract of a Letter of_ J. Wall, _M.D. to the Rev. - Dr._ Lyttelton, _Dean of_ Exeter, _and F.R.S. concerning the - good Effects of_ Malverne _Waters in_ Worcestershire. p. 23. - - IV. _An Account of the_ Carlsbad _Mineral Waters in_ - Bohemia: _In a Letter to the Right Honourable the Earl of_ - Macclesfield, _President of the R.S. by the Rev._ Jeremiah - Milles, _D.D. F.R.S._ p. 25. - - V. _An Essay towards ascertaining the specific Gravity of living - Men. By_ Mr. John Robertson, _F.R.S._ p. 30. - - VI. _An Instance of the Gut_ Ileum, _cut thro’ by a Knife, - successfully treated by Mr._ Peter Travers, _Surgeon, at_ - Lisbon. _Communicated by_ John Huxham, _M.D. F.R.S._ p. 35. - - VII. _An Account of a Visitation of the leprous Persons in the - Isle of_ Guadaloupe: _In a Letter to Mons._ Damonville, - _Counsellor and Assistant-Judge at_ Martinico, _and in the - Office of King’s Physician at_ Guadaloupe. _By_ John Andrew - Peyssonel, _M.D. F.R.S. Translated from the_ French. p. 38. - - VIII. _An Account of the late Discoveries of Antiquities at_ - Herculaneum; _in an Extract of a Letter from_ Camillo Paderni, - _Keeper of the_ Herculanean Museum, _and F.R.S. to_ Thomas - Hollis, _Esq; dated_ Naples, Dec. 16, 1756. p. 49. - - IX. _An Account of some Trees discovered underground on the Shore - at_ Mount’s-Bay _in_ Cornwall: _In a Letter from the Rev. - Mr._ William Borlase, _F.R.S. to the Rev. Dr._ Lyttelton, - _Dean of_ Exeter. p. 51. - - X. _Experiments on applying the Rev. Dr._ Hales’_s Method of - distilling Salt-water to the Steam-Engine. By_ Keane Fitzgerald, - _Esq; F.R.S._ p. 53. - - XI. _Extract of a Letter of Mr._ Abraham Trembley, _F.R.S. - to_ Tho. Birch, _D.D. Secret. R.S. Translated from the_ - French. p. 58. - - XII. _A brief Botanical and Medical History of the_ Solanum - Lethale, Bella-donna, _or_ Deadly Nightshade, _by Mr._ - Richard Pulteney. _Communicated by Mr._ William Watson, - _F.R.S._ p. 62. - - XIII. _An Account of some of the Antiquities discovered at_ - Herculaneum, &c. _In a Letter to_ Thomas Birch, _D.D. Secret. - R.S. By_ John Nixon, _A.M. F.R.S._ p. 88. - - XIV. _An Account of the Effects of a Storm of Thunder and Lightning, - in the Parishes of_ Looe _and_ Lanreath, _in the County - of_ Cornwall, _on the 27th Day of_ June _1756. Communicated - to the Rev._ Jeremiah Milles, _D.D. F.R.S. in two Letters, one - from the Rev. Mr._ Dyer, _Minister of_ Looe, _and the - other from the Rev. Mr._ Milles, _Vicar of_ Duloe, _in_ - Cornwall. p. 104. - - XV. _An Account of the Peat-pit near_ Newbury _in_ - Berkshire; _in an Extract of a Letter from_ John Collet, _M.D. - to the Right Reverend_ Richard _Lord Bishop of_ Ossory, - _F.R.S._ p. 109. - - XVI. _An Account of the Alterations making in the_ Pantheon - _at_ Rome: _In an Extract of a Letter from_ Rome _to_ - Thomas Hollis, _Esq; Communicated by_ John Ward, _LL.D. R.S. - Vice-Præs._ p. 115. - - XVII. _An Account of a new medicinal Well, lately discovered - near_ Moffat, _in_ Annandale, _in the County of_ - Dumfries. _By Mr._ John Walker, _of_ Borgue-house - _near_ Kirkudbright _in_ Scotland. p. 115. - - XVIII. _An Account of the State of the Thermometer at the_ Hague - _on the 9th of_ January _1757. Extracted from a Letter of - Mr._ Abraham Trembley, _F.R.S. to_ Tho. Birch, _D.D. Secret. - R.S._ p. 148. - - XIX. _Experimental Examination of_ Platina. _By_ William - Lewis, _M.B. F.R.S. Paper_ V. ibid. - - XX. _Experimental Examination of_ Platina. _By_ William - Lewis, _M.B. F.R.S. Paper_ VI. p. 156. - - XXI. _An Account of the Temple of_ Serapis _at_ Pozzuoli - _in the Kingdom of_ Naples: _In a Letter to_ John Ward, - _LL.D. and R.S. Vice-Præs. by the Rev._ John Nixon, _M.A. - F.R.S._ p. 166. - - XXII. _Some Remarks on a_ Parthian _Coin with a_ - Greek _and_ Parthian _Legend, never before published. In a - Letter from the Rev._ John Swinton, _M.A. of_ Christ-Church, - Oxon, _F.R.S. to the Rev._ Tho. Birch, _D.D. Secret. R.S._ - p. 175. - - XXIII. _An Account of a Red Coral from the_ East-Indies, _of a - very singular Kind: In a Letter from Mr._ John Ellis, _F.R.S. to - Mr._ Peter Collinson, _F.R.S._ p. 189. - - XXIV. _An Account of the Effects of a Storm at_ Wigton _in_ - Cumberland. _Communicated by Mr._ Philip Miller, _F.R.S._ p. 194. - - XXV. _An Account of the Effects of Lightning upon the Steeple and - Church of_ Lestwithiel, Cornwall; _in a Letter to the Right - Honourable the Earl of_ Macclesfield, _President of the R.S. By - Mr._ John Smeaton, _F.R.S._ p. 198. - - XXVI. _An Account of the Case of the late Right Honourable_ - Horace _Lord_ Walpole; _being a Sequel to his own Account - published in the_ Philosophical Transactions, _Vol._ xlvii. - _p._ 43 _and_ 472. p. 205. - - _Postscript to Dr._ Whytt_’s Observations on Lord_ - Walpole_’s Case_. p. 385. - - XXVII. _An Account of the Virtues of Soap in dissolving the Stone, - in the Case of the Rev. Mr._ Matthew Simpson. _Communicated - by_ John Pringle, _M.D. F.R.S._ p. 221. - - XXVIII. _An Account of the Impressions of Plants on the Slates of - Coals: In a Letter to the Right Honorable_ George _Earl of_ - Macclesfield, _President of the R.S. from Mr._ Emanuel Mendes da - Costa, _F.R.S._ p. 228. - - XXIX. _A Catalogue of the Fifty Plants from_ Chelsea Garden, - _presented to the_ Royal Society _by the worshipful Company of - Apothecaries, for the Year_ 1756, _pursuant to the Direction of - Sir_ Hans Sloane, _Baronet, Med. Reg. & Soc. nuper Præses, by_ - John Wilmer, _M.D. clariss. Societatis Pharmaceut. Lond. Socius, - Hort._ Chels. _Præfect. & Prælector Botan._ p. 236. - - XXX. _Remarks on the Opinion of_ Henry Eeles, _Esq; concerning the - Ascent of Vapour, published in the_ Philosoph. Transact. _Vol._ xlix. - _Part_ i. _p._ 124. _By_ Erasmus Darwin, _M.D. Communicated by Mr._ - William Watson, _F.R.S._ p. 240. - - XXXI. _An Account of a new-discovered Species of the Snipe or - Tringa: In a Letter to the Rev._ Tho. Birch, _D.D. Secret. - R.S. from Mr._ Geo. Edwards, _Librarian of the College of - Physicians_. p. 255. - - XXXII. _Observationes de Corallinis, iisque insidentibus Polypis, - aliisque Animalculis Marinis: Quas Regiæ Societati Londinensi - offert_ Job Baster, _Med. Doct. Acad. Cæsar. Reg. Societ. Lond. & - Scient. Holland. Socius._ p. 258. - - XXXIII. _Remarks on Dr._ Job Baster’s Observationes de - Corallinis, &c. _In a Letter to the Right Hon._ George _Earl - of_ Macclesfield, _President of the R.S. from Mr._ John Ellis, - _F.R.S._ p. 280. - - XXXIV. _An Account of an extraordinary Operation performed in the - Dock-Yard at_ Portsmouth: _Drawn up by Mr._ John Robertson, - _F.R.S._ p. 288. - - XXXV. _Observations on an Evening, or rather Nocturnal, Solar_ - Iris. _By Mr._ George Edwards, _Librarian of the College of - Physicians_. p. 293. - - XXXVI. _The Effects of the_ Opuntia, _or Prickly Pear, and of - the_ Indigo _Plant, in colouring the Juices of living Animals. - Communicated by_ H. Baker, _F.R.S._ p. 296. - - XXXVII. _An Account of an extrordinary Shower of black Dust, that - fell in the Island of_ Zetland _20th_ October 1755. _In a - Letter from Sir_ Andrew Mitchell, _of_ Westshore, _Bart. - to_ John Pringle, _M.D. F.R.S._ p. 297. - - XXXVIII. _A Description of some Thermometers for particular Uses. By - the Right Honourable the Lord_ Charles Cavendish, _V.P.R.S._ p. 300. - - XXXIX. _Observationes Anatomico-Medicæ de Monstro bicorporeo - Virgineo A. 1701. die 26_ Oct. _in_ Pannonia, _infra_ - Comaromium, _in Possessione_ Szony, _quondam Quiritum_ - Bregetione, _in lucem edito, atque A. 1723. die 23_ Febr. Posonii - _in Cœnobio Monialium_ S. Ursulæ _morte functo ibidemque - sepulto. Authore_ Justo Johanne Torkos, _M.D. Soc. Regalis - Socio._ p. 311. - - XL. _Observations on the Origin and Use of the Lymphatic Vessels of - Animals: Being an Extract from the_ Gulstonian _Lectures, read - in the Theatre of the College of Physicians of_ London, _in_ - June 1755. _By_ Mark Akenside, _M.D. Fellow of the College of - Physicians, and of the Royal Society_. p. 322. - - XLI. _A Letter to the Right Honourable the Earl of_ Macclesfield, - _President, the_ Council, _and_ Fellows, _of the_ Royal - Society, _concerning the Variation of the Magnetic Needle; with a - Sett of Tables annexed, which exhibit the Result of upwards of Fifty - Thousand Observations, in Six periodic Reviews, from the Year 1700 to - the Year 1756, both inclusive; and are adapted to every Five Degrees - of Latitude and Longitude in the more frequented Oceans. By_ - William Mountaine _and_ James Dodson, _Fellows of the Royal - Society_. p. 329. - - XLII. _An account of some extraordinary Tumors upon the Head of a - labouring Man, now in_ St. Bartholomew’s _Hospital. By_ James - Parsons, _M.D. F.R.S._ p. 350. - - XLIII. _An Extract of the Register of the Parish of_ Great - Shefford, _near_ Lamborne, _in_ Berkshire, _for Ten Years: - With Observations on the same: In a Letter to_ Tho. Birch, _D.D. - Secret. R.S. from the Rev. Mr._ Richard Foster, _Rector of_ - Great Shefford. p. 356. - - XLIV. _A remarkable Case of an Aneurism, or Disease of the principal - Artery of the Thigh, occasioned by a Fall. To which is prefixed a - short Account of the Uncertainty of the distinguishing Symptoms of - this Disease. By_ Jos. Warner, _F.R.S. and Surgeon to_ Guy’s - Hospital. p. 363. - - XLV. _Farther Experiments for increasing the Quantity of Steam in a - Fire-Engine. By_ Keane Fitz-Gerald, _Esq; F.R.S._ p. 370. - - XLVI. _Observatio Eclipsis Lunæ Die 27_ Martii, _Ann. 1755. - habita Ulissipone in Domo Patrum Congregationis Oratorii à_ Joanne - Chevalier _ejusdem Congregationis Presbytero, Regiæ_ Londinensis - _Societatis Socio, Regiæque_ Parisiensis _Scientiarum Academiæ - correspondente_. p. 374. - - XLVII. _Eclipsis Lunæ Die_ 4 Februarii, _Ann._ 1757. - _habita Ulissipone à_ Joanne Chevalier _Presbytero - Congregationis Oratorii, Regiæ_ Londinensis _Societatis Socio, - Regiæque Scientiarum_ Parisiensis _Acadaemiæ correspondente, et - a_ Theodoro de Almeida _ejusdem Congregationis Presbytero, ac - Physicæ publico Professore_ p. 376. - - _Observationes Eclipsium Satellitum Jovis Ulissipone habitæ a_ - Joanne Chevalier, _&c._ p. 377. - - XLVIII. _Observationes Eclipsium Satellitum Jovis Ulissipone habitæ - à_ Joanne Chevalier, _Presbytere Congregationis Oratorii, - Regiæque_ Londinensis _Societatis Socio, Anno_ 1757. p. 378. - - XLIX. _A remarkable Case of the Efficacy of the Bark in a - Mortification: In a Letter to_ William Watson, _M.D. F.R.S. from Mr._ - Richard Grindall, _Surgeon to the_ London _Hospital_. p. 379. - - L. _A Letter to the Rev._ Tho. Birch, _D.D. Secret. R.S. from_ John - Pringle, _M.D. F.R.S. inclosing Two Papers communicated to him by_ - Robert Whytt, _M.D. F.R.S._ p. 383. - - 1. _Some Observations on the lithontriptic Virtue of the_ Carlsbad - _Waters, Lime-water, and Soap: In Letter to Dr._ John Pringle, - _F.R.S. from Dr._ Robert Whytt, _F.R.S. and Professor of Medicine - in the University of_ Edinburgh. p. 386. - - 2. _An Instance of the Electrical Virtue in the Cure of a Palsy. By - Mr._ Patrick Brydone. p. 392. - - LI. _An Account of some fossil Fruits, and other Bodies, found in the - Island of_ Shepey. _By_ James Parsons, _M.D. F.R.S._ p. 396. - - LII. _Observations on the Comet, that appeared in the Months of_ - September _and_ October 1757, _made at the Royal Observatory by_ Ja. - Bradley, _D.D. Astronomer Royal, F.R.S. and Member of the Royal Academy - of Sciences at_ Paris. p. 408. - - LIII. _The Resolution of a General Proposition for determining - the_ horary _Alteration of the Position of the Terrestrial - Equator, from the Attraction of Sun and Moon: With some Remarks on - the Solutions given by other Authors to that difficult and important - Problem. By Mr._ Tho. Simpson, _F.R.S._ p. 416. - - LIV. _Remarks upon the Heat of the Air in_ July 1757, _in an Extract - of a Letter from_ John Huxham, _M.D. F.R.S. to_ William Watson, _M.D. - F.R.S. dated at_ Plymouth _19th of the same Month. With additional - Remarks by Dr._ Watson. p. 428. - - LV. _Remarks upon the Letter of Mr._ John Ellis, _F.R.S. to_ Philip - Carteret Webb, _Esq; F.R.S. printed in the_ Philosophical Transactions, - _Vol._ xlix. _Part_ ii. _p._ 806. _By Mr._ Philip Miller, _F.R.S._ - p. 430. - - LVI. _An Answer to the preceding Remarks. By Mr._ John Ellis, _F.R.S._ - p. 441. - - LVII. _A Letter to the Rev._ Tho. Birch, _D.D. Secr. R.S. concerning - the Number of the People of_ England; _by the Rev. Mr._ Richard - Forster, _Rector of_ Great Shefford _in_ Berkshire. p. 457. - - LVIII. _A Letter to the Right Honourable the Earl of_ Macclesfield, - _President of the_ Royal Society, _from the Rev._ William Brakenridge, - _D.D. F.R.S. containing an Answer to the Account of the Numbers and - Increase of the People of_ England, _by the Rev. Mr._ Forster. - p. 465. - - - - -ERRATA. - - -_Page_ 95. _line_ 24. _read_ even the ends of the umbilici. - -_Page_ 96. _line_ 5. _read_ exposed the extremity of the umbilicus. - -_Page_ 168. _line_ 4. _after_ as _dele_ well as. - -_Page_ 328. _line_ 9 _from the bottom, for_ stream _read_ steam. - -_In the Tables of the Variation of the Magnetic Needle, Anno_ 1756, - - Lat. Long. - 0--70E _for Var._ 3¼W _read_ 2¾W. _Read the same in p._ 333. - 15N 35W ---- 3½W ---- 2½W - 5S 40E ---- 17W ---- 18W - 30S 15E ---- 18W ---- 17½W - 35S 10W ---- 5½W ---- 5W - 35S 45E ---- 26½W ---- 26W - - - - -PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. - - -I. _An Account of the Earthquake felt in_ New England, _and the -neighbouring Parts of_ America, _on the 18th of_ November 1755. _In a -Letter to_ Tho. Birch, _D.D. Secret. R.S. by Mr. Professor_ Winthrop, -_of_ Cambridge _in_ New England. - -[Read Jan. 13, 1757.] - -Reverend Sir, - -I Beg leave to lay before you the best account I am able to give of the -great earthquake, which shook New England, and the neighbouring parts -of America, on Tuesday the 18th day of November 1755, about a quarter -after four in the morning. I deferred writing till this time, in order -to obtain the most distinct information of the several particulars -relating to it, both here and in the other places where it was felt; -and especially the extent of it. - -The night, in which this earthquake happened, was perfectly calm and -serene. In the evening there was a fog over the marshes bordering on -the river Charles, which runs through this town: but this I found -intirely dissipated at the time of the earthquake, the air being then -quite clear, and the moon, which wanted but 36ʰ of the full, shining -very bright. The earthquake began with a roaring noise in the N.W. -like thunder at a distance; and this grew fiercer, as the earthquake -drew nearer; which was almost a minute in coming to this place, as -near as I can collect from one of my neighbours, who was then on the -road in this town. He tells me, that, as soon as he heard the noise, -he stopt, knowing, that it was an earthquake, and waiting for it; -and he reckoned he had stood still about 2’, when the noise seemed -to overtake him, and the earth began to tremble under him: but, as I -doubted, whether it were so long, I counted several numbers to him -as slowly as a clock beats seconds; and then he said, he believed he -could have counted half an hundred, at that rate, before the noise and -shake came up to him. By his account, as well as that of others, the -first motion of the earth was what may be called a pulse, or rather an -undulation; and resembled (to use his own comparison) that of a long -rolling, swelling sea; and the swell was so great, that he was obliged -to run and catch hold of something, to prevent being thrown down. The -tops of two trees close by him, one of which is 25, the other 30 feet -high, he thinks waved at least ten feet (and I depend on his judgment -in this particular, because he judged right of the height of the trees, -as I found by actual mensuration); and there were two of these great -wavings, succeeded by one, which was smaller. This sort of motion, -after having continued, as has been conjectured, about a minute, abated -a little; so that I, who was just then waked, and, I suppose, most -others, imagined, that the height of the shock was past. But instantly, -without a moment’s intermission, the shock came on with redoubled noise -and violence; though the species of it was altered to a tremor, or -quick horizontal vibratory motion, with sudden jerks and wrenches. The -bed, on which I lay, was now tossed from side to side; the whole house -was prodigiously agitated; the windows rattled, the beams cracked, as -if all would presently be shaken to pieces. When this had continued -about 2’, it began to abate, and gradually kept decreasing, as if it -would be soon over: however, before it had quite ceased, there was a -little revival of the trembling and noise, though no-ways comparable -to what had been before: but this presently decreased, till all, by -degrees, became still and quiet. Thus ended this great shock. It was -followed by another about an hour and a quarter after, viz. at 5ʰ 29’. -This, though comparatively small, was very generally perceived, both as -to its noise and trembling, by those who were awake. On the Saturday -evening following, viz. the 22d of November, at 27’ after eight, there -was a third, more considerable than the second, but not to be compared -with the first. And on Friday the 19th of December in the evening, -exactly at ten o’ clock, there was a fourth shock, much smaller than -either of the former, though, like them, preceded by the peculiar noise -of an earthquake. The whole lasted but a few seconds; but the jarring -was great enough to cause the window-shutters and door of the room, in -which I then was, to clatter. The sky was perfectly clear, and there -was a very gentle and scarcely-perceptible gale at S.W. These four are -the only shocks, that I have been sensible of from the 18th of November -last to this date; tho’ more are said to have been felt in other parts -of the country to the northward of us. - -As to the duration of the great shock, people have differed widely, -viz. from 1’ to 6 or 7. Our printed accounts have generally fixed it -to about 2’, or 3 at the most; but as these were only the uncertain -guesses of persons, who had no rule to guess by, no dependence can -be had on them. I am well satisfied, that with us it continued 4’, -or rather 4’ 1-half; taking in the whole of the time, from the first -agitation of the earth till it was become perfectly quiet; tho’ the -violence of the shock did not last above half so long. This I am -assured of, partly from the observations of some gentlemen, who were -up, and looked on their watches, when it began and ended; one of whom -tells me it was 4’, and another, that it was near 5; and partly from -my own observations, which were as follow. The preceding noon I had -adjusted both my clock and watch to the apparent time, by a meridian -line; and the following noon I found, that the watch had kept time -exactly. Being awaked by the earthquake, I lay till the violence -of it seemed to be over for the second time, the first abatement -happening just after I waked. Till then I forbore to rise, because the -agitation was so vehement, that I concluded it would be difficult, if -not impracticable, to go from the bed to the chimney, without being -thrown down; and therefore thought it best not to attempt it. The -space of time, in which I lay awake, I cannot think to be much, if any -thing, less than 2’. This was the conjecture I formed at that time; -though, it being but conjecture, I would not lay very great stress -upon it, were it not supported by concurring observations. On the -second abatement I rose, and lighting a candle, looked on my watch, -and found it to be 15’ after four. The shock then was not quite over, -but the windows continued rattling for about a minute longer, as near -as I can remember; for the shock went off very gradually. As soon as -I had looked on the watch, I went directly to the clock, which was in -another chamber, that I might see whether that agreed with the watch, -and found that it was stopt at 4ʰ 11’ 35’'. Its stopping, however, was -not immediately owing to the violence of the shock, though several -clocks, and watches too, at Boston, are said to have been stopped by -it, but to the following accident: Having some time before used a -pretty long glass tube, in a particular experiment, I had shut it up -in the clock-case for security; and this tube, being overthrown by the -earthquake, lodged against the pendulum, and stopt its motion. By this -accident, the beginning of the earthquake, I conceive, is determined -with all the exactness, that can be desired; for, so far as I can -learn, the first shake was violent enough to overset so tall, slender -a body, and standing in a position so near a perpendicular, as that -tube; and it was impossible for the pendulum to make one oscillation, -after the tube had struck against it. But I am not able to fix the -end, nor consequently the duration, with the same exactness: however, -from the time, when the clock stopt, to my looking on the watch, it was -about 3’ 1-half; and the jarring was not quite over till about a minute -after this: so that I think I speak within bounds, if I say, that this -shock with us lasted at least 4’. In other places, its duration might -possibly be different. I was careful to note the time, when we had it, -as exactly as I could, in hopes, that, by comparing it with the like -accounts from distant places, we might be able to judge, with a good -degree of exactness, of the course of this earthquake, the place of its -origin, and the velocity of its progress. But all the accounts of the -time, which I have yet seen, are so very lax, that no just conclusions -can be drawn from them, with respect to either of these points. What -I have been able to collect with relation to them, I shall set down -presently. - -Those, who suppose the duration much shorter, as 1’ 1-half, or 2’, -urge, that a minute is a longer space of time than most people are -aware of; which is very true: but it should also be considered, that -if we judge the length of any space of time by the number of ideas, -which pass through our minds in that time; a very great fright,--a -fright so great, as to take intire possession of the mind for a time, -and shut out every idea except that of the present danger, will make -us judge the time to be much shorter than it really is. And this, I -make no doubt, was the case with many; the surprise, into which they -were thrown, being such, as to keep out every idea, except that, -which happened to strike their minds with the greatest force at the -beginning. Thus, several perceived no noise distinct from that, which -was occasioned by the crackling of their houses, and the disturbance of -the moveables in them; while others, who were waked by the noise, and -ran from one room to another, have told me, that they felt nothing at -all of the shake. For this reason, the conjectures, which persons in -these circumstances made, as to the duration of the shock, ought not to -be put into the balance with the actual observations made by watches. - -The course of this earthquake seems to have been nearly from N.W. to -S.E. My neighbour before-mentioned, who was then abroad, and informed -me, that the noise began about the N.W. told me at the same time, that -it passed off towards the S.E. and that he heard the noise in that -quarter gradually abating, as it became more distant, for about the -same space of time after the shock was over here, as he heard it in -the N.W. before the shock began here. Other accounts, which I have -since met with, agree with this. Those, who were in such clear open -places, could make the best judgment in this matter; for such, as were -within doors, or surrounded with buildings, might easily be misled by -the various reflections of the sound. I am induced to give the greater -credit to this information by what I observed myself: for a key, which -was thrown from off a shelf in my house, was found at a place on the -floor, which bore very near N.W. of the place, from which it fell; -though the situation of it before its fall was such, that it might have -been thrown in any direction, except towards the S.E. - -An account, which we have lately received from the West-Indies, -agrees very well with the supposition, that our earthquake proceeded -south-eastward. The account is, that 'on the 18th of November, about -two o’clock in the afternoon, the sea withdrew from the harbour of -St. Martin’s, leaving the vessels dry, and fish on the banks, where -there used to be three or four fathom water; and continued out a -considerable time; so that the people retired to the high land, -fearing the consequence of its return; and when it came in, it arose -six feet higher than usual, so as to overflow the low lands. There -was no shock felt at the above time.’ As this extraordinary motion of -the sea happened about 9ʰ after our great shock, it seems very likely -to have been occasioned by the same convulsion of the earth. Now if -this earthquake went off south-eastward into the Atlantic, it must -have passed considerably to the eastward of St. Martin’s; and, in -fact, it did not reach that island, there being no shock felt there. -The motion of the sea then was owing to a great agitation raised at a -considerable distance in some part or other of the ocean, where the -earthquake passed, and from thence propagated to that island. Nor is -the length of time greater than what seems to be necessary for this -effect. The earthquake itself, at the rate it moved with us, would be -some hours in going from hence to the distance of St. Martin’s: for -sound would be about 2¼ʰ in moving to such a distance; and the progress -of the earthquake was slower than that of sound, as appears from hence, -that the roar of this earthquake arrived here near a minute before -the shake. The rest of the 9ʰ might well be spent in conveying the -motion excited in the water, from the place where it was excited, to -St. Martin’s; for the waves raised thereby could not move with near the -velocity of sound. - -It is worthy of remark, that, of the five great earthquakes, which -this country has felt since its settlement by the English, two have -gone nearly in the same track as this last did. The first, which was -on June 2. 1638, 'came from the northward, and passed southward.’ By -the description given of it, it was very much like our late earthquake, -only perhaps not quite so violent. 'The noise and shakes of the -earthquake, October 29. 1727, seemed,’ it is said, 'to come from the -north-westward, and to go off south-easterly; and so the houses seemed -to reel.’ As to the great earthquakes of 1658 and 1662, we have no -account of the courses, which they went in. But, from the other three, -it may be reasonably conjectured, that the source of our earthquakes, -or the place in which they originate, is in some part of Canada, or -perhaps beyond it. - -The extent of this earthquake seems to have been greater than that of -any of our former earthquakes. This province of the Massachusetts-bay, -or rather the province of New Hampshire, about the latitude of 43° -north on the sea-coast, seems to have been the center of it, or the -place of its greatest violence, and the shake to have been less -considerable each way from hence towards the S. W. and N. E. By the -accounts we have from the S. W. the shock was less at New York than it -was with us; and still less at Philadelphia, which is farther towards -the S. W. By the best information I can procure, the limit toward the -S. W. was Chesopeak-bay in Maryland, the shock having been felt on -the eastern side of that bay, and not on the western. For the other -limit toward the N. E. we are informed, that the earthquake was felt -at Annapolis Royal in Nova Scotia, though in a much less degree than -with us. It shook off a few bricks from the tops of some chimnies, but -was not perceived by vessels on the water. And a letter from Halifax -says, 'The earthquake, which happened in the W. extended itself to this -place, tho’ scarcely perceivable here.’ But it was not at all felt by -our army, which lay encamped at Seganecto, about 100 miles N. from -Halifax. Thus Halifax seems to have been very near the N. E. limit. -I am not able to ascertain its eastern and western limits; but it -extended to all our back inland settlements; and was perceived, though -in a very small degree, by our army at Lake George, distant from hence -about 130 miles N. W. by W. But it was not felt at all at the British -fort of Oswego, situate on the south-eastern shore of Lake Ontario, -and distant from hence about 230 miles W. by N. So great was the shock -in the Atlantic, 70 leagues to the E. of Cape Anne, that the people on -board a vessel there were suddenly surprised, just at the time of our -earthquake, supposing they had run a-ground; till, on throwing over the -lead, they found they had more than 50 fathom water. The extent of the -earthquake E. and W. from Halifax to Lake George was about 550 miles; -and its extent along the sea-coast, from N.E. to S.W. at least 800 -miles. But if the agitation of the water at St. Martin’s was occasioned -by our earthquake continued into the Atlantic, as was conjectured -above, its extent, in a direction toward the S. S. E. must have been at -last 1900 miles. - -I shall now proceed to mention the principal effects of this -earthquake, for which I can find sufficient vouchers; for many strange -things have been related, which, upon examination, appear to be without -foundation. Besides the throwing down of glass, pewter, and other -moveables in the houses, many chimnies were levelled with the roofs -of the houses, and many more shattered, and thrown down in part. Some -were broken off several feet below the top, and, by the suddenness and -violence of the jerks, canted horizontally an inch or two over, so as -to stand very dangerously. Some others were twisted, or turned round -in part. The roofs of some houses were quite broken in by the fall of -chimnies; and the gable ends of some brick buildings thrown down, and -many more cracked. Throughout the whole country, the stone fences were -more or less thrown down. The vane upon the public market-house in -Boston was thrown down; the wooden spindle, which supported it, about -five inches in diameter, and which had stood the most violent gusts of -wind, being snapt off. A new vane, upon one of the churches in Boston, -was bent at its spindle two or three points of the compass; and another -at Springfield, distant about 80 miles westerly from Boston, was bent -to a right angle. A distillers cistern, made of plank, almost new, and -very strong put together, was burst to pieces by the agitation of the -liquor in it; which was thrown out with such force, as to break down -one whole side of the shed, that defended the cistern from the weather; -as also to stave off a board or two from a fence at the distance of -eight or ten feet from it. In some parts of the country, particularly -at Pembroke and Scituate, about 25 miles S.E. from hence, there were -several chasms or openings made in the earth, from some of which water -has issued, and many cart-loads of a fine whitish sort of sand. These -are the principal effects of this earthquake on the land, some of which -argue a very quick and violent motion of the earth. Tho’ the degree of -violence was doubtless different in different places, yet, that I might -make some estimate of it with us, I measured the greatest distance on -the ground, to which any of the bricks, which were thrown off from the -tops of my chimnies, had reached, and found it to be 30 feet, and the -height from which they fell was 32 feet. Now since bodies fall thro’ 16 -feet nearly in 1" of time; and the times, in which they fall through -other heights, are in the subduplicate ratio of those heights; it -follows, that the velocity, wherewith those bricks were thrown off, was -that of above 21 feet in 1" of time: for the subduplicate ratio of 32 -to 16 is the same as the simple ratio of 30 to a little more than 21. -But the velocity was less at less heights: for the key before spoken -of, as thrown from off a shelf in a chamber in my house, was not thrown -so far, in proportion to the height thro’ which it fell, as the bricks -were from the top of the chimnies; and in my lower rooms nothing was -thrown down, but a small bell in the garret was made to ring by it. -Hence it appears, that our buildings were rocked with a kind of angular -motion, like that of a cradle; the upper parts of them moving swifter, -or thro’ greater spaces in the same time, than the lower; the natural -consequence of an undulatory motion of the earth. - -But the agitation occasioned by this earthquake was not confined to -the land: it was very sensible on the water, and even at considerable -distances in the ocean. The vessels in our harbours were so shaken, -that it seemed to those, who were in them, as if they were beating on -the bottom. Some, that were in the bay, coming in from sea, thought -they had run upon rocks or sands. One very uncommon effect of this -concussion is related by several of our seafaring men, that almost -immediately after the earthquake, large numbers of fish of different -sorts, both great and small, came up to the surface of the water, some -dead, and others dying. - -The center of our former earthquakes, as well as of this, seems to -have been near the river Merrimac, about the latitude of 43° north, -and 40 miles north from hence; many shocks having been felt in that -neighbourhood, which did not extend to this place. The late Rev. Mr. -Plant of Newbury, which is situated at the mouth of that river, has -given a very particular journal, in _Philos. Transact._ Nº. 462. of the -shocks felt there from 1727 to 1741, few of which were perceived here -or at Boston. I remember none after the memorable 29th October 1727, -beside that on 30th January 1728, about two in the afternoon; and that -on 5th September 1732, which, by his account, did considerable damage -at Montreal in Canada, but it was very small at Boston. That also on -6th February 1737, about a quarter past four in the afternoon, which -he calls a considerable shock, was perceived at Boston; and so was -that on 7th December following, a little before 11 in the night. From -the conclusion of Mr. Plant’s journal, till the earthquake which is -the subject of this letter, I know of none, but that which happened on -Sunday June 3, 1744, at a quarter after ten in the morning. The roar of -this was as loud as any I ever heard, but the shake not so great. The -day was very fair and hot, with a little wind in the morning at W.S.W. -which in the afternoon came round to N.N.W. The season preceding was -hot and dry, there having been no rain from 23d May. On the 1st June, -at four in the afternoon, Hauksbee’s thermometer stood at 5,2; on the -2d, at five in the afternoon, it was at 1, with high wind at S.W.; on -the 3d, at eight in the morning, it was at 19,8; and at six 1-half in -the afternoon at 3,8. From the 1st June to the 2d, at the hours just -mentioned, the barometer had fallen from 29,92 to 29,82; from which -time it continued rising till the 4th at eight in the morning, when it -was got up to 30,12; being, at the time of the earthquake, at 29,94. -The rest of the month the weather was in general very hot, with many -thunder-showers. - -As the late Hon. Judge Dudley, who has given a very just account of -the great earthquake of 29 Oct. 1727, in _Philos. Trans._ Nº. 437, -has inserted an account of the weather in the preceding part of that -year; and as our last earthquake happened at the same time of the year -as that did, within 8 or 9 days (regard being had to the difference -between the Julian and Gregorian styles); I hope it will not be -disagreeable, if I give an account of our weather the last year: in -doing which, I shall follow, as near as may be, Mr. Dudley’s method, -setting down the particulars in corresponding columns, that so a -comparison may more easily be made between these two years. - -WEATHER in - - 1727, O. St. | 1755, N. St. - | - January and February | January, but especially - very moderate. | February, very moderate. - | - Beginning of March, a | 4th of March the greatest - great deal of snow, and | storm of snow we had - some cold weather: afterwards,| all winter. The whole - pleasant, rain at | month colder than February. - times, and once thunder | - and lightning. | - | - April, for the most part, | April, nothing very remarkable. - fair, pleasant. Plentiful | No hot weather. - rain, beginning and end | Each of these four - of the month. | months afforded more - | snow and rain, than the - | common quantity, taken - | at a medium for 7 years - | together. - | - May, beginning, pleasant; | First 20 days of May, - then a great deal of | dry; 14 to 18 inclusive, - rain; afterwards, cold and | uncommonly hot; latter - very dry. | part, frequent thunder-showers. - | The whole month drier - | than the medium. - | - June, abundance of | June, ten thunder showers; - thunder and lightning. | 15 to 20 inclusive, - | uncommonly cool. The - | driest June since 1749. - | - July, very dry; a great | July, seven thunder-showers, - deal of thunder and lightning.| and a little more - | rain than the medium. - | - August, exceeding hot | August, not very hot; - and dry. One plentiful | much drier than the medium. - rain. | - | - September, till the middle, | September, variable; - very hot. More hot | 10 to 14 inclusive, uncommonly - weather than in any summer. | hot; several - Middle, a violent | other days uncommonly - north-east storm, with a | cool. Upon the whole, - great deal of rain. | the summer rather cool - | than hot. The hottest - | weather was in the middle - | of May. No great - | rains; but rather more - | than the medium. - | - October, a pretty deal | October, a great deal - of cold weather. | of cold weather. Thunder-showers - 23, a great deal of rain, | on the 13th - with the S. wind. | and 17th. Snow on the - 25, at night a hard frost. | 20th, 25th, 29th, & 30th. - 26, Winterish weather, | But the quantity of rain - and a little snow. | and snow in the whole - 28, Cold. Wind N.W. | month less than the medium. - 29, Cold. Little wind | - at N.W. Evening quite | - calm, and a clear sky. | - -November began with cold and wet, there falling, in the eleven first -days 3,404 inches of rain; and on the 11th in the morning there was -thunder and lightning with the rain; and at a quarter past two in the -afternoon, the barometer was at 29,46; which was lower than it had been -since the 15th of October. From thence, till the day of the earthquake, -my diary stands thus: - -November 1755. - - |Hauksb.| - D. H. Barom.|Therm. |Wind.|Weather. |Rain, &c. - -------+------+-------+-----+------------------------------+---------- - 12 7¾ M|29,78 |63,7 | W 1|Very fair. Somewhat foggy. | ,003 - 2¾ E| 82 |51,7 | W 1|Fair. | - 13 9 M|30,14 |68 | NW 2|Very fair. | - 6¼ E| 21 |56,8 |NNW 1|Clear. | - 14 8½ M| 42 |69,4 | 0|Fair. | - 1½ E| 45 |59 | NE 2|Very cloudy. | - 8¾ E| 5 | . . | NE 1|Clear. | - 15 8½ M| 4 |74,6 | 0|Cloudy. Hazy. White frost. | - 4 E| 32 |60,5 | E 1|Very fair. | - 16 0¼ M| 27 |70,8 | 0|Foggy. | - 2 E| 28 |59,9 | N 1|Fair. | ,013 - 9¼ E| 32 | .. | N 1|Fair with clouds. Foggy. | - 17 8 M| 3 |70,1 | N 1|Cover’d. Foggy. | - 1½ E| 27 |59 | E 1|Very fair. Evenᵍ somewhᵗ foggy.| ,001 - 18 4¼ M| 17 |74,1 | 0|Clear. A violent earthquake. | - 8 M| 16 |78 | 0|Very fair. Great white frost. | - 3¼ E| 11 |58,3 | E 1|Very fair and hazy. | ,017 - 10 E| 08 |69,1 | 0|Clear. Somewhat hazy. | - -From this time the barometer rose till the 20th, when, at 8¼ M. it was -up at 30,44, the sky covered, wind N 2. Then it fell till the 23d at -6½ E, when it was so low as 28,87; which was lower than it had been -since the 6th of February last. The afternoon of the 22d, and night -following, when we had another shock, it was calm, and rained 1,205 -inches. This leads me to observe, that though the _serenity_, as well -as _calmness_, of the air, is a circumstance taken notice of in many -earthquakes, both in this and in other parts of the world; yet it does -not always obtain, at least in the smaller shocks, and, so far as I -have had opportunity to observe, the _calmness_ of the air has more -constantly attended upon earthquakes, than its _clearness_. The white -frost on the morning of the earthquake, which, when melted, I found to -be of the depth of 17/1000 of an inch, was almost double of any white -frost we have had for seven years past, and about five or six times -as great as we commonly have. The barometer and thermometer underwent -no alteration at the time of the earthquake: only, my barometer, -which has an open cistern of quicksilver, and stood in a chamber, was -so agitated, that part of the quicksilver was dashed over the sides -of the cistern, and scattered upon the floor. This cistern was a -cylindric cup, whose sides were an inch higher than the surface of the -quicksilver. - -I shall not pretend to make a comparison between the weather of the -two fore-mentioned years, nor inquire how far Mr. Dudley’s conjecture -(_Phil. Trans._ Nº. 437. p. 66.), as to the influence of the weather -in producing the earthquake of 1727, might be affected by such a -comparison. I choose to leave this to you, Sir, and to the other -gentlemen of the Royal Society, who, I know, are much better able to -make a proper judgment in this matter; and beg leave to subscribe, with -the greatest respect to that illustrious Society and yourself, - - Reverend Sir, - Your most obedient, - and most humble Servant, - John Winthrop. - -Cambridge _in_ New England, 10 Jan. 1756. - - - - -II. _The strange Effects of some effervescent Mixtures; in a Letter -from Dr._ James Mounsey, _Physician of the_ Russian _Army, and F.R.S. -to Mr._ Henry Baker, _F.R.S. Communicated by Mr._ Baker. - - - Moscow, Sept. 20th, 1756. - -[Read Jan. 20, 1757.] - -MR. Butler, a paper-stainer, trying to make some discoveries for the -better fixing of colours, was put in great danger of his life by the -following experiments: - -Having put into one gallipot a quarter of an ounce of verdegris, and -into another pot two leaves of false-gold leaf, to each he poured -about a spoonful of aqua-fortis. They began immediately to ferment, -especially the gold-leaf. He was very assiduous in stirring them, to -make the solution perfect. Having nothing else at hand, he did this -with a pair of small scissars, at arm’s length, carefully turning away -his face, to prevent the fumes from entering his lungs. He was called -away, about other business, before he had quite ended his process; and -soon after washed and shifted himself: but had scarce finished before -he felt a burning pain in the ring-finger of his right hand, which -he imputed to his having inadvertently touched the aqua-fortis. This -increased every moment, and affected the whole hand with burning pain -and swelling, which very soon subsided; but then it flew into the left -hand, and, a few minutes afterwards, into the insides of his legs, -as if scalding water had been thrown on them. His stockings being -immediately pulled off, there appeared a great many red spots, as large -as six-pences, something raised above the skin, and all covered with -very small blisters. - -In about two hours after the accident, I first saw him: he was very -uneasy, complaining of pain, and great anxiety, at the pit of the -stomach, as if a burning hot iron was laid on it: so he expressed -himself. His pulse was regular, but slower and weaker than natural: -he had a nausea, and complained of a very coppery smell and taste. I -ordered some alcaline volatile medicines, and to drink small sack-whey. -He vomited once, and had four or five stools, and then his stomach grew -easy. But the scene soon began again with lancing pain in the left eye. -He continued the same medicines, drank plentifully of the whey, and was -kept in a breathing sweat, by which he found some ease at night: but -whenever the sweating lessened, the burning pains returned in broad -flakes, changing from one part of the body to the other; sometimes with -shootings in his eye, and sometimes along the penis, but he had no heat -of urine. His pulse continued regular, but weak; and in several places -of his body such kind of spots struck out as those on his legs. - -Monday, the third day, in the morning, after sleeping well, his pulse -was somewhat raised, and he continued easy till about eleven o’ clock, -when the burning pains returned, shooting from place to place; but -always so superficial, that he could not distinguish whether it was in -or under the skin. Rubbing the part affected with one’s hand gave ease: -but when the sweating went off, and the burnings and shootings became -insufferable, I always put him into a bath of hot water, with some -wood ashes, kept ready in the room; which gave him great relief. This -afternoon he felt violent burning pain in his great toes, and sometimes -in his left hand, with shootings up to the shoulder. Once he cried out, -in great pain, that his shoulder was burst; for he felt something fly -out with a sort of explosion: but, examining the part, I found nothing -particular. He observed, when the flaky burnings began, they were as if -they kindled from a point, and flashed like lightning, as he termed it. -He was very often tormented with such pains on the pit of the stomach; -and this evening had shootings thro’ the back, with a pain in the -belly. He complained of a strong sulphurous smell, which, he said, was -like to suffocate him; tho’ his breathing seemed easy, and his lungs -no way affected. In the night he was seized with great pain about the -heart, and cried out violently, that his heart was on fire: but after -taking a dose of nervous medicines, and being put into the bath, he was -soon freed from this, and passed the rest of the night tolerably well. -At the time of such violent attacks the pulse continued regular, but -still slower and softer than usual. - -Tuesday. He complained most of his toes, and now and then burning pains -in the forehead. - -Wednesday. This whole day it continued most in the toes of the left -foot; but in the evening the pain on the stomach returned, which lanced -to the left side, with dartings inwardly. He became so uneasy and -restless, that I was obliged to add some opium to the other medicines; -which answered very well. - -Thursday. The pains kept most in the toes of the left foot. - -Friday. Nothing particular, except his feeling, with sharp pain, a -spark (as he called it) fly out of his right cheek, in the same way, he -said, as that, which burst on his shoulder, but much less. He perceived -no pain in that part before this; nor any thing after, besides a -soreness, which lasted for some days. Hitherto he had been kept in -a continual sweat: his appetite was greater than his allowance, his -digestion good; and his rest indifferent. From this time he was not -attacked by any violent symptoms; and could be quiet, tho’ he did not -sweat. - -On Sunday he began to get out of bed; but was often seized with glowing -pains, suddenly affecting different parts of the body; which seldom -continued an hour in one part, but shifted from place to place: these -he was troubled with, in a less degree, even long after he went abroad. - -By care and watchfulness the violence of the symptoms were kept under; -and, by the use of antidotes for poisons of the nature of what he -received this from, the disease was overcome, and the patient recovered -his perfect health and strength. - - - - -III. _Extract of a Letter of_ J. Wall, _M. D. to the Rev. Dr._ -Lyttelton, _Dean of_ Exeter, _and F.R.S. concerning the good Effects -of_ Malverne _Waters in_ Worcestershire. - - - Worcester, Dec. 22. 1756. - -[Read Jan. 20, 1757.] - -SIR, - -THE Malverne Water much deserves encouragement, several very -extraordinary cures having been done by it lately. I propose to make -a collection of the principal, and publish them, as an appendix to my -little treatise. Amongst other remarkable instances of their great -effects are the following, which have happened this year. A poor woman, -formerly a patient in our infirmary for a fistulous ulcer in the hip, -and another in the groin, which penetrated the abdomen, has received -her cure there, tho’ she was reduced to so great a degree, as to be -thought incurable, and sent into the country on a milk-diet, _&c._ as -the last resource. The discharge from the sores was prodigiously great, -and so offensive, that she could hardly be borne in a room. The water -took off the ill smell almost instantly; the discharge soon lessened, -and grew thick and well-conditioned; her hectic symptoms went off in -proportion; and, by continuing the use of the water for five or six -months, she is cured. - -A woman with a phagedenic ulcer in the cheek, throat, and nose, from -an ozæna in the hollow of the cheek-bone, received great relief this -year, in five or six weeks time; the external ulcer, which had -almost destroyed the whole cheek, being healed in that time, and the -other parts much amended. Her affairs would not permit her a longer -continuance at the well; but she continues the use of the water at -home, and finds great relief from it there. I hope another season will -complete the cure. - -Mr. Parry, of Clent, had his skin cleared, and perfectly healed, in -five weeks; tho’, when he came to the well, he was covered with an -elephantiasis; for which he had tried most of the purging waters, and -sea-water, under the direction of Dr. Russell, without effect. So bad -was he, that he could not move a limb but the skin cracked, and ouzed -out a filthy sanies; and he left the mark of his body every night in -his bed. The waters have also had another very surprising effect on -him: for they have been his Helicon, and converted him into a poet; he -having written a poem on the occasion, which he shewed to Lord Foley -and Dr. Dalton. - -I know a Lady, who, we had great reason to fear, had an internal -cancer, who has lately received great advantage from the use of these -waters, after other things had been tried unsuccessfully. - -I could send many more instances; but the compass of a letter will not -admit of it: and I should be afraid of having tired you already, did -I not know, that it must give you pleasure to hear of its extensive -utility. I am, Sir, - - Your most obliged - humble Servant, - J. Wall. - - - - -IV. _An Account of the_ Carlsbad _Mineral Waters in_ Bohemia: _In a -Letter to the Right Honourable the Earl of_ Macclesfield, _President of -the R. S. by the Rev._ Jeremiah Milles, _D.D. F.R.S._ - - -[Read Jan. 20, 1757.] - -My Lord, - -MR. Watson having favoured the Society with an Account of Dr. -Sprengsfeld’s treatise on the Carlsbad waters, I have taken the liberty -to submit to your Lordship some observations on the same subject, which -I made during my stay in that place; together with some specimens of -different sorts of incrustations, which are formed by those waters. - -Carlsbad is a small town, situated on the confines of Bohemia, at the -distance of 14 German, or 28 French, leagues west of Prague. It is -remarkable for its warm mineral springs, which are said to have been -accidentally discovered, in the year 1370, by the Emperor Charles the -IVth, as he was hunting; from whom they received their present name of -Carlsbad, or Charles’s bath. These waters soon growing into repute, -occasioned the building of a small neat town, consisting chiefly of -houses calculated for the accommodation of the company, who frequent -this place in the summer time. There are two warm springs, which rise -in the middle of the town, very near each other: and tho’ they are -supposed to be of the same quality, yet, as one is much warmer, it -is thought likewise to be more efficacious than the other. The former -of these, called the Brudel, rises very near the bed of the small -river Tepel which runs thro’ the middle of the town, and is sometimes -overflowed by it. The water issues with great force from the bottom of -this spring, rising in a considerable body to the height of six feet -perpendicular; and would force itself much higher, if it were confined -within a narrower compass. The spring is inclosed with a square wall, -within which are fixed three wooden pipes, which convey the water from -the bottom of the spring into a reservoir; which distributes it into a -number of small troughs, communicating with the several bathing-houses, -which are built on both sides of the river for the use of the patients. -This spring is so impetuous, that they are obliged to pave and ramm -the bed of the river, lest it should force itself up in the channel: -and I observed one place on the river side, where it had burst thro’ -the rock; and they had been obliged to confine it, by fastening down a -large stone on the orifice. - -The water of this spring is so hot, that you cannot bear your hand in -it; and the inhabitants make use of it for scalding their pigs and -their poultry. - -The water, when put into a glass, has a bluish cast, not unlike -that of an opal: and tho’ I could not discover, that in 24 hours -it had deposited the least sediment, yet there was a thin whitish -scum collected on the surface; and I observed the same in the baths, -where it was much thicker; and was of the colour, and almost of the -consistence, of a wafer. It has a salt taste when first taken from the -water, and is made use of by the inhabitants for cleaning of teeth and -scouring silver: it is called Baden Flaum. - -Tho’ this water does not deposit any sediment, yet it is remarkable for -the speedy and strong incrustation of all bodies, which are put into -it. Little plaister figures are sold here, on purpose to verify the -experiment; which, tho’ perfectly white when put into the spring, are, -in eight-and-forty hours, entirely covered with a yellow incrustation. -The same effect is observed on the pipes and channels, thro’ which the -water is conveyed. If care were not taken to clean them four or five -times a year, they would be intirely choaked up; and in some parts, -where it has not been necessary to clean them so often, I have seen -them covered with an incrustation two inches thick. In surrounding -and covering these wooden pipes, they do not change the nature of the -wood; but it is observable, that they add great hardness and solidity -to it: so that it is affirmed a piece of deal will last a hundred years -in this water. The head spring is cleared out once in 30 or 40 years, -with a very great expence: at which time they are obliged to break off -all the stony incrustation, which had been made by the water since the -last cleaning; and if neglected would (as it has sometimes actually -done) choak the passages, and oblige the spring to find vent in some -other place. The incrustations formed by these waters are of different -kinds: that, which is made in the troughs and pipes, thro’ which the -water is conveyed after it comes above ground, is of a light sandy -nature, of a loose contexture, and a bright yellow. It is used by the -inhabitants as a gentle corrosive for eating off proud flesh. There is -another of a darker colour, and a much harder nature, which is found at -the very mouth of the spring, where it bursts out of the rock. There -are other sorts taken out of the subterraneous cavities of the spring -at the time it was cleaned. In what manner they are formed, is not so -easy to determine; unless there were an opportunity of observing in -what manner and direction they lie within the spring. They seem to be -an alabastrine spar, and are beautifully marked with strait veins of -different colours, which may be supposed to have received their tinge -from the different colour of the spring-water at the time when this -sediment, or rather scum, was formed upon it. They find pieces of this -kind most beautifully variegated; and some of them large enough, by -fineering to make tables: these polish very well, and are not much -inferior to jasper in appearance. It is a part of the manufacture of -the place, to work this sort of stone into snuff-boxes, cane-heads, and -sleeve-buttons. - -There is likewise another sort of incrustation different from all -these, which was found some years ago, in digging for the foundations -of the new parish-church, which is about 300 yards distant from the -Brudel spring. They found there the same kind of water; but it did not -rise with so great force as in the other spring: and they discovered in -the cavities large masses of a stony concretion, which were a sort of -pisolithi, most of them in a globular, but some in an oval form, from -the smallest size to the bigness of a nutmeg; the former sort lying in -masses, the latter generally single and detached: they are perfectly -white, hard, and smooth, and appear to consist of a great number of -lamellæ formed round a small nucleus. This sort of incrustation has -been found in no other place; but there are some of a browner sort, and -more irregular shapes, which are taken out of the Brudel. - -The medicinal virtues of these waters have been treated of by German -authors. They are esteemed to be particularly efficacious in removing -obstructions, and in cases of the stone and gravel; of which the -treatise lately produced to the Society contains many remarkable -proofs. They are much frequented in these and in other cases; so that -they have generally 200 persons in a season drinking the waters. The -season begins in May, and ends in August. They drink them in the -following method. They begin with a purge; and assist its operation -with ten or twelve chocolate-cups of the water, taken within five -minutes of each other. The day following they take the waters in the -same quantity, and at the same intervals, keeping themselves all the -time in a warm room; which, with the warmth of the waters, occasions -a most plentiful perspiration. This is repeated for seven or eight -days, increasing daily two or three cups of the water, till they come -to drink 25 or 30 cups a day. The operation continues from eight of -the clock in the morning till noon. Some bleed once in the middle of -the course, others not at all. After they have finished this course -of drinking, they bathe two days successively, continuing in the bath -half an hour, or longer, as their strength permits them, or their case -requires. This is the whole course; which is repeated two or three -times, or oftener, as they find necessary. The whole is concluded with -a gentle purge, tho’ the waters themselves are of a laxative nature. - -There is another spring in the town of the same nature, but not so -warm, as the Brudel: it is called the Mill-spring, and is only tepid. -Those of a warm or weak constitution make use of this instead of the -other, both for drinking and bathing. - -There are likewise several chalybeat springs in the neighbourhood of -Carlsbad; one at half a mile, and the other at two leagues distance -from the town. Both of them seem to resemble the water of the Pohun -spring at Spa; but are not near so strong. They do not use them -medicinally on the spot; but they are brought to Carlsbad, and sold, in -order to be drank with their wine. I am, - - My Lord, - With the greatest respect, - Your Lordship’s - Most obedient humble Servant, - Jeremiah Milles. - -Grosvenor-street, Jan. 19th, 1757. - - - - -V. _An Essay towards ascertaining the specific Gravity of living Men. -By Mr._ John Robertson, _F.R.S._ - - -[Read Jan. 27, 1757.] - -SOME time last autumn I had occasion to draw up a few examples on the -use of a table of the specific gravities and weights of some bodies. -Among other things, that occurred then to me, I thought it might be -useful to know the specific gravity of men. In order to make some -experiments on this subject, I got a cistern made, of 78 inches in -length, 30 inches wide, and 30 inches deep: it was constructed as near -a parallelopiped as the workman could, to prevent tedious operations in -computing the horizontal sections of the cistern by the surface of the -water. I then endeavoured to find ten persons, such as I proposed to -make the experiments withal; namely, two of six feet high, two of five -feet ten inches, two of five feet eight inches, two of five feet six -inches, and two of five feet four inches. One of each height I proposed -should be a fat man, and the other a lean one; but I could not succeed -in procuring such men; and, after waiting till near the middle of -October, I was obliged to put up with such, as would submit themselves -to the experiment at that season of the year. They were all labouring -men, belonging to the ordinary of Portsmouth yard, and, except one or -two of them, who were middling sized men, were for the most part very -thin and slim made persons. I had also provided a sliding measure to -take their heights, and scales to weigh them in. Every thing being -prepared, each man stript himself in an adjoining room, and put on -a pair of trowsers for decency’s sake: his height was first taken, -then his weight, and then he immersed (fortified with a large dram of -brandy). A ruler, graduated to inches, and decimal parts of an inch, -was fixed to one end of the cistern, and the height of the water -noted before a man went in, and to what height it rose when he ducked -himself under its surface; and of these several observations is the -following table composed. - - +---+--------+-----+---------+---------+--------+---------+-------+ - | | | |Ht. Water|Ht. Water| Water | |Weight | - |Nº.|Heights.| Wt. | before | when | raised.| |Water. | - | | | |immersed.|immersed.| |Solidity.| | - | |Ft. In. | Pds.| Inches. | Inches. | Inches.| |Pounds.| - +---+--------+-----+---------+---------+--------+---------+-------+ - | 1| 6 02 | 161 | 19,30 | 21,20 | 1,90 | 2,573 | 160,8 | - | 2| 5 10⅜ | 147 | 19,25 | 21,16 | 1,91 | 2,586 | 161,6 | - | 3| 5 9½ | 156 | 19,21 | 21,06 | 1,85 | 2,505 | 156,6 | - +---+--------+-----+---------+---------+--------+---------+-------+ - | 4| 5 6¾ | 140 | 19,17 | 21,21 | 2,04 | 2,763 | 172,6 | - | 5| 5 5⅞ | 158 | 19,13 | 21,21 | 2,08 | 2,817 | 176,0 | - | 6| 5 5½ | 158 | 19,09 | 21,26 | 2,17 | 2,939 | 183,7 | - +---+--------+-----+---------+---------+--------+---------+-------+ - | 7| 5 4⅜ | 140 | 19,05 | 21,06 | 2,01 | 2,722 | 170,1 | - | 8| 5 3⅛ | 132 | 19,01 | 20,86 | 1,85 | 2,505 | 156,6 | - | 9| 5 4⅛ | 121 | 18,97 | 20,76 | 1,79 | 2,424 | 151,5 | - | 10| 5 3¼ | 146 | 18,93 | 20,66 | 1,73 | 2,343 | 146,4 | - +---+--------+-----+---------+---------+--------+---------+-------+ - -In making of these experiments, I remarked some inconveniencies, which -I did not at first advert to, and which, at that time, I could not -prevent. I intended, that each man should have got gently into the -water, immersed himself all but his head, and so have staid until the -motion of the water had ceased; then he was suddenly to have ducked -his head under, and have continued to a few seconds of time, until I -had noted the rise of the water; and, after his leaving the cistern, -another was not to go in until the water was free from motion. Could -these things have been done, as I projected, I could have recommended -the foregoing table as sufficiently complete: but I must observe, that -beside the men’s being of different sizes from what I had desired, -they were in too much haste to be dismissed (with another dram after -dressing); so that the water was not quite still when they got into -the cistern: neither could I persuade all of them to lay themselves -down gently, much less to keep their heads under water so long a time -as one second: so that, in most of the observations, the surface of -the water was far from being quite so still, as to render the measures -perfectly exact, I being obliged to catch them, as it were, by taking -the mean height between the librations. Moreover, the great area of the -cistern was no inconsiderable bar to the accuracy I expected. However, -as I do not recollect experiments of this kind any-where recorded, -these, perhaps, may give some satisfaction to such persons, who may -have the curiosity to desire some knowlege on this subject. Were I -to make any more observations of this kind, I would chuse an upright -parallelopiped, not above 18 or 20 inches in the side of the square; -into which the person should let himself down by steps nailed to the -side: for in so small an area the motion of the water would sooner -subside; neither would the librations be any thing near so large as on -a smaller surface. - -One of the reasons, that induced me to make these experiments, was -a desire of knowing what quantity of fir or oak timber would be -sufficient to keep a man afloat in river or sea water, thinking that -most men were specifically heavier than river or common fresh water; -but the contrary appears from these trials: for, excepting the first -and last, every man was lighter than his equal bulk of fresh water, -and much more so than his equal bulk of sea-water: consequently, could -persons, who fall into water, have presence of mind enough to avoid the -fright usual on such accidents, many might be preserved from drowning; -and a piece of wood, not larger than an oar, would buoy a man partly -above water so long as he had spirits to keep his hold. Some things -herein advanced will perhaps more readily appear from the following -relation. - -The Lords of the Admiralty have appointed, for the exercise of the -scholars belonging to the royal academy at Portsmouth, a small yacht; -wherein, during the summer months, those young gentlemen are taught -the practice of working a vessel at sea, under the directions of one -of the master-attendants, assisted by eight or ten seamen. The last -time this yacht was out, which was about the beginning of last October, -one of the scholars was ordered to heave the lead. The youth was about -thirteen years old, small of his age, and far from being fat; as he -was stepping on the gunnel, he fell over-board: the sea was rough, and -the yacht had great way; so that he was presently at a considerable -distance from the vessel. The skiff was immediately let down; but the -painter not being fast, the rope run an end, and the skiff went adrift. -One of the seamen jumpt over-board, got into the boat, brought her -along-side the vessel, took in another man, and then went after the -youth, whom they recovered, after he had been in the water more than -half an hour. The young gentleman, relating the affair, said, that as -he could swim very little, and judging he should sink if he strove -against the waves, he turned on his back, and committed himself to -their mercy. He kept himself perfectly calm; and observed, when a wave -was likely to break over him, to hold his breath, and to spurt out the -water forced into his mouth. His hat, which happened to be tied by a -piece of string to one of his coat button-holes, he often held up with -his hand, as a signal where he was. Just before the boat came up to him -he began to be faint, his eyes became dim, and he thought himself on -the verge of sinking. This youth, who, by his prudence, saved himself -from drowning, must, at that time, have been specifically lighter than -water. - - - - -VI. _An Instance of the Gut_ Ileum, _cut thro’ by a Knife, successfully -treated by Mr._ Peter Travers, _Surgeon, at_ Lisbon. _Communicated by_ -John Huxham, _M.D. F.R.S._ - - -[Read Jan. 27, 1757.] - - Lisbon, August 3d, 1756. - -ANtonia Josée da Costa, one of the King’s messengers, was attacked by -two men, and, after receiving two blows on the head, was stabbed with -a knife in the right hypogastric region, about three fingers breadth -above the os pubis; the external wound being larger, as the knife was -drawn obliquely towards the navel, and might be an inch and half in -length, the perforation thro’ the peritonæum about three quarters of an -inch; the intestine ileum hanging out about ten or twelve inches, and -quite pierced thro’, the wound in the gut being large enough to admit -my fore finger. After clearing the grumous blood with warm water and -Hungary water, the uninterrupted suture was made on both perforations; -then dilating the common integuments of the belly, the intestine was -reduced, leaving the ends of the two threads at the superficies of -the wound; and the external incision was sewed up by the interrupted -suture, and common dressings of lint and bandage applied. A clyster was -given him immediately after the above operation, of oil of olives, the -yolk of an egg, and warm water. - -4th. This day I found he had passed in the most excruciating pains, -attended with continual vomitings: his fever very high, pulse full -and irregular: he was bled ten ounces this morning, and the like -quantity this evening. The clysters were continued thrice a day, with -a decoction of wormwood and camomile instead of the warm water, and an -anodyne mixture of mint-water, liquid laudanum, and sugar, to be taken -occasionally; also three ounces of syrup of rhubarb, with an ounce of -the fresh-drawn oil of sweet almonds, to be taken, a common spoonful -every two hours. - -5th. The bleedings were continued twice this day, three ounces each -time, and the clysters were administered as yesterday. His pulse -and fever very high; he vomited some excrements; and towards night -complained of a singultus. - -6th. His bleedings and clysters were continued as before. Finding his -singultus and vomiting so very troublesome, I ordered him Dr. Huxham’s -tincture of the bark; which was taken, a tea-spoonful, six times a -day, in a little mint-water; which indeed greatly relieved him: his -singultus and vomiting became less frequent. - -7th. I found his skin moist, and pulse softened. I remained with him -about an hour, and found a plentiful perspiration throughout the body; -on which I omitted his bleedings: the clysters were continued; and -towards night he had a proper discharge by stool, very fœtid, and -inspissated. - -8th. I found, for the first time, he had slept last night, and seemed -much in spirits: the symptomatic fever something lessened; and he had -purged last night, and this day, eight times. - -9th. He had five stools; his neausea much abated; and a gentle -diaphoresis continued. - -10th. The singultus ceased; his vomiting very little; his pulse low, -accelerated, and thread-like in its stroke; his purging violent; and he -greatly complained of a most acute pain of the wounded parts. A paper -of the following absorbent powders was given him every three hours in -rice-water. Crabs-eyes and red coral prepared, of each one drachm, -crude opium two grains: these were made for three doses, and given as -above. - -11th. He slept well; less pain; pulse more equal; his diarrhæa much the -same. - -12th. The threads, with which I had made the suture of the intestine, -came out of themselves: the wound well-conditioned; fever very little; -his diarrhæa rather increased. He sent for me in the evening, being -much alarmed, as he thought some liquids he had taken to have passed -thro’ the wounded parts. - -13th. Yesterday he complained of great pains in his belly: the -discharge from his wound was laudable matter, and in good quantity. - -14th. He rested well, and was seemingly well beyond expectation. His -diarrhæa still continuing troublesome, he took the hartshorn decoction, -with an addition of diascordium. - -15th. I cut off the threads of the external wound, and continued -dressings of digestive in the common method. - -16th. He grew visibly better each day after; and on Sept. 7th I -discharged him from any further attendance, his wound being intirely -healed over, and he is in all respects very well, free from pain, or -any inconvenience from the wound. He was kept seven and twenty days on -chicken-broth, and never admitted to use any solids during that time: -afterwards he was indulged with young chickens, &c. - - - - -VII. _An Account of a Visitation of the leprous Persons in the Isle -of_ Guadaloupe: _In a Letter to Mons._ Damonville, _Counsellor and -Assistant-Judge at_ Martinico, _and in the Office of King’s Physician -at_ Guadaloupe. _By_ John Andrew Peyssonel, _M.D. F.R.S. Translated -from the_ French. - - -[Read Feb. 3, 1757.] - -+SIR+, - -I Received the letter, which you honoured me with, and the order for -visiting the persons afflicted with the leprosy. I was sensible of the -misfortune of being ordered upon that commission: I say misfortune; -for such you will perhaps think it, when you have read this letter. - -It is now about 25 or 30 years since a very particular disease shewed -itself in many persons in this island Grande Terre. Its beginning -is imperceptible: there appear but a few livid-red spots upon the -skins of the white people, and of a yellowish red upon the blacks. -These spots in the beginning are not accompanied with pain, or any -other symptom; but nothing can take them away. The disease increases -insensibly, and continues several years in shewing itself more and -more. These spots increase, and extend indifferently over the skin -of the whole body. Sometimes they are a little prominent, but flat. -When the disease makes a progress, the upper part of the nose swells, -the nostrils are enlarged, the nose becomes softened; tuberosities -appear upon the cheek-bones; the eyebrows are inflated; the ears grow -thick; the ends of the fingers, and even the feet and toes, swell; -the nails become scaly; the joints of the feet and hands separate and -mortify: ulcers of a deep and of a dry nature are found in the palms -of the hands and soles of the feet, which grow well, and return again. -In short, when the disease is in its last stage, the patient becomes -frightful, and falls to pieces. All these symptoms come on by very -slow degrees, one after another, and sometimes require many years to -shew themselves: the patient is sensible of no sharp pain; but feels -a kind of numbness in his hands and feet. These people perform their -natural functions all the while, eating and drinking as usual: and -even when the mortification has taken off the fingers and toes, the -only ill consequence, that attends, is the loss of those parts, that -drop off by the mortification; for the wound heals of itself, without -any application: but when it comes to its last period, the poor sick -persons are horribly deformed, and truly worthy of compassion. - -This shocking disease is observed to have several other unhappy -characters; as, 1st, that it is hereditary, and that some families are -more apt to be seized with it than others: 2dly, that it is infectious, -being communicated _per coitum_, and also caught by keeping company -with those so diseased: 3dly, that it is incurable, or at least that -no remedy has yet been found to cure it. They have in vain tried -mercurials, sudorifics, and every other regimen used in venereal -complaints, under a notion, that this leprosy was the consequence of -some venereal taint: but, instead of being of service, these methods -rather served to destroy the patients; for, far from lessening the -disease, the antivenereal medicines unlocked the distemper, the most -dreadful symptoms appeared, and all those so treated perished some -years sooner than the others, who did not take these medicines. - -A very just fear of being infected with this cruel distemper; the -difficulty of examining infected persons before the disease came to -its state; the length of time of its lying concealed, by the care -of the patients to keep it secret; the uncertainty of the symptoms, -which distinguish it in the beginning; produced an extraordinary dread -in all the inhabitants of this island. They inspected one another, -since virtue and merit had no shelter from this cruel scourge. They -called this distemper the leprosy; and consequently presented several -memoirs to the generals and intendants, laying before them all these -facts above-mentioned; their just apprehensions; the public good; the -trouble, that this distrust caused in this colony; the complaints and -hatred, that these accusations occasioned among them; the laws made -formerly against such leprous persons, and their expulsion from civil -society. They required a general visitation of all persons suspected -of this distemper, that such, as were found infected, might be removed -into particular hospitals, or into some separate places. - -These memorials were sent to court, which, giving due attention to -these just representations, issued orders for the required visitations -in the most convenient manner, for the good of the public and of the -state. - -In the mean time, the post of physician-botanist become vacant in the -island of Cayenne. The minister was pleased to name me for it; and -altho’ this island was much more fertile in philosophical discoveries -than all the others, he thought proper to change my destination, and -sent me to this isle Guadaloupe; and did not forget the article of the -leprosy in my instructions. - -When I arrived at Martinico in 1727, Monsieur Blondel de Juvencourt, -then intendant of the French isles, communicated to me both the orders -of the court, and all the memoirs, that related to this affair. A tax -was then laid upon the Negroes of the inhabitants of the Grande Terre, -to raise a necessary fund for this visitation, thus made at the expence -of the colony; and Mons. le Mercier Beausoleil was chosen treasurer of -this fund. - -Being arrived at Guadaloupe, the Count de Moyencourt, and Mons. -Mesnier, ordinator and subdelegate to this intendance, communicated -to me the order of the general and intendant. I began then to inform -myself of the necessary instructions for acquiting myself of this -dangerous commission, the disagreeable consequences of which I easily -foresaw. I had so often heard of these leprous spots, that I judged -it necessary to know, whether what was said was true: for I could not -comprehend, that a disease, which has so dreadful an end, and the -symptoms then so terrible, should continue ten or fifteen years without -any other appearance than these simple spots; which, in themselves, had -nothing very bad. I demanded an inquest to be made, in order to satisfy -myself of this fact: several surgeons, as practitioners, and several -honest inhabitants, as observers, were accordingly called together, -who all proved the same fact in this inquest; which you, Sir, may, and -must, have seen in the register of the subdelegation of this island. I -am, most sincerely, - - +SIR+, - Your most humble and obedient Servant, - Peyssonel. - -August 10. 1748. - - -RESULT _of the_ VISITATION. - -1st, NONE of the patients, whom we visited, had any fever; and they -all declared, that they found no inconvenience nor pain; but, on -the contrary, eat, drank, and slept well, performing every natural -function; which was proved by their plumpness, which appeared even when -the disease was most confirmed. - -2. The disease began to shew itself in the Negroes by reddish spots, -a little raised, upon the skin, being a dry kind of tetter, neither -branny nor scabbed, and without any running, but of a livid-red, and -very ill-conditioned. The Negroes sometimes bring these spots with -them from their own country. The spots are constantly found upon every -person troubled with this disease; and are in greater numbers, in -proportion as the disease grows more inveterate. - -3. Among the whites the disease shews itself at the beginning by spots -of a livid violet colour, without pain; which are followed by little -watery bladders, particularly upon the legs, which burst, and leave -small ulcers with pale edges, and different in their natures from the -common ulcers. - -4. In proportion as the disease increased, the hands and feet grew -larger, without any signs of inflammation; since neither redness, nor -pain, nor any oedematous appearance accompanied it; but it was the very -flesh, that increased in bulk. And this growth of the hands and feet -was not attended with any sharp pain, but only a kind of numbness. - -5. This bloated state of the hands and feet was succeeded by white -deep ulcers under the skin, which became callous and insensible; and -which emitted only a clear serous matter like water, and were but -little painful. Afterwards the ends of the fingers became dry, the -nails became scaly, and, I don’t know how, they were eaten away; the -ends of the fingers dropt off; then the joints separated without pain, -and the wounds cicatrized of themselves, without the least need of -medicines. In the increase of the distemper hardnesses and lumps were -formed in the flesh, the colour became tarnished, the nose swelled, -and the nostrils grew wide: at last the nose softened like paste, the -voice became hoarse, the eyes round and brilliant, the forehead covered -with tetters and lumps, as well as the face; the eye-brows became -very large, the countenance was horrible, the breath fœtid, the lips -swelled, large tubercles were formed under the tongue; the ears grew -thick and red, and hung down; and, such was the insensibility of all -the parts, that we run pins thro’ the hands of several, without their -feeling any thing of it. In short, we were assured, that these people -perished by degrees, falling into a mortification; and the limbs dropt -off of themselves, without any considerable pain, continuing still to -perform well their natural functions. - -6. These leprous people lived thus easy, if I may be allowed the -expression, for several years, even fifteen or twenty; for the disease -begins insensibly, and shews itself but very slowly. - -7. Antivenereal remedies, which were ordered for almost every patient -we saw, were of no service: if they sometimes palliated some symptoms, -they very often hastened the progress of the disease: besides, we never -found the parts of generation at all infected, nor any thing, that -looked like the pox about them. - -8. Some of these people had indeed particular symptoms. In some the -hair fell off; which was replaced by a finer kind: in others, worms -were found in their ulcers: want of sleep, or frightful dreams, -afflicted some; while others quite lost their voice, or it became -effeminate like that of eunuchs; and others, we found, stunk extremely. - -9. Almost all of them, being desirous of concealing their disorders, -endeavored to deceive us, by alleging false excuses for the causes of -their sores and ulcers: the greater part of them pretended, that the -rats had eaten off their toes, and that burns had caused their ulcers. -These were the figures, that every where presented to us. - -10. We were confirmed in our opinions by experience, supported by -verbal process, that this was the state of the diseased; that the -distemper could neither be the pox, nor the effect of an inveterate -one: that it had no symptom of that disease; but that it had every -character of what the ancients called leprosy, elephantiasis, or -such other names, as they were pleased to give it. So that we do not -hesitate to pronounce, that those infected with this disease, as we -have described it, ought to be treated as leprous persons, and subject -to the ordinances, which his majesty was pleased to issue against such -persons. - -11. Again, we are well assured, from our observations, that the -distemper is contagious, and hereditary; and yet the contagion is not -so active, nor poisonous, as that of the plague, small-pox, nor even as -the ring-worm, itch, scald, and other cutaneous disorders: for, if that -were the case, the American colonies would be utterly destroyed; and -these persons so infected, mixed as they are in every habitation, would -have already infected all the Negroes, whom they come near. - -12. We believe, that this contagion does not take place but by long -frequenting the company of the infected, or by carnal knowlege. -Besides, we have observed, that even such long frequenting, or -cohabiting with them, are not always sufficient to communicate the -disease; because we have seen women cohabit with their husbands, and -husbands with their wives, in the distemper, while one is sound, and -the other infected. We see families communicate and live with leprous -persons, and yet never be infected; and thus, altho’ experience, and -the information of the sick, prove the contagion, we are of opinion, -that there must be a particular disposition in people to receive the -poison of the leprosy. - -13. As to what regards the distemper’s being hereditary, it is -assuredly so. We have seen intire families infected; and almost every -child of a leprous father or mother fall insensibly into the leprosy; -and yet, in several other families, we have seen some children sound, -and others tainted; the father has died of the disease, and the -children grew old without any infection: so that, tho’ it is certainly -hereditary, yet we believe it is of the same nature with those in -families troubled with the consumption, gravel, and other hereditary -distempers; which are transmitted from father to son, without being so -very regular, as to affect every one of the family. - -14. We could never find out any certain rule of judging, at what age -the disease shews itself first in those, who were begotten by infected -parents: but we have, as far as we could, observed, with regard to -women or girls, that the symptoms begin with the menses, and continue -slightly till they have lain in of one or two children: but that then -more visible, and indeed more cruel, symptoms appeared. As to men, or -infants, there is no rule to know it in them. - -15. For the explanation of the causes, symptoms, and what we think -the most likely means of cure, we refer to a particular dissertation. -Let it suffice here to observe, that we do not imagine, that the air, -water, or manner of living, can produce it; for we have found as many -sick in the low marshy places, as in more airy saline places: and if -many Negroes were infected in the Grand Terre, where they drink the -foul waters of ponds and lakes, we see an equal number ill in places, -where they have fresh rivers and running waters; but they may prove -proper causes for unlocking, and disposing persons to receive, the -disease. - -16. We believe, and are persuaded, that the origin of this disease -among the Negroes comes from Guinea: for almost all the Negroes from -the country told us they came from thence with these reddish spots, the -first and certain signs of the distemper begun. - -17. As to the infected Whites and Mulattoes of this island, we were -informed, that the disease was not known among the Whites till about 25 -or 30 years ago; when, out of charity, they received a miserable object -from the island of St. Christoper’s, whose name was Clement; who, about -the year 1694, fled hither. It was the family of the Josselins, called -the Chaloupers, that protected him; which family, as also that of the -Poulins, we found infected by communication with this sick man, as old -Poulin declared to us. - -It is thought, that others were infected by communication with the -Negro women, especially in the beginning, when the disease is much -concealed, at a time when they did not mistrust one another; which -is very probable, since we saw many Mulatto children, born of female -Negroes, infected and leprous. - -18. However this be, this distemper has had its progress; and in this -visitation, which we made, we examined 256 suspected persons; that is, -89 Whites, 47 free Mulattoes, and 120 Negroes: among whom we found -22 Whites, 6 Mulattoes, and 97 Negroes, infected with the leprosy, -amounting to 125. There were six Whites and five Negroes more, whom -we could not visit, for reasons set forth in the verbal process. The -remaining persons, which were 131, appeared to us very sound: not that -we can answer for the consequences, especially with respect to the -children, who are the offspring of leprous persons; whether declared -such by us, or dead before the visitation, suspected of infection. - -This is the opinion, declaration, and result of the visitation made -by us, the physicians and surgeon appointed for that purpose. At -Basseterre, the day above-mentioned. - - PEYSSONEL. - LEMOINE. - MOULON. - -A second visitation was made in October 1748. - - - - -VIII. _An Account of the late Discoveries of Antiquities at_ -Herculaneum; _in an Extract of a Letter from_ Camillo Paderni, _Keeper -of the_ Herculanean Museum, _and F.R.S. to_ Thomas Hollis, _Esq; dated_ -Naples, Dec. 16, 1756. - - -[Read Feb. 10, 1757.] - -IT is probable, that the first volume of antique paintings will be -published at Easter; in which there will be fifty copper-plates, with -observations by the academy lately established here for illustrating -the antiquities. - -Two volumes of the ancient papyrus have been unrolled. One treats of -_rhetoric_, and the other is upon _music_; and both are written by the -same author, Philodemus. Il Signor Canonico Mazzocchi, a very learned -gentleman of this city, is now translating them from the Greek. There -are two persons constantly employed in unrolling other volumes. - -In the month of April were found two fine busts of women, the subjects -unknown. Also a young stag, of excellent workmanship, upon a base. The -height of it, from the feet to the top of the head, is three palms -and a half. Likewise its companion; but broken in many pieces; which -however I hope to restore. - -In May, a small young hog. - -In October, a female statue, of middling workmanship. Also a Silenus, -a palm and three inches high, standing upon a square base raised upon -three rows of steps, which are supported at the angles by lions claws. -He has a bald head, a long curled beard, a hairy body, and naked feet. -The drapery about him is loose and flowing: the fore-finger of each -hand is extended, and all the rest are closed. From his back arises a -branch above the head, where it divides into two, which, twisting their -foliage round it, fall and spread themselves below the shoulders, on -each of which a stand is placed to fix a lamp. In the middle, betwixt -the extremities of these two small branches, is a bird resembling a -parroquet. The whole of this figure is in a very good taste. All these -things above-mentioned are of bronze. - -In November was discovered a beautiful marble Terminus, of Greek -workmanship, as big as the life. It is drest in a chlamys; has a young -countenance; and the head is covered with a Grecian helmet. - -Many other things have also been found, as lamps, vases, and such-like, -in bronze. And we have often met with paintings. If any farther -discoveries are made, which are remarkable, you may depend on being -informed of them. - -At present my time is much taken up, in a work extremely difficult and -tedious; which is this: When the theatre was first discovered, there -were found in it, among other things, several horses in bronze, larger -than the life; but all of them bruised, and broken into many pieces. -From this sad condition they are not yet restored. But his majesty -having expressed a particular desire to see that effected, if possible, -with regard to one of them, I resolved to attempt it; and accordingly -have set about it. - - - - -IX. _An Account of some Trees discovered under-ground on the Shore at_ -Mount’s-Bay _in_ Cornwall: _In a Letter from the Rev. Mr._ William -Borlase, _F.R.S. to the Rev. Dr._ Lyttelton, _Dean of_ Exeter. - - -[Read Feb. 10, 1757.] - - Ludgvan, Jan 24. 1757. - -Reverend Sir, - -BEING an airing the other day with Mrs. Borlase, on the sands below -my house, we perceived the sands betwixt the Mount and Penzance much -washed into pits, and bare stony areas, like a broken causey. In one -of the latter, Mrs. B. as we passed by, thought she saw the appearance -of a tree; and, upon a review, I found it to be the roots of a tree, -branching off from the trunk in all directions. We made as much haste -down to the same place in the afternoon as we could, and with proper -help to make a farther examination. I measured and drew the remains; -and about 30 feet to the west found the roots of another tree, but -without any trunk, tho’ displayed in the same horizontal manner as -the first. Fifty feet farther to the north we found the body of an -oak, three feet in diameter, reclining to the east. We dug about it, -and traced it six feet deep under the surface; but its roots were -still deeper than we could pursue them. Within a few feet distance -was the body of a willow, one foot and a half in diameter, with the -bark on; and one piece of a large hazel-branch, with its bark on. -What the two first trees were, it was not easy to distinguish, there -being not a sufficiency remaining of the first, and nothing but roots -of the second, both pierced with the teredo, or augur-worm. Round -these trees was sand, about ten inches deep, and then the natural -earth, in which these trees had formerly flourished. It was a black -marsh-earth, in which the leaves of the juncus were intirely preserved -from putrefaction. These trees were 300 yards below full-sea-mark; -and, when the tide is in, have at least 12 feet of water above them: -and doubtless there are the remains of other trees farther towards -the south, which the sea perpetually covers, and have more than 30 -feet water above them. But these are sufficient to confirm the ancient -tradition of these parts, that St. Michael’s mount, now half a mile -inclosed with the sea, when the tide is in, stood formerly in a wood. -That the wood consisted of oak, very large, hazel and willow trees, -is beyond dispute. That there has been a subsidence of the sea-shores -hereabouts, is hinted in my letter to you, p. 92; and the different -levels and tendencies, which we observed in the positions of the trees -we found, afford us some material inferences, as to the degree and -inequalities of such subsidences in general; as the age, in which this -subsidence happened (near 1000 years since at least) may convince us, -that when earthquakes happen, it is well for the country, that they -are attended with subsidences; for then the ground settles, and the -inflammable matter, which occasioned the earthquake, has no longer room -to spread, unite, and recruit its forces, so as to create frequent and -subsequent earthquakes: whereas, where there are earthquakes without -proportionable subsidences, there are caverns and ducts under-ground -remaining open and unchoaked, the same cause, which occasioned the -first, has room to revive and renew its struggles, and to repeat its -desolations or terrors; which is most probably the case of Lisbon. I -am, Sir, - - Your most affectionate - and obliged humble Servant, - Wm. Borlase. - - - - -X. _Experiments on applying the Rev. Dr._ Hales’_s Method of distilling -Salt-water to the Steam-Engine. By_ Keane Fitzgerald, _Esq; F.R.S._ - - -[Read Feb. 17, 1757.] - -ON reading Dr. Hale’s account of purifying salt-water, by blowing -showers of air thro’, it occurred to me, that something of the kind -might be applied with advantage to the steam or fire-engine, by -increasing the quantity of steam, and consequently diminishing the -quantity of fuel otherwise necessary. - -As the strength of steam raised from boiling water is always in a -fluctuating state, and, by the best experiments hitherto made, has -never been found above ⅒ stronger, or weaker, than air; I was in doubt, -whether steam, produced by this method, would be sufficiently strong -for the purpose of the steam-engine. - -I made an experiment first on a small boiler, about 12 inches diameter, -made in the shape of those commonly used in steam-engines, with a -funnel at the top, of about 1 inch diameter, for the steam to pass -thro’; the aperture of which was covered with a thin plate, fixt at -one end with a hinge, and a small leaden weight to slide on the other, -in the nature of a steel-yard, to mark the strength or quantity of -the steam. A tin pipe made for this purpose, with several small holes -towards the end, passed from a small pair of bellows, through the upper -part of the boiler, to within about an inch of the bottom. The boiler -was half filled with water, which covered the holes in the pipe about -six inches. From the best observation I was capable of making with this -machine, by blowing air thro’ the boiling water, it produced about ⅙ -more steam than was produced by the same fire without blowing air thro’. - -I then applied a machine of this kind to the engine at the -York-buildings water-works, the boiler of which is 15 feet diameter. -This is a patent-boiler, a section and plan of which is annexed. It -has a double concave, with a kind of door-way or passage from one to -the other, in order to let the flame pass, as it were, thro’ and round -the water; by which means there is no-where above nine inches of water -to be heated thro’, tho’ the boiler is so large; and which, by three -years experience, has been found to require ¼ less fuel, than any other -fire-engine of equal bigness. - -[Illustration: _Philos. Trans. Vol. L._ TAB. I _p. 54_. _J. Mynde sc._] - -I fixt a pipe of an inch and a half diameter to a pair of double -bellows three feet diameter; which pipe reached about one foot under -the surface of the water in the boiler; to the end of which are fixed -horizontally two branches, each about eight feet long, tapering from -one inch diameter to about ¼ of an inch. These branches are bent in a -circular manner, as in the plan, to answer the form of the concave, -and are perforated with small holes about four inches distant at the -thickest part, and decreasing gradually in distance, to within ¼ of an -inch, towards the small end. The reason of these branches being made -taper, and the distance between the holes decreasing to the small end, -was in order to give the greater power to the air forced by the bellows -to discharge the water lodged in such a length of pipe; and I observed -by this method, that the water was gradually forced thro’ the holes to -the end of each branch, and seemed to throw an equal quantity of air -thro’ the water. - -The length of the pipe, to which the branches are fixed horizontally, -is about 18 feet to the nosle of the bellows: notwithstanding which -length, the steam, that passed thro’ the pipe into the bellows, was so -hot before the water boiled, as to force thro’ the leather: but this I -easily remedied, by fixing a brass cock of one inch and a half diameter -to the pipe, which hindered the steam from ascending, until the engine -was ready to work; and being opened, the air continually keeps it cold -until the engine has done working; then the cock must be shut again. - -The bellows is worked by means of a small lever, and pullies applied -to the great lever of the fire-engine, which keeps a continual -blast whilst the engine works; the strength of which is increased or -diminished, by adding or taking off the weights on the bellows. - -The effect produced, according to the best observations I could make, -was, first, a very visible alteration for the better in the working -of the engine. When the fire was stirred, as it must be every time -fuel is added, the steam generally became too fierce, which occasioned -great irregularity, and sometimes, if not watched, great damage to the -engine; and when the fire abated, the stroke became immediately much -shorter, or stopped intirely, if fuel was not soon added: whereas, by -blowing air thus thro’ the water, it keeps, with any moderate care, an -equal stroke to its full length, from the beginning to the end; and -by that means discharges a considerably greater quantity of water. A -proof of which was very evident, tho’ I could not ascertain the exact -quantity: for the engine, before this improvement, supplied but two -main pipes at once, which conveyed the water to the houses served by -them; but since could not take off the quantity of water thrown up, -part of which was obliged to be discharged into a third main. - -As to the quantity of fuel, that may be saved by this method, it is -not easy to determine from any experiment on this engine, the boiler -and fire-place of which is made very different from all others, and -the quantity of fuel already thereby greatly lessened. The fire-place, -which may be said to be within the boiler, and is but barely large -enough to contain a quantity of the roundest and strongest burning -coals sufficient to work the engine, cannot in this be made less; and -consequently will not admit such a saving from this model, as from -one properly constructed for the purpose: a proof of which I made, by -trying some coals of a weaker kind, which were also cheaper; but on -trial were not strong enough to work the engine, and had therefore -been laid by. These coals answered extremely well; and, as it was a -slower-burning coal, I found the consumption, whilst they lasted, was -between two and three bushels less in every six hours, which is about -the time the engine works each day: and I am satisfied, if the person, -who attends the engine, would take the proper care, more coals could -still be saved. For at several different times, when I had the coals -exactly measured, and marked the time, I constantly found, that it -required half a bushel in the hour less than he generally used, and the -engine threw up as much water. - -As this method of blowing air thro’ boiling water, in order to increase -the quantity of steam for a fire-engine, has, I believe, never before -been attempted, and produces already a very good effect, I am in hopes -it may be still further improved. - - - - -XI. _Extract of a Letter of Mr._ Abraham Trembley, _F.R.S. to_ Tho. -Birch, _D.D. Secret. R.S. Translated from the_ French. - - -[Read Feb. 17, 1757.] - - Hague, 1 Feb. 1757. - -SIR, - -I Wrote to you on the 26th of November last, concerning the earthquake -felt some time before between the Rhine and the Meuse. I have been -since informed by Professor Donati of Turin, that a slight shock had -been perceived there on the 13th of August 1756, at a quarter after -nine in the morning. It was likewise felt in other parts of Piedmont. -He has also communicated to me an extract of a letter of a professor of -Genoa, one of his friends, of which the following is a translation. - - “On the 9th of November we felt here two shocks of an earthquake; one - at 20¾ hours, according to the Italian way of reckoning; the other - at about 4½ hours at night. I did not perceive the first, being then - walking in the house; but I felt the second. I was then laid down, and - going to sleep. The direction of the undulations was from north to - south, as far as I could judge.” - -Mons. Donati took last summer, according to his custom, a journey, -in order to prosecute his researches into natural history. He was -accompanied by Dr. Ascanius, Fellow of the Royal Society; who was still -in doubt about coral’s being a composition of animals. Mons. Donati -carried him to the sea of Provence. He ordered coral to be fished up -in his presence. He placed it in a large vessel full of water; and -carried this vessel on shore; where he soon convinced Dr. Ascanius, by -his own eyes, that coral is a mass of animals of the polype-kind. - -Mons. Donati has written to me, that he has thoroughly satisfied -himself by his last observations, that the polypes are fixed to their -cells; of which he had before doubted. What he says afterwards of -coral appears to me to express with more truth and precision what we -ought to think of this kind of animals, than any of the descriptions, -which have been given since the new discoveries have changed our -sentiments on that subject. Polype-beds, and the cells, which they -contain, are commonly spoken of as being the work of polypes. They -are compared to the honeycomb made by bees. It is more exact to say, -that coral, and other coralline bodies, have the same relation to the -polypes united to them, that there is between the shell of a snail and -the snail itself, or between the bones of an animal, and the animal -itself. Mons. Donati’s words are as follow. “I am now of opinion, -that coral is nothing else than a real animal, which has a very great -number of heads. I consider the polypes of coral only as the heads of -the animal. This animal has a bone ramified in the shape of a shrub. -This bone is covered with a kind of flesh, which is the flesh of the -animal. My observations have discovered to me several analogies between -the animals of kinds approaching to this. There are, for instance, -keratophyta, which do not differ from coral, except in the bone or -part, that forms the prop of the animal. In the coral it is testaceous, -and in the keratophyta it is horny.” - -The observations, which I have made upon some kind of polype-beds, -lead me to think, that what are called polypes, in those bodies, -which are observed to come out of and return into the cells, are more -than the heads of the animal. I have seen some, which had a bag, -into which pass’d their food, which I saw them swallow; and another -bag, into which passed the grossest part of that food, after it was -digested. This is the case, for instance, of the plumed polypes, which -I described at the end of the third memoir, in the work published by me -on one kind of fresh-water polypes. - -Mons. Donati has observed divers very curious facts in the journey, -which he made into the mountains. He has, in particular, traced out an -immense bed of marine bodies. This bed crosses the highest mountains, -which separate Provence from Piedmont, and loses itself in the plains -of Piedmont. - -He has likewise observed a mass of rock, which forms the extremity of -a pretty high mountain, the foot of which is washed by the sea. This -rock is at a considerable height, intirely pierced by pholades, that -species of marine shell-fish so well known, which digs cells into the -stones. It appears from hence, that this rock was some time covered -by the sea. According to Mons. Donati, the sea has insensibly retired -from the parts, which were washed by it; and he thinks, that there -must have been a very considerable space of time between that and the -time, when this mountain, pierced by pholades, was covered by the -waters of the sea. He deduces his opinion from the following fact. -There is in this rock, pretty near the surface of the sea, a natural -cavern fill’d with earth. In this earth have been found ancient Roman -sarcophagi and lamps. It follows from hence, that even in the time of -the Romans this part of the rock, in which this cavern is situated, was -not under water. As there is but a small distance between the cavern -and the surface of the water, it follows, that the water has sunk but -very little since the time of the Romans. If it has sunk in the same -proportion since the time, when it covered the top of the rock, there -is no doubt, but that the time, when it was intirely covered by the -sea, must have been very distant. If the same manner of reasoning be -used, with respect to the bed of marine bodies, mentioned above, which -crosses the mountains, that separate Provence from Piedmont, we shall -be obliged to presume, that the time, when those mountains were under -the waters of the sea, was at a very great distance from the present. - -Mons. Donati concludes from these facts, and the consequences deduced -from them, that the Mediterranean sea is a very ancient, and not a -modern one, as Mons. de Buffon imagines. - -Those, who explain all phænomena of marine bodies found out of the -sea, by an universal deluge, do not admit the consequences drawn by -Mons. Donati from those marine bodies now under consideration. It is -plain, that most of the naturalists, who have observed a great number -of these marine bodies, are not of opinion, that all those phænomena -can be explained by a universal deluge. Upon these subjects, before we -undertake to judge, it is proper to be well informed of the nature of -marine fossile bodies, which are found in divers parts, and of their -situation and arrangement. It is necessary likewise to be acquainted -with the state of those, which are found actually under the sea, and -the revolutions, to which they are subject, while they are covered -by it. It is still farther requisite to have an attention to the -revolutions, which have been and are constantly observed, with respect -to the sea-shores, which change their situation in several parts, some -advancing upon the land, and others retiring. If all these different -facts be compared together, it will not be doubted, but there are -actually under the earth marine bodies which are found there only in -consequence of these slow revolutions, and not of an universal deluge. -Perhaps this notion might be extended to the greatest part of the -marine fossile bodies, which are known to us. - -Mons. Donati informs me, that he would be glad to present to the Royal -Society an history of coral, if he thought, that it would be agreeable -to them. - - - - -XII. _A brief Botanical and Medical History of the_ Solanum Lethale, -Bella-donna, _or_ Deadly Nightshade, _by Mr._ Richard Pultney. -_Communicated by Mr._ William Watson, _F.R.S._ - - -[Read Feb. 17, 1757.] - -BELLA-DONNA is the name, which the Italians, and particularly the -Venetians, apply to this plant; and Mr. Ray[1] observes, that is so -called because the Italian ladies make a cosmetic from the juice, -or distilled water, which they use to make their complexion fair and -white. Others[2] suppose it derives its name from its intoxicating -quality. With us it is generally known by the name of Deadly -Nightshade, or Dwale, tho’ this last term is seldom used for it; and -the old French word _Morelle_, which Lobel applies to it, seems to be -quite forgotten amongst us. - - -CLASSICAL DISTRIBUTION. - -The Deadly Nightshade was very soon discovered by the revivers of -botany after the restoration of learning; and, agreeable to the fashion -of those days, it was greatly debated among commentators, whether it -was known, and by what name, to the fathers of botany Theophrastus -and Dioscorides. Several of the writers of that time, as Dodenæus, -Guilandinus, Fuchsius, and Cordus, were of opinion, that it was the -Mandragora morion of Theophrastus; and their sentiments were espoused -by his learned commentator Bodæus à Stapel[3], who moreover supposes -it the plant, which Dioscorides describes, lib. iv. cap. 69. under the -name of Στρύχνος μανικὸς. On the other hand, Matthiolus[4] has taken -great pains to prove, that it is not the Mandragora of Theophrastus; -and both he and Ruellius[5] are inclined to think, that the Bella-donna -was not known to either of the Grecian Fathers; who are so short, -vague, and immethodical, in their descriptions, that it is very -difficult, not to say impossible, to apply them to particular species -with justness and precision. - -Be this as it will, our restorers of botany agreed in general to rank -it with the Solana, or Nightshades; and as most of them took it to be -the Στρύχνος μανικός of Dioscorides, so we find thereto the addition -of some epithet, expressive of its deleterious quality, in most of -their writings; such as lethale, somniferum, furiosum, &c. Its general -agreement with the plants of that genus, and also the knowledge the -world soon had of its poisonous quality, when it is considered, that -systematic distributions, from the parts of fructification, had not -been thought of at that time: these, I say, were sufficient reasons for -referring it to the Nightshades. By such names therefore is it found in -most of the old writers; till Clusius, who, observing perhaps, that it -differed in its parts of fructification from the Solana, adopted the -indigenous Italian name, as a generical one, and called it Bella-donna. -Cæsalpinus, the first inventor of a botanic system, did not separate -it from the Nightshades. Morison and Ray, the revivers of method -almost an hundred years afterwards, were aware of the difference; the -former having placed it in a chapter among the _Solanis affines_, -and the latter constituted a distinct genus of it, tho’ he retained -the old name in his history of plants. Tournefort adopted Clusius’s -name _Bella-donna_, and was followed by all the systematic botanists, -who have since wrote; as Boerhaave, Rivini, Ruppius, Knaut, Magnol, -Ludwig, and Haller; until Linnæus, conformable to the 229th rule of -the Fundamenta Botanica[6], rejected it, and very expressly calls it -Atropa[7]; in which he is followed by all succeeding writers, who have -chosen his method. - -Cæsalpinus, Morison, Ray, Herman, and Boerhaave, who range these plants -according to the fruit, place the Deadly Nightshade among the _Herbæ -Bacciferæ_ in their respective systems. - -Rivinus, Ludwig, and Christian Knaut, who adopt the number and -regularity of the petals in the corolla, for their classical character, -refer it to such as have regular monopetalous flowers. Ruppius, -whose method is upon the same plan, brings it among the irregular -monopetalous ones. - -Tournefort’s method, which is established upon the figure of the -flower, takes it into the first class among such plants as have -campaniform or bell-shaped flowers. - -Dr. Van Royen, whose system is undoubtedly a very elegant attempt -towards the natural method in botany, arranges it among such as he -calls Oligantheræ; namely, such plants as have the stamina equal to, or -fewer in number than, the segments of the corolla. - -Dr. Haller, whose method is upon the plan of a natural one also, -includes the Bella-donna among the Isostemones, such plants as have the -number of the stamina equal to the segments of the corolla. - -In the sexual system of Linnæus, at this time so generally received, -and so well established, it belongs to the Pentandria monogynia, or -such plants as have five stamina and one style. The plants of this -order are arranged into five subdivisions. The Atropa comes in among -those, that have declinated stamina. According to this method, we shall -give its generical characters from the last edition of Linnæus’s Genera -Plantarum. - -The most obvious and essential character of the genus is the _globose -berry, and open calyx_[8]. The general character is as follows. - - -ATROPA Linn. Gen. Plant. Ed. 5. Nº. 222. - -The calyx is a gibbous permanent perianthium, formed of a single leaf -divided into five acute segments. - -The corolla is formed of a single bell-shaped petal, the tube of which -is very short; the limb ventricose, of an oval figure, and longer than -the calyx. The mouth is small, expanded, and divided into five pretty -equal segments. - -The stamina are five subulated filaments proceeding from the base of -the flower, and are of the same length: at the base they are connivent, -and at the top bent outwardly. The antheræ are thick and assurgent. - -The germen is of a semiovated figure: the style is filiform, of the -length of the stamina, and inclinated. The stigma is capitated, -transversely oblong, and assurgent. The fruit is a globose berry, -standing in a large cup, and containing three cells. The receptacle is -convex on both sides, and kidney-shaped. - -The seeds are numerous, and kidney-shaped also. - - -_The_ +SPECIES+. - -1. Atropa caule herbaceo, foliis ovatis integris. Linn. Spec. Plant. p. -181. - - Atropa. Linn. Hort. Cliff. 57. Roy. Lugd. 423. Hort. Ups. 45. Dalib. - Paris. 70. - - Bella-donna majoribus foliis et floribus. Tourn. Inst. 77. Boerh. - Lugd. II. 69. Miller, plate 62. - - Bella-donna dicta Solanum lethale. Hill. Herb. Britan. p. 328. tab. 47. - - Bella-donna. Clus. Pan. p. 503. Bod à Stap. p. 586. Cat. Gissen. 142. - Raii Syn. ed. 3. p. 265. Vaillant. Botan. Par. p. 20. Hall. Helv. 507. - Dale Pharmacol. 4° ed. p. 72. Wilson. Synop. p. 122. - - Solanoc ongener flore campanulato vulgatius, latioribus foliis. Hist. - Oxon. III. p. 532. sect. 13. tab. 3. fig. 4. - - Solanum somniferum. Fuchs. 689. Icon. opt. - - Solanum maniacum multis sive Bella-donna. J.B. III. p. 611. - - Solanum melanocerasos. C.B. pin. 166. - - Solanum lethale. Ger. 169. emac. 340. Park. 346. Raii. Hist. Plant. - 679. - - Solanum majus sive Herba Bella-donna. Matthiol. Oper. Omn. p. 756. - - Solanum somniferum et lethale. Lobel. Adversar. p. 102. - - _Deadly Nightshade_, or _Dwale_. - -2. Atropa caule fruticoso. Spec. Plant. 182. - - Bella-donna frutescens rotundifolia Hispanica. Tourn. Inst. 77. - - Solanum frutex rotundifolium Hispanicum. Barril. Obs. 2. Icon. 1173. - - _Round-leaved shrubby Spanish Bella-donna._ - -3. Atropa foliis sinuato-angulatis, calycibus clausis acutangulis. -Spec. Plant. 181. - - Bella-donna flore magno violaceo. Hill. Herb. Brit. 319. - - Alkekengi amplo fiore violaceo. Few. Per. 724. tab. 16. - - _Large violet-flower’d Bella-donna, or Deadly Nightshade._ - -The first of the species here enumerated is the plant in question. The -second has been found growing naturally in no other country than Spain. -The third was first discovered by Father Feuillée in Peru, and is -therefore only an inhabitant of the gardens in this part of the world. - - -_The_ +DESCRIPTION+. - -The root is perennial. It is pretty long, and divided into many -branches of a brown colour, succulent, and of a disagreeable smell. The -radical leaves are frequently a foot long, and five inches broad, of an -oval acuminated figure, and not sinuated on the edges. The stalk rises -to three or four feet: it is much divaricated and branched. The cauline -leaves stand alternately upon it, in shape like the radical, of a -dusky-green colour on the upper part, and a paler green underneath, -being a little hairy on both sides. The flowers stand on single -footstalks, in the alæ of the leaves: they are large, of a campanulated -figure, and striated, of a dusky-purple colour within, with a yellow -variegated base; the outer surface of the flower is of a greenish red. -After the flower succeeds a fine beautiful large berry, which is black -when ripe. For the rest, take in the generical character. - -Most of the old authors give us figures of this plant, which, tho’ they -convey a general idea of it, are yet scarce any of them exact. This -fault in general runs thro’ all, that I have had an opportunity of -examining; namely, that the flowers and fruit are represented by much -too large in proportion to the leaves. Morison’s is perhaps one of the -best among the old figures: it is, upon the whole, tolerable, but not -accurate on account of the before-mentioned objection. Petiver’s does -by no means represent the plant justly, in that the alæ of the leaves -are not properly filled up. The most accurate figure of all, that I -have seen, is Mr. Miller’s, in his plates adapted to the Gardeners -Dictionary, which is undoubtedly taken from nature itself. - - -+PLACE+ _of_ +GROWTH+. - -The Deadly Nightshade is found in many parts of Europe, especially in -England and in Austria; and yet in our own country it is happily not -very plentiful, inasmuch as our botanical writers usually reckon it -among the _more rare_ plants, and specify particularly the places where -they have observed it. - -Here in England it is chiefly found in uncultivated places: in -church-yards, about old walls, among rubbish in shady places, about -dunghills, in lanes, and sometimes about woods and hedges. It begins to -flower in June, and maintains a succession of flowers for two months. -The berries are ripe in September and October. - -It is of great importance, that the knowlege of poisonous plants -should be extended as much as possible, that they may the better be -avoided, and their fatal effects thro’ mistake be guarded against: -there can therefore be no impropriety in enumerating particularly -some of those places, where our English botanists have observed it. -Mr. Ray mentions its being found in the church-yard and lanes about -Fulburn in Cambridgeshire, Sutton-Colefield in Warwickshire: in -the Downs: at Cuckstone, near Rochester in Kent, all the yards and -backsides are over-run with it. _Ray. Syn._ Upon Clifton-hill, near -Nottingham; also in a quarry near the cold-bath at Mansfield. _Catal. -Notting_. In Currenwood-kins, near Burton in Kendal, and other places -in Westmorland. _Wilson’s Syn._ Dr. Wilmer found it amoung the bogs -going down to Dorking in Surrey, plentifully. In Preston church-yard, -near Feversham in Kent. Mr. Watson found it by the wood-side, under -the park-wall, between Temsford-mills and Welwyn, Hertfordshire; and -near the road between Rochester and Maidstone. Mr. Blackstone found it -in a shady gravel-pit near the old park-wood at Harefield, and in the -gardens at More-park near Rickmansworth, plentifully. _Specim. Botan._ -About Rochester and Chatham, where it grows in the joints of old -walls, and in most of the unfrequented lanes: also in Woodstock-park -in Oxforshire, and Up-park in Hampshire. I have observed it four or -five years since on the edge of Charley-forest: about Grace-Dieu, -Leicestershire. It grows about North Luffenham in Rutland. - - -_Its_ +POISONOUS QUALITY+. - -There have been many fatal instances of the narcotic and deleterious -effects of the berries of this plant. They are upon record in almost -all botanical, and many medical authors. Children have unhappily been -the principal sufferers this way, being tempted to eat by the enticing -aspect of the berries, or by mistaking them for some other fruit. The -berries, however, are not the only part of the plant, which partake of -this intoxicating and poisonous property: the whole plant is endued -with it, and that in no small degree. - -If the Bella-donna is allowed to be the Στρύχνος μανικὸς of -Dioscorides[9], this quality of it was not unknown to that writer. It -was very soon known to the first writers in the medical and botanic way -after the restoration of letters; and they have not failed to inform us -of it. - -Tragus and Fuchsius, who wrote about the middle of the sixteenth -century, both relate instances of the poisonous effects of these -berries: the former, of a man, who went mad after having eaten of them; -the latter, of two children, who perished by the same means[10]. - -Lobel[11] tells us, that the berries of this plant are present -death; and informs us of some youths, who, after eating them, became -stupified, and died as from an over-dose of opium. - -Matthiolus[12] relates, from his own knowlege, of some children -poisoned by the same means. - -Among all the instances of the intoxicating nature of this plant, there -is none more memorable than that mentioned by the Scotch historian -Buchanan[13], of the destruction of the army of Sweno; which is quoted -by almost all authors, who have wrote upon this plant. It is there -said, that the Scots mixed a quantity of the juice of these berries -with the drink, which, by their truce, they were to supply the Danes -with; which so intoxicated them, that the Scots killed the greatest -part of them while they were asleep. How far this anecdote is to be -depended upon, or whether other concurrent circumstances ought not to -be taken into the account, I cannot determine. - -Our own herbalist Gerard[14] mentions the case of three boys in the -Isle of Ely, who, having eaten of these berries, two of them died in -less than eight hours; but the third, by drinking plentifully of honey -and water, and vomiting after it, recovered. - -Bodæus à Stapel, in his comment upon Theophrastus[15], tells us of two -youths, that eat two or three of these berries, which they got in the -Leyden garden, mistaking them for black currants: one of them perished, -and the other recovered with great difficulty. - -Simon Pauli relates two or three examples to the same effect[16]. -Wepfer gives us a circumstantial account of a child about ten years -old, who was thrown into a great variety of convulsive symptoms after -eating of this fruit: but proper care being taken by vomiting, and -afterwards giving alexipharmics and anti-epileptic medicines, he -recovered[17]. - -M. Boulduc[18] laid before the Royal Academy of Sciences at Paris, the -case of some children, who, upon eating these berries, were seized with -a violent fever, palpitations of the heart, convulsions, and lost their -senses. One of them, a little boy of four years old, died the next -morning. - -Boerhaave has instances to the same effect[19]: and it was the -misfortune of Dr. Abraham Munting, a noted botanist and professor -of physic in the university of Groningen, to have his own daughter -poisoned with the berries of the Bella-donna. - -It would be almost endless to recite all the instances to be met with -upon this head. The German Ephemerides, the Commercium Literarium, and -other periodical works, furnish us with farther proofs of the deadly -quality of the Bella-donna; and they are unhappily corroborated by -more recent instances in modern authors. The Gentleman’s Magazine[20], -Mr. Miller in his Gardeners Dictionary, and Dr. Hill in his British -Herbal[21], exhibit to us several melancholy cases of this kind. - -The effects of this plant have been so extraordinary, that several -distinct treatises have been published professedly upon it. The most -remarkable of these is that of J.M. Faber’s, printed at Augsburg in -1677, under the following title; _Strychnomania explicans Strychni -manici antiquorum, vel Solani furiosi recentiorum historiam_. In this -tract the author has collected a number of cases from various hands, -concerning the poisonous quality of the plant in question. In the year -1714. C. Sicelius published a treatise upon this plant, under the title -of _Diatribe de Bella-donna. Jenæ_. 8vo. - - -+MEDICAL HISTORY+. - -Who it was, that was bold enough to venture first upon the internal -use of this plant as a medicine, I cannot say; chance very probably -led to it, as in many other cases. In the mean time, there is reason -to believe, that it is not altogether a modern practice. One would be -led to think, by the accounts given us in Matthiolus and Bodæus, that -in their days its operation was very well known; and that they knew how -to dose it very exactly, since they give us an account of tricks being -played with it, by infusing the quantity of a scruple of the root in -wine, and intoxicating people therewith. The former of these authors -relates, that the distilled water from this plant, in a dose of about -two or three spoonfuls, was exhibited by some people in inflammations -of the viscera; and, he observes, with good success. Parkinson seems to -have transcribed this account, respecting this use of it; but neither -of them speak of it from their own knowlege. It may be questioned, -however, whether this could act otherwise than as mere water; since the -principles with which this plant is endued, do not seem capable (if one -may judge from its sensible qualities and effects upon those who have -taken it) of rising in a still. - -Mr. Ray[22], from the German Ephemerides, an. 13. obs. 64. presents -us with the relation of a shepherd in Denmark, who administered an -infusion of the berries in wine in the dysentery, which was there very -common, and very obstinate; adding, that it was attended with great -success, not only restraining the flux, but carrying off the disorder -by sweat. Mr. Ray observes further, that, correspondent with this -practice, Conrade Gesner actually prepared a syrop from the berries, -and gave it in dysenteric cases with great success. This account is -found in Gesner’s Epistles, and is quoted also by Dr. Haller[23], when -treating of this plant. Possibly its efficacy in these cases may be -accounted for, from considering it merely in the quality of an opiate; -and therefore it cannot be adviseable to use it, when safer medicines -are always at hand. - -Its external use seems to be of as long a date as its internal; and -it was on account of its cooling and repellent quality, that it came -into credit as a fucus among the Italian ladies. Matthiolus recommends -it in the erysipelas, the shingles, and other inflammatory disorders -of the skin. The leaves, applied in the form of a cataplasm, are much -celebrated by many writers, as of great use in resolving tumors, -particularly of the breast, and even such as are of a schirrous and -cancerous nature. Many of the old authors[24] mention this application -of it, among other of the cooling and narcotic herbs; such as the -common nightshade, henbane, hounds-tongue, _&c._ which it was usual -to apply on such occasions. Mr. Ray informs us, that Mr. Percival -Willughby experienced its efficacy repeatedly, in discussing hardnesses -and cancerous tumors in the breast. - -Its relaxing quality is very surprising, as appears by that memorable -case related by the last-mentioned author, of a lady’s applying a leaf -of it to a little ulcer, suspected to be of the cancerous kind, a -little below her eye, which rendered the pupil so paralytic, that it -lost all its motion for some time afterwards: and that this event was -really owing to that application, appears from the experiment’s being -repeated with the same effect three times. - -The German physicians have gone much further: they have even ventured -to give it inwardly in cancerous cases. Dr. Haller, when treating of -the quality of this plant, refers to Junker, and others of the modern -physicians, as recommending the decoction of it with caution, that it -be not given in such quantity as to cause sleep. So long since as the -year 1739. there was a thesis published at Hall, by Michael Albert, in -which the Bella-donna is proposed as a specific in cancerous cases. -What other physicians patronize this use of it, I cannot say, having -but little opportunity of consulting those academic pieces, which are -of such eminent use in compilations of this kind. Thus much is certain, -that its use, in such cases, rather gains ground; and the case, -published in the French Bibliotheque[25], printed at the Hague, of an -ulcerated cancer being radically cured by an infusion of the leaves of -this plant in water, deserves particular attention, on account of its -being so well attested. The case is extracted from an inaugural thesis -of Professor Lambergen’s, who was the physician concerned[26]. The -event was so singularly happy and successful in this instance, that we -hope it will need no apology, if we give a particular detail of it. - -The person afflicted with this miserable disease was a widow of 34 -years of age, and mother of four children. She had but weak nerves, and -had been subject to inflammatory disorders. She informed M. Lambergen, -upon examining her, that she had had a quinzy six times, which had -twice ended in suppuration: that eight years before her right breast -had suppurated, and discharged much matter: that two years after it -suppurated again; and that at the end of another year both breasts -underwent the same fate; since when the right had remained schirrous, -but was without pain, except when she handled it. She had suckled her -youngest child about six months, when she was seized with a fever; and -the left breast (with which only she could suckle since the other had -suppurated) soon swelled, inflamed greatly, was very painful, and soon -became almost as large as a child’s head. Dr. Lambergen being called -in, ordered copious bleeding, and that the child should suck as little -as possible. She took some medicines, and soon recovered. - -A year passed after this without any bad accident; when the lunar -evacuations, which she had had from her 18th year, beginning to -diminish, she felt a pricking pain in her left breast, and her right -began to swell. Upon a fright, she had a fall, which accident increased -both the pain and swelling; and she had recourse again to Dr. Lambergen. - -He found the tumors in her right breast much enlarged, and so connected -together, as to feel like one large one only. On the upper part of the -breast, upon the pectoral muscle, it felt rugged, unequal, and almost -as hard as a stone. The patient complained of a constant itching in -the part, and at times a pungent pain, which seemed to shoot from -the armpit, and end in the tumor. Under this armpit the glands were -hard and schirrous; and the left breast was not exempt from the like -indurations. A vein or two on the right breast was a little enlarged, -otherwise no alteration. It was no hotter than common; nor had it -undergone any change of colour. To mitigate the pain of the schirrous, -Dr. Lambergen ordered the following plaister: - - ℞ _Ung. Diapomphol._ ℥ ij. _Amalgam, merc. et Plumb._ ȝ iij. - _Sperm. Cet._ ȝ j. _M._ - -With this external application he prescribed likewise the following -powders, to be taken night and morning, and gave directions relating to -the non-naturals. - - ℞ _Coral. rub. Antimon. Diaphoret. illot. Sper. Ceti a_ ȝ ij. - _Laud. gr._ vj. _M._ for 12 doses. - -Under this method the pain remitted, but the tumor inlarged, and a -little rising was observed on the upper part of it; and towards the -nipple, where there was the least hardness, a small spot was perceived, -which, at the next return of the catamenia, inflamed, and became the -seat of the most excruciating pain. Dr. Lambergen, during this period, -in the room of the powders, substituted emmenagogic pills, and ordered -the pediluvium. She lost ten ounces of blood from the foot: and by -these means the swelling of the breast diminished, and the patient -suffered very little for some days. This truce, however, was but -temporary: the rising on the upper part of the tumor began to inflame, -itched intolerably, the pain returned, was almost perpetual, and -insupportably pungent. - -In this dreadful state was the patient, when Dr. Lambergen desired the -late Dr. du Bois, Dr. Winter, physician to the house of Orange and -professor at Leyden, together with Dr. Van Arum of Leewarden, physician -in ordinary to the Princess dowager, to visit her. These gentlemen -examined her many times, and unanimously agreed, that it was now no -less than a confirmed cancer. It was Professor Winter, who acquainted -Dr. Lambergen, that he had heard M. Degner, a celebrated physician -at Nimeguen, speak of the Bella-donna, as a sovereign remedy against -inveterate schirri; adding, nevertheless, that he had never tried it -himself. - -In such a case as this, where death seemed inevitable, a dangerous -remedy is to be preferred to none at all. Dr. Lambergen therefore -determined to try it upon his patient; but, knowing the character, -which the plant bore, he resolved to try the effects of it upon himself -first. To this end, he poured ten tea-cups of water upon a scruple of -the leaves, which had been gathered and dried three years: he let it -stand all night lukewarm. Of this infusion he took half a tea-cup full, -being the twentieth part of the whole, in the morning fasting; but -perceived no effect from it. This determined him the next morning to -double the dose; which produced a slight vertigo, and for an hour or -two an uncommon dryness in his mouth. Being thus prepared, as he knew -his patient had but a weak nervous system, he determined to begin with -caution. - -It was the 14th day of January 1745, that she took the first dose, -being one tea-cup full. It had the same effect upon her, as it had had -on her physician; and moreover rendered her pulse weaker and quicker -than usual. For seven mornings successively she took the same dose, -which, in general, produced the same effect. At the same time the -plaster was renewed, with the addition of a few grains of opium. Under -this method her pain was mitigated; but, before the latter end of the -week, returned again more frequently, and more acute; so that she was -reduced to a most deplorable condition. The rising on the upper part -of the breast became livid; the place near the nipple before-mentioned -inflamed, and was very painful; and two little pointed risings were -observed upon it, together with a slight fissure or opening. As the -menstrual period was approaching, the infusion and the powders were -omitted, and the pediluvium substituted. A mixture with crabs-eyes, -spᵗ. nitri. d. and syr. e mecon. relieved the patient from some -spasmodic complaints she had at this time, and the menses returned more -copiously than ever. The 27th she took something more than a tea-cup of -the infusion, being the first dose of the second scruple: her body was -soluble; her breast less swelled, but the pain returned very acute, and -seemed to terminate in the little callous eminence on the upper part of -the breast, which now likewise became more pointed. The 28th she took -the same quantity of the infusion. The two little pointed places near -the nipple were now become two little holes, but had not discharged any -matter. The other sore on the upper part of the breast was more livid -still, and more painful, and had risen into two little whitish points. -The powders were omitted this night, as they had been now and then at -other times. The 29th, very little sleep the foregoing night, great -pain from the upper sore, the holes near the nipple were become larger, -and had run a yellowish matter. The same dose of the infusion as -before. At night she had most acute pain from the upper sore. The 30th -both sores were nearly in the same state. All remedies were this day -laid aside, except the infusion; of which she took a cup-full and an -half; but her mouth soon became so dry, that she could scarcely swallow -a little tea; and the vertigo was so violent, that she staggered: her -sight was so weakened, that she could scarcely read. Notwithstanding -this, she had no anxiety, nor nausea, nor pain; but her appetite was -less, and her pulse quicker. The 31st all the last-mentioned symptoms -continued the same: the two pointed eminences on the upper part of the -breast were become two little holes likewise, and had discharged a few -drops of good matter. - -The 1st of February the upper sore had discharged but little matter, -and that thinner than before. That near the nipple was become more -livid, and the two holes were larger; but there had been no discharge -for several days. The pulse and appetite were good, sleep natural, the -body open. The pain, indeed, was continual, but less acute. The 2d, -little alteration. The sores discharged but little. From this time -they were dressed twice in a day with _Nutritum_, and over all the -_Emp. Saturnin_. The pain was not so violent, but was felt in another -place, which began to swell. From the 6th to the 18th better and worse: -the pain more or less acute; and the catamenia passed without any bad -effects. At the end of this month the schirrus all over the breast was -much softened, and sensibly diminished. This was the opinion of Dr. du -Bois and Dr. Winter, as well as of Dr. Lambergen. - -The 1st of March an inflammation arose on the sole of the right foot, -and extended up the leg about four fingers above the heel. It ended in -two great blisters, as if from a burn, which were embrocated with wine -and oil, and nothing bad followed. To the 22d, the patient was better -and worse. The menstrual period did not pass without some disturbance. -The 26th she began with the infusion of the tenth scruple, and every -thing went on for the better to the end of the month. - -From the 1st of April to the 6th the ulcers were firm and dry; but the -pain in the breast increased. Several blisters arose on the foot, along -the leg, and even upon the thigh, on the left side. One upon the sole -of the left foot, for 24 hours discharged an incredible quantity of -thick whitish lymph. The pain from these blisters was beyond all she -had felt before. It continued the 7th, 8th, and 9th; and new blisters -arose on the thigh. The excoriated parts were all dressed with spirit -of wine. During the disturbances from these new complaints, the breast -was likewise painful, and swelled, tho’ the ulcer near the nipple was -dry, and the other discharged little or nothing. The 10th she had less -pain both in her foot and in her breast. The upper sore was closed; -the foot discharged less. From the 11th to the 15th, notwithstanding -the weather was very cold, her pain still lessened. The ulcer remained -firm, and the whole breast was softened: her foot mended; and all went -on for the better till the 18th, when the ulcer on the upper part -of the breast opened again in three places, and discharged a thick -yellowish matter. The nipple of the left breast also became inflamed, -and surrounded with pimples, which discharged a little lymph. In the -mean time the cancerous breast was more painful than on the preceding -days. The 19th the pain less, tho’ continual. Some discharge from -the foot still; but the ulcers on the thigh were healed, and another -blister arose. The 20th the upper sore on the breast closed again; but -that near the nipple seemed to threaten another opening, and in fact it -did, on the 24th, in three places. On the 20th the catamenia returned -very copiously, and superseded the use of the pediluvium. The 25th she -began with the infusion of the fourteenth scruple of the Bella-donna, -which, it is to be observed, was scarcely ever omitted. The 26th a -blister arose at the end of the fore-finger on the left hand, was very -painful, and discharged a great quantity of serous matter. The next -day both ulcers on the breast discharged a small quantity of lymph; -otherwise the breast was less painful. - -From the 28th of April to the 7th of May every thing went on for the -better: the cancerous breast was almost without pain. The ulcers ran -very little, but the excoriation and pain were much worse from the -nipple of the left breast, which also discharged a great quantity of -lymph. The 8th the upper ulcer on the right breast closed; but the -other opened again. From the 8th to the 16th no change for the worse: -on the contrary, the left breast was well; the right less painful, and -discharged but very little. From the 18th to the 22d the menstrual -period: all things on the mending hand; the ulcer healed, and the -patient had little or no pain: but, from the 23d to the 27th, the pain -returned something worse, and there was some discharge from the breast. - -The _Nutritum_ was now discontinued, as too emollient. The 27th the -infusion from the eighteenth scruple of the Bella-donna was begun with. - -From the 28th of May to the 12th of June the breast still painful: in -the mean time, however, the ulcers remained firm and dry. The tumor and -schirrosity of the breast diminished in such a manner, that, excepting -its being a little bigger than the other, it had intirely resumed its -natural form and colour. No indurations in the left breast, nor of the -glands in the right armpit. - -The 13th of June she took a journey, was absent some weeks, and -returned in perfect health. Dr. Lambergen advised her, but in vain, -to continue the infusion. Nevertheless, she was obliged now and then, -when she felt pain, to have recourse to it, and was always relieved by -it: and in the course of another year the remains of the schirrus were -totally wasted. - -It is now (1754) eight years since, and she has had no relapse, no -pain, no hardness in her breast; has married a second husband, by whom -she has had a child, which she suckled. What more can be requisite to -ascertain a cure? - - -Thus we have given a detail of this memorable case; wherein we see, -that six drachms of one of the most poisonous vegetables that the -world produces actually cured a woman, whom the most able physicians -had given up as incurable; and who must otherwise have finished her -miserable days in the most deplorable sufferings. - -It must not be omitted, that notwithstanding the daily use this woman -made of the Bella-donna, she was not accustomed to it in the manner as -people are who take opium. Dr. Lambergen always prepared the infusion -himself, and never had occasion to make it stronger than at the first, -as the patient always found the like effects from the same dose. - - -So singular and happy an event, as attended Dr. Lambergen’s -administration of this plant, certainly merits the attention of the -medical profession; and surely, one may add, entitles the medicine -to future trials. And as the authenticity of the case will not be -disputed, it is therefore greatly to be wished, that those gentlemen, -who belong to the public hospitals, and others that have frequent -opportunities of attending patients labouring under this deplorable -disease, would give it a further trial. A cancer, even in its latent, -but much more in an ulcerated state, is allowedly one of the most -terrible and formidable disorders to which human nature is liable; and -hath long been ranged, very justly, among the _opprobria medicorum_, -instances of a radical cure being rarely met with: indeed, one of the -first physicians[27] of our age tells us, that it is not known to have -been cured at all, but by a total extirpation of the part; and all, -who are conversant in physic and surgery, know very well, that that -operation is frequently no security against its return. - -I have here endeavoured, in as concise a manner as might be, to exhibit -the history of this extraordinary plant. The being able barely to -know and distinguish one plant from another, however praise-worthy in -itself, ought not to be the only view of our botanical researches: we -should do more, and endeavour to investigate, in the most attentive -manner, the properties of vegetable productions, in order to accomodate -them to the various exigencies of human life. - -Several classes of vegetables, from their merely herbaceous taste, -and, as far as we can conjecture, from their other sensible qualities, -seem to be formed by the great Author of nature principally for the -nourishment of animals: but those plants, which are endued with -principles so highly active, as, when taken in small quantities, -to be able to put an end to animal life; such deserve to be more -minutely inquired into, as under certain circumstances these -principles, properly directed, may conduce to great and good ends. -We should endeavour, therefore, diligently to inform ourselves, in -what quantities, and under what circumstances, the poison ends, and -where the medicine begins. In this respect we have certainly a notable -instance in the history before us in Professor Lambergen; whose -industry, more especially as it was attended with success, merits our -greatest acknowlegements; inasmuch as he has informed us, with no small -degree of accuracy and precision, that the plant under consideration, -which is well known to be of a highly deleterious nature, and that even -in a small quantity, may be so managed, as to be productive of good -effects, not to be found possibly by any other means. - -Some of the most efficacious medicines are such, as, being posssessed -of highly active principles, do greatly disturb the animal œconomy in -their operation: nevertheless, however rough the _modus operandi_ of -any medicine be, if its efficacy by repeated trials be approved and -confirmed, this is so far from proving a discouragement to its use, -that we ought to regard the discovery of such a one as a valuable -acquisition to the province of physic, especially if it is applicable -in desperate and obstinate cases. The Bella-donna, on the contrary, -supposing future trials should prove it as happily successful as -Professor Lambergen has experienced it, is a medicine of a different -kind; inasmuch as its operation is mild, when compared with that, which -attends the exhibition of many others: we should therefore have double -reason to rejoice at the discovery. - - - - -XIII. _An Account of some of the Antiquities discovered at_ -Herculaneum, &c. _In a Letter to_ Thomas Birch, _D.D. Secret. R.S. By_ -John Nixon, _A.M. F.R.S._ - - -[Read Feb. 24, 1757.] - -Reverend Sir, - -THE subject of this letter are some cursory observations made by me -last spring, upon viewing the curiosities found at Herculaneum, and -the places adjacent. I deferred putting them into any order, till I -came to town, and had seen, by perusing the Transactions of the Royal -Society, whether some abler hand had not already prevented me, and made -any further communication needless: but as I now find, that no notice -has been hitherto taken of several particulars, which, in my humble -opinion, deserved it, as tending to throw new light upon antiquity; I -beg leave to trouble you with my thoughts upon them. - -I shall begin with the museum in the King of the Two Sicilies’ palace -at Portici; wherein, amongst a great number of other ancient and -valuable remains, are these that follow, _viz._ - - -I. - -Several _tali lusorii_. The _tali_ are supposed to have been known to -the Greeks[28] by the name of Ἀϛράγαλοι as early as the Trojan war. But -as the monuments before us are undoubtedly Roman, I shall confine my -remarks upon them to the usages received among that people; and being -guided partly by what appears upon the face of these antiquities, and -partly by what the Latin classics have delivered in general upon this -subject, beg leave to observe, in the first place, that the _tali_ -had each of them but four sides, two broader, and the other two more -narrow, on which they would ordinarily rest; as the rounding of their -ends did not easily permit them to stand upon those parts. However, the -possibility of such a position (tho’ it did not occur to me to make -the experiment with these pieces) may be deduced from a passage in -Tully[29]. - -Further, with regard to the manner of distinguishing the several sides -of the _tali_, some learned[30] writers speak of it according to ideas -taken from the fashion of marking the modern dice, and (I may add) the -ancient _tesseræ_ likewise: but, as I did not observe the traces of -any engraving, painting, _&c._ upon the pieces under consideration, -it seems to me more probable, what others assert[31], that this -distinction was effected by the different configuration of the sides -themselves, and not by any numbers marked upon them. And concerning -this notation, the common opinion is, that the appearances expressing -_one_ and _six_, as also those representing _three_ and _four_, were -opposed to each other respectively. - -But leaving these (however probable) conjectures, we can with certainty -determine the number of the _tali_ used in this game to have been four; -and likewise, that among the various chances resulting from them, -the most fortunate one was that, wherein each of the sides exhibited -a different aspect. The former of these circumstances we learn from -Tully[32], as we do the latter from Martial, who, in a distich sent -with a present of a set of _tali_ to a friend, says, - - _Cum steterit nullus vultu tibi talus eodem, - Munera me dices magna dedisse tibi_[33]. - -It may further be collected from Horace, that the throw above described -had the appellation of _Venus_: for when he intimates, that the -president of the feast was elected by the _tali_[34], he must be -supposed to mean the most favourable chance upon them. But he[35] -elsewhere gives us to understand, that the chance, which determined -that election, was called _Venus_. - -Propertius is somewhat more explicite in assigning the title of this -throw, as above; and at the same time informs us further, that the -contrary (and consequently most unlucky) one was termed _canes_. - - _Me quoque per talos_ Venerem _quærente secundos, - Semper damnosi subsiluere_ canes[36]. - -Now it seems to be agreed among the antiquaries, [37]that _canis_ -on the _tali_ was unity: and indeed this opinion is countenanced -by Persius[38], who contrasts _canicula_ with _senio_. If this be -admitted, then the _canes_ of Propertius must have been the chance, -wherein all (or at least the greater number of) the _tali_ came up (as -we should express it) aces. - -There have been several other conjectures proposed by learned writers -upon this subject, which I choose to omit, for want of proper -authorities from the classics to ascertain them. This is likewise -the case with regard to the rules observed by the ancient Romans at -this diversion. It is not at all improbable, that as we have several -species of games upon the same set of dice, cards, _&c._ so they might -have the same variety on the _tali_: and if there were any laws -established by custom for the regulation of this game in public, yet -private parties might be at liberty to innovate at pleasure, and agree -upon whatever terms of play were most agreeable to their inclinations -or circumstances. In this light (according to [39]Erasmus) we are to -consider the account, which Augustus gives of himself and his friends, -in an epistle to Tiberius[40]: _Inter cænam lusimus_ γεροντικῶς -_heri et hodie: talis enim jactatis, ut quisque canem aut senionem -miserat, in singulos talos singulos denarios conferebat, quos tollebat -universos, qui Venerem jecerat_. And it is obvious to remark, that -(upon this hypothesis) the critics, perhaps, need not have been so much -embarassed (as we find they have been) in endeavouring to reconcile -this passage of Suetonius with that other of Persius[41] produced above. - -I shall conclude with noting, that in order to prevent any fraud -or slight of hand in managing the _tali_, it was usual to put them -into a box[42], and, after shaking them together, to throw them out -upon a table. Thus Martial introduces one of these _turriculæ_, as -recommending its own usefulness for the purpose above-mentioned: - - _Quærit compositos manus improba mittere talos, - Qui per me mittit, nil nisi vota facit_[43]. - -However, this caution does not seem to have been so universally -observed, but that sometimes, _viz._ when the party consisted of -ladies, it was (I presume, for a reason greatly to their honour) -superseded. Thus, in one of the first paintings found at Herculaneum, -and now in the royal apartments at Portici, we see a young female -figure exhibited, as playing at this game, with one or more of the -_tali_ lying upon the back part of her hand, while the rest appear as -having fallen off from thence towards the floor. - - -II. - -A rule with four joints, each of which contained about 5 inches -9-tenths of our measure. I think there was another in two parts, which -answered to the same proportion. - - -III. - -A weight, inscribed on one side +EME+, and on the other +HABEBIS+. - - -IV. - -A small _bolla d’oro_, which (after that in the late Dr. Middleton’s -collection, and another preserved at Rome) is the third known to be -extant in Europe. As this ornament was worn by so great a number -of young persons at Rome, and made of gold, which is so capable of -resisting the injuries of the weather, moisture, _&c._ one cannot but -wonder at the extreme scarcity of these monuments in the cabinets of -the curious. The most probable way of accounting for this (according to -[44]Dr. Middleton) is, that the value of the materials, of which these -_bullæ_ were made, induced the poor labourers, as soon as they had -found one, to sell it to the first goldsmith they met with for its real -value (however small it might be), by weight. - - -V. - -A little figure like a Faunus, excepting that about the head it had -something of the character of the minotaur, _viz._ large curls upon -the forehead, and several muscular protuberances, or _tori_, under the -throat. - - -VI. - -A figure in relievo of a man sitting with a bowl in his hand, which -has been thought a Socrates. And indeed the features of the face -bear a striking resemblance to those of that sage expressed in -ancient monuments; as the bowl might properly refer to the well-known -circumstance of his death. But the other insignia are not so suitable -to the character of the subject, as one could wish: for he holds, -partly in his hand, and partly under his arm, a short staff full of -knots, and curved at the end like a shepherd’s crook, such as we find -borne by satyrs in some Bacchanalian pieces: and the skin of a beast -appears hanging from the seat of his chair. - - -VII. - -An antique painting of a muse with a _capsula_ near her containing some -volumes, from which hang labels showing the titles of the works. The -same representation appears in another painting kept in a different -part of the palace. Signor Paderni observed to me, that these remains -would help the curious to form a more certain idea of the manner in -which the ancients affixed titles to their volumes, than they have -hitherto been able to obtain. The most complete description, that I can -recollect, of an ancient book, with its appurtenances and decorations, -is that of Martial addressed to one of his own. - - _Faustini fugis in sinum? Sapisti. - Cedro nunc licet ambules perunctus, - Et frontis gemino decens honore - Pictis luxurieris umbilicis: - Et te purpura delicata velet, - Et cocco rubeat superbus index._ L. iii. ep. 2. - -The _superbus index_ in the last verse, curiously illuminated with -scarlet, was undoubtedly the title of the book; but to what part of -it it was annexed has hitherto been difficult to ascertain: for as -(according to the paintings under consideration) it was inscribed on -a detached piece of paper or parchment, it must soon have been lost -from the book; especialty if the latter had suffered by damps, or any -other injuries similar to those, that have affected the volumes found -in Herculaneum, of which not only the title, but even the ends of the -umbilici, tho’ consisting of more solid materials, as horn, ivory, -_&c._ are intirely destroyed: so that no light could be had from the -original antiquities with relation to this point. The only means, -whereby the connoisseurs could form any conjectures in this case, must -have been, I presume, from the fashion of books among the ancients, -_viz._ their being long scrolls rolled round upon a stick with -ornaments at each end, as described in the epigram produced above. -This form required, that the books should be laid at their length upon -the shelves, where they were deposited with either their side, or one -of their ends, appearing outwardly. Now of these two positions the -latter, which exposed the extremity of the umbilicus to view, might be -thought (all circumstances duly considered) the most convenient. To -this part therefore it might with probability be conjectured, that the -index or title was fastened; but the paintings mentioned above plainly -demonstrate, that it actually was so. - -Mons. Dacier says[45], that the titles of books were anciently -inscribed upon the leathern covers, wherein they were wrapt, and -which, by the means of thongs fastened to them, kept the volumes -close and compact together. If that learned gentleman had supported -this fact by proper evidences, then it must have been concluded, upon -the joint authority of such evidences, and of the antiquities under -consideration, that the practice of the ancients was, besides the -title on the sides of the volume, to affix another on a label at one -of its extremities. And indeed this additional notation (whatever we -determine concerning its usefulness, while the books lay on a shelf in -a library) must have been very necessary, when such books stood upright -in a _capsula_ (like those in the painting before us), where no part of -them, but one end alone, could possibly be seen. - - -VIII. - -Some pieces of fine paper, coloured red on one side, and black on -the other, found upon the breast of a skeleton. Signor Paderni told -me, that they had been viewed with great admiration by such of the -virtuosi, as he had shewn them to; and that their admiration proceeded -from those fragments appearing not to be of the _charta papyracea_, but -of that of silk, cotton, or linen. And indeed, if they should prove -to have been made of any of the materials last mentioned, it would -contradict the generally received opinion (according to [46]Montfaucon), -that paper of silk or cotton, denoted by the common appellation of -_charta bombycina_, was first found out in the 9th century; as that -composed of linen rags (_ex linteolis contritis et aquâ maceratis_, as -Pancirollus[47] expresses it) was about the 12th; and that the former -supplied the place of the _charta papyracea_ in the east, as the latter -superseded the use of it in the western parts of the world. - - -IX. - -A flat piece of white glass, taken off from towards the extremity of -the sheet, as appears from the curvature and protuberant thickness of -one of its sides above the other parts. I have several observations by -me, with regard to this fragment, which I have not yet had leisure to -digest. I shall therefore proceed to the other parts of this collection. - - * * * * * - -To enter into a detail of the paintings found at Herculaneum, and -deposited in a different part of the palace at Portici, would be -tedious, as their number, when I saw them, exceeded 800; and it -would be superfluous, as the principal of them will soon make their -appearance in the world by prints taken from them, and executed in a -manner, which (as far as I could judge by the specimens shewn me) will -in no-wise discredit the originals, I shall therefore only mention two -of them, _viz._ - - -I. - -Theseus with the Minotaur dead, and lying on his back at his feet, -while several Athenian youths are embracing the knees, and kissing -the hand, of their deliverer. We may observe, that the fabulous being -above-mentioned appears in this piece with the intire body of a man, -and only the head of a bull, which agrees with the manner, in which he -is represented in an antique sardonyx of Greek sculpture in the cabinet -at Vienna, and in most of the works of the ancient artists. Tho’ I have -by me the copy of an antique gem, wherein the Minotaur is exhibited -as standing in the center of the famous labyrinth, and having below -the body of a bull as far as to the waist, and from thence upwards an -human form: which representation is further countenanced by Ovid, who -describes that monster, as - - _Semibovemque virum, semivirumque bovem._ - Art. Am. L. ii. _v._ 12. - - -II. - -Chiron and Achilles. The latter of these is standing, and has a -_plectrum_ in his right hand: the former seems to embrace his noble -pupil with his left arm, and with his right hand to strike the lyre, -as teaching him to play upon that instrument. But the most remarkable -circumstance in the figure of Chiron is his reposing his hinder parts -on his left haunch upon the ground. Yet this attitude, as well as the -other particulars mentioned above, is expressed in an antique gem, of -which I have seen a copy at Rome. - - * * * * * - -I shall conclude this paper with an account of the statues, which stand -in several rooms adjoining to the unfinished part of the palace, and -were found (as to the far greater number) at or near Herculaneum. - - -_In the First Room._ - -An equestrian marble statue of M. Nonius Balbus the elder, which is -intended to be placed in a large entrance on the east side of the -palace, to answer to that of his son, which is already set up on the -other side, facing the bay of Naples. - - -_In the Second._ - -Nero and Germanicus, considerably larger than the life, but squeezed -somewhat flat by the weight of the lava, or other ruins, with which -they were once overwhelmed. - -A man in a sacrificing habit. - -Two others in the toga, and two women in the palla. - -All these are of bronze. - -Statues of marble deposited here are the following, _viz._ - -At the entrance, a matron larger than nature, with strong expression in -her face. - -Two colossal trunks in a sitting posture. - -Three statues of one of the Agrippina’s. - -A Roman matron, or empress, with remains of red painting on the -extremities of her palla. - -Three other matrons. - - -_In the Third Room._ - -Bacchus. A muse. A fragment of a statue in the pallium. A fine statua -togata with the head veiled, larger than the life. - -Another very remarkable figure, whose face resembles in beauty that -commonly attributed to Venus, tho’ the dress and other insignia plainly -indicate a Pallas: for her head is covered with an helmet, below which -her hair falls down long and dishevelled. Her left arm is enveloped -with her ægis, which is large and expanded, so as to form a kind of -mantle. Her garments are thin, and fit close to her body in strait -plaits. She is in a posture of running, or striding, with her feet at a -considerable distance from each other, and her arms extended different -ways; an attitude strongly marking the utmost eagerness and haste. - -Next appears a Vertumnus. A fine figure of a philosopher. Volumnia -and Veturius. A lady with a thin stola. A Venus. A boy of exquisite -workmanship. A small statua togata. - -In another part is a Faun of bronze, reclined, with his right hand -lifted up, and his leg extended. This figure (as we were informed) was -found accompanied with seven others of the same metal, which now stand -in another chamber, _viz._ two young men in a running a posture; four -females somewhat resembling vestals in their habit, excepting that all -their heads were uncovered, and those of two of them were adorned with -_vittæ_, or filets. Lastly, a young man of a small size, cloathed, with -his arms somewhat extended. - -There remains but one more figure to be taken notice of in this -collection, _viz._ that of Serapis, with Cerberus at his right hand. -Ancient writers[48] enable us to account for this appearance, by -informing us, that Serapis (besides his other characters of Æsculapius, -Sol, Osiris, and Jupiter) was accounted the same as Dis Pater, or -Pluto. Upon this hypothesis none can doubt of the propriety of -Cerberus’s attending upon this deity in the figure before us, as well -as in three others given us by Montfaucon[49]. - -If we desire to enter into the mystical reason of this representation, -we may learn it from Porphyry, _viz._ that Serapis[50], being the same -as Pluto, had dominion over the evil dæmons; and that those beings were -figured by a dog with three heads; meaning the dæmon subsisting in the -three elements of water, earth, and air. - -Give me leave to add further, that I find, by my journal, that upon -viewing this figure, I took notice of a dissimilitude in the heads of -it: but as it did not then occur to me, that they were ever expressed -in any other form than the canine, I did not examine minutely into the -difference: but, upon recollection, I am now inclined to think, that -that monster might have the heads of three several animals in this -piece, as he has in another, given us by [51]Montfaucon: which mode of -exhibiting him was (according to that learned[52] antiquary) invented -by the Egyptians; a circumstance not to be wondered at in a people, -whose imagination teemed so plentifully with monstrous ideas of all -kinds, as theirs is known to have done. - -To the same original we may refer the serpent twisting round Cerberus -in this monument; as we see two of the same species encircling his -heads and body in that mentioned above[53]. As I know no particular -relation, that the serpent bears to Serapis, considered as Pluto, I can -regard it here only as a sacred symbol in the theology of the ancient -Egyptians; and, as such, properly attributed to an attendant of one of -their chief divinities. - -I shall trouble you but with one more observation upon this article, -_viz._ that (if I may trust my memory for a particular omitted in my -notes) this is the statue, which being the principal one found in -an ancient magnificent building discovered about seven years ago at -[54]Pozzuoli (in conjunction with other circumstances) occasioned it to -be called The Temple of Serapis. As this place seemed greatly to merit -the attention of the curious in antiquity, we procured a plan of it, -drawn by a native, who has free access to it and (if I thought it would -be acceptable to that learned Society, of which I have the honour to be -a member) the said plan should wait upon them, accompanied with some -observations upon it by, - - SIR, - Your most obedient, - humble Servant - John Nixon. - -London. Feb. 24. 1757. - -_P.S._ A long room is designed to be fitted up in the King’s palace at -Portici, for the reception of all the antiquities found at Herculaneum, -_&c._ This apartment will be lighted by thirteen windows on the side -towards the Cortile, and adorned with forty columns, partly of verde -antique, partly of alabaster with brownish veins, and other beautiful -marbles, found in divers parts of the King’s dominions. Between every -two of these columns will be placed a group, statue, or bust. The -compartments in the walls will contain the ancient paintings. The -other curiosities are to be deposited in cases made for that purpose; -and the pavement will consist intirely of the finest pieces of Mosaic -work, that have been found in Herculaneum, or any places within the -Neapolitan state. - - - - -XIV. _An Account of the Effects of a Storm of Thunder and Lightning, -in the Parishes of_ Looe _and_ Lanreath, _in the County of_ Cornwall, -_on the 27th Day of_ June, 1756. _Communicated to the Rev._ Jeremiah -Milles, _D.D. F.R.S. in two Letters, one from the Rev. Mr._ Dyer, -_Minister of_ Looe, _and the other from the Rev. Mr._ Milles, _Vicar -of_ Duloe, _in_ Cornwall. - - -[Read Feb. 24, 1757.] - -ON Sunday the 27th of June last it grew on a sudden as dark as a winter -evening: soon after, the lightning began to flash, and the thunder to -roar. The claps were near, and extremely loud; and the lightning was -more like darting flames of fire, than flames of enkindled vapour. -Happily no damage was done to the town of Looe, which lies very low; -but at Bucklawren, a village situated on the top of a hill, about two -miles from hence, a farm-house was shattered in a most surprising -manner. The house fronts the south. The windows of the hall and -parlour, and of the chambers over them, which are in the front of -the house, are sashed. The dairy window is the only one on the west -side of the house. The chimnies are on the north side; and at the -south-west corner there is a row of old elms on a line with the front, -the nearest of which is ten feet distant from the house. The lightning -seems to have had a direction from the south-west to the north-east. -It first struck the bevilled roof of the south-west corner, near the -eaves of the house; made a large breach, and tore up the floor of the -garret, near the place where it entered, and descended by the west -wall, in oblique lines, into the chamber over the parlour; but not -having sufficient vent that way, it darted in a line from S.W. to N.E. -against the north wall of the garret, where meeting with resistance, it -broke down the floor near the north wall many feet wide, and carrying -the ceiling of the parlour-chamber before it, ran down by the wall of -that room in direct lines. Where it descended on the west and north -walls it made large and deep furrows in the plaister, and even tore -out the stones and mortar. A large splinter was struck off from the -bed-post contiguous to the north wall, and the bed was set on fire. -The chimney-piece was broken into many parts; the window-frame was -moved out of the wall, every pane of glass was broken, the under -sash was torn in pieces, and a large piece of the chimney-board was -thrown out of the window against an opposite garden wall, about 20 -feet from the house. As the lightning shot thro’ the window, it found -a small cavity between the wall and the slating with which the wall -is covered, where it burst off the slates as far as it continued in -a direct line downward, and threw them at a great distance from the -house. Notwithstanding this dreadful havock, the force of the lightning -was not spent; the window gave it not a sufficient discharge. From -the chamber over the parlour, it descended by the north wall to the -room under it, which is wainscotted, tore off the cornice the whole -breadth of the room, and some mouldings from the wainscot; broke the -glasses and Delft ware in the beauffet; shivered the shelves of a -bottle-room; and, ripping off a small stock-lock from the door, burst -it open, and made its way chiefly thro’ the window, the frame of which -was moved from the wall, and the glass shattered to pieces. Near the -bottle-room there was a hole struck in the partition-wainscotting, -which divides the parlour from the hall, about eight inches long and -an inch broad: through this crevice the lightning entered the hall, -which serves at present for a kitchen, and meeting with some pewter in -its way, it flung it from the shelf about the room; threw down a large -iron bar, that stood in a corner and which seemed to have a trembling -and desultory motion; carried the tongs into the chimney, and threw a -tea-kettle, that stood there, into the middle of the floor; moved a -large brass pot out of its place, which was under a table; and then -darted thro’ the windows, carrying away a pane of glass intire out of -the upper sash to the distance of many feet. The mistress of the house -and her son were sitting at this window. They were the only persons -in the house, and providentially received no hurt. Some part of the -lightning found a way between the door and door-case of the hall. The -door is pannelled: and the lightning, in passing thro’, penetrated -into a close mortise, and split off a large splinter from the outside -of the door, close to the tenon. In its course it left a smoaky tinge -on the wall and timber, like that of fired gunpowder. A sulphureous -smell remained in the house many hours. Another (or probably a part -of the same) flash of lightning struck the dairy window, melted the -lead, and burnt the glass where it penetrated, and set the window-frame -on fire. From thence it darted in a line from S.W. to N.E. downward, -made a large hole in a plaistered partition near the floor into the -barn, shattered a large paving rag-stone in pieces, and tearing up the -ground, I suppose, sunk into the earth. The elms were affected with -the lightning, particularly that nearest the house, from the top of -which to the root appeared large furrows in the moss, which grew on the -bark, in some places in an irregular spiral, but for the most part in -a perpendicular line; and from the root of it the ground was torn up -in furrows, as if done with a plough-share, about six feet long, the -furrows gradually lessening according to their distance from the tree. -All this was done instantaneously. How amazingly swift, subtle, and -powerful is the force of lightning! I am, - - Reverend Sir, - Your most obedient Servant, - James Dyer. - - -_A Letter from the Rev. Mr._ Milles _on the same Subject_. - -ABOUT four of the clock on Sunday afternoon, the same day that the -lightning struck the farm-house at Bucklawren, it fell upon another -house called Pelyne, in the parish of Lanreath, about six miles -distant. The house fronts the east. The chimney, which is at the north -end, is cracked, and opened about two or three inches wide, from -the top to the roof, where it entered the slating thro’ a small hole -on the eastern side; forced its way thro’ the upper chamber, where -it melted an old copper skillet, a pair of sheepshears, and some odd -brass buckles and candlesticks that lay on the wall; consumed the laths -adjoining, and then made its way thro’ a small crevice in the upper -part of the window. Another and more severe part of the same lightning -descended the chimney; struck two women down who were sitting on each -side of it, without any further hurt; overturned a long table, that was -placed before the window in the ground room, upon two men, who were -sitting on the inside, with their backs towards the window. One of -these men was miserably burnt in his right arm. The lightning seems to -have struck him a little above the elbow, making a small orifice about -the bigness of a pea; the burn from thence to the shoulder is near an -inch deep. His right thigh was likewise burnt on the inside, and the -outside of his right leg, from a little below the knee, quite over the -ancle to his toes. Both knees were burnt across slightly, and his left -thigh. His shirt-sleeve, and the upper part of his waistcoat, were -reduced to tinder: the buckles in his shoes were melted in different -parts, and in different directions. He has not been able to use his -arm since; and is under the care of a surgeon, who has reduced the -wound to a hand’s breadth, which was in the beginning advancing fast -towards a mortification. The other man was but slightly wounded. The -lightning afterwards found its way thro’ the window in three different -places; melted the glass, leaving a smutty tinge, like that of fired -gunpowder. A boy, about ten years old, son to the under-tenant, was -also struck down, as he was standing at the door, but not hurt. The -father and his daughter felt no ill effects; but saw the lightning roll -on the floor, and thought the room was on fire. - - - - -XV. _An Account of the Peat-pit near_ Newbury _in_ Berkshire; _in an -Extract of a Letter from_ John Collet, _M.D. to the Right Reverend_ -Richard _Lord Bishop of_ Ossory, _F.R.S._ - - -[Read Feb. 24, 1757.] - - Newbury, Decemb. 2, 1756. - -My Lord, - -NOW I am mentioning the peat, I beg leave to assure your Lordship, that -tho’ some persons have asserted, that after the peat has been cut out, -it grows again after some years; yet this is not true of the peat found -here, none of the peat-pits, which were formerly dug out, and have -lately been opened again, affording the least reason to justify such an -opinion; but, on the contrary, the marks of the long spade (with which -they cut out the peat) are still plainly visible all along the sides -of the pits, quite down to the bottom; and are now as fresh as if made -but yesterday, tho’ cut above fifty years ago: which shews also, that -our peat is of too firm a texture to be pressed together, and to give -way, so as to fill again the empty pits: which perhaps may be the case -in some of the mosses, where the pits are found after some years to be -filled up again. - -The town of Newbury lies north and south, in the shape of a Y, cross -a valley; which valley runs east and west, and is here about a mile -broad, the river Kennet running along the middle of it. The peat -is found in the middle of this valley, on each side of the river, -extending in all from between a quarter of a mile to about half a mile -in breadth and in length, along the valley, about nine miles westward, -and about seven eastward; and I believe much further tho’ not yet -discovered, and perhaps with some intermissions. - -The ground it is found in is meadow land; and consists chiefly of a -whitish kind of earth: under this lies what they call _clob_, being -a peat-earth, compounded of clay, of a small quantity of earth, and -some true peat: it is from four to eighteen inches thick; and where -the earth above it is but thin, it is sometimes full of the roots of -plants, that grow on the surface of the ground: and if the meadow also -be moorish, the sedge and flags will shoot their roots quite thro’ it -into the true peat, which lies directly under this clob. - -The top of the true peat is found at various depths, from one foot to -eight feet below the surface of the ground; and the depth or thickness -of this peat is also very different, from one foot to eight or nine -feet, the ground below it being very uneven, and generally a gravel. My -friend Mr. Osgood has dug two feet into this gravel, to see if any peat -lay below it, but could not find any. - -The truest and best peat has very little (if any) earth in it; but is a -composition of wood, branches, twigs, leaves, and roots of trees, with -grass, straw, plants, and weeds; and lying continually in water makes -it soft and easy to be cut thro’ with a sharp peat-spade. The colour is -of a blackish brown; and if it be chewed between the teeth it is soft, -and has no gritty matter in it, which the clob has. It is indeed of a -different consistence in different places, some being softer, and some -firmer and harder; which may perhaps arise from the different sorts of -trees it is composed of. - -To get at the peat, they first dig up the surface of the ground till -they come to the clob, throwing the earth into the empty pits, from -which they have already cut out the peat: they then dig up the clob, -and either sell it to the poor for firing, or lay it in heaps, to -burn to ashes, to be sold to the farmers. Then they cut out the true -peat, with a peculiar kind of spade, in long pieces, vulgarly called -long squares, about three inches and a half broad every way, and four -feet long, if the thickness of the peat will allow that length: and -as they cut it out in long pieces, they lay them in a regular order -carefully, in rows upon the ground, to be dried by the sun and wind. -If the peat be thick, when they have cut one length of the spade for -some distance, they return again, and cut down another length of it (or -four feet), and so on, till they reach the gravelly bottom, if they can -sufficiently drain it of the water, which continually comes in, tho’ -proper persons are employed to pump out as much of the water as they -can all the time. As the peat dries, and is turned by persons appointed -for that purpose, to dry it the better, it breaks into smaller lengths, -and then it serves not only the poor; but many other persons, for -firing, and gives a good heat. It is sold for about ten shillings a -waggon-load, delivered at their houses in the town. The ashes also -prove very good manure for both grass and arable land; and the farmers -give from four pence to six pence a bushel for them, which renders this -firing very cheap. - -Great numbers of trees are plainly visible in the true peat, lying -irregularly one upon another; and sometimes even cart-loads of them -have been taken out, and dried for firing: but the nearer these trees -lie to the surface of the ground, the less sound is the wood: and -sometimes the small twigs, which lie at the bottom, are so firm, as -not to be easily cut thro’ with the usual peat-spade. These trees are -generally oaks, alders, willows, and firs, besides some others not -easily to be known. The small roots are generally perished; but yet -have sufficient signs to shew, that the trees were torn up by the -roots, and were not cut down, there being no sign of the ax or saw; -which, had they been felled, would have been plainly visible. - -No acorns are found in the peat, tho’ many cones of the fir-tree are, -and also a great number of nut-shells. They are all of a darkish -colour; and the nuts are hollow within, and some of them have a hole at -the broad end. - -A great many horns, heads, and bones of several kinds of deer, the -horns of the antelope, the heads and tusks of boars, the heads of -beavers, _&c._ are also found in it: and I have been told, that some -human bones have been found; but I never saw any of these myself, tho’ -I have of all the others. - -But I am assured, that all these things are generally found at the -bottom of the peat, or very near it. And indeed, it is always very -proper to be well and faithfully informed of the exact depth and place, -where any thing of these kinds is found; whether it is in the earth -above the peat, or in the clob; or in the true peat, or at the bottom -of it; which will greatly assist us in forming a just judgment of the -real antiquity of the things that are found, or at least of the time -they have lain there. Besides this, as they formerly used to cut out -the peat in large plots here and there, leaving spaces full of peat -between those pits (whereas now they draw off the greatest part of the -water by pumps, and so clear out all the peat regularly as they go on); -so it must be carefully observed, whether whatsoever is found here be -dug out of these old peat-pits, or not; for axes, and other things, may -have been formerly dropt into these pits, before they were filled up -again with earth, and may now be dug out of them again. My father has -now in his possession an iron hatchet, not greatly differing from the -modern form, which was found lying flat at the very bottom of the peat: -it was covered with a rust near half an inch thick, and the handle was -to it, which seemed to be of beech-wood, but was so soft, that it broke -in bringing it up: but as the person is dead, who found it, I can’t say -whether it lay in an old peat-pit, or no. - -Mr. Osgood found, some years ago, an urn, of a light brown colour, and -large enough to hold above a gallon, in the true peat about eight or -ten feet from the river, near a mile and a half west of this town, in -Speen-moor. It lay about four feet below the level of the ground, and -about one foot within the peat; and over it was raised an artificial -hill, about eight feet higher than the neighbouring ground; and as -the whole hill consisted of both peat and meadow-ground intermixed -together, it plainly appeared, that the peat was older than the urn; -and that the persons, who raised the hill, must first have dug a large -hole in the peat, to bury the urn there, and so formed the hill of -the peat and meadow-ground mixed together. Round the hill, where the -urn lay, they had made also many half-circular ridges, with trenches -between them, one beyond another, in this manner: - -[Illustration] - -Where _a_ is the river, and _c_ the hill; and the half circles shew -some of the ridges, the number of which Mr. Osgood has now forgot. The -urn was broke by the peat-spade, and it came up only in small pieces, -so that nothing was found in it; and no body happened to be there at -that time but the peat-cutters. - -No coins of any sort have been found in the peat. But there may, -perhaps, be a variety of things at the bottom of it: but as the peat is -always full of water, which is never quite drained off, so it is not an -easy matter to examine the bottom. - -I beg leave to assure you, my Lord, that I am, with great respect and -esteem, - - Your Lordship’s most obliged, - and obedient humble Servant, - John Collet. - - - - -XVI. _An Account of the Alterations making in the_ Pantheon _at_ -Rome: _In an Extract of a Letter from_ Rome _to_ Thomas Hollis, _Esq; -Communicated by_ John Ward, _LL.D. R.S. Vice-Præs._ - - -[Read Mar. 3, 1757.] - -A Project was lately laid before the government by Paolo Posi, -an architect, for modernizing the inside of the Pantheon, and -unfortunately approved. In consequence of which, the dome has been -already cleaned, and rough cast; and the remainder of the lead taken -away, which served as a lining to the silver work, that originally -covered it. The vestiges of the cornices, and other ornaments of the -silver work, were still discernible in the lead, which was fastened by -very large iron nails. All this was effected by a moveable scaffold, -that was fixed to the bronze cornice of the open circle above, whereby -the temple is illuminated, and descended to the cornice of the Attic -order, being as curious in the contrivance, as detestable for the -purposes intended by it. It is true, we could not before see the -dome in its pristine glory; but we had the satisfaction of viewing -the traces and remains of what it had been. Nor could the adepts -in architecture sufficiently admire the skill and sagacity of the -builder, who, composing it of a number of small arches, which together -formed a kind of net-work, and filling up the intervals between with -pumice-stones and mortar, gave it that strength and lightness, whereby -it has probably stood so many ages. - -The evil would be comparatively small, had the project extended no -farther, than what has been related; but they are now busy in removing -the Attic order, to make room for a new invention, suitable to the -trifling taste, which at this day prevails. And not content with that, -they think of taking away the ancient pavement; and, what is still -worse, its peculiar beauty, the open circle at the top, to place a -lanthorn instead of it, as is usual in modern cupola’s. - -You had the good fortune, Sir, to view this remarkable temple, in that -state, wherein it was left by the ancient barbarians: but those, who -see it hereafter, will find it in a much more deplorable condition, -stripped of its precious marbles and ornaments; and so disguised by -modern alterations, that the noble form given it by Agrippa will be no -longer distinguishable. - -It is said Il Signor J.B. Piranesi, the architect, who published the -antiquities of Rome, and divers ingenious works of that kind, has -taken accurate plans of the Attic order, and every other particular -relating to it. These he proposes to engrave and publish, with exact -explanations annexed to them; together with a plan of the whole, as -he believes it appeared in its original splendor and perfection; that -posterity may not be deprived of informations, which are of so great -benefit and importance to all lovers of architecture. It is also said, -that the engineer [carpenter], who invented the scaffolding, has made -an exact model of it for him; which he intends to publish as a part of -the work before-mentioned. - - - - -XVII. _An Account of a new medicinal Well, lately discovered near_ -Moffat, _in_ Annandale, _in the County of_ Dumfries. _By Mr._ John -Walker, _of_ Borgue-House, _near_ Kirkudbright, _in_ Scotland. - - -[Read Feb. 10, & Mar. 3, 1757.] - -THIS mineral spring was found out by one Mr Williamson, a few years -ago, when he was overseeing a mine, which was at that time carrying -on in its neighbourhood. It is situate about four miles distant from -Moffat, in the bottom of a deep scar, which is on the west side of a -large mountain called Hartfell, from which it has acquired the name of -Hartfell-spaw. This scar is a part of the mountain, thro’ which a small -stream of water has worn its way to a considerable depth; by which it -has laid open, and exposed to view, the strata of the earth on each -side: and in the bottom of this scar, and near to the brink of this -small brook, the mineral water springs up. - -When I saw it, it consisted of two springs, which were very well -ordered by Mr. Williamson, so as to run from two wooden spouts, -immediately at their rise out of the earth; which indeed must be of -very great advantage to all mineral waters; and I am persuaded there -are many, whose medical qualities are greatly impaired by falling into -reservoirs, and continuing in them for some time after they spring -from the earth. The one of these springs was situate about ten or -twelve yards farther up the brook than the other; and they were then -distinguished by the names of the upper and lower spring: but I have -been since informed, that their situation is now altered. Each of these -springs did at that time run nearly the same quantity of water, which, -as I thought, was above an English quart in a minute, and that during a -season of very dry weather. - -As there are many instances of mineral waters springing out of the -earth very near each other, which at the same time are impregnated with -very different principles; it therefore seemed not at all improbable, -that as these waters did appear to run, for some part of their course, -in different channels, they might in some respects be different from -each other. And this suspicion I found not to be altogether groundless -with regard to these springs, as will be shewn afterwards. For which -reason it may be observed, that the following trials were all made upon -the water of the upper fountain, except where the other is particularly -mentioned; and also that they were made within 24 hours after the water -was taken from the spring, being carried to Moffat in bottles carefully -sealed. - -According to what may be inferred from the following experiments, it -may be premised, that this water appears to contain in it a large -proportion of iron, but in two different forms; and an aluminous salt, -which is conjoined with a terrestrial principle. - -As the contents of several mineral waters have been the cause of -many different opinions, and of great disputes among physicians and -chymists; as the inquiry I made into the principles of these waters, -which I am now considering, was not performed with that nicety and -exactness I could have wished; and as I am persuaded, that to dogmatize -in any branch of philosophy can never tend to its advancement; I shall -not therefore pretend to determine with certainty in any part of this -subject, where the contrary opinion can be admitted with the least -degree of probability. These trials are indeed but few and imperfect, -and are no-way sufficient to form an exact account of this mineral -water; yet I believe they may afford some conclusions, which may be -serviceable in compiling a more compleat history of it. They render -it pretty evident, that the above-mentioned principles are contained -in these waters: and tho’ I will not pretend absolutely to exclude -all others, yet I must say, that, by what inquiry I made, I could not -observe them to be in the least impregnated with any other kind of -mineral substance. - -After a good deal of observation upon the water of this Spaw; and -after many fruitless attempts, which I have at different times made -upon several other waters of the chalybeat kind in Scotland, in quest -of the volatile spirit, which has been commonly attributed to them; I -must own, that I have been induced to think, that there is no such -thing exists in these waters at all. What has been generally called -the spirit of steel waters, seems to me to be very unintelligible; -altho’ the existence of it in these waters has been asserted by all -the writers on this subject, which I have yet had occasion to see. The -spirit of a mixed body is commonly taken to be a subtile, penetrating, -light, and volatile substance, more susceptible of motion than any -other of its parts, and most easily separable from them by avolation. -But that any chalybeat water contains such a substance, I think has -never been made evident, unless where the water has been found to be -impregnated with some other mineral principles. Some steel waters, -I believe, contain a large proportion of air, whose elasticity may -occasion it to break forth with an explosive force; some others there -are, which contain a volatile and sulphureous halitus; and to one or -other of these two causes, or to some other mineral principle, I think -most of the phænomena may be referred, which have been attributed to a -ferrugineous or vitriolic volatile spirit. - -As the first thing observable in a mineral water is its outward form, -we must therefore take notice, that the water of this Spaw equals the -clearest spring-water in transparency; and is likewise as free of any -colour or odour: yet its taste is very strong, and may be discerned to -be compounded of a sweet, subacid, and astringent taste. Its sweetness -and acidity appear sensibly to arise from alum; and its high styptic -and astringent taste does as evidently proceed from that mineral salt, -joined with some earthy or ferrugineous parts. I must likewise observe, -that when I first compared the taste of these two springs, I could -plainly discern, that the water of the lower spring was more acid, and -less astringent, than that of the upper one; and, on the contrary, the -water of the upper spring seemed more astringent, and less acid. This -induced me to think, that the mineral parts, which caused the acid and -astringent tastes, were mixed in the waters of these two springs in -different proportions. And what I observed of them afterwards still -confirmed this conjecture. - -But, in order to give some evidence for the existence of the -above-mentioned minerals in the waters of these springs, we shall -consider them separately, by relating the experiments, which seemed -to indicate, that they are contained in these waters in a very -considerable proportion, and by offering some conclusions, which may be -reasonably drawn from them. - -And as the first trials were made in quest of iron, it may perhaps be -most proper to consider it in the first place. - - -_Experiment_ 1. Some pieces of galls being added to equal quantities of -the water of the two springs, an exceeding deep and bright blue colour -was immediately produced in the water of the upper spring, which in a -little time turned to a perfect black. The water of the lower spring, -tho’ indeed it was turned of the same colour, yet was not of so deep a -shade, but was somewhat lighter than the former. The tincture of galls -caused the same appearances. - -2. A tincture of balaustine-flowers produced the above blue colours in -both waters. - -3. A quantity of the water being thoroughly tinged with galls, was -allowed to stand 24 hours: being then filtrated thro’ brown paper, -the water, tho’ almost quite colourless, would not again receive any -tincture with galls. - -4. After elixation the water became of a turbid yellow colour with -ochre, and afforded very little tincture with galls. - -5. A solution of sal Martis, chemically prepared, being mixed with -galls, immediately turned of a bright dark blue colour, exactly similar -to that produced in the water. - -6. A solution of common and rock alum was no-ways changed in its colour -with galls. - -7. A solution of sal Martis and alum being mixed in equal quantities, -the mixture was turned of a bright blue colour with galls; yet not of -so deep a hue, but of a more diluted colour than the solution of sal -Martis, without alum. - - -From these experiments we must first of all observe, that the colour, -which these waters afford with galls and pomegranate-flowers, is -very uncommon. The more iron, that any mineral water contains, it -will afford the deeper colour with such astringents: but tho’ I have -tried this experiment upon a great many of the ferrugineous waters in -Scotland, and also upon the waters of some of the foreign Spaws, I -never observed one, that afforded so deep a colour as this, which we -now consider. Some of the weakest of them gives only a red or faint -purple tincture, and the strongest only a deep purple: but I never -saw or heard of any chalybeat water, but this, either in Scotland or -elsewhere, that afforded an intense black and inky colour with galls. -From which, I think we may venture to conclude, that the water of this -Spaw contains a far larger proportion of iron than most, or perhaps -than any, other chalybeat water hitherto discovered: and for this -reason, I dare say, it will likewise be so much the more preferable to -most others in medicinal virtues; which has indeed already appeared by -many surprising cures it has performed, and which, I am persuaded, will -more fully appear, when its medicinal effects shall be better known. - -There must needs be a very great quantity of iron in this water, when -it yields as deep a colour with galls as a strong solution of sal -Martis. I was indeed at first apprehensive, that this perhaps might not -be owing so much to a large and uncommon proportion of chalybeat parts, -as to the commixture of alum, which I judged to be in the water. But we -see the contrary appears by these trials: for alum of itself affords no -tincture with astringents, and, instead of rendering a solution of sal -Martis with galls of a more intense colour, rather makes it lighter and -more diluted. - -We see here, that the ferrugineous matter is intirely separated from -the water by an infusion of galls. The like also happens by elixation; -after which it is almost deprived of its tinging quality. Yet other -chalybeat waters lose this quality by much less degree of heat. - - -As there is an ochrous earth separated from all steel waters, when -exposed to the air, which subsides to the bottom, and a metalline scum -or cremor, which swim on their surface; we shall next consider the -appearances, which they make in this water. - - -_Exp._ 8. A solution of saccharum Saturni being dropt into common -spring-water, left the upper parts of the water clear and colourless, -but formed a lactescency towards the bottom. The same solution being -added to the mineral water, soon turned it of a turbid yellow colour, -which afterwards subsided, and formed a deep yellow cloud in the -bottom of the glass; and below this yellow sediment there adhered to -the bottom of the glass a whitish substance, which I took to be the -metalline parts of the saccharum Saturni separated from the purer parts -of the salt, which were still suspended in the water, and which made it -of a muddy whitish colour. - -9. Forty drops of oleum tartari per deliquium being added to an ounce -of the water, made it of an uniform light yellow colour; but in an -hour afterwards there were many small yellow terrene _nubeculæ_ formed -in it. These the next day were more conspicuous, being thoroughly -separated from the water, and precipitated to the bottom, leaving the -water quite clear, as it was before the mixture. A small quantity of -this limpid water being taken, it would afford no tincture with galls. -It was then all poured off, except so much in the bottom of the glass -as contained the above-mentioned clouds: to this there were some galls -added, which in half an hour turned these clouds from a light yellow to -a deep red colour, but did not change the colour of the water, in which -they swam. - -10. Immediately after the affusion of ol. tart. p.d. to the water, -galls were added to the mixture, which tinged it of a deep and bright -red colour. After standing for some time, there were red clouds -precipitated to the bottom, and the water continued of a dusky opake -red colour. - -11. There is a small brook, formerly mentioned, which runs near -by these springs; into which the water, that flows from them, is -discharged. I observed the stones and channel of this brook all tinged -with ochre of a deep yellow colour, so far up as the water of these -springs flowed into it; but the channel, which the mineral water ran -over before it was mixed with the water of the brook, was very little -or nothing discoloured with ochre. As I conjectured what this was owing -to, I afterwards took two equal quantities of the mineral water, into -one of which I put an equal quantity of common water. In two hours -the mixture became less transparent, and appeared yellowish, while -the simple mineral water retained its clearness. Next day there was -much ochre separated from the mixture, which subsided to the bottom -of the glass: but the unmixed mineral water remained still clear and -colourless, as at first. - - -All chalybeat waters separate their ochrous parts, when exposed some -time to the air; but this separation is made sooner by the commixture -of several kinds of salts. Thus we see the ochre in this water is -immediately separated and precipitated by the solution of saccharum -Saturni. - -The oil of tartar causes a precipitation of these ferrugineous -parts in the same manner. Which parts must be the sole cause, that -the water receives a tincture from galls; since, after they are -precipitate, it loses that quality, which they notwithstanding retain -even after they are separated from the water. This precipitation of -the ochrous parts of the water were the only visible effects that I -could perceive to follow from the affusion of the ol. tart. p.d. I -remember indeed, when I was at Moffat, I saw the manuscript of Dr. -Horsburgh’s experiments upon this mineral water; which appeared to be -very accurate; and which I understand are since printed, in a volume -lately published by the Philosophical Society at Edinburgh. Amongst -these I observed one, which I thought so very remarkable, that I -particularly adverted to it. It was the effects of the affusion of -ol. tart. p.d. to the water, producing in it clouds, or a coagulation -of a green or grass-green colour. I think these were the words; and I -own I was something surprised at them. A solution of vitriolum Martis, -mixed with this alkaline oil, does indeed produce a green coagulum: -but I could scarcely think, that this, or any other chalybeat water, -contained so large a proportion of that vitriol, as to be sufficient -to produce these effects, when I considered, that so many writers, -which I had seen, upon this subject, have all failed in their attempts -of extracting a conspicuous martial vitriol from such mineral waters. -I had tried this experiment upon four or five chalybeat springs in -Scotland, and likewise upon the Spa and Pyrmont waters, which had -been well preserved; but there never resulted any such effects from -the mixture of these with oil of tartar, as are related in the above -experiment. All the alteration it produced in these waters was the -precipitation of an ochrous earth, but without the least appearance -of any green colour. As I looked upon this as a leading experiment -in the history of vitriolic waters; as I had often tried it, and -as often seen the green coagulum produced with the solution of the -factitious vitriol, and never could observe it produced in any of -the above water; I began to suspect, that these waters were either -not possessed of a vitriolic salt at all, or else, that it was in -some respects very different from the factitious vitriol. For these -reasons, Dr. Horsburgh’s experiment appeared very extraordinary; -tho’ at the same time I was greatly pleased, that I should have the -opportunity of repeating it, and of observing those phænomena in this -ferrugineous water, which I had sought for in vain in several others. -But when I came to make the trial, I was yet more surprised, when I -found it misgive, and that the ol. tart. p.d. produced no green colour -or coagulum in this mineral water, nor caused any other alteration -in it, than the separation of a large quantity of ochrous earth of a -yellow colour, exactly the same with what I had observed in the other -steel waters. This failure made me immediately conclude, that I had -somehow or other committed an error in the experiment: and tho’ I was -pretty sure, that the mineral water, which I had used in it, was quite -fresh, yet I could not be so positive as to the oil of tartar, which -I suspected to have been long kept. Yet that this could have been the -cause of my being so unsuccessful, I could scarcely believe, tho’ -indeed I could assign no other. I was sorry, that I had not afterwards -an opportunity of repeating this experiment with more accuracy, from -which I might have expected to reap more success, as it is perhaps -one of the most consequence, that can be performed on this mineral -water, as it is capable of demonstrating the existence of a substantial -vitriolum Martis in it; which is more than has been hitherto done, or -perhaps ever will be done, concerning any one of the vast number of -chalybeat waters, which have been yet discovered. - -When galls are added to the water, at the same time with oil of tartar, -instead of its deep blue colour, it affords only a red tincture. - -It appears from the 11th experiment, that an addition of common -water causes the mineral water to precipitate its ochre; and the -reason of this is obvious: for if these ochrous parts be altogether -terrene, as they appear to be, and exist in the water unconnected with -any other principle, then it must happen, that as these parts are -uniformly diffused thro’ the water, in which they are suspended as in -a menstruum; by the addition of common water, this menstruum being -diluted, the cohesion of these terrene parts must be thereby weakened, -and their contact destroyed; so that their menstrual equilibrium being -thus taken off, they can be no longer supported in the fluid, but must -be precipitated by the force of their own gravity. - - -_Exp._ 12. When the water was exposed for some days to the air, there -was a cremor separated from it of a shining chalybeat colour. This, -like other kinds of cremor, takes a considerable time to compleat its -intire separation from the fluid, out of which it is expelled: for when -it was despumated, a new cremor always succeeded, until the whole -quantity, which the water contained, was exhausted. - -13. When this cremor first appeared on the water, it was of a faint -blueish colour; but as it increased, it changed into a deeper and more -bright shining blue: and, after longer standing, it became blotched -with various colours, as red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, and -violet. - -14. A quantity of the water being put in a gentle heat, this cremor was -quickly separated from it, and appeared on the surface of the water. A -like quantity of the water, with its cremor already upon its surface, -was put over a gentle heat, which by degrees broke the cremor into very -small parts; but whether they did evaporate, or precipitate in the -water, I could not be certain. But, by other trials, this cremor was -found to have a great degree of fixity, bearing a considerable heat -without avolation; yet not without the appearance of some of its parts -flying off, altho’ most of them were fixed; because what remained lost -its fine colours, and was changed into a shining chalybeat colour. - -15. The water of the lower spring afforded a much less quantity of the -cremor, than the water of the upper spring. It took also a longer time -to separate, was of a blueish colour, and had not the vivid colours, -which the water of the upper spring shewed. - -16. When ol. tart. p.d. and spirit of sal ammoniac were added to the -water, it did not separate its cremor. - - -This cremor, which is separated from the water, is the same with that, -which appears on the surface of a solution of vitriolum Martis, when -exposed for some time to the air; and an infusion of iron in common -water also emits a cremor of the same kind. I remember, as I was once -carefully observing a large glass full of chalybeat water, which -contained much of this cremor; soon after it was exposed to the air, -I observed a tenuious blueish vapour rising in the parts of the water -next the surface, which very much diminished its transparency; and by -degrees this vapour was emitted by the lowest parts of the water: but -as the cremor increased on its surface, the water became gradually -deprived of the blueish tincture, which it received from this halituous -body; which was apparently nothing else but the parts of the cremor -separating from the water, and ascending upwards. From whence we may -conclude, that this cremor consists of the very finest part of iron -attenuated to the highest degree. - -It has been the opinion of most naturalists, that these kind of mineral -waters do abound in sulphureous parts. This they have conjectured from -the foetor, that often attends them. But in what quantity or form -these parts exist in the fluid, or by what means they can be rendered -conspicuous, has not as yet been sufficiently determined. Yet, I think, -we may suspect some of the parts of this cremor to be sulphureous. They -are volatile, and, being heated, do fly off from the pure metalline -parts, which being more fixed, are thereby left destitute of those -vivid colours, which they enjoyed from the sulphureous parts. These are -evident marks of sulphur, and are altogether analogous to some other -appearances of that mineral. Another observation tending to support -this is the want of those vivid colours in the cremor, which appears -on an infusion of iron; the reason of which seems to be the loss of the -sulphureous parts of the chalybeat minerals by avolation, during the -operations of the fire, which they undergo in refining. - -It appears from the fifteenth experiment, that the water of these two -springs contains a very different proportion of this cremor: and from -the last, that it is precipitated along with the ochrous parts, which -happens upon the affusion of these alkaline liquors. - - -The next trials were in quest of alum. - - -_Exp._ 17. A quantity of the water being kept for some time in a -boiling heat, and after it was cool being filtred quite clear from its -ochrous matter, it still retained a subacid and aluminous taste in a -very strong degree. - -18. To an ounce of common spring-water there was added two gutts of -fresh sweet milk. This mixture being shaken, the milk mixed intimately -with the water, without any kind of coagulation. - -19. The same experiment being made with the mineral water, the milk, -upon its affusion, was so curdled, or separated into clouds, that the -greatest shaking could not mix or incorporate it with the water. - -20. This experiment being also made with a weak solution of alum in -spring-water, its effects upon the milk were not in the least different -from those of the mineral water. - -21. And the same trial being again repeated with the water, when -boiled and filtred from its ochrous parts, the milk was in the same -manner coagulated as before elixation. - -22. One part of sweet milk being added to four parts of the mineral -water, the milk subsided, and formed a cloud in the bottom of the -glass, leaving the upper parts of the water clear. This mixture being -heartily shaken, the milk mixed so well with the water, that it -appeared to be but a very little curdled. - -23. When a larger quantity of milk was added to a smaller quantity of -water, and even when equal parts of the milk and mineral water were -mixed and shaken together, there could be no curdling or coagulation -observed. - -24. An equal quantity of the water and milk being boiled together, the -greatest part of the milk was coagulated into a thick white curd; and -the remainder, with the mineral water, turned of a pure white milky -colour, which drank like whey, and was very agreeable. - -25. Eight gutts of sweet milk being added to four ounces of the water, -and the mixture boiled, part of the milk was thereby curdled, and swam -upon the top of the water. The ochrous parts of the water were likewise -separated, and falling to the bottom, their colour did not appear of a -clear yellow, as usual, but was something milky. - - -All these experiments strongly indicate the existence of alum in this -water. It retains its aluminous taste, and coagulates milk, after the -chalybeat parts are almost all expelled by elixation. The coagulation -of the milk demonstrates an acidity in the water, and the other -appearances shew that acidity to be owing to an aluminous salt. - -It appears, that the milk requires a large quantity of the water, to -make a sensible coagulation in it: for, in the 22d experiment, one -part of the milk being added to four parts of the mineral water, the -coagulation was scarcely discernible: and in the 23d, when an equal or -larger quantity of milk was added to the water, the coagulation was -not at all observable. I have heard it confidently averred, that this -mineral water did not at all curdle milk; which, I suppose, has been -thro’ a mistake in the experiment, in adding too large a proportion of -milk to the water: for in this way the coagulation cannot be observed. - -I imagined, that when the water was boiled with milk, the mixture would -have become of a muddy yellow colour, by the separation of the ochre: -but it did not even appear, that the ochre was at all separated from -the mixture, as it is from the water when boiled by itself. On the -contrary, not only the coagulum, but also the liquor, was of a pure -white colour, and of a pleasant taste: and this makes me think it worth -the inquiring into, whether or not the water does retain its medical -qualities after it is prepared in this manner with milk? For, if it -does, such a preparation might certainly be very serviceable in many -cases. - - -These experiments, which we next relate, do not only ascertain the -existence of alum in the water with greater certainty, but also, that -there is a particular kind of earth conjoined with this salt. - - -_Exp._ 26. An English quart of the water being kept boiling for -a quarter of an hour, it turned thick, muddy, and yellow, by the -separation of its ochrous parts; and, being set to cool in a clean -bowl, the next day all the ochre was subsided to the bottom, from which -the water was carefully filtred: whereby it became almost as clear and -limpid as before the elixation, retaining a sharp aluminous taste, but -was deprived of the strong ferrugineous taste, which it had at first. -This water was again boiled; by which means it was again turned a -little yellow, by the separation of some more ochre. It was therefore -again filtred, and rendered clear, and its aluminous taste was stronger -than before. After this filtration, the water was evaporated in a -sand-heat to about a sixteenth part of the original quantity, and then -it tasted like a strong solution of alum joined with a small degree of -a chalybeat taste. And this being totally evaporated in a glass, there -adhered upon its sides a pure white salt; and a larger quantity of the -same salt remained in the bottom of the glass, which was not so white, -but more impure than the former, and of a brown colour. - -27. This salt, thus procured from the water, being mixed with distilled -vinegar and spirit of vitriol, there was not the least effervescence -produced. - -28. Some of the brown-coloured salt being put upon a red-hot iron, it -did neither sparkle nor decrepitate; but was turned into a blackish -cineritious substance, which in a short time became a white calx. And -tho’ some of the salt was put upon the iron finely powdered, yet it -concreted, and run together in a cinder, whose cohesion was afterwards -destroyed when calcined by a further degree of heat. - -29. As I was accidentally deprived of the opportunity of obtaining -crystals of this salt, which would have been the best means of knowing -to what species it was to be referred; I dissolved the whole mass in -a small quantity of spring-water, and, by filtrating this solution, I -obtained a large proportion of fine earth of a brown colour. - -30. This solution of the salt afforded a deep blue tincture with galls. - -31. The same solution, being mixed with syrup of violets, became of a -reddish colour. - -32. Saccharum Saturni being added to the solution, precipitated a thick -lactescent cloud. - -33. Ol. tart. p.d. being also added to this solution, it caused no -visible effervescence, yet raised some bubbles of air, and caused a -coagulation of many small brown terrene nubeculæ in the water; which, -after standing some time, subsided to the bottom, and left the water -clear. - - -These experiments do plainly evince, that this water contains an -aluminous salt, conjoined with a fine terrene substance, which is -probably a part of the matrix, from whence the salt has been formed. - -This salt gives no signs of any alkaline principle; but, on the -contrary, of an acidity, as its solution reddens with syrup of violets. - -With this salt there are also intimately conjoined some very subtile -chalybeat parts, which are not separable from it by elixation or -evaporation. - -Alum is distinguishable from all other mineral salts, by liquifying -and bubbling upon a red-hot iron, and turning into a white calx. But -this could not be well expected from this aluminous salt, which we -had extracted from the water, because it was extremely foul, by being -combined with so large a proportion of earth; which earthy parts were -the occasion of turning the salt of a blackish colour upon the iron. -However, we see it turns white by a further degree of heat. But if the -salt had been dissolved, filtrated, and crystallized, till it had been -purified and freed from this terrene matter, it would then certainly -have had the same appearance upon the red-hot iron, as a pure aluminous -salt. Again, as it is peculiar to an aluminous salt to liquify in some -degree with fire, so we see, that this was evidently the case of this -salt. Its eliquation indeed could not be so remarkable, as in pure -alum, because of its being mixed with so much earth; but that it did -liquify in some degree is plain, because the whole mass of salt and -earth, even when reduced to a powder, ran all together like a cinder. - -The experiment upon the solution of this salt with ol. tart. p.d. -is also a further proof of what we have already asserted: for tho’ -there was no visible effervescence, yet the bubbles of air shew, that -there was an intestine conflict of the oil with the acid principle -in the solution; which being absorbed by the alkali, the earth was -precipitated, to which it formerly adhered. - - -The two next experiments were made in order to discover, whether an -acid or alkaline principle prevailed in the water. - - -_Exp._ 34. Forty gutts of the syrup of violets being added to an ounce -of the water, the mixture became of a bright sea-green colour. - -35. A quantity of water being kept boiling for five minutes, and -afterwards allowed to stand till it became clear, was carefully -filtrated from its ochrous sediment: after which, upon its mixture with -syrup of violets, it turned of a faint reddish colour. - - -From these experiments we infer, that this mineral water contains -both an alkaline and an acid principle; the former consisting of the -ochrous and ferrugineous parts, which are separated from the water by -elixation; and the latter of the aluminous salt, which remains in the -water after elixation. - - -The following trials were made in order to know what effects are -produced in the water by being exposed to the air; and in what respects -the waters of the two springs differed from each other. - - -_Exp._ 37. An English quart of the water of each of the springs being -fully exposed to the air in two China bowls, the next day that of the -under spring was neither altered in its taste, colour, or transparency, -nor in any other shape whatever; but that of the upper spring appeared -of a yellowish colour, altho’ it was clear and transparent as the other. - -On the second day the taste of the waters scarcely appeared to be any -way diminished. No sensible change could be observed in the lower -water; but the upper water was become more yellow than it was the day -before, yet without any loss of its transparency. They both tinged of a -deep blue colour with galls; which tinctures appeared equally deep and -strong, as they did before the waters were exposed to the air. - -The third day the lower water appeared clear and colourless as before, -only its surface was covered with a few small spots of cremor. The -upper water appeared more yellowish than formerly, and its surface -was almost wholly covered over with the cremor. They both afforded a -tincture with galls, which was not sensibly different from what they -gave before their exposure. - -On the fourteenth day the water of the under well had precipitated -a yellow ochrous sediment, but the other water a more considerable -quantity. A large quantity of cremor continued also to swim upon the -surface of the upper water, but there was very little separated from -the water of the under well. Both waters being now tried with galls, -instead of the deep blue colour, which they did formerly exhibit, they -now became only of a deep purple colour. - -On the twentieth day the visible appearance of both waters was the same -as when last observed. - -On the thirty-eighth day they both afforded as deep a purple colour -with galls, as they did three weeks before; and during that time also -they had not precipitated any more of their ochrous parts, nor suffered -any other sensible alteration. - -The water of the upper well being filtrated from all the ferrugineous -matter, which it had separated during these thirty-eight days, was -rendered almost as limpid and clear as when newly taken from the -well: but, being boiled for some time, it became of a turbid yellow -colour; and being allowed to stand, it again precipitated abundance -of an ochrous sediment; and being filtrated, and mixed with galls, it -received a faint purple colour of a blueish hue. - -38. A bottle of the water of each of these springs, being carefully -sealed, carried to Moffat, and kept for two months, suffered not the -least alteration during that time, but was as fresh as when immediately -taken from the fountain. And I am informed, that after it is carried -to Edinburgh, and to places at a greater distance, it will keep a much -longer time without being any way spoiled. - - -I believe it will appear from these observations, that this mineral -water continues longer intire, and particularly that it retains the -quality of tinging with galls longer, than most others of the chalybeat -kind: at least, of a great number, which I have seen described, I do -not remember one, that retains it near so long, when exposed to the -open air. Many of them lose this quality intirely in a few hours; and -it is greatly impaired in the same time, even in those which retain -it longest. But this water, we see, remains exposed to the open air -for days, without almost any alteration. This may perhaps be owing -either to the larger proportion of ferrugineous parts, with which it is -impregnated; to their being attenuated to a greater degree; or to their -more perfect commixture with the water, by means of the aluminous salt. -The longer time, that any mineral water does remain intire, without -any separation of its mineral parts; or the longer it retains the same -form, which it has when newly taken from the spring; the more perfect -is the commixture of these parts with their fluid vehicle: and I -believe, upon that account, will be more effectual for medicinal uses: -for which reason, I suppose, these waters may prove a more beneficial -medicine, than any others of the ferrugineous kind, whose mineral -contents are not so intimately commixed with the aqueous fluid. - -As these waters are so long in separating their mineral contents, they -appear particularly well adapted for being transported to distant -places: for by this quality they are fitted to undergo a long carriage, -and to be kept a considerable time, without any diminution of their -medicinal virtues. It must also be noticed, that the water of the under -well is by much the best of the two for carriage, or for being long -kept, as it is longer in separating its mineral contents than the upper -one. - -From these experiments it is evident, that there is a considerable -difference betwixt the waters of the two springs. The upper one -contains a much larger quantity of ochrous earth, and metalline cremor, -than the under one; which is the reason, why it yields a deeper colour -with galls, as may be observed in the first experiment. I suspected, -on the other hand, that the under water contained a greater proportion -of alum, than the water of the upper spring; but this I cannot affirm, -as I find I had neglected to make the experiment, which would have -determined whether it be so or not. Tho’ the mineral contents of these -two waters be similar, yet, if they be thus mixed in them in different -proportions, this must certainly create a difference between them, -which deserves to be attended to, as it may be sufficient to disallow -of their being used promiscuously, since their medicinal effects may be -thereby different. - -But now, to sum up the evidence, which these experiments, taken all -together, do afford, concerning the mineral ingredients of this Spaw; I -think they determine, with some degree of certainty, that it contains -two different principles of iron, both of which are fixed. The one, -which is the ochrous earth, is a true _minera ferri_, and, altho’ it -be a crude mineral, exists in the water in a very fine and subtile -form; the other, which is the cremor or pellicle, whose parts are -also extremely attenuated in the water, appears to be iron, not in -its mineral, but in its metalline form, and, when thrown up upon the -surface of the water, shews itself like an extreme thin _lamina_ of -that metal. There seems also to be some small proportion of sulphur -joined with the metalline cremor. The other mineral ingredient, which -enters into the composition of this Spaw, is a considerable proportion -of an aluminous salt, which is conjoined with a small quantity of a -light brown-coloured earth (probably a part of the matrix whence the -salt is formed), and still more intimately connected with some of the -chalybeat parts of the water, which are not separable from it either -by elixation or evaporation. Whether these be saline or terrestrial, I -cannot determine. - - -Having thus endeavoured to discover, by some plain and simple -experiments, the mineral principles, with which this medicinal water -is impregnated; I shall now only add some observations, with respect -to the origin of steel waters, and particularly of this Spaw, whose -origin, I think, is thereby discovered and ascertained in a very -obvious manner. - -Among several things, that are still deficient in the history of -mineral waters; an exact knowlege of their origin seems to be the -chief; that is, from what fossils, and in what manner, these waters do -acquire the mineral substances, with which they are impregnated. As -this happens in the bowels of the earth, and is therefore far removed -from our view, it is not surprising, that there has been so little -discovered concerning it; tho’ indeed there have been many elaborate -hypotheses framed in order to account for it. - -The writers on mineral waters have been of very different and opposite -opinions concerning their origin. They have disagreed widely amongst -themselves; and I very much suspect, that the accounts, which most of -them give of this matter, are not agreeable to truth: particularly -with respect to chalybeat waters, I have seen none, who have given a -satisfactory account of their origin. They have all agreed, that iron, -or the vitriol of that metal, does exist in mineral waters; but they -have never yet agreed, how they came to exist in them, or in what -manner mineral waters come to be imbued with these fossils. - -Some of the more ancient writers cannot comprehend, how simple water -should be intimately impregnated with so many different kinds of -minerals, except by the means of some powerful agent. And as they -thought nothing more proper for communicating and mixing mineral -substances with water, than violent heat, they therefore termed all -mineral waters, of whatever kind, by the name of _thermæ_. They saw -some spring from the earth extremely hot, others moderately hot, others -tepid, others excessively cold: they concluded from this, that all -such various degrees of heat in these waters were owing either to the -different degree of subterranean fire, which they had undergone; or -else to the great distance, which some of them had run in the earth, -after they had been sufficiently heated. They therefore maintained, -that those waters particularly termed _acidulæ_ (the greatest part of -which are impregnated with iron), or those, which, tho’ intensely cold, -contained a large proportion of mineral matter, had in some part of the -earth been impregnated with it, by means of an intense heat, which they -had been gradually deprived of by a long passage thro’ the colder parts -of the earth. - -Some naturalists again, of a later date, having exploded the former -notion as chimerical, have thought, that a vapour rising from vitriolic -minerals, and mixed with the neighbouring streams of water in the -bowels of the earth, has imbued them with some of the parts, and with -the properties, of vitriol. - -Others are of opinion, that the exhalations of vitriolic minerals, -passing thro’ the cavities of the earth, are there condensed by the -subterraneous cold into a limpid fluid, containing the very finest -parts of that mineral salt: which fluid, mixing with the præterlabent -streams of water, and issuing out of the earth with them, produce those -mineral springs called vitriolic. - -The last opinion I shall mention on this subject, and which indeed -appears the most plausible, is of those, who think, that the iron is -corroded and dissolved in these waters by means of an acid: for, as -they imagine simple water incapable of doing this, they suppose, that -it is first imbued with an acid in the bowels of the earth; and then, -by the corrosion of the chalybeat minerals, thro’ which it runs, it -comes to be impregnated with them. I once received this opinion, as -the most probable I could then observe, concerning the origin of these -springs: yet not as being satisfactory; for there are many objections -against it, which it is difficult either to elude or to answer. - -The supposition of an acidity in ferrugineous waters, I thought but -ill confirmed, because, upon trial, they discover no vestiges of it, -but rather appear to be alkaline. Besides, in considering the causes -of mineral waters, it seems more probable, that whatever minerals they -contain, they must be such, as can be received or extracted by common -water in its passage thro’ the earth, by solution, abrasion, or the -like simple operations; and in this way alone I think we may come to -account not only for the commixtion of the saline and terrene minerals, -which are found in medical waters, but likewise of those, that are -metalline or sulphureous; for which simple water, at first sight, may -perhaps seem to be an insufficient solvent. - -It was this notion, that first induced me to make trial upon various -mineral and metallic bodies, in order to know how far they could -communicate their virtues to common water by infusion. I thought this -might throw some light upon the origin of mineral waters; yet, tho’ -I made a great many experiments of this sort, and particularly upon -several kinds of native chalybeat minerals, I was as little satisfied -concerning their origin as before. I at length, however, met, by -accident, with what I had inquired after with so little success. - -As I happened to be at a gentleman’s house near Edinburgh, in whose -estate there was a great deal of coal, and who was at that time working -a level or adit, in order to drain off the water, I observed, that -the current of water, which flowed from this level, separated a great -quantity of ochre, and, emptying itself into a river soon after it came -from the entry of the level, tinged all the stones and the channel of -the river, for a good way, of an ochrous colour. The taste of this -water was exactly like that of a common steel Spaw; and it afforded a -purple colour with galls[55]. As I knew, that this water flowed off a -great body of coal, I often infused that fossil, taken from the pits -near this level, in common water; but the infusions never yielded any -tincture with galls. I tried in the same way another mineral, that -the miners call _blaes_; which is a cliffery stratum of a blueish -colour, that often lies both above and below the coal: also another -fossil of a brown colour, which is very ponderous, and is called by -the miners _dogger_; a thin seam of which often lies in the midst of -the coal. However, neither of these would afford an infusion, that -would tinge with galls. At last I got another mineral out of these -coal-pits, which is sometimes found amongst the coal, but is not so -frequent as any of the former; and this fully answered my expectation. -It is found either in round or broad pieces, is exceeding ponderous, -and of a shining yellow colour, and is called by the miners _brass -lumps_. When I infused this mineral for a short time in common water, -it communicated to it all the properties of a steel Spaw; its taste -was exactly the same; and it received a tincture from galls, which was -of a more diluted or intense purple, according to the proportion of -the mineral added to the water, or to the time of the infusion. This -simple experiment does therefore clearly discover to us the origin of -steel waters, and the manner, in which they are impregnated with their -mineral contents in the bowels of the earth. - -This observation, which I had made concerning the origin of steel -waters, led me, when I first visited Hartfell-Spaw, to inquire into the -adjacent fossils: which was the more easily done, as the strata of the -earth about the well, for a considerable depth, are exposed to view. -After some search among these, I found a stratum of cliffery rock, -about three or four feet thick, of a grey colour, and, I think, about -twenty paces from the spring. In some of the hollow places of this -rock, where the rain and wind did not reach, I observed a white saline -efflorescence on its surface, which when I had taken off and tasted, I -concluded, from its styptic and chalybeat taste, that it was a native -vitriolum Martis, notwithstanding its white colour; but I found it, -upon trial, to be alum, having some fine attenuated parts of iron -conjoined with it, and the same salt with that contained in the Spaw -water. - -Having taken some pieces of this rock, which were quite free from -the saline effervescence, and infused them in common spring-water -for some hours, this water did thereby acquire the true taste of the -Hartfell-Spaw. It likewise in the same manner received a deep blue -tincture with galls, and contained all the other qualities of that -mineral water, without the least difference, that I could observe: -which, I think, ascertains the true origin of this mineral spring in -the most obvious and undeniable manner. - -I am persuaded, that this plain and easy method of investigating the -origin of mineral springs is not only superior to the most learned -discussions and elaborate theories, but will be found to be the surest, -yea, the only way of extending and compleating our knowlege concerning -them. As I have not yet had the opportunity of making the experiments, -which I designed, upon the two fossils, that we find to be the cause -of the above mineral waters, and which will be necessary to elucidate -and compleat these observations, which we have made concerning their -origin; I shall now only add one thing, and recommend it to the -observation of others: “_Whether or not, from such a knowlege of the -origin of mineral waters, we may not acquire artificial ones of as -great, or perhaps of greater, medicinal use, than those, which are -naturally produced?_” - - - - -XVIII. _An Account of the State of the Thermometer at the_ Hague _on -the 9th of_ January 1757. _Extracted from a Letter of Mr._ Abraham -Trembley, _F.R.S to_ Tho. Birch, _D.D. Secret. R.S._ - - -[Read Mar. 3, 1757.] - - Hague, Febr. 15. 1757. - -I Carefully observed the thermometer during the cold days, which we -have had this winter. I made use of the same thermometer, with which -I made my observations in 1740, and for that purpose fixed it in the -same place, where it was that year, _viz._ in a window directly exposed -to the north, and open to a large square. In 1740 I saw Fahrenheit’s -thermometer at two degrees below 0. This year, on the 9th day of -January in the morning, it was at three degrees above 0; that is, only -five degrees higher than in 1740. - - - - -XIX. _Experimental Examination of_ Platina. _By_ William Lewis, _M.B. -F.R.S._ - - -[Read Mar. 17, 1757.] - -PAPER V. - -THE account of this extraordinary mineral, formerly read to this -illustrious Society, and honoured with their approbation, being -since published in the _Philosophical Transactions_, renders any -recapitulation of the discoveries hitherto made unnecessary. - -The near and remarkable relation betwixt platina and gold, not only -in point of gravity, but in many less obvious properties, hitherto -supposed to belong to gold alone; and their as manifest disagreement in -others, particularly colour, ductility, and fusibility; induced me to -examine, what effects they might have in combination with one another -in different proportions; and whether there is reason to credit the -report of great frauds having been committed by mixing them together; -how far such abuses are practicable; and, what is of more importance, -the means by which they are discoverable. - - -_Experiments of the Mixture of Platina and Gold._ - -+EXPERIMENT+ I. - -1. Twelve carats[56] of fine gold, and the same quantity of the purer -grains of platina, were urged in a blast-furnace, for near an hour, -with a fire so strong, that a slip of Windsor brick, with which the -crucible was covered, tho’ defended by a thin coating of pure white -clay, had begun to melt. Upon breaking the vessel, the metal was found -in one smooth lump or bead; which, after being nealed by the flame of a -lamp, and boiled in alum-water, appeared, both in the mass, and upon -the touchstone, of a pale bell-metal colour, without any resemblance -to gold. It bore several strokes, and stretched considerably under -the hammer, before it begun to crack about the edges. On viewing -the fracture with a magnifying glass, the gold and platina appeared -unequally mixed; and several small particles of the latter were seen -distinct: nor was the mixture intirely uniform after it had again and -again been returned to the fire, and suffered many hours of strong -fusion. - -2. Eighteen carats of gold and six of platina (= 3:1) were melted -together as the foregoing, in an intense fire continued about an hour. -The bead, nealed and boiled, was less pale-coloured than the former, -but had nothing of the colour of gold. It forged tolerably well, like -coarse gold. To the naked eye it appeared uniform; but a good magnifier -discovered in this, as well as in the other, some inequality of -mixture, not withstanding the fusion was two or three times repeated, -with the strongest degrees of heat we were capable of exciting by large -bellows. - -3. Twenty carats of gold and four of platina (= 5:1) were kept in -strong fusion for above an hour and a half. These united into an equal -mass, in which no granule of platina, or dissimilarity of parts, could -be distinguished. The colour was still so dull and pale, that the -compound could scarcely be judged by the eye to contain any gold. It -hammered well into a pretty thin plate; but we could not draw it into -wire of any considerable fineness. - -4. Twenty-two carats of gold were melted in the same manner with two -of platina (= 11:1) the same that standard gold contains of alloy. -The mixture was uniform, of a tolerable golden colour, but easily -distinguishable from that of standard gold by a dingy bell-metal cast. -It worked well, was forged into a thin plate without cracking, and -drawn into moderately fine wire. - -5. Twenty-two carats and a half of gold, and one and a half of platina -(= 15:1), melted into an uniform mass, which, after the usual nealing -and boiling, proved somewhat tougher than the preceding, and of a -better colour. - -6. Twenty-three carats of gold were melted with one of platina; which -is nearly half the proportion, that standard gold contains of alloy. -The compound worked extremely well, but was distinguishable from gold -by a manifest dinginess, which it retained after repeated forgings, -fusions, nealings, and boilings. - -7. Twenty-three carats and one-fourth of gold, and three-fourths of a -carat of platina (= 31:1), formed an equal mixture, very malleable, -ductile like the three foregoing whilst hot as well as cold, but not -intirely free from their peculiar dingy colour. - -8. A mixture of twenty-three carats and a half of gold, with half -a carat of platina (= 47:1), was very soft and flexible, of a good -colour, without any thing of the disagreeable cast, by which all the -foregoing compositions were readily distinguishable, in the mass as -well as on the touchstone, from fine or standard gold. - -9. A mixture of twenty-three carats and three-fourths of gold, with -one-fourth of a carat of platina (= 95:1), could not be distinguished -by the eye or hammer from the fine gold itself. - -In all these processes, even where the proportion of platina was small, -the fusion was performed by a vehement fire, that the mineral might be -the more intimately dissolved, and equally diffused thro’ the gold. -The necessity of this precaution appeared from an experiment formerly -related; in which one of platina having been melted with four of gold, -the button appeared not much paler than standard gold with silver -alloy. On a second fusion it lost its yellow colour, which had at -first been only external, from an imperfect mixture, great part of the -platina being concealed in the internal part of the mass, and covered -as it were by a golden coat. - -The crucibles were rubbed on the inside with chalk, to prevent any -particles of the metal from lodging in their cavities. A little borax -was employed in each as a flux; with the addition of nitre, by which -the colour of gold is somewhat heightened. On remelting some of the -mixtures with sundry other additions, powdered charcoal seemed to -improve the colour most. - - -+EXPERIMENT+ II. - -The preceding compositions, after being gently hammered and boiled, -were weighed hydrostatically with great care, by a very tender balance, -in distilled water, wherein the gravity of standard gold turned out -17.788. - -All the mixtures proved heavier than standard gold. Their gravities -were nearer to the medium of the gravities of the ingredients, than -those of the compositions of platina with any of the other metals -formerly given an account of; none falling considerably short of the -mean gravity, and some rather exceeding it. - - +------------------------+ - | Gravity. | - | By | By | - |Experiment.|Calculation.|Difference. - Platina | 17.000 | | - Platina 1 Gold 1 | 18.140 | 18.142 | 0. 02} - Platina 1 Gold 3 | 18.613 | 18.714 | 0.101} - Platina 1 Gold 5 | 18.812 | 18.904 | 0.092} - Platina 1 Gold 11 | 18.835 | 19.094 | 0.259} Diminution. - Platina 1 Gold 15 | 18.918 | 19.142 | 0.224} - Platina 1 Gold 23 | 19.089 | 19.189 | 0.100} - Platina 1 Gold 31 | 19.128 | 19.213 | 0.085} - Platina 1 Gold 47 | 19.262 | 19.237 | 0.025} - Platina 1 Gold 95 | 19.273 | 19.261 | 0.012} Increase. - Gold | 19.285 | | - +-----------+------------+ - - -+EXPERIMENT+ III. - -As a mixture of platina with an equal quantity of gold has been -reported to be specifically heavier than gold itself, but turned out -otherwise in the above experiments; some further trials were made on -that head. - -1. Instead of the crude mineral, whose gravity is but 17, we took -platina, that had been cupelled with lead, one of the neatest of -the buttons formerly mentioned, which, tho’ retaining a portion of -the lead, was nearly as ponderous as fine gold, _viz._ 19.240. This -was melted with equal its weight of the gold, in a strong fire, and -continued in fusion for about an hour: the mass proved spongy, and -very light. We remelted it several times with vehement degrees of -fire, suffering it to cool leisurely in the crucible, and, in order -to separate as much as possible of the lead, to which its sponginess -seemed owing, boiled it in aqua-fortis, and repeatedly injected -corrosive sublimate upon it during fusion: the mass, nevertheless, -still turned out cavernulous and brittle, and specifically lighter than -either the gold or platina by themselves. - -2. I likewise endeavoured to combine platina with small proportions of -gold. By vehemence of fire, it was made to unite, tho’ not perfectly, -with half its weight and less: but the mixtures were extremely spongy -and brittle; in specific gravity one scarce 16, another less than 15. - -3. As a cast metalline body from the Spanish West Indies, of which some -account will be given hereafter, appears to have been confounded with -the mineral platina, this also was melted with an equal quantity of -gold. They united with great ease, by a moderate fire, into an uniform -compound, tolerably compact, but whose specific gravity was only 16½; -which is nearly the mean gravity of the two ingredients. - - -+EXPERIMENT+ IV. - -As a small portion of copper somewhat heightens the colour of pale -gold, platina was melted with eight times its weight of standard gold -made with copper alloy. The fusion was performed, as in the preceding -experiments, in a close crucible, with a strong fire, but without any -flux, and continued for about an hour. The metal appeared covered with -a black scurf, and had lost about ⅟200. It was much duller coloured, -harder to the hammer, and cracked sooner about the edges, than mixtures -of fine gold with a larger quantity of platina. By repeated fusion, and -frequent nealing, it became a little softer and tougher, so as to be -drawn into pretty fine wire; but the colour was still exceeding dull, -more resembling that of bad copper than of gold. - -The specific gravity of this compound was 17.915; a little less than -the medium of the three ingredients unmixed, and a little greater than -the mean gravity resulting from the platina by itself, and the copper -and gold mixed; for copper, in the standard proportion, appears to -diminish the gravity of gold more than it ought to do according to -calculation. - - -From the foregoing experiments it appears, that platina is miscible -with gold, in certain proportions, without injuring either its colour -or ductility, or occasioning any considerable alteration in the -gravity: experiments related in former papers have shewn, that it -stands aqua-fortis, and the other trials by which the purity of gold is -estimated. It is to be hoped, that the abuses manifestly practicable -by this mineral have hitherto been but rarely made use of. To guard -against them is the object of this paper; to detect them, of the next. - - - - -XX. _Experimental Examination of_ Platina. _By_ William Lewis, _M.B. -F.R.S._ - - -+PAPER+ VI. - -_Experiments of distinguishing and purifying Gold mixed with Platina._ - -[Read Mar. 31, 1757.] - -1. _By Amalgamation with Mercury._ - -IN an experiment related in the fourth paper, an amalgam of one part -of platina and two of gold with a suitable quantity of mercury, having -been triturated with water for a considerable time, and occasionally -washed over, the platina was gradually thrown out, and the gold -retained by the quicksilver. - -Repetitions of this experiment have shewn, that tho’ the separation -succeeds in some cases, it does not perfectly in all: that if there -is any particle of the platina imperfectly dissolved in the gold -(which will generally be the case, unless the quantity of gold is -three or four times greater than that of the platina), this part will -be retained, after long trituration, undissolved by the mercury, -uncomminuted by the pestle, and too ponderous to be washed off in its -gross form. A variety of mixtures of platina and gold were treated in -the manner above described; and the gold, recovered from the amalgams, -submitted to further examinations. Where the proportion of platina was -large, the microscope almost always discovered still some granules of -it on the fracture of the ingot: where the proportion was small, the -recovered gold was frequently, but not constantly, found to be pure. - -From these experiments it appears, that mercury has a greater affinity -with gold than platina, and that platina is capable of being totally -separated by elutriation; but that the process is too vague and -undetermined to be applicable in the way of assay, as we have no mark -of the precise time for discontinuing it, and as we can never be -certain, without making another assay, whether the whole of the platina -is separated or not. As a preparatory examination, where the quantities -of platina and gold to be separated are large, it is nevertheless of -good use, as greatest part of the platina may by this means be washed -over with little trouble, and the gold brought into a less compass, so -as to be commodiously submitted to a perfect purification by the means -hereafter pointed out. This process has a similar effect on platina and -gold to that of stamping and washing on metallic ores; which could not -be reduced into pure metal in the furnace to advantage, without the -previous separation of great part of the earthy and stony matter by -water. - - -2. _By Precipitation with Alkalies._ - -Gold is precipitated totally by fixed alkaline salts, but platina -only in part. When solutions of the two metals are mixed together, -so much of the platina remains suspended, after saturation with the -alkali, as to be readily distinguishable by the yellow colour, which -it communicates to the liquor. It has been objected, that tho’ the -platina was discoverable, when thus mingled superficially with the -gold, it may nevertheless, when combined more intimately by fusion, -elude this method of trial. - -1. Mixtures of gold with small proportions of platina were therefore -kept in fusion, by a very strong fire, for several hours, and -afterwards dissolved in aqua-regis. The solutions being diluted with -water, and a pure fixed alkaline salt gradually added, so long as any -effervescence of precipitation ensued, the liquors remained manifestly -coloured, tho’ apparently paler than when the two metals had been -dissolved by themselves. - -2. A more convincing proof, that part of the platina remains suspended, -after the precipitation of the gold, was obtained, by putting into the -filtered liquors some plates of pure tin, which presently contracted an -olive hue, and threw down a large quantity of a brownish precipitate, -as from the common solutions of the crude mineral. It was observable, -that the tin plates were often sensibly acted on, even whilst the -liquor was overcharged with alkali. - -3. It has been further suggested, and with great appearance of -probability, that as a part of platina is precipitated as well as gold -by alkaline salts, if only this part be mixed with gold, it will be -thrown down by them again upon dissolving the compound. To determine -this point, a precipitate of platina made by fixed alkali was melted -with thrice its weight of fine gold, and kept in strong fusion for -above an hour: they united more easily than gold does with so large -a proportion of the crude mineral, and formed a smooth neat bead, -which hammered well into a pretty thin plate before it cracked, and -appeared internally uniform and equal. This compound being dissolved -in aqua-regia, and a fixed alkaline salt added by degrees till the -acid was more than saturated, the liquor became indeed pale; but tin -plates put into it quickly discovered, that it held a very considerable -quantity of platina. It appears therefore a constant property of this -mineral to remain partially dissolved in the neutralised liquor; and -that minute proportions of it, mixed with gold, are by this means -distinguishable. - -4. Many other experiments were made of the precipitations and -precipitates of gold and platina, by alkalies both of the fixed -and volatile kind. The most remarkable effects were, that volatile -alkalies, added to both solutions in quantity just sufficient to -saturate the acid, precipitated gold intirely, but platina only in -part, so much of it remaining suspended as to give the same colour to -the liquor as when fixed alkalies were made use of: that, on adding a -larger quantity of the spirit after the precipitation of the gold, the -liquor became yellow, a part of the metal being taken up again; and -that the platina was more copiously redissolved, the liquor becoming -of a deep brownish red: that the washed precipitates of both metals, -whether made by volatile or fixed alkalies, proved soluble, by moderate -digestion, in spirit of salt; those of platina much more difficultly -and sparingly than those of gold. - - -3. _By inflammable Liquors._ - -1. Inflammable spirits, which revive gold from its solutions in form -of yellow films, have no such effect on solutions of platina. This -experiment affords not only a criterion for distinguishing with -certainty whether gold has been debased by platina, but likewise an -infallible means of recovering it perfectly pure from any admixture of -that mineral. If the compound be dissolved in aqua-regis, the solution -mingled with twice its quantity or more of the spirit, and the mixture -suffered to stand for some days in a glass slightly covered; the whole -of the gold arises to the surface, leaving the whole of the platina -dissolved. The golden pellicles may be collected, by pouring the matter -into a filter just large enough to contain it. The dissolved platina -passes thro’, leaving the gold upon the paper, which is to be washed -with fresh parcels of water till the liquor runs colourless. The paper -is then to be carefully squeezed together, and burnt in a crucible -previously lined with vitrefied borax: when fully sunk down, a little -fresh borax is to be injected, and the fire raised to melt the gold. -The use of lining the crucible with borax is to prevent any moleculæ of -the gold from lodging in its cavities.--This process is attended with -one inconvenience, the slowness of the separation of the gold from the -solution: this may be in some measure expedited by employing a spirit, -which has been distilled from vegetables, that give over an essential -oil. - -2. As essential oils take up gold from aqua-regis, and keep it -dissolved for a time upon the surface of the acid; a pure colourless -oil, that of rosemary, was poured into about half its quantity of a -solution of platina, the mixture well shaken, and suffered to rest: -the oil quickly arose, without taking up any thing from the platina, -or receiving any colour: the acid liquor underneath remained coloured -as at first. Compositions of platina and gold being dissolved in -aqua-regis, and treated in the same manner, the whole of the gold was -imbibed by the oil, and the whole of the platina remained dissolved -in the acid. The oil, loaded with the gold, appeared of a fine yellow -colour, and, on standing for a few hours, threw off great part of its -contents, in bright yellow films, to the sides of the glass. Sundry -other distilled oils were made trial of, with the same event. The gold -is easily recovered, by setting the oil on fire; and, when thoroughly -burnt out, melting the residuum with borax, as in the preceding -experiment. After the separation of the oil employed at first, it may -be proper, for the greater security, to add a little more; which, if -any part of the gold should happen to have been left in the liquor, -will effectually take it up. - -3. The experiment was repeated likewise with the subtile fluid, -prepared from vinous spirits with the vitriolic acid, called by the -chemists æther. The separation succeeded in the same manner as before; -the æther receiving nothing from pure platina, but instantly taking up -the gold from a mixture of the two. It is observable, that the gold -imbibed by this fluid is kept permanently dissolved by it; without -separating or reviving, as it does from the common essential oils and -vinous spirits. - -4. The liquors remaining in these experiments, after the extraction of -the gold, appear on all trials the same with the common solutions of -platina; and readily betray their being impregnated with that mineral -by their colour, by the precipitation with tin, by their yielding -a sparkling red precipitate with volatile spirits, _&c._ A far more -minute proportion of platina, mixed with gold, is more distinguishable -by these processes, than by those with alkaline salts above-mentioned; -these exhibiting the whole of the platina dissolved by itself, those -only a part of it. - - -4. _By metallic Solutions._ - -All the metals, which precipitate gold from aqua-regia, have been -already shewn to precipitate platina also. As gold is thrown down -by some metallic solutions, as well as by the metals in substance, -particularly those of mercury and iron, it remains to apply these -liquors as precipitants for platina. - -1. A saturated solution of mercury in aqua-fortis, which readily and -totally threw down gold in its metallic form, being added to a solution -of platina, the liquor became immediately turbid, and, on standing for -a little time, nearly the whole of the platina fell to the bottom. A -solution of mercury in the marine acid, or of corrosive sublimate, -likewise precipitated platina, but less perfectly, and with this -difference, that the former precipitate was of a greyish brown colour, -the latter of a sparkling red. - -2. Solutions of iron in the vitriolic acid, or of common green vitriol -in water, which totally throw down gold, happily made no change in -solutions of platina. Compositions of platina and gold being dissolved -in aqua-regis, the solutions diluted with about twice their quantity -of water, and a filtered solution of the vitriol gradually added; the -mixtures instantly grew turbid, and, on standing, deposited the gold -in form of a purplish grey calx, the whole of the platina remaining -dissolved. It appeared, on numerous repetitions of this experiment, -that no part of the platina was precipitated along with the gold, nor -any of the gold kept suspended with the platina. Where the quantity of -the mixt to be assayed was very small, the precipitation was usually -performed in a filter, that the gold, which separates in very minute -moleculæ, some of which might possibly remain unobserved in the bottom -of a glass, might be detained on the paper. The colourless sorts of -filtering-paper are preferable for this use to the coloured; as these -last may be impregnated with astringent matter, which would extricate -some of the ferrugineous part of the vitriol. The vitriol was dissolved -in about six times its quantity of water, and a few drops of oil of -vitriol added, to prevent the separation of any of its iron in the -filter. This solution was put into the filter first, the solution of -gold and platina immediately poured into it, the whole stirred together -with a clean glass rod, and such part of the liquor, as had run thro’ -before they had been duly mixed, poured back to the rest. The gold -remaining in the filter was washed with fresh parcels of water, the -paper cautiously rolled up, and burnt in a crucible, as mentioned in a -former experiment. - -3. Solutions of the vitriol, recommended by Kunckel and others for -precipitating gold of an uncommonly high colour, made no change in -the solutions either of gold or platina. The bluish green did indeed -precipitate the gold; not as blue vitriols, but by virtue of the -ferrugineous matter, of which these kinds largely participate. White -vitriol was likewise made trial of, but without producing any sensible -effect in either solution. - -4. The experiments with green vitriol were repeated on the solutions of -platina and gold made in spirit of salt. The event was the same as with -those made in aqua-regis; the gold being constantly precipitated, and -the platina remaining dissolved. - - -+REMARKS+. - -It may be proper to observe, that by the processes here pointed out, -the gold is purified from other metallic admixtures at the same time -that it is separated from platina; the inflammable spirits reviving, -essential oils and æther imbibing, and green vitriol precipitating, -gold alone. Care should be had, that the piece of the mixt, taken for -examination, be totally dissolved before any trials are made with -the solution; the menstruum not acting with equal facility on the -two metals, but dissolving the gold more readily than the platina. -Where the acid has been dilute, and only a gentle heat applied, great -part of the gold has appeared to be taken up before the platina was -considerably acted on. Where the filter, with the gold in it, is -burnt in the crucible, borax is the most commodious flux: but as -this salt gives a sensible paleness to gold, a little nitre may be -injected, after the metal has come into fusion, to restore its colour. -If the nitre was added at first, whilst the gold continues subtilely -divided, some particles of the metal would be dissipated during the -deflagration, which that salt produces with the coaly remains of the -paper. - -As the foregoing experiments exhibit platina and gold dissolved in -a mineral fluid, which by simple mechanic agitation rejects the one -and retains the other, and which discovers this different appetite of -union so much the more remarkably, as the two metals have been the more -intimately combined:--as they further exhibit platina dissolved in -liquors incapable of holding gold suspended,--gold dissolved in liquors -incapable of holding platina suspended,--gold totally precipitated by -substances, which precipitate no particle of platina,--and gold, when -mixed _per minima_ with platina, perfectly recovered from it by these -means, without increase as well as without diminution:--it follows, -that platina is not, as some believe, gold naturally debased by the -admixture of some other metallic body, but a metal of a peculiar kind, -essentially different from all the others. Before the discriminating -characters of platina were discovered, such a notion was highly -plausible, and direct experiment seemed to confirm it: a portion of -the platina might be separated in the process; a quantity of gold -mixed with the remainder, in order to collect the gold supposed to be -contained in it; the mixture submitted to operations, which gold alone -was supposed capable of withstanding; and the augmentation, which -the noble metal still retained, held to be true gold gained from the -platina. - -The methods of trial above related will, it is presumed, be sufficient -to undeceive those, who may have been imposed upon by such appearances, -and betrayed into the practice of unintended frauds: to convince them, -that all they have gained from platina, after the most laborious -attempts to divest it of its imaginary coat, is no other than platina -still: and, which is of more extensive utility, to distinguish all the -abuses, that may be made with this metal, and restore the gold, so -debased, to its original purity and value. - - - - -XXI. _An Account of the Temple of_ Serapis _at_ Pozzuoli _in the -Kingdom of_ Naples: _In a Letter to_ John Ward, _LL.D. and R.S. -Vice-Præs. by the Rev._ John Nixon, _M.A. F.R.S._ - - -[Read Mar. 17, 1757.] - -+SIR+, - -BEFORE we enter upon a more particular consideration of this noble -piece of antiquity, it may not be improper to premise the general -account (and indeed the only one I have met with yet published), which -is given of it by Mess. Cochin and Bellicard, in a little [57]treatise -printed at Paris in 1755. These gentlemen acquaint us, that in 1749 -there were only three pillars of this building visible, and that they -were buried half way within the ground: but that soon after, workmen -being employed by order of the King of the Two Sicilies to dig at the -place, they came to the pedestals of those pillars: and at length -discovered the building to have been a temple, which (as it was judged -by the principal[58] idol found there, and some other circumstances) -was dedicated to Serapis. They tell us further, that many statues and -vases of excellent workmanship had been taken out of the ruins; and -that the whole temple was extremely magnificent, being built, or cased -throughout, with marble, even to the parts appropriated to the meanest -offices. - -This account, tho’ short, is yet sufficient to excite in the curious -a desire to be more fully informed, both as to the ancient and modern -state of this place. To gratify in some measure that desire is the -purpose of the present letter. - -In order to form any conjecture concerning the antiquity of the -building before us, we must know, that the worship of Serapis, to whom -it is supposed to have been consecrated, was not introduced at Rome -till towards the end of the republic; and then tolerated in the suburbs -only[59]. However, at length he was allowed to have temples erected -to him within the precincts of the city; chiefly by the authority of -Vespasian, who was thought to have restored a blind man[60] to his -sight at Alexandria by the aid and direction of this deity. And upon -this account he continued to be held in high veneration by Titus and -Domitian, the sons of that Emperor, as appears by their [61]stamping -his image on the reverse of their coins. Now as it is reasonable -to suppose, that the other cities of Italy followed the example of -the metropolis in this instance, as we find, they did in others of a -similar nature; we may with some probability place the foundation of -this temple at Pozzuoli somewhere within the period assigned above. - -As for the particular state of this building, it is situated on the -west side of the town, near to, and upon a level with, the beach (_See_ -TAB. II.). Its grand entrance is towards the south, and seems to have -been a vestibule supported by four columns. This introduces you into a -spacious portico, or corridor[62], which was designed to defend such -as assembled here to worship from the injuries of the weather; as also -to afford a commodious passage into a range of rooms of different -dimensions, disposed on all the four sides of the court. - -These chambers seem designed for preparing the sacrifices, lodging -the priests, and keeping their vestments; as also the fuel, stores, -and other things requisite for the service of the temple: not to omit -the convenience of purifying both the priests and the worshippers by -bathing or washing. This last destination is countenanced, with regard -to the chamber on the north-west and that on the north-east corner, by -the row of stone seats, which still remains on each of the sides of -the former. These seats have a gutter, or channel running along at the -foot of them on the floor; and are likewise perforated with holes of -a proper size, with funnels passing from them below. On these benches -probably the persons to be purified placed themselves, that the water -might be let out upon them from pipes; or administred in vases or -ewers by the attendants, and afterwards be carried off by the passages -mentioned above[63]. - -[Illustration: _Philos. Trans Vol. L._ TAB. II. _p. 168._ - - A. _Ancient grand Entrance._ - - B.B.B.B. _Portico or Corridor._ - - C. _Atrium._ - - D. _Temple properly so call’d._ - - E. _Altar with it’s Drain._ - - F. _Sacrarium._ - - G.G. _Two large Chambers for washing &c._ - - H. _Modern Entrance over Ruins. This seems to have been formerly such - a Chamber, as is express’d in the Drawing at_ (L) - -_A Scale of Feet._] - -Nor can a provision for washing or bathing in this temple seem strange -to any one, who reflects, how high a rank this mode of purification -held among the religious ceremonies of almost all nations of the -world. As for the Romans, with whom we are principally concerned in -the present inquiry, the subsistence of this usage among them might -be abundantly shewn by the testimonies of their writers; and also by -the accommodations provided for it in other buildings of the same -character with that before us. Some of these still remain within the -neighbourhood of Pozzuolo, _viz._ the magnificent temple near the -lake of Avernus ascribed to Apollo, which has an apartment adjoining -to it indisputably intended for the purpose intimated above. For it -is furnished with several stone cisterns, whose inward dimensions are -proportioned to the ordinary size of an human body; and near them -is a spring, out of which the water was taken up, and poured into a -bason hollowed out in the side of the wall: from thence it ran along -in a groove or channel cut in the ends of the cisterns, to be let out -upon the persons bathing in them, according to their pleasure, or as -occasion should require. So likewise in the temple of Venus (as it -is commonly called) near Baiæ, there is a large chamber containing -several stone seats for washing, with little cells contiguous to it for -undressing before, and anointing the body and dressing afterwards. - -I have but one more particular to add concerning the apartment in the -north-west angle of the temple, _viz._ that, when it was cleared of -its rubbish, there was found in a niche in one of its sides a male and -female figure naked, and in the most flagrant act of natural lewdness. -It is now (as we were informed) in a private room in the palace at -Portici, nor can be seen without the King’s special permission. In the -same place, probably, may stand the statue of a satyr in an unnatural -action with a goat, which was found at Herculaneum, and is, they say, -of exquisite sculpture, but concealed in the palace above-mentioned -with the same strict care as the former. - -Having thus viewed the several chambers in the exterior parts of the -building, it is requisite (in order to a regular prosecution of our -design) to return to the grand entrance. And here, passing thro’ the -corridor above described, we come to a square court or _atrium_ paved -with large slabs of white marble streaked with blue or greyish veins. -At the distance of 25 feet further, in the center of the said court, -stood the temple properly so called, containing a circular area of 54 -feet diameter, and elevated above the level of the pavement, so as -to admit an ascent to it of five steps[64], in four different parts -answering to the four sides of the corridor. This area is surrounded -with sixteen pedestals, on which formerly were columns to support a -rotundo or dome. Against each of these columns, on the outside, there -seems to have been placed a statue, and, in the intermediate spaces, -vases for incense, or lavers for washing, upon low stands on the floor. -In the middle of the temple was erected the grand altar, the traces of -which still remain, with a sink or drain near it to receive and carry -off the blood of the victims, _&c._ - -Northward of the temple, and at the distance of 25 feet, being the same -space, that was between it and the corridor at the entrance, was once -another stately vestibule or pavilion, supported by four columns four -feet and an half in diameter, and of the Corinthian order, as appears -by three of them, which still subsist standing in a line with the outer -face of the corridor. This pavilion (if we may judge by analogy from -what we find in other temples) led to an inner recess or _sacrarium_ -terminating, probably, in the segment of a circle: but of this we had -no certain proof, as the rubbish was not yet removed from this part of -the building. - -I beg leave further to mention a remarkable appearance in some of -the columns of this temple, _viz._ that that part of them, which was -lowermost, as well as that, which was nearest the capitals, is well -preserved and pretty entire; while part of the intermediate space -for two or three feet together is discoloured, as if it had suffered -by burning; and also excavated in such a manner[65], as to contain -multitudes of little shell-fish, which appear, like the pholades in -some stones, almost totally inclosed within their cells, so as not -to be got out without breaking. I know no way to account for this so -probable; as by supposing, that the lower parts of these columns were -secured by the mass of rubbish, that inclosed them, as the uppermost -were by their elevated situation, from being perforated either by the -corrosive quality of the sea, which (according to tradition) formerly -covered the site of this temple; or by the animalcula, which are bred -in that element; while the middle parts standing in the water were -(perhaps for ages) exposed to the injuries mentioned above. I had no -opportunity of taking the height of the uppermost line, where the -above-mentioned alteration in the columns ended, from the level of the -sea in the bay; which would have shewn how high the water must have -risen formerly above its present mark, to produce the effect ascribed -to it on this hypothesis. But, however that may be, the nature of the -situation of this place[66] being considered, the innovation supposed -to have happened in it will not, I presume, be thought improbable; -especially in a country so plentifully stored with combustible -matter in its interior parts, and consequently so liable to changes -in its outward form, as this is, and has been for many ages. For an -extraordinary instance of this we need go but a little way from this -place, _viz._ to Il Monte Nuovo, a hill about four miles in compass, -which in 1538 was cast up in one night’s time by an eruption, whereby -the greatest part of the Lucrine lake was filled up, and the town of -Tripergola, with a church, convent, hospital, and other buildings, -intirely buried. - -I shall conclude with acquainting you, that at the corner of the court -of this temple, near the present entrance, there lie some large bases -of marble, which (as we were informed) were taken out of the sea at -about a mile’s distance from Pozzuolo, and are inscribed DVSARI SACRUM. -What was the original situation of these monuments, it may not be -possible now to ascertain. As for DVSARES mentioned in the inscription -upon them, G. Vossius[67] (upon the authority of Tertullian, and -Stephanus Byzantius) makes him to have been an Arabian deity, the same -as Bacchus or Sol according to the Roman theology. That learned man is -likewise inclined to think, that the name DVSARES is compounded of two -Hebrew words; one of which signifies _joy_, and the other, _the earth_, -i. e. mortals, who inhabit it. This etymology properly expresses -the genial effects of the sun, which makes glad the heart of man by -ripening the fruits of the earth, especially the grape: Whence Virgil -calls wine, - - _Munera lætitiamque Dei._ Æn. i. _v._ 640. - -and stiles Bacchus the fabled inventer of it, - - ----_Bacchus lætitiæ dator._ Ib. _v._ 738. - - I am, - +SIR,+ - With the greatest respect, - Your most obedient humble Servant, - J. Nixon. - -London, March 14. 1757. - - - - -XXII. _Some Remarks on a_ Parthian _Coin with a_ Greek _and_ Parthian -_Legend, never before published. In a Letter from the Rev._ John -Swinton, _M.A. of_ Christ-Church, Oxon. _F.R.S. to the Rev._ Thomas -Birch, _D.D. Secret. R. S._ - - -[Read Mar. 24, 1757.] - -Reverend Sir, - -AS we know little of the reigns of the latter Parthian kings, and -less still of their coins; an attempt to strike out even the least -new light on either of those heads will not, I persuade myself, prove -unacceptable to the Royal Society. In this persuasion, I do myself the -honour to send you a few conjectures upon another brass Parthian medal, -in my possession, as remarkable, on account of the double legend it -contains, as the former, which I endeavoured a little to illustrate -about a year ago. This medal, which certainly merits the attention of -the curious, is in very good conservation, and approaches near the size -of those of the middle Roman brass. It exhibits the head, or effigies, -of a Parthian king, with a beard, diadem, and hair formed into such -curls as I never yet observed upon any antient coins. Under the -effigies, the Greek letters ΒΑϹΙΛΕωΝ ΜΕΓΑϹ ΜΟ⦙⦙⦙, which demonstrate the -piece to be Parthian, appear; and, on the reverse, a _Victory_, done -something after the Roman manner, tho’ the workmanship is pretty rude, -presents itself to our view, together with a legend in a language and -character at this time unknown. The legend consists of ten complete -elements, placed behind the _Victory_ above-mentioned; besides which -there is one in the field of the medal, being probably the initial -letter of the name of the city where the coin was struck. The metal, -tho’ termed by me brass, discovers something of a composition similar -to that of his Grace the Duke of Devonshire’s medal of Vologeses III. -as described by [68]Sig. Haym. This coin, of which I herewith transmit -you a draught most accurately taken (_See_ TAB. IV. _Fig. 1._), having -not yet, as I apprehend, been published; you will permit me now to -offer a few cursory remarks upon it, drawn up in the shortest and most -concise manner possible. - - -1. The Greek legend, had all of it appeared, would, undoubtedly have -been either ΒΑϹΙΛΕωΝ ΜΕΓΑϹ ΜΟΝΝΗϹΗϹ, or ΒΑϹΙΛΕΥϹ ΒΑϹΙΛΕωΝ ΜΕΓΑϹ -ΜΟΝΝΗϹΗϹ; of which I should chuse the former, notwithstanding it is -such Parthian Greek, as the round of the medal seems not to have -been capable of containing the latter. It will be, at first sight, -observed, that this legend is different from those of the Parthian -coins hitherto described; which are exhibited in the [69]genitive, -not the nominative, case. The last two letters MO leave no room to -doubt, tho’ the O is not so extremely well preserved, that the piece -was struck when Monneses sat upon the Parthian throne. It is true, -indeed, the first element of the prince’s name is not so apparently a -_Mu_; tho’ it resembles that letter, even as preserved on this very -medal, much more than any other of the Greek alphabet. It is however -totally unlike the _Alpha_ near it, as well as all the other forms of -that element to be met with in Montfaucon[70], and bears not the least -resemblance to _Beta_[71], particularly the _Beta_ which ought to have -been impressed on this piece; as most evidently appears from a particle -of that letter, visible in its proper place. From whence we may infer, -that the character I am considering must be _Mu_; as _Alpha_, _Beta_, -and _Mu_, were the only initial letters, according to Dr. Vaillant[72], -of the names of the Parthian kings reigning after the introduction -of the _Omega_ of the minuscular form, as it here occurs, upon the -Parthian coins. But Monneses was the only one of those princes whose -name began with _My_, and consequently the two last Greek elements on -this medal are part of his name. The metal and size of this piece, as -none belonging to the other Parthian monarchs seem to have been yet met -with of the same form, which exactly agree with those of Monneses’s[73] -coin published by Dr. Vaillant, may likewise be urged, as an additional -argument of no small weight, in support of my opinion. - -[Illustration: _Philos. Trans. Vol. L._ TAB. IV. _p. 176_. - -_Fig. 1._ - -_Num. Parth. apud Jeannem Swinton, A. M. Oxoniens. R. S. S._ - -_Fig. 2. p. 202._ - -_Scale of feet, 20-1 Inch_ _J. Mynde sc._] - -2. That the Greek and unknown legends on this medal are either of the -same or a similar import, will be acknowleged by all versed in this -kind of literature extremely probable. The Greek and Phœnician legends -on the same [74]coins of Tyre and Sidon, as I have, upon examination, -found, and shall hereafter more fully evince, clearly correspond. The -Latin and Punic legends on Juba’s medals, as has been by me formerly -proved[75], very well agree. The sense[76] I have assigned the legend -in unknown characters, exhibited by the reverse of my former Parthian -coin, with, I flatter myself, some appearance of truth, sufficiently -answers to the Greek one preserved by other medals of the same prince. -We may therefore be permitted to suppose, that both the legends handed -down to us by the coin before me related to Monneses, and conveyed -the same, or at least extremely similar, ideas to the Parthians and -the Greeks. Nothing can be more consonant to reason, tho’ we must not -directly assume this as a postulate, than such a supposition. - -3. This notion will likewise receive a farther accession of strength -from the characters of which the unknown legend is composed. The first -of them so nearly approaches one of the forms of the Palmyrene _Pe_, - as it appears in [77]Mr. Dawkins’s alphabet, that we may without -scruple ascribe to it the power of that letter. The second is so like -the Palmyrene and the Chaldee _Daleth_[78], that it ought indubitably -to pass for that element. The third differs something, tho’ not -greatly[79], from one of the forms of the Palmyrene _He_. The fifth, -which likewise occupies the eighth place, is by no means remote from -the figures of the [80]Palmyrene and Chaldee _Nun_. The sixth occurred -in the third place before. With regard to the seventh, it seems to me -pretty strongly to resemble some forms of the Palmyrene _Mem_[81], -and even exactly to answer to that of the same letter in [82]one -of the Palmyrene inscriptions preserved amongst those celebrated -remains of antiquity commonly, tho’ perhaps improperly, stiled _The -Ruins of_ PERSEPOLIS. The ninth is the _He_ touched upon before. The -tenth, which also succeeded the third, if the powers of the other -elements have been rightly determined, must be _Schin_. Nor does this -character, if we view it in a certain position, appear very remote from -a rude form of that letter. This legend then, according to what is -here advanced, as it now remains, consists of the words----PADESHANE -MONESH, PADESHAN EMONESH, or [83]PADESHAN AMONESH, that is, MONESH, -or AMONESH,----OF KINGS; the word PADISHAH, or rather PADESHAH, as it -seems to have been written and pronounced by the [84]ancient Persians, -in the Pehlawian, Pehelawian, or Bastanian, that is, the old Persic, -tongue, denoting [85]KING. That NI, or NE, was sometimes a masculine -plural termination in the antient Persic, seems to appear from the -word, or rather words, [bər.zaivašŋī.], BIR. ZEIVESHNI, LONGÆVI, which -occurs in Dr. Hyde[86]. And that the vowels A and E were sometimes -prefixed to the Persian proper names, in the remoter periods of time, -is abundantly manifest, from the words SFITAMAN, ESFINTAMAN, or -ESPINTAMAN, the [87]name of either the father or one of the ancestors -of Zerâtusht; XERXES, [88]AXERXES, or AXERSES, and others of the same -kind, that might, with equal facility, be produced. Whether therefore -we read this legend----PADESHANE MONESH, PADESHAN EMONESH, or PADESHAN -AMONESH, we cannot greatly err. As the coin was not so perfectly -struck, part of the Greek legend is thereby apparently lost; from -whence, and the evident want of a word there, we may conclude, that -the Parthian legend, for Parthian by the explication here laid down -it appears to be, on the correspondent part of the reverse, must have -met with the same fate. What that Parthian term was, I cannot take -upon me to say; but the whole legend was probably something like THE -GREAT KING MONNESES, MONNESES THE KING OF KINGS, or MONNESES[89] THE -GREAT KING OF KINGS; all which titles are intirely consonant to those -assumed by the Parthian kings[90], and transmitted down to us on their -other coins. The Persian, or Parthian, termination of the proper name -MONNESES, and others that occur, was ESH. This may be inferred from -the legend now before me, in conjunction with Scripture[91], and has -been remarked by some good authors[92]. That the Greeks also expressed -the _Schin_ by their _Sigma_, and superadded another termination to -such words, is sufficiently manifest from the Persian, or Parthian -ARSHAK[93], which was converted into ARSACES by the Greek writers. I -must farther observe, that, according to Herodotus[94], the antient -letters of the Persians were those used by the Assyrians; which I take -to have been the same with the elements that prevailed amongst the -Syrians, and formed the alphabet of the Palmyrenes. Nay, we may collect -from [95]Epiphanius, that a considerable part of the Persians used the -Palmyrene characters as late as the decline of the fourth century after -CHRIST. All which being maturely weighed, I cannot forbear thinking -the interpretation of the Parthian legend here laid down in a good -degree probable. I am far however from insisting upon the truth of it. -I shall only beg to be indulged the liberty of proposing it to the -consideration of our most illustrious Society, and leave the fate of it -intirely to the decision of so very eminent a part of the learned world. - -4. But however my explication of the Parthian legend may be received, -I believe it will scarce be denied, that the coin was struck in the -reign of Monneses, one of the Parthian kings; this point having been -so clearly evinced, by the reasons above alledged. It may not be -improper here to remark, that the republic of letters has been obliged -with the publication of two of this prince’s medals; the first of which -was [96]coined in the year of the Parthian æra 422, and the other in -425[97]. Neither of them however exhibits the _Victory_ impressed on -the reverse of mine. That symbol, adopted by the Parthians in imitation -of the Roman manner, must undoubtedly have alluded to some victory, or -at least some remarkable advantage, gained by the Parthian forces over -the Romans, a little before the piece was struck. What that advantage -was, when and where obtained, and whether history conspires with the -medal, in order to settle this point, I am next to inquire. - -5. Monneses, if Dr. Vaillant[98] may be credited, ascended the Parthian -throne in the year of the Arsacidæ 422, nearly coincident with the -166th of CHRIST, when M. Aurelius and L. Verus presided over the -Roman world. But so far were the Parthians at that time from gaining -any victories over the Romans, that they were every where worsted by -them, and put to the rout. A Roman army, under the command of Avidius -Cassius, had penetrated into Mesopotamia and Assyria, ravaged those -provinces, laid Seleucia in ashes, taken Ctesiphon, and levelled -the royal palace there with the ground, according to Dio[99], the -preceding year. Nay, it appears both from [100]Capitolinus and the -Roman[101] coins, that M. Aurelius and L. Verus triumphed over the -Parthians, the very year after Monneses, as [102]Dr. Vaillant will have -it, came to the crown. All which that celebrated antiquary acknowleges -to be true; and adds, that Monneses concluded an infamous peace with -the Romans, ceding to them the whole province of Mesopotamia, for which -he was soon after deposed by his subjects. Here then we can discover -not the faintest traces of a reason for the appearance of a _Victory_ -upon the medals of this prince. Nor does any thing like a reason for -such an appearance, in antient history, occur, before the 950th year -of Rome, corresponding with the 197th of +CHRIST+; when the Parthians, -animated by the civil dissentions, which reigned amongst the Romans, -Albinus and Severus then fiercely contending for the empire, entered -Mesopotamia with a powerful army[103], and reduced to their obedience -most of the cities of that province. Now if, with F. Corsini[104], -we admit the commencement of the Parthian æra to have happened in the -525th year of Rome; the 425th or 426th year of the former and the -950th of the latter of those æra’s, wherein the Parthians undertook -the Mesopotamian expedition, will nearly coincide. But it may be -proved from a medal of Monneses, described by the [105]Marquis Scipio -Maffei, in opposition to [106]Dr. Vaillant, that this prince was -not dethroned in the year of the Arsacidæ 423, but had two years -afterwards the management and direction of the Parthian affairs: -wherefore, notwithstanding what has been advanced to the contrary -by that antiquary, he might still have sat one or two years longer -upon the Parthian throne. This may likewise be inferred from Dio, who -mentions Vologeses as presiding over the Parthians, not in 198, but -in 199, about two years after their irruption into Mesopotamia. All -which being with proper attention considered, it will appear extremely -probable, that the medal I have been endeavouring to explain was coined -either in the 425th or 426th year of the Parthian æra, that is, the -197th of CHRIST; that the authority of [107]Arrian, [108]Justin, and -[109]Athenæus, on which F. Corsini principally sounds his notion, -may be intirely depended upon; and, in fine, that the arguments he -makes use of on this occasion, to [110]evince the truth of his scheme, -however they may be opposed by F. Frœlich, and the medal before me -mutually strengthen and support one another. - -6. I must not forget to remark, that F. Corsini thinks, without a -proper foundation, that the piece of Monneses published by Dr. Vaillant -may be considered either as a Parthian or [111]an Armenian coin. -This, I say, he takes, without a proper foundation, to be the case. -For the medals of the Armenian kings, such as that he has obliged the -learned world with a draught of, and a most excellent dissertation -upon, discover a taste far different from that which is exhibited by -Dr. Vaillant’s coin. The air of the face, the curls into which the -hair is formed, and in fine every thing else visible upon the former, -except the symbols on the reverses, bear little resemblance to what is -presented to our view by the latter. As for the titles, impressed on -these medals, they are far from being of the same kind; the Armenian -princes in this particular approaching nearer the successors of -Seleucus[112], and contenting themselves with more plain and simple -titles than that lofty one affected by Monneses, according to Dr. -Vaillant, in common with the other Parthian kings. To which I may add, -that my coin sets this point beyond dispute, by the Parthian characters -it has so apparently preserved; all the Armenian medals I have hitherto -met with, about three or four in number, as well as that of Baron -Stosch[113], which F. Corsini has so learnedly explained, having only -Greek legends upon them. What therefore he has advanced, on this head, -must be considered as not altogether so consonant to truth; especially, -as he seems to have offered nothing of any great weight in support of -his opinion. - -7. Before I dismiss the present subject, I must beg leave to take -notice of the Parthian character on the field of my medal, which is not -very unlike the Chaldee[114] or Palmyrene _Aleph_, tho’ of something -a more complex form. Should this be allowed, that character may be -considered as the initial letter of ARSACIA, the name of a city subject -to the Parthians, placed by [115]Ptolemy in Media; where, according to -[116]Dr. Vaillant, many of the Parthian medals were coined. That city -is however believed by some to have been seated on the spot occupied -at this time by Casbin, or rather Kazwîn[117], one of the principal -towns of the Belâd Al Jebâl, or mountainous part of the Persian Irâk; -for a particular account of which place, the curious may have recourse -to Golius, and the eastern geographers. As I have already far exceeded -the limits proposed to myself, when I began this letter, I shall not -now touch upon any other observations relative to the medal before me, -which is the only one I have hitherto met with carrying a Greek and a -Parthian legend upon it; but only assure you that I am, with the most -perfect regard, - - +SIR,+ - Your most obliged - and most obedient Servant, - John Swinton. - -Christ-Church Oxon. Nov 29th, 1756. - - - - -XXIII. _An Account of a Red Coral from the_ East-Indies, _of a very -singular Kind: In a letter from Mr._ John Ellis, _F.R.S. to Mr._ Peter -Collinson, _F.R.S._ - - -[Read Mar. 24, 1757.] - -Dear Sir, - -I Promised you, in my letter of the 7th of February 1754, published -in our Transactions, Vol. xlviii. p. 507. that I would, when I had -an opportunity, endeavour to illustrate the tubular structure of -the common red coral of the Mediterranean sea, and of some of the -keratophyta; which two kinds, tho’ evidently of as different natures as -stone and horn, yet are, from late observation, found to be fashioned, -or raised up into those beautiful forms, by animals of the same class. - -This I shall attempt to do, by comparing them with bodies of a similar -kind, but of a less compact texture: for which reason I formerly -referred you, in the above-mentioned letter, to a figure, which I have -given of the herring-bone-coralline with its animals alive in it, -_Phil. Trans._ Vol. xlviii. TAB. XVII. _Fig._ E, F, G, to shew you the -nature of the tubular structure of the keratophyta. - -[Illustration: _Philos. Trans. Vol. L._ TAB. III. _p. 189_. - - _J. Mynde_ - -A. _A piece of pithy knobbit and Coral from the Spice Islands in the -East Indies which appears to be form’d by animals of the Polype kind, -contrary to the receiv’d opinion of these bodies being vegetables; the -vermicular tubes, of which it is compos’d, being no more than the cases -or coverings of the bodies of these Insects._ - -B. _The radiated holes on the yellow mealy surface, through which these -insects extend their arms or claws, as in the common red coral._ - -CC. _Small Branches almost cover’d by a further addition of tubes, that -have risen all round and increas’d the bulk of the Stem, continuing -themselves along it to extend the ramifications; by this means they -involve the former side branches into their own stem, differing -intirely from the laws of vegetation._ - -D. _A piece of yᵉ. knobby joints magnified to shew their reticular -texture like that of spongy orange wtʰ tubes._ - - _d._ _The same in its natural size._ - -E. _A piece of yᵉ. blood red tubes which is harden’d into a shelly or -stony substance with some appearance of reticulations, taken from yᵉ. -space between yᵉ. knobs._ - - _e._ _The same in its natural size._ - - F.F. _Small holes in yᵉ. branches of yᵉ. polypes._ - -G. _A mass of the stem not so highly magnified shewing yᵉ. tubes -passing from stony to spongy._ - - _g._ _The same in its natural Size._ - -H. _The transverse section of the base shewing the holes in the ends of -the tubes._ - -I. _One of the radiated cells magnified, this is guarded by 8 pointed -valves, which close inward, when_ - -K. _the Polype draws in his head_ (_which is figur’d at_ K) _and opens -outward when it extends it._] - -I now lay before you a piece of red coral (_See_ TAB. III. _Fig._ A.) -from the East Indies of a very singular kind, which I received from -your friend Abraham Hume, Esq. The stem and branches of this appear -evidently to the naked eye to consist of a combination of vermicular -tubes closely connected together: and, if we trace these little tubes -to their starry openings on the surface, _Fig._ B. we shall plainly -discover them to be the red testaceous coverings of certain marine -polypes, which have raised themselves thus upright, and disposed -themselves into this remarkable vegetable form. - -In order to form some idea, how these masses are increased and extended -to the sizes we often meet with them, and where the same regularity of -shape is preferred in the large, that we find in the small; we think -it more than probable to suppose, that the species of polypes, that -compose this coral, breed as we find all other polypes do: and this -appears more evident to me, from what I have already discovered in -many kinds of corallines (_See Plate 38. of my Essay on Corallines_), -where the young polypes in some species are produced in the egg state, -while others fall in great numbers from their matrices, completely -formed, down to the roots of their parent corallines, either to begin -a new race of the same species near them, or to increase the trunk, -and extend the ramifications, of the plant-like figure which they just -descended from. - -From observing this method in nature, we shall the easier account -for the progress of those generations of young testaceous polypes -of this coral; which appear to us succeeding each other, and raising -themselves up from the root or base, passing along the stem and -branches, and covering the whole anew with their shelly cases: and -in this their passage upwards we may observe, in the specimen before -us, how they have involved and incrusted the small lateral branches -of the former generation, so as almost to hide their appearance. From -hence we may trace them extending themselves to the extremities of -the upper branches, and there forming a new series of slender twigs, -proportionable to those which they had just covered, still keeping -order and exact symmetry in the whole structure. - -The distinguishing character of this red coral, after we have -considered its fistulous texture, is the knotty joints, of which it -is composed: these appear more distinct, and are placed at a greater -distance, in the smaller branches than the large; and, as we descend to -the trunk, the traces of these inequalities but just appear. - -From these protuberances, or knots, the lateral branches take their -rise; and as these and the leading branches grow up together, they -frequently inosculate at these joints, forming a kind of network, like -what we observe in many of those species of keratophyta, which are -called sea-fans. - -The surface of this coral, when recent, is covered with a mealy friable -matter, of a yellow colour, not unlike that of the true red coral, but -much fuller of little raised starry cells. The figure of these cells is -owing to the radiated position of the claws of the polypes. - -Upon removing this friable matter, we observe, that the polypes of -these cells have had a communication with a small hole or opening into -one of the tubes, that lie immediately under it. - -This frequent intervention of the openings of the small tubes, or their -ramifications, between the sides of the larger ones, makes the latter -appear more irregular, and not so parallel, as in the true red coral; -where we find fewer stars; and, where those occur, we may observe it -always alters the direction of the tubes. - -I must further remark to you, that many of the tubes of this coral -appear, thro’ a magnifying glass, full of small holes, like those I -have described in the keratophyton (_Plate_ 26. _Fig._ G. _p._ 62. _of -my Essay on Corallines_); and these holes will appear more distinctly -to you, when you examine the half tubes, or broken irregular ones, on -the stem and great branches of this coral. - -Further, if you compare the transverse section, at the base of this -coral, with a section of a common Rattan cane, they will both appear -full of holes in the same regular order, and of nearly the same -diameter: whereas the tubes, on the surface of the stem of this coral, -look as irregular as so many holes pierced or eaten out by worms. - -I hope by this time our ingenious botanical friends, whom we could -not persuade to part with these beautiful sea-productions from the -vegetable kingdom, are thoroughly convinced, that this mealy, friable, -or calcarious covering, full of starry cells, which we are sure to -find covering all the recent red corals and keratophyta, is not a mere -blight of insects, common to the sea vegetables as well as land ones, -which they have formerly insisted on; but that they will consider this -covering, for the future, as proper and necessary for the well-being of -these little animals, as they do at present hair and wool for beasts, -feathers and down for birds, and scales and slime for fishes. - -This red coral is mentioned by Rumphius, in his _Herbarium Amboinense_, -Vol. vi. Tab. 85. p. 264, but, as the figure he has given, is not -sufficient to demonstrate its tubular texture and animal structure, -I have had it more accurately drawn; and those parts in particular -magnified, which may tend to illustrate the foregoing description. -He mentions, that it is in great esteem with them, on account of its -beautiful figure; but would be much more so, if it was not for the -great difficulty they find in preserving the smallest twigs from -falling off; which is the reason, I suppose, that the specimen is not -more complete. - -Lastly, he tells us, that it is used by the inhabitants of the -Spice-islands as a principal ingredient in their medicines to expel -poison: as also, that they have it in great esteem on account of its -excellent diuretic quality. - -Upon examining this coral in the microscope, I observed, that the -outside tubes of the stem were chiefly stony, but that the inward parts -were composed of as many divisions of spongy tubes, as there were of -stony ones. - -This I find arises from the smaller ramifications, which being spongy -at the knobs, and stony in the spaces between them, are inclosed and -united together into one common mass during the growth of this coral; -so that both the soft and hard parts together make up the inside of its -trunk or stem. When we examine minutely the two parts, that compose -the branches, we find, that the knobs consist of little sponge-like -tubes interwoven together, as they appear magnified at _Fig._ D; and -the shank or part between the knobs is composed of stony tubes, that -are more erect (_See the piece magnified at_ E): these tubes appear to -be branched from the lateral holes at FF. The Fig. E likewise shews the -appearance of the tubes on the surface of the main stem. - -The radiated openings in the little wart-like figures on the surface -of the branches are guarded by eight pointed valves, as magnified at -_Fig._ I.: these inclose the heads of the polype, one of which is -figured at K. - -The stem of this specimen is so intirely divested of its yellow mealy -covering, that we may easily trace the manner in which the animals, -that compose it, have carried up their stony tubular cells, which lie -side by side along the surface. These tubes have still some marks -of sponginess at particular distances, which, as they come to join -together, form those irregular cross-lines, that surround the stem in -several places. _See Fig._ A. - -In other specimens I have observed the principal stems covered over -with calcarious tubes, such as I have described in the Essay on -Corallines, _&c._ in that species of keratophyton called Venus’s Fan. -_Plate 26_. - -The sponginess of the knobby joints occasions that excessive -brittleness in the lesser branches; which accounts for the difficulty, -which Rumphius mentions, of getting good specimens of this beautiful -coral. - -I have lately seen a white pipy and stony coral with spongy knobs, -which is only a different species of this genus, in the very curious -cabinets of our friends Dr. John Fothergill, M. D. and Mr. Isaac -Romilly, F.R.S. specimens of which they have both lately received -from the East Indies. The examining of these has given me an -opportunity to be more particular in the description of this coral; -which seems to point out to us the great affinity there is between -corals, keratophyta, and sponges. - -I am, - - Dear Sir, - Your most affectionate humble Servant, - John Ellis. - -Laurence Lane, Mar. 24, 1757. - - - - -XXIV. _An Account of the Effects of a Storm at_ Wigton _in_ Cumberland. -_Communicated by Mr._ Philip Miller, _F.R.S._ - - - _To the Rev._ Tho. Birch, _D. D. Secr. R. S._ - -[Read Mar. 31, 1757.] - -SIR, - -I Received the inclosed letter by the post, giving an account of the -storm, which happened lately in the north. If the Royal Society have -not already been informed of the effects of it, and you think the -contents of it worthy their notice; I beg you will be so good as to -communicate it to them. The facts therein mentioned have been confirmed -to me by a person of skill and integrity. Mr. Thomlinson’s conjecture -of the cause of the leaves of trees appearing scorched after the storm, -I believe to be true; having two or three times myself observed the -same in Sussex, at a considerable distance from the sea; when all the -hedges, trees, and woods, on the side toward the sea, have had their -leaves scorched, as if fire had passed over them; and their opposite -sides from the sea have continued in full verdure; which frequently -happens in storms from the south-west: and, upon tasting their leaves, -I have found them as salt, as if they had been steeped in brine. I am, - - SIR, - Your most obedient humble Servant, - Philip Miller. - -Chelsea, Nov. 23. 1756. - - -_To Mr._ Philip Miller. - - Wigton, Nov. 15. 1756. - -+SIR,+ - -ON the 6th of last month, at night, happened a most violent hurricane, -such an one, perhaps, as has not been known in these parts in any -one’s memory. It lasted four hours at least, from about eleven till -three. The damage it has done is very deplorable. The corn has sufferd -prodigiously. Stacks of hay and corn have been intirely swept away: -houses unroofed, and in several places driven down by its fury: trees -without number torn up by the roots; others snapt off by the middles, -and their fragments scattered over the adjoining fields. Some were -twisted almost round, or split down to the very ground; and, in short, -left in such a shattered, mangled condition, as scarce any description -can give you an adequate idea of. - -The change in the face of the country was very surprising in one single -night: for, to complete the dismally-desolate scene, the several tribes -of vegetables (in all their verdure the day before), as if blasted with -æthereal fire, hung down their drooping heads. Every herb, every plant, -every flower, had its leaves withered, shrivelled up, and turned black. -The leaves upon the trees, especially on the weather side, fared in the -same manner. The evergreens alone seem to have escaped. The grass also, -in a few days time, recovered itself in a great measure. - -I agreed at first with the generality of people in their opinion, that -lightning had done all this mischief: but upon recollecting, that -there had not been much seen any where, in many places none at all, -but that the effect was general[118], as far as ever the wind had -reached; I began to think, that some other cause might probably be -assigned. Accordingly, I set myself immediately to examining the dew or -rain, which had fallen on the grass, windows, _&c._ in hopes of being -enabled, by its taste, to form some better judgment of the sulphureous -or nitrous particles (or of whatever other quality they were), with -which the air was so strongly impregnated that night, as to produce -such strange effects. Nor was I deceived in my expectations: for, upon -tasting it, I found it as brackish as any sea-water. The several -vegetables also, which I tasted, were all salt, more or less, and -continued so for five or six days after; the saline particles not being -then washed off; from the corn and windows in particular; the latter of -which, when the moisture on the outside was exhaled next day, sparkled -and appeared exceeding brilliant in the sunshine. This saltness, I -conceive, has done the principal damage: for common salt dissolved in -water, I find, upon experiment on some fresh vegetables (when sprinkled -two or three times upon them) has the very same effect, except that it -does not turn them quite so black: but particles of a sulphureous, or -[119]other quality, may have been mixed with it. That this salt water -had been brought from the sea[120], every body, I think, will allow; -but the manner how[121], is not so easy to conceive. - -This freedom, Sir, perhaps may want an apology: but, as a -gentleman[122] of the Society you have the honour to be a member of, -did not think something of the like nature either unworthy of his -own notice, or that of the world; and as the hurricane principally -affected these parts of nature, in the knowledge of which you have so -eminently distinguished yourself; I flattered myself you would excuse -the trouble I should give you in a perusal of an account of this very -strange, tho’ hitherto unnoticed, phenomenon. - -I am, Sir, with the greatest respect and esteem, - - Your most humble Servant, - Thomas Thomlinson. - - - - -XXV. _An Account of the Effects of Lightning upon the Steeple and -Church of_ Lestwithiel, Cornwall; _in a Letter to the Right Honourable -the Earl of_ Macclesfield, _President of the R.S. By Mr._ John Smeaton, -_F.R.S._ - - -[Read April 21, 1757.] - -JAnuary 25. 1757. about five o’clock in the evening, returning home -from the Edystone works near Plymouth, I observed four flashes of -lightning, within the space of six or seven minutes, towards the west; -but heard no noise of thunder[123]. A few days after, I was informed, -that the same evening the lightning had shattered the church of -Lestwithiel in a very surprising manner. - -The 1st of March I was at Lestwithiel: they had then begun to repair -the damages; but had not made such a such progress, but that the -principal effects were equally observable as at first. I observed, -and was informed, as follows: At the time before-mentioned, the -inhabitants were alarmed by a violent flash of lightning, accompanied -with thunder so sudden, loud, and dreadful, that every one thought the -house he was in was falling upon him; almost every one being within -doors, on account of a violent shower of rain, which preceded the -lightning: so that no body saw or heard any thing of the mischief done -to the church, till it was observed accidentally after the shower. - -The steeple is carried up, plain and square, to about 49 feet, with a -kind of slate-stone, rough-casted on the outside; upon which is formed -a very elegant octogon Gothic lanthorn about 9 feet high, and thereon -a stone spire about 52 feet height, with a spindle and vane rising -about 3 feet above the stone: so that the whole together was about 113 -feet. Each face of the lanthorn finishes above with a sort of a Gothic -pediment, with a little pinacle upon each, separated from the body of -the spire. - -I will not affirm, that the lightning entered in at the spindle or vane -at top; but will suppose it, for the sake of methodizing the facts. The -vane was of plate copper, which being turned round, and rivetted, made -a socket to turn upon. The spindle did not reach thro’ the socket, but -the weight of the vane rested upon the top of the spindle, the top of -the socket being closed. About the vane were many acute angles, and -some almost sharp; but I did not observe any pointing directly upward. -The vane was much bruised, which might be occasioned by the fall; but -the socket was rent open, as if it had been burnt by gunpowder; and in -such a manner, as I cannot conceive could be occasioned by the fall. -Under the spindle, that carried the vane, was a bar of much the same -size and length[124], that passed thro’ the center of several of the -uppermost stones successively, in order to unite them the more firmly -together, and was run in with lead: all which surrounding stones were -broke off, except one, which, together with the bar, fell down within -the tower. - -The shell of the spire, as far down as 35 feet from the top, was no -more than 7 inches thick, and the courses about the same height: so -that scarce any one stone in the spire could weigh more than 30 or -40 pounds; but they were joined together at the ends, with mortoise -and tenon, in a curious manner. Above 20 feet of the upper part was -intirely thrown down, and dispersed in all directions; and, as I was -informed, some pieces were found at the distance of 200 yards. A great -many stones fell upon the roof of the church; and several made their -way thro’ both roof and cieling down into the church, breaking the -pews, and whatever they fell upon. Six feet still lower the spire was -separated; the westermost half being thrown down; the eastern half was -left standing, but disjointed, and in so critical a posture, that it -seemed ready to fall every moment: so that this was ordered to be taken -down immediately; and likewise to 6 feet below, the work being found -remarkably shattered. In this condition it was when I saw it. The whole -of the spire I found much cracked and damaged, but the remainder of -the 7 inch shell so greatly, that there seemed scarcely a whole joint. - -The pediments over every face of the lanthorn were damaged more or -less; but the whole ashlering of that to the N.W. was torn off from the -inner wall, to which it was connected. At first sight this might seem -to be done by the falling of the stones from above; but I was convinced -to the contrary, by observing, that several of the pediments were -damaged, and even stones struck out, where the little pinacles above -them were left standing. - -About the top of the lanthorn is a bell for the clock to strike on: it -is hung upon a cross-bar, with gudgeons at each end; the whole being -suspended to a beam laid across the tower. The cross-bar was so bent, -that the clock-hammer would not touch the bell by above 2 inches. This -could not be done by the falling of stones, because the beam would -defend the bell from receiving any stroke in the direction to which -the cross-bar was bent. As to the wire, that drew the hammer, as I was -informed, not one bit of it could be found. - -The bells (four in number) for ringing hung in the square part of the -tower, below the lanthorn, two above and two below: the wheels of every -one were broke to pieces, and one of the iron straps, by which they -are fastened to the yoke, unhooked; and, as appeared to me, could not -be replaced without great force, or unloosing. Whether these accidents -were occasioned by the lightning, or the falling stones, I leave -undetermined. - -In the floor under the bells was placed the clock, cased up with slight -boards. The verge, that carries the pallets, was bent downwards, as if -a ten pound weight had fallen ten feet high right upon it. The crutch, -that lays hold of the pendulum, looked as if it had been cut off by a -blunt tool, and heated by the blow, till it was coloured blue, at the -place where it was cut. It turned at a right angle, and might be about -4/10 of an inch broad by 2/10 thick. As to the pendulum, which hung -pretty near the wall, the upper part of the rod was struck with such -violence against the wall, that a smart impression thereof was made -in the plaister: and near the upper part of the impression appeared -a circular shady ring, of a blackish colour, something like as if a -pistol had been discharged of powder, and the muzzle held near the -wall. The casing of boards round the clock remained unhurt. - -In this story, on the north and south side, are two narrow windows or -air-loops; against the upper part of which, on the outside, were fixed -the timber dials belonging to the clock, both which were blown off, -and broke to pieces, possibly by the fall: and not only that, but part -of the stone jambs were broke out also, near to where the rod passed, -that carried the hands. In this story also was a sort of window or -air-loop on the east side, that had communicated with the church, but -was stopped up with lath and plaister: also several putlock-holes for -the scaffolding, which had gone thro’ the wall into the church, but -were stopped up with stone, and plaistered over: all these were forced -out into the church, and the plaister torn from the wall. - -The ground-story of the tower or bellfrey is expressed in the plan -(_See_ TAB. IV. _Fig._ 2.). The south entrance A and north B were shut -with wooden doors. The upper part of the eastern C, that communicated -with the church, was made up with lath and plaister; and before it, -in the church, are the seats D, raised one higher than another; so -that the floor of the seats next the wall was half up the door-way; -consequently the vacuity under the seats lay open to the bellfrey. - -About the middle of the westermost side, at _a_, one of the -paving-stones, about 1 foot square, and 1½ inch thick, was thrown -up, and a hole pierced into the wall, rather below the level of the -pavement, into which one might put three fingers. On the opposite side, -the south-west angle of the middle buttress at _b_ had a stone taken -out even with the ground, and a hole continued in to the buttress; -so that there is great appearance of its reaching thro’ both wall -and buttress, which together is 8 feet; but the hole was too rugged -and crooked to put any thing thro’. Besides this hole, this wall was -pierced in several places, and the plaister thrown off both within and -without. One place within, about 4 feet above the floor, right over -_c_, was a hole of about 14 inches square pierced 6 inches in the wall; -and so near square, that I inquired, whether it had not been made by -art; but was assured of the contrary. - -The north and south doors of the tower were both blown out, and broke -in many pieces. Many of the arch-stones over both doors were disjointed -and displaced: two of the stones making the jamb of the south door at -_g_ were forced quite out, and one of them broke. - -The vaulting of the east door-way C was plaistered underneath: the -plaister was sprung from the stone in 30 or 40 places, like as if a -small bar of iron had been drove from above thro’ the joints of the -stone, and thereby forced off the plaister with its end. The lath and -plaister partition, which stopped up the upper part of this door-way, -was forced into the church, and the wainscotting making the back of -the last seat was torn from the wall from end to end. Some part of the -vapour seems to have made its way thro’ the cavity under the seats; for -most of the boards composing the rise of the steps from seat to seat -were blown out forwards; and several panels of wainscot at each end of -the seats, at _d_ and _e_, were forced out, and broke. Hence the vapour -seems to have divided itself into three branches; one moving directly -forward to the east window G, being 13 feet wide, and about 20 feet -high, consisting of five principal lights divided by stone mullions: -two of the lights were in a manner wholly destroyed, and several large -holes in those remaining; the glass and lead being carried outward, -like as if an harlequin had leaped thro’ the window. The north window -E, fronting the broken panels at _d_, was very much shattered: but the -south window F had scarce a whole pane left. - -It is farther to be noted, that almost all the lights in the church, -tho’ not broke, were bagged outward; but those parts remaining intire -in the window D most remarkably so. - - _N.B._ It was said in the London papers, that the organ was intirely - spoilt: it is certain there is not, nor ever was, any organ in this - church. - - - - -XXVI. _An Account of the Case of the late Right Honourable_ Horace -_Lord_ Walpole; _being a Sequel to his own Account published in the_ -Philosophical Transactions, _Vol._ xlvii. _p. 43. and 472_. - - -I. - - _Copy of a Letter from_ John Pringle, _M.D. F.R.S. to Dr._ Robert -Whytt, _Professor of Medicine in the University of_ Edinburgh, _and -F.R.S. relating to the Case of the Right Honourable Lord_ Walpole; -_with Dr._ Whytt’_s Answer. Communicated by Dr._ Pringle. - -[Read April 21, 1757.] - - London, 22 Feb, 1757. - -+SIR,+ - -I Imagined, that upon hearing of Lord Walpole’s death, you would be -desirous to know the state of his Lordship’s health from the time he -published his own case; whether he continued the use of his medicines -to the last; what distemper he died of; and, if his body was opened, -what was the condition of his bladder and kidneys. I informed myself, -as well as I could, of all these particulars; and I hope I shall be -able to give you some satisfactory account of most of them. - -Last year, in the month of March, about ten months before his -Lordship’s death, I happened to meet him at a friend’s house, where -he dined, and never saw any man of his age with a more healthful -appearance. He was then in his 78th year. He ate with an appetite, -and of a variety of dishes; drank some Madeira, and was very chearful -the whole time. His Lordship then told me, that he had enjoyed perfect -health since he sent his case to the Royal Society; that he thought it -probable there was still a stone in his bladder, but so diminished, or -smoothed, as to give him no uneasiness; that he did not think it safe -to go about the streets of London in a coach, but that he went every -where in a chair; and that, in the country, he could travel 40 miles -a day in his post-chaise, without fatigue, or feeling any of his old -pains upon the motion. That he continued to drink, for a constancy, -three pints of oystershell lime-water daily; and to take, as often, -from half an ounce to a whole ounce of soap, by way of lenitive. All -these circumstances I am sure of, because I noted them down when I came -home. - -From this time to the beginning of winter, Lord Walpole (as Mr. -Graham, his apothecary, informed me) continued in the same state of -health; but some time after coming to town, his Lordship was seized -with a lingering feverish disorder, very much affecting his spirits, -but intirely unconnected with the stone. Dr. Shaw, who attended his -Lordship for about a fortnight before his death, told me, that there -had never been any stoppage of water, or passing of bloody urine, or -any pain about his bladder or kidneys, during his last illness; but -that he now and then felt some irritation in making water, a symptom -too inconsiderable to require any other medicine than the continuation -of his lime-water; which, in smaller quantity, he drank till within two -or three days of his end. - -Mr. Ranby and Mr. Hawkins, surgeons, with Mr. Graham, were present at -the opening of the body; and from the two last I received the account -of the dissection. - -The coats of the bladder appeared to be a little thicker than natural, -but were otherwise sound. The _glandula prostata_ was of a large size, -but not distempered. They found three _calculi_, two lying loose in -the bladder, and the other, a very small one, sticking in the passage, -at that part, which is surrounded by the prostate gland. Mr. Graham -favoured me with a sight of them all. The two first were very much -alike, being of the shape and size of the kernel of a Spanish nut; only -the sides were irregularly flattened, but without forming any sharp -angle. The surface of each was every where smooth, except where there -had been a separation of some small scales, not so thick as one’s nail; -and the largest exfoliation from one of these stones appeared to have -been nearly about the breadth of the nail of my little finger. The -polish otherwise, as well as the colour of both, might be compared to -a boy’s marble. One of these _calculi_ weighed 21 grains, the other -22 grains: they were heavy for that bulk, and seemingly of a hard -substance. The smallest stone having been put up with some others of -the same size, taken out of the gall-bladder, Mr. Graham could not be -positive which of them it was; and therefore I can only say, that what -he thought most likely to be so, was about the size and shape of the -seed of an apple, with the point broken off, and the edge ragged. This, -as I observed, was found in the passage, seemed to be coming away, and -probably had occasioned that irritation the patient had now and then -felt during his last illness. It weighed only about a grain. - -No parts could have a sounder appearance than both the ureters and -kidneys. The first were not dilated; nor did the last contain any -stone, mucus, or gravel: the pelvis in each was of a natural size. - -The rest of the abdominal _viscera_ were in the same healthful state, -except the gall-bladder, which was full of stones. The largest was -about the size of a small chesnut, but rounder. The surface was -smooth, particularly at one part, where it seemed to have rubbed upon -a lesser _calculus_, of the shape of one of the _vertebræ_ of a small -animal, without the processes. This last had a hollow on each side -corresponding to the convexity of the large stone; and these cavities -being finely polished, it seemed as if sometimes one side, sometimes -the other, of the small stone had been turned to the great one, and had -been shaped in that manner by the attrition. The largest _calculus_ -weighed one drachm two scruples and two grains; the small one but nine -grains: they both sunk in water; and felt specifically heavier than -any stones I have ever seen taken out of the gall-bladder. Besides -these two, there were several very small _calculi_ of irregular shapes, -and of rough surfaces, which all together did not weigh above five -grains. Mr. Graham, who had attended his Lordship for about 40 years, -assured me, that he never had any symptom that indicated a stoppage -of the bile, or the passage of a stone from the gall-bladder into the -intestines. - -Neither the head nor breast were opened. - - -These are all the materials, I can furnish you with, relating to this -case. If you desire to be more particularly informed of any of these -circumstances, let me know, and I will endeavour to procure you all the -lights I can. In the mean while, I should be glad to have your remarks -upon what I have now sent you; and since you have been so long in the -train of thinking, with more than usual attention, on this subject, -I presume it would be very agreeable to the gentlemen of the Royal -Society to have a paper from you on this occasion; and the rather, as -his Lordship began his course of soap and lime-water, upon hearing of -your success by that method of cure. I am, - - SIR, _&c._ - John Pringle. - - -II. - - _Some Observations on the Case of the late Right Honourable Lord_ -Walpole, _of_ Woolterton: _In a Letter to Dr._ John Pringle, _F.R.S. -By_ Robert Whytt, _M.D. F.R.S._ - -[Read April 21, 1757.] - - Edinburgh, March 16. 1757. - -SIR, - -PHysicians have not, perhaps, differed more widely in any thing, than -in their opinions of the medicines lately proposed for the cure of the -stone. While some imagined, that Mrs. Stephens’s medicines, or soap -and lime-water, were in most cases to accomplish a dissolution of the -stone; others have been positive, that nothing of this kind was to be -expected from them: nay, they have condemned these medicines, when -used in large quantities, and long persisted in, as hurtful to the -stomach, guts, and urinary passages; and have ascribed the remarkable -ease, which they almost always give to calculous patients, to their -depositing a calcarious powder upon the surface of the stone, by which -it is rendered less hurtful to the bladder. And this opinion seems to -have been not a little strengthened, by the great quantity of white -sediment observed in the urine of those patients, who have used soap -and lime-water in considerable quantities. Now, as I am of opinion, -that most of these objections and doubts, concerning the effects of -soap and lime-water in the cure of the stone, may be cleared by a -candid consideration of Lord Walpole’s case, I shall trouble you with -a few remarks, which have occurred to me, in comparing it with the -appearances found in his Lordship’s body after death, of which you were -so obliging as to send me a particular account. - - -1. Whatever doubts may have been entertained concerning the cause of -Lord Walpole’s complaints, yet it now appears evidently beyond dispute, -that they must have been owing, not to a scorbutic corrosive humour in -his bladder, as was imagined by some[125], but to stones lodged in it. -These stones may possibly have lain there since 1734; for from that -time to spring 1747, his Lordship was free of any gravelish complaints, -only passing some red sand at times. But at what time soever they may -have first arrived in the bladder, in 1747 and 1748 they seem to have -acquired such a bulk, or were become so rough or pointed in their -surface, as to occasion great pain, frequent provocations to urine, -and sometimes bloody urine; especially after any considerable motion. -These complaints, however, were soon relieved, by swallowing daily an -ounce of Alicant soap, and three English pints of lime-water made with -calcined oyster-shells; and from 1748 to 1757 his Lordship was kept -almost intirely free from any return of them, except for some months of -1750 and 1751, during which he took only one-third part of the quantity -of soap and lime-water above-mentioned[126]. - - -2. It is highly probable, nay, I think, altogether certain, that the -soap and lime-water not only relieved Lord Walpole of the painful -symptoms occasioned by the stones in his bladder, but also prevented -their increase. - -If these stones came into the bladder in 1734, they must, in so many -years as his Lordship lived after this, have acquired a very great -bulk: nay, if we suppose them not to have been lodged in the bladder -above a year before they began to occasion frequent inclination to make -urine, with pain, and sometimes sudden stoppages of urine; yet, from -1746 to 1757, they ought to have grown to a much larger size than that -of the kernel of a Spanish nut[127]. ’Tis true, the stone may increase -faster in some patients, and slower in others; but stones, after -remaining a dozen or more years in the bladder, generally weigh several -ounces. Some years since l saw a stone, weighing near six ounces, taken -from a boy of no more than 14 years of age. - - -3. Lord Walpole’s case not only shews the power of soap and lime-water -to relieve the painful symptoms, and prevent the increase, of the stone -in the bladder, but also makes it probable, that these medicines do -communicate to the urine a power of dissolving the stone. - -In the beginning of 1749 his Lordship voided with his urine a calculous -substance of a flat shape, about the bigness of a silver penny, and -covered with a soft white _mucus_[128]; and upon the surfaces of the -stones found in his bladder there were some inequalities, which seemed -to have been made by the separation of thin _lamellæ_ or scales. -Further, the small stone found in the beginning of the _urethra_ -must have been in a dissolving state, and considerably lessened in -the bulk: for, if it had lain long in the bladder, and never been -larger, it ought to have been voided thro’ the _urethra_ with the -urine; and it could not have arrived lately in the bladder, since Lord -Walpole had not had, for several years before his death, any nephritic -pains, or symptoms of stones passing from the kidnies; and since it -is not likely, that a stone of the size and shape of the seed of an -apple[129] would pass thro’ the ureters without being felt. Now if -this small stone, found in the _urethra_, was partly dissolved by the -virtue of the soap and lime-water; it will appear at least probable, -that the two larger stones in the bladder were so likewise. But altho’ -Lord Watpole’s calculous concretions had remained undiminished, and -without any symptoms of dissolution; it would not therefore follow, -that soap and lime-water cannot dissolve the stone in other patients, -where the concretion may be of a less firm texture. - -The Revᵈ. Dr. Richard Newcome, now Lord Bishop of Llandaff, while -drinking two English quarts of lime-water daily, for the cure of the -stone in his bladder, poured his urine every morning and evening upon -a piece of human _calculus_ weighing 31 grains; by which, in the space -of four months, it was reduced to three pieces, weighing in all only -six grains. Upon one of these pieces, weighing 2.31 grains, he caused -to be daily poured, for two months, the fresh urine of a person, who -drank no lime-water; at the end of which time the piece of _calculus_ -was found to weigh 2.56 grains, having increased in weight a quarter -of a grain. This same piece being afterwards steeped in the bishop’s -urine (who continued to drink lime-water as above), from June 24th to -July 9th, was in these few days quite crumbled into powder. Since this -experiment shews, beyond dispute, that lime-water, unassisted by soap, -can communicate to the urine a power of dissolving the stone out of the -body, it can scarcely be doubted, that it must have the like effect on -it, when lodged in the bladder. And that the dissolution of the stone -in the bladder has been completed by soap alone, appeared evidently in -the case of the Rev. Mr. Matthew Simson, Minister of Pancaitland near -Edinburgh; an account of which will soon be made public[130] by Dr. -Austin, who opened his body after death. Mr. Simson had, from 1730, -been afflicted in a less or greater degree with the symptoms of a stone -in the bladder; and in November 1735 was sounded by Dr. Drummond of -Perth, and Mr. Balderston, surgeon in this city, by whom a stone was -not only plainly felt, but also by the patient himself. In February -1737 he began to take soap; and after 1743 never had any gravelish -symptoms. He died in May 1756; and, when his bladder was looked into, -there was neither stone nor gravel found in it. - - -4. It appears from Lord Walpole’s case, that soap and lime-water, even -when taken in large quantities, proceed very slowly in dissolving the -stone. - -From July 1748, to the beginning of 1757, his Lordship drank three -English pints of lime-water, and swallow’d for the most part an ounce -of soap, daily; except from April 1750 to June 1751, during which time -he took only one pint of lime-water, and one-third part of an ounce -of soap, daily. However speedily soap and lime-water may dissolve the -greatest part of urinary stones out of the body, yet being mixed -with the aliment and humours of the stomach and guts, and afterwards -with the whole mass of blood, it is impossible but their force must -be greatly impaired before they arrive with the urine at the bladder. -When, therefore, urinary stones are of an uncommon hard texture, we are -perhaps scarcely to expect any sensible dissolution of them by the use -of soap and lime-water: but when they are of a softer kind, there is no -reason to doubt, that these medicines will in time dissolve them; and -this will happen sooner or later, in proportion to the hardness of the -stone, to the quantity of the medicines swallowed by the patient, and -the exact regimen he observes, as to diet[131]. - -But however slowly soap and lime-water may proceed in dissolving the -stone, yet they generally give speedy relief to the patient. Lord -Walpole did not take these medicines in the full quantity till the -end of July 1748; and, in a few months after, he was not only greatly -relieved of all his complaints, but in December was able to ride an -hundred miles in his coach, without finding any uneasiness, altho’ -the two last days of the journey the horses went at a full trot[132]. -In winter 1750, and spring 1751, when his Lordship swallowed only one -third part of the soap and lime-water, which he had been in use to -take, his pains and frequent inclination to make urine returned in a -good degree[133]; but, after taking the medicines in the full quantity, -he soon became as easy as before[134]. - -It would seem, while Lord Walpole used only one pint of lime-water and -one third of an ounce of soap daily, that the petrifying quality of his -urine was not intirely destroyed, and that the stony particles newly -formed on the surface of the _calculi_ occasioned, by their roughness, -the return of his painful symptoms. However, when he had recourse to -the medicines in a larger quantity, the petrescent quality of his urine -was not only destroyed, but this fluid seems to have acquired a power -of dissolving the rough stony particles deposited on the surface of the -_calculi_; and in this way soon removed the pain, bloody urine, and -frequent desire to make water, upon using any considerable exercise. - -Soap and lime-water not only relieve the painful symptoms occasioned by -the stone, by wearing off its sharp points, and rougher parts, which -used to irritate the tender membrane, which lines the bladder; but, -when this membrane has been wounded or lacerated by the stone, there -is nothing, that will heal it more speedily than lime-water; which the -ingenious Dr. Langrish has found to be remarkable also for its effects -in curing the bladders of dogs, after being fretted with soap-lees[135]. - -The power of soap and lime-water to alleviate the painful symptoms -attending the stone is so great, that, as far as I remember, I have -only met with one patient, who did not find himself considerably -relieved by them. But it is to be observed, that this patient neither -took them in full quantity, nor persisted in their use for a long -enough time: and, when he was afterwards cut, the stone taken out -of his bladder was almost as thick set with sharp prickles, as the -back of an hedgehog: so that, in this case, no remarkable ease could -be procured to the patient by the medicines, until they had quite -dissolved these sharp points, and rendered the surface of the stone -smooth and equal; which was not to be done but after a very long time, -especially as the stone was of a pretty hard texture. - -It may be proper to take notice, that when, along with the stone, there -is any ulceration in the bladder, soap does mischief, and lime-water -often fails of giving any considerable relief. However, even in this -case it is perhaps one of the best remedies we know. - - -5. Soap and lime-water, taken in large quantities, and persisted in for -many years together, appear to be innocent, and no way injurious to -health. - -Lord Walpole, who used these medicines for upwards of eight years, was -not only relieved of the painful symptoms of the stone, but had his -health improved by them in other respects[136]. His appetite, healthful -look, and a degree of spirits uncommon at his age, continued till the -end of 1756, when his last illness begin to attack him. And as his -health did not appear to be any way injured by these medicines, so, -where his body was opened after death, his kidneys and ureters were -observed to be quite sound and natural, as was likewise his bladder; -only its coats appeared a little thicker than usual, owing probably to -the long-continued friction of the stones upon it. Neither the kidneys, -ureters, nor bladder, were loaded or crusted with any calcarious -matter; an effect most unjustly ascribed to soap and lime-water, -since in the urinary passages, to which the air has no access, they -cannot deposite their calcarious part[137]; and since the white stuff -observable in the urine of such patients, as take these medicines in -large quantities, is only the usual sediment of the urine changed in -its nature and colour, with, perhaps, some of the dissolved particles -of the stone[138]. - -As the urinary passages were no-way injured, so neither were the -stomach, guts, and other _viscera_ of the lower belly. These had all a -healthful appearance, except the gall-bladder, which was almost full of -biliary concretions: nor is it surprising, that soap and lime-water, -which prevent the growth of urinary _calculi_, should have no effect on -biliary stones, since, altho’ these medicines dissolve the former out -of the body, yet they do not make the smallest impression on the latter. - -I presume it will be needless to take notice, that the lingering -nervous fever, of which Lord Walpole died, cannot, with any colour of -reason, be ascribed to the large use of soap and lime-water; since, if -they could have produced such an effect, they must have done it in much -less time than eight years and an half. - -It may not be amiss to observe, that altho’ soap and lime-water, taken -in large quantities, are no-way injurious to health, yet in some cases -they may become improper, on account of the particular state of the -patient. Thus, in a scorbutic or putrid disposition of the humours, -soap at least ought to be totally omitted; and such patients, who are -much troubled with the hæmorrhoids, ought to be sparing in its use, -as the alkaline salt, with which it abounds, will scarcely fail to -exasperate their pain. Where the patient is naturally very costive, -less lime-water and more soap ought to be used; and, on the contrary, -where the body is too loose, little or no soap is to be taken, but the -cure is to be trusted to lime-water alone; which, in this case, ought -to be drank to the quantity of two English quarts a day. - - -As the foregoing observations will, I am afraid, appear more tedious -than important, I shall only add, that I am, with great esteem, - - +SIR+, - Your most obedient humble Servant, - Robert Whytt. - - -III. - -[Read April 21, 1757.] - -_Dr._ Pringle’s _Paper read after Dr._ Whytt’s _Letter_. - -DR. Pringle begs leave to inform the Society, that having read the copy -of his letter, within these few days, to Dr. Shaw, Mr. Hawkins, and Mr. -Graham, those gentlemen found his account agreeable to their several -observations; only Mr. Graham took notice, that, of late years, Lord -Walpole, in his journies to Norfolk, had twice voided some blood with -his urine, but with little uneasiness; and that at other times had -passed some sand and stony particles (tho’ never larger than the head -of a small pin), attended with frettings of the parts, scarce painful. -But Mr. Graham was not sure, whether these accidents were prior or -subsequent to the sequel of the case, communicated to the Society by -his Lordship. - -Dr. Pringle thinks it may be likewise proper to acquaint the Society -with another circumstance in Lord Walpole’s case, which he had both -from Dr. Shaw and Mr. Graham, _viz._ that after using the soap and -lime-water for some time, his Lordship was freed from a very obstinate -dry and scurfy eruption, which had resisted several other medicines. -But as there were no marks of a putrid scurvy (that species expressly -alluded to towards the end of Dr. Whytt’s letter) the Society will -easily understand, how the lithontriptic medicines may be prejudicial -to one troubled with the true putrid scurvy (such as is most incident -to sailors) and yet not be improper for those, that are subject to -the scurfy eruptions, which are commonly, tho’ erroneously, called -scorbutic. - -Pall-Mall, 20 April, 1757. - - - - -XXVII. _An Account of the Virtues of Soap in dissolving the Stone, -in the Case of the Rev. Mr._ Matthew Simson. _Communicated by_ John -Pringle, _M.D. F.R.S._ - - -_To the Rev._ Tho. Birch, _D.D. F.R.S._ - -[Read April 28, 1757.] - -SIR, - -A Few days ago I received from Dr. Austin, physician at Edinburgh, the -case of the Rev. Mr. Simson, drawn up by himself, in the form of a -letter to Dr. Austin; and which you may remember was alluded to by Dr. -Whytt, in the paper read at the last meeting of the Society. - -As I am at liberty to communicate this account to others, I thought -it would not be unacceptable to the gentlemen of the Society, to have -another well-attested instance laid before them of the virtues of soap -in dissolving the stone, or, at least, in removing all those painful -symptoms, which usually accompany that distemper. - -To the patient’s own narration I have subjoined an extract from Dr. -Austin’s letter to me, containing the sequel of the case from the date -of Mr. Simson’s letter to his death; with an account of the state of -his bladder, as it appeared to Dr. Austin upon dissection. I am, - - SIR, - Your most obedient humble Servant, - John Pringle. - -Pall-Mall, 27 April, 1757. - - - _A Letter from the Rev. Mr._ Simson, _Minister at_ Pencaitland, _to -Dr._ Adam Austin, _Physician in_ Edinburgh. - -[Read April 28, 1757.] - -Dear Sir, - -ACcording to your desire, I send you the history of my case; which is -as follows: - -I was of an healthy constitution till the year 1730, when I was seized -with a frequent inclination to make water, without any previous pain -in the kidneys or ureters. This symptom continued till the year 1733, -without giving me much uneasiness. - -In June 1733, as I was riding from Edinburgh to my own house at -Pencaitland, I was seized with a great difficulty and pain in making -water, which went off when I got home. - -In the month of July, having again got on horseback, I was seized with -the same complaint, but more violent; for then some drops of blood -came away. From this time, if I rode eight or ten miles, I passed some -blood, but without pain. - -In September I made a journey of 60 miles on horseback; but every two -miles was obliged to dismount, and made some bloody water. - -I continued much in the same way all the year 1734, as the preceding; -only had one additional complaint, of a pain in the glans after making -water, and likewise in the neck of the bladder. The only thing I did -for it was, to drink plentifully of warm milk and water; and gave over -riding, on account of the bloody urine. - -In the month of August I was sounded by my nephew, Dr. Simson, -professor of medicine in the university of St. Andrew’s; but he found -no stone, which he attributed to a wrong posture I was in, when he -sounded me. - -During the winter, if I walked more than usual, I was sure to have a -return of the bloody urine and strangury. - -In November 1735, I was sounded by Mr. Balderstone, surgeon, in -Edinburgh, a gentleman very expert in that operation, and likewise by -Dr. Drummond of Perthshire. They both distinctly felt a stone: and I -myself took hold of the catheter, when it was in my bladder, and felt -the stone as distinctly, as if it had been in my hand. - -About Christmas I was seized with a pain along the left ureter, and -violent vomitings; but, upon using a turpentine clyster and opiates, it -went off. - -During the year 1736, I continued much the same as the preceding year, -always drinking great plenty of milk and water; which gave me great -relief, as to the bloody urine. - -I was advised by my nephew, Dr. Simson, to go to London, and be cut -by Mr. Cheselden; the rest of my friends advising me to be cut by Mr. -Smith, a lithotomist at Perth. However, I deferred the operation, and -continued much the same all the year 1737, having severe fits now and -then. - -In the year 1738 Sir Alexander Gibson, of Addiston, informed me, that -he had been in my condition, had passed several small stones, and had -found incredible service from the use of soap pills: for, from not -being able to get out of bed, in the space of two months after using -the soap he was able to go a hunting. However, for some time I was -afraid to try the soap, not knowing what effects it might have on a -confirmed stone; Sir Alexander Gibson’s case being only that of small -stones. But the Rev. Mr. Lundie, of Salton, by experiments convinced -me of the efficacy of soap in dissolving a confirmed stone out of the -bladder; for the stone gradually grew smoother and smoother, and at -last was quite dissolved. - -On the 12th of February 1739, I first began the use of the soap, and -in the beginning took only a drachm in the 24 hours. The first week it -made me a little qualmish: however, I gradually increased the dose; so -that in six weeks I took six drachms a day, without its disagreeing in -the least with me. I made it up into pills, and washed them down with a -draught of warm milk and water. - -From the time I began to use the soap, my gravelish symptoms gradually -abated; but, upon walking two or three miles, I made bloody urine. -However, that symptom gradually abated; and in the year 1743 all the -symptoms of a stone quite vanished, insomuch that I could walk, ride, -or go in a machine, as well as ever. - -From February 1739, to July 1743, I took every day five or six drachms -of soap: but after that time I diminished the dose to half an ounce; -and never after had any return of a gravelish symptom, tho’ I still -imagine the stone is not intirely dissolved; for after sitting some -time, I find as it were something come to the neck of the bladder, but -which gives me no uneasiness. - -This, Sir, according to the best of my memory, is my case: and if it -can be of any benefit to you, in the cure of this painful disease, it -will give great pleasure to, - - Dear Sir, - Your most obedient Servant, - Matthew Simson. - -Nov. 20th, 1749. - - -_The Extract from Dr._ Austin’_s Letter to Dr._ Pringle. - -[Read April 28, 1757.] - -THE Rev. Mr. Simson’s letter to me as written in the year 1749; about -which time he told me, that he had ridden 40 miles in a day, without -any bad symptom ensuing. - -In the year 1752 he broke his thigh-bone at the neck; by a fall from -his horse, and continued for six weeks in great pain; but after that -time he grew easier, and was able to put his foot to the ground. One -day, as his servant was helping him to walk across the room, he let -him fall; upon which Mr. Simson felt a severe pain: the broken leg -became then evidently shorter than the other; and by that misfortune -he was confined to his bed for near two years. However, about six -months before he died, he was so well recovered, as to be able to go to -church, and to perform divine service. - -About the beginning of May 1756, Mr. Simson was seized with a diarrhæa, -which resisted all medicine, and carried him off in the 83d year of his -age. From the date of his letter to his death he had never discontinued -the use of the soap (except during the time of his last illness), tho’ -he had not been troubled with any painful symptom of a stone since the -year 1743. - -I obtained leave of his friends to open the body, but found no stone -or gravel in the bladder; that part appearing to be, in every respect, -in a natural state, except at the neck, where the coats seemed to be -schirrous, and were about a quarter of an inch thick. - -It is probable, that the stone had been of a softer texture, and more -easily dissolved, than ordinary; otherwise five or six drachms of soap -taken daily, even for so long a time, could not have dissolved it -intirely; for many have used that medicine in much larger doses, and at -the same time have drank lime-water plentifully, without obtaining such -effects; tho’ all their painful symptoms were removed by that course, -as Dr. Whytt has shewn in his treatise on this subject. - -I shall only add, that Mr. Simson’s son, who is now minister at Fala, -was present at the opening of the body, and can attest, that there was -no stone found in the bladder. - - Adam Austin. - -Edinburgh, 15 April 1757. - - -_A Letter from Dr._ Adam Drummond _to Dr._ Adam Austin, _relating to -the Rev. Mr._ Matthew Simson’_s Case. Communicated by_ J. Pringle, -_M.D. F.R.S._ - -[Read June 23, 1757.] - -I Have yours; and was present when Mr. Balderstone sounded Mr. -Simson; and both of us perceived, very distinctly, a large stone: and -Mr. Simson himself felt it; which we were the more sollicitous he -should do, as he was sounded before by Dr. Simson, who had declared -there was no stone. But the particular magnitude of it we could not -well determine at the end of a long catheter; tho’ I remember Mr. -Balderstone, who was well versed in that business, conjectured it to -be pretty large. He was sounded only once by us, as the urethra was a -little hurt by turning the catheter. There is only one circumstance -in the case, which Mr. Simson seems to have omitted; that, from the -first symptoms of the stone, he passed a great deal of _mucus_ mixed -with _pus_, as well as blood; and great quantities of gritty red sand, -all in single grains, never any concreted into small stones. I take -the more notice of this, as I do not remember, that, after he used the -soap, he ever passed any sand, but a good deal of _mucus_, in which -the soap was discoverable by its frothing. Could the gritty particles -of sand be again suspended in the urine, so as to become invisible? or -were they wrapt up in the soapy liquid, so as to escape observation? I -have seen several stones of a soft consistence dissolved into mucilage -by soap: but the sand passed by Mr. Simson, before he used the soap, -seems to indicate his stone of a harder nature, tho’ indeed it felt -obtuse at the end of the catheter. - -I shall rejoice, if many instances of this kind are found afterwards: -but this seems to be the only one yet, of a stone in the bladder being -dissolved by soap alone. I am, - - Dear Doctor, - Your most humble Servant, - Adam Drummond. - -Bandeeran, June 5. 1757. - - - - -XXVIII. _An Account of the Impressions of Plants on the Slates -of Coals: In a Letter to the Right Honourable_ George _Earl of_ -Macclesfield, _President of the R.S. from Mr._ Emanuel Mendes da Costa, -_F.R.S._ - - -[Read April 28, 1757.] - -My Lord, - -I Have the honour to address this letter to your Lordship, in order to -be communicated to the Royal Society, if your Lordship deems it worthy -the attention of that learned and illustrious assembly. - -The impressions of various kinds of plants are frequently, I might -say always, found in some of the strata lying over coal; but more -particularly in a stratum of earthy slat, which, in my History of -Fossils, page 168. Species IV. I have synonymed _Schistus terrestris -niger carbonarius_, and which always lies immediately upon the -coal-stratum, not only in the coal-pits of this kingdom, but of many -other parts of Europe, _e.g._ France, Saxony, Bohemia, Silesia, _&c._ - -Most of these impressions, my Lord, are of the _herbæ capillares et -affines_, the gramineous, and the reed tribes: but, however, among -them many rare and beautiful impressions undoubtedly of vegetable -origin, and impressed by plants hitherto unknown to botanists, are not -unfrequently met with. - -Besides these, my Lord, found over coal-pits, there are likewise found -in some parts of this kingdom, as at Robinhood’s-bay in Yorkshire, -Coalbrookdale in Shropshire, _&c._ many curious impressions of the -fern tribe in regular nodules of iron-stone; and, in the latter place, -not only impressions of plants, but even the cones or iuli of some -kinds of trees are met with, very perfect and fair, and curiously -imbedded in masses of iron-stone. - -[Illustration: _Philos. Trans. Vol. L._ TAB. V. _p. 229_. - -_J. Mynde sc._ ] - -The most part of the impressions of ferns, grasses, _&c._ are easily -recognizable, they so minutely tally to the plants they represent. -Others indeed, tho’ they do not exactly answer any known species, yet -have characters so distinctly expressed, that they are easily arranged -under their respective genera[139]. Therefore I shall not trouble -your Lordship with any further remarks on all such, but shall only -touch on those elegant and extraordinary impressions, probably of -unknown vegetables, above-mentioned: for that they are the parts and -impressions of vegetables, I think clearly evinced, if we attentively -and with a philosophical mind consider them, and reflect on the various -circumstances, which attend them in the places, where they now lie -buried. - -I have therefore the honour, my Lord, to exhibit the drawings of seven -such extraordinary impressions, and the fossiles themselves, for your -Lordship’s and this learned body’s inspection (_See_ TAB. V.). The -impressions figured Nº. 1. is from Mr. Mytton’s collieries at Drilt, -near Oswestry, in Shropshire; as are also those figured Nº. 2, 4, and -7: they are found sometimes two feet in length, and are generally -covered with a thin crust of coal. The specimina Dr. Woodward exhibits, -Catalogue B, pages 106, 107. specimina _q._ 22. and _q._ 32. are -analogous to this, tho’ not exactly the same. The Doctor’s fossiles -were from Haigh in Lancashire; and he imagines the impressions to be -made by vegetables of the fir kind. Volckman also, in his _Silesia -subterranea_, tab. 22. fig. 2. figures a branch with a rhomboidal work -on it, and with three long narrow leaves, which seems akin to this -impression. - -Nº. 2. seems of the reed tribe: the knobs placed in rows, which are -like the vesicles on the _quercus marina_, and some other _algæ_, -are very remarkable. Woodward, Catalogue B. page 9. specimen _a._ 1. -exhibits an impression akin to this, which he imagines to be of the -fern kind. - -Nº. 3. from a coal-pit in Yorkshire. I cannot but think this impression -is owing to somewhat of the fir kind. Dr. Woodward, who exhibits such -a like impression, Catalogue B. p. 16. specimen _a._ 108. imagines the -same: his words are, “The impression is much like what might be made by -the branches of the common fir, after the leaves are fallen or stript -off.” - -Nº. 4. seems to be of the same kind as Nº. 2. - -Nº. 5. This extraordinary impression is from Mostyn-colliery in -Flintshire. It is a little obscured; but, when attentively viewed, -exhibits a reticular impression, the meshes whereof are rhomboidal -hollows, and the sides of the rhombs, or the net-work, are raised, or -in relief. - -Nº. 6. is from Newcastle. Volckman, ibid, part 3. tab. 4. fig. 9. seems -to be of this kind. - -Nº. 7. The same author, Volckman, figures a somewhat-like impression, -ibid. fig. 5. - -Only these seven extraordinary impressions I have presumed, my Lord, -to treat of at this present time; but I have many more in my cabinet -equally curious, some few of which I here exhibit to the Society, -without taking any further notice of them: only I shall add, that many -extraordinary impressions occur in Woodward’s and other collections, -and many are iconed in authors, worthy the attention of the curious. - -These impressions, my Lord, are not only met with in small pieces; -but large evident branches, some feet in length, have been found. I -have, in the collieries of Derbyshire, frequently traced branches with -(what seemed to me) long narrow leaves proceeding from them, and parts -of other vegetables, above a foot’s length: but the hardness of the -substance they are immersed in renders it impossible to get them out -without breaking them to pieces[140]. - -As these remains of vegetables are very extraordinary, I would -recommend to the curious in botany to take notice of them, as an -_Appendix Plantarum adhuc incognitarum_. For my part, I am so very -little skilled in botany, that I hardly presume to offer my opinion; -which is, that they are impressions and parts of species of the firs -and pines, of the tithymals, the cereus’s, and other arborescent -plants, and of large reeds; for some of the said kind are embellished -with ribbed, studded, and reticulated works; _e.g._ the Hercules’ -club, or _rubi facie senticosa planta Lobelii_, described by Dr. Grew, -_Museum Reg. Soc._ p. 221. the _cerei, &c._ - -I further exhibit to the Society some few specimina of iron-stones with -cones or iuli imbedded in them. These, my Lord, are from veins of ball -iron-stone, in the lands of Lord Gower, at Okenyate, a village on the -Roman road of Watling-street; and from the iron-works at Coalbrookdale -in Shropshire. The cones are frequently met with in fragments, but -rarely so intire, and are never found but in the strata of iron-stone. -I have added to these a figured fossile body, much like a cone, found -sometimes in our chalk-pits in England, but chiefly in the pits at -Cherry-Hinton in Cambridgeshire. Dr. Woodward, Catalogue B. p. 22. -specimen _b._ 72. calls them cones seeming to be of the larix; and -imagines they were not come to ripeness or maturity. They certainly -have some resemblance to cones, tho’ I much doubt them to be so; but -they most exactly resemble the roots of the _cyperus rotundus vulgaris_ -of botanists. - -I shall finish this paper, my Lord, by acquainting your Lordship and -the Society, that I firmly believe these bodies to be of the vegetable -origin, buried in the strata of the earth at the time of the universal -deluge recorded by Moses. It is, I must confess, with regret, that -I find there are some, who reject the burial of these bodies at -that fatal catastrophe, but substitute partial deluges to account -for it. Did those gentlemen consider, or maturely weigh, the many -remarkable and strong evidences of an universal deluge, every-where -obvious in the bowels of the earth, they certainly would abandon their -imaginary system: for, my Lord, it is not only the immense quantities -of marine remains, dispersed in all terrestrial strata, which are -to be considered (that circumstance alone might give some reasoning -to their system of partial deluges), but the following more weighty -circumstances are likewise to be added and flung into the scale. 1º. -The heavings, displacings, trappings, and breaks of the metallic veins, -and the loads of rubble, met with at vast depths, and where no marine -remains were ever found; and such heavings, _&c._ are not rare in -metallic or mineral works: of which, to give your Lordship an idea, I -have presumed to sketch the following plan of such a phænomenon. - -[Illustration: These cross-loads are not unfrequent in the mines on -North Downs, near Redruth, in Cornwall. Wheal-Widden copper-work there, -in 1750, was about 60 fathoms deep. The load was 20 feet over; and has -many cross-loads two or three feet over, which sometimes heave the -metallic load from one to five or six fathom. These cross-loads are -generally filled with fragments of stone, minerals and other rubble.] - -2º. If these effects proceed from local deluges, recedings of the sea, -gulphs atterrated, _&c._ we should then indeed find marine remains: but -how will that account for the vast quantity of remains of terrestrial -vegetables and animals, equally met with, and in like manner as the -marine remains, in the bowels of the earth? And, 3º. Were local or -partial deluges the cause, we should then find only the animals and -plants of the climates or places, where such deluges have happened; -whereas in these fossil remains it is quite the contrary: the remains -of those plants and animals, we know, are of animals and plants, the -inhabitants of the most remote climes from those, where they now lie -buried; _e.g._ the rhinoceros-bones, in the cave called Baumans-hole, -in the Hartz Forest in Germany; the strange bones in the Antra Draconum -in Hungary; the horns of the moose-deer, and other prodigious horns, -and elephants bones, found in England, Ireland, Germany, Sibiria, -and even America, _&c._ of vegetables, parts of the arbor tristis in -France; bamboo’s, or great Indian reeds, frequent in England; with -numbers of other such examples. And of those remains even of the marine -shells, yet unknown to us, all appear exotic to the climes where they -now lie deposited; _e.g._ the cliffs at Harwich in Essex abound with -a species of _buccinum heterostrophum_, and other shells, never yet -discovered in the adjacent waters. The _ammonitæ_ of so many species, -and the innumerable variety of _conchæ anomiæ_, with which this island -abounds, are yet unknown to be inhabitants of our seas, and appear -exotic to this climate. Therefore, my Lord, I reasonably conclude -partial or local deluges could never have produced such effects. -However, unprejudiced to any opinion, if the learned, who favour the -system of partial deluges, will either confute these my assertions, -or give solid reasons for the facts alleged to be producible by local -deluges, atterrations, _&c._ I will joyfully embrace the truth: but -till then, my Lord, I would recommend to those systematical gentlemen, -not to pervert that excellent maxim of the great Lord Bacon, and, -instead of _Non fingendum neque excogitandum, sed inveniendum quid -natura faciat, aut ferat_, not to corrupt it into _fingendum atque -excogitandum, non inveniendum quid natura faciat, aut ferat_. - -I am, with great submission and respect, - - MY LORD, - Your Lordship’s - Most devoted, - and most obliged, - humble Servant, - Emanuel Mendes da Costa. - -London, 27 April, 1757. - - - - -XXIX. _A Catalogue of the_ Fifty Plants _from_ Chelsea Garden, -_presented to the_ Royal Society _by the worshipful Company of -Apothecaries, for the Year 1756, pursuant to the Direction of Sir_ Hans -Sloane, _Baronet, Med. Reg. & Soc. Reg. nuper Præses, by_ John Wilmer, -_M. D. clariss. Societatis Pharmaceut._ Lond. _Socius, Hort._ Chels. -_Præfect. & Prælector Botan._ - - -[Read April 28, 1757.] - - 1701 ABronanum campestre incanum Carlinæ odore. C.B.P. - - 1702 Abrotanum humile corymbis majoribus aureis. H. Reg. Par. - - 1703 Acer platanoides. Muntingii histor. - - 1704 Amelanchier. Lobel. - - 1705 Anchusa lutea minor. J.B. 3. 583. - Buglossum luteum annuum minimum. Tourn. 134. - - 1706 Arctotis ramis decumbentibus foliis lineari-lanceolatis rigidis - subtus argenteis flore magno aureo pediculo longissimo. - Miller’s Icons. - - 1707 Ascyrum magno flore, C.B. 280. - - 1708 Asphodelus Allobrogicus magno flore Lilii H.L. 65. - - 1709 Aster caule ramoso scabro perenni foliis ovatis sessilibus - pedunculis nudis unifloris. Miller’s Icons. - - 1710 Astragalus repens minor flore cæruleo, filiqua - Epigottidi simili. Index Plant. Boerh. - - 1711 Barleria inermis foliis ovatis denticulatis petiolatis. Lin. Sp. - Plant. 637. - Barleria solani folio flore coccineo. Plum. nov. gen. 31. - - 1712 Blitum Kaly minus album dictum. Kaly minus Ger. Emac. 535. - - 1713 Campanula maxima foliis latissimis. C.B. 94. - - 1714 Caryophillus montanus umbellatus floribus variis, luteis - ferrugineis Italicus. Barrel obs. 648. - - 1715 Cataria Hispanica Betonicæ folio angustiore flore cæruleo. Tourn. - - 1716 Celastrus spinis nudis, ramis teretibus, foliis acutis. Hort. - Cliff. 72. - Lycium. Boerhaav. Ind. alt. 2. 237. - - 1717 Ceralus racemosa sylvestris fructu non eduli rubro. H.R. Par. - Cerasia racemosa rubra. 2. Tabernamont. Icon, 987. - - 1718 Chamædrys Hispanica tenuifolia multiflora. H. R. Par. Tourn. 205. - - 1719 Cherophyllum palustre latifolium flore albo. Boerh. 70. - Myrrhis palustre latifolia rubra. Tourn. 315. - - 1720 Chenopodium Stramonii folio. Vaill. - - 1721 Cirsium foliis non hirsutis floribus compactis. C.B.P. 377. - - 1722 Cirsium maximum Asphodeli radice. C.B. 377. - - 1723 Colutea foliolis ovatis integerrimis caule fruticolo. Phil. - Miller’s Icons. - - 1724 Convallaria foliis sessilibus racemo terminal composito. Lin. Sp. - Pl. 315. - - 1725 Conyza mas Theophrasti major Dioscoridis. C.B.P. 265. - Major Monspeliensis odorata. J.B. 2. 1053. - - 1726 Coriandrum majus. C.B. 158. Officinar. 145. - - 1727 Cornus Orientalis sylvestris fructu teretiformi. T. Cor. - - 1728 Crithmum, sive Fæniculum maritimum, minus. C.B. 288. Offic. 152. - - 1729 Crocus sativus. C.B. 65. Officinar. 152. - - 1730 Cyclamen vernum minus orbiculato folio, inferne rubente, flore - minore ruberrimo. Mor. Hist. 3. 551. - - 1731 Elichrysum graveolens acutifolium alato caule. Hort. Eltham. - - 1732 Gramen spica aristata. Lin. Sp. Pl. 83. - Gramen loliaceum spica longiore lolium Dioscoridis. C.B.P. - - 1733 Leucanthemum Tanaceti folio, flore majore. Boerh. 107. - Matricaria Tanaceti folio, flore majore, semine umbilicato. - Tourn. 493. - - 1734 Meadia. Catesby Hist. Car. 3. p. 1. Dodecatheon. - Lin. Sp. Pl. 144. - - 1735 Medica magno fructu, aculeis sursum et deorsum rendentibus. Tourn. - 411. - - 1736 Moscatellina foliis fumariæ bulbosæ, de qua Cordus. J.B. 2. 206. - Radix cava minima viridi flore. Ger. 933. - - 1737 Narcissus Illyricus Liliaceus. C.B.P. 55. - Pancratii Monspeliaci Hemerocallidis Valentinæ facie. - Lilio-narcissus, vel Narcissus tertius Matthioli. J.B. 2. 613. - - 1738 Osmunda vulgaris et palustris. Tourn. 547. - Filix ramosa non dentata florida. C.B.P. 357. - - 1739 Papaver laciniato folio capitulo hispido rotundiore. Tourn. - Argemone capitulo rotundiore. Park. 369. - - 1740 Papaver Orientale hirsutissimum magno flore. Tourn. Cor. 17. - - 1741 Periclymenum perfoliatum Virginianum sempervirens et florens. - H.L.B. - - 1742 Phillyrea, Oleæ Ephesiacæ folio. Pluk. Phyt. Tab. 310. fig. 5. - - 1743 Phlomis Lychnitis. Clus. Hist. 27. - Verbascum sylvestre Monspeliense flore luteo hiante. J.B. 3. 307. - - 1744 Polygonum foliis cordatis caule volubili, floribus carinatis. Lin. - Sp. Plant. 364. - Fagopyrum scandens Americanum maximum. Tourn. Inst. - - 1745 Saxifraga sedi folio, flore albo, multiflora. T. 252. - Sedum Pyrenaicum pyramidale longifolium elegantissimum. - Schol. Botan. Par. - Sanicula Pyrenaica longifolia multiflora elegantissma. H.L. - - 1746 Serratula Noveboracensis maxima foliis longis serratis. Hort. - Eltham. 355. - - 1747 Thalictrum minus. C.B.P. 337. - Thalictrum minus seu Rutæ pratensis genus minus semine striato. - J.B. 3. 487. - - 1748 Verbascum fœmina flore luteo magno. C.B. 239. - - 1749 Vicia leguminibus sessilibus reflexis pilosis solitariis - pentaspermis corollæ vexilis glabris. Lin. Sp. Pl. 736. - Vicia leguminibus solitariis deorsum flexis hirsutis. - Sauv. Monspeliens. 235. - - 1750 Ulmus folio latissimo scabro. Ger. Emac. 1481. Latiore folio. - Park. 1404. - - - - -XXX. _Remarks on the Opinion of_ Henry Eeles, _Esq; concerning the -Ascent of Vapour, published in the_ Philosoph. Transact. _Vol._ xlix. -_Part_ i. _p._ 124. _By_ Erasmus Darwin, _M.D. Communicated by Mr._ -William Watson, _F.R.S._ - - -_To Mr._ William Watson, _F.R.S._ - -SIR, - -THE inclosed papers were designed for the perusal of the Royal Society; -being an endeavour to confute the opinion of Mr. Eeles about the ascent -of vapours, published in the last volume of their Transactions. But the -author, having no electrical friend, whose sagacity he could confide -in, has at length prevailed upon himself to be so free to send them to -Mr. Watson; to whom the world is so much indebted for the advancement -of their knowlege in electricity. - -Whence, Sir, if you should think that these papers have truth, the -great Diana of real philosophers, to patronize them, you will confer -a favour upon me, by laying them before that learned Body. If, on -the contrary, you should deem this confutation trifling or futil, -I hope you will be humane enough to suppress them, and give me your -objections; and by that means lay a still greater obligation on one, -who has not the pleasure to be personally acquainted with you. From, - - SIR, - Your very humble Servant, - Erasmus Darwin, - _Physician at Litchfield, Staffordshire_. - -March 23. 1757. - - -+LETTER I.+ - -_To the very honourable and learned the_ PRESIDENT _and_ MEMBERS _of -the_ Royal Society. - -[Read May 5, 1757.] - -Gentlemen, - -THERE is ever such a charm attendant upon novelty, that be it in -philosophy, medicine, or religion, the gazing world are too often led -to adore, what they ought only to admire: whilst this vehemence of -enthusiasm has generally soon rendered that object contemptible, that -would otherwise have long laid claim to a more sober esteem. This was -once the fate of chemistry: the vain and pompous boasts of her adepts -brought the whole art into disrespect; and I should be sorry, if her -sister electricity should share the same misfortunes. It is hence the -ingenious Mr. Eeles will excuse me, for endeavouring to lay before you -my opinion on the ascent of vapours, tho’ it by no means coincides with -that he is so strenuous to establish, and plucks a plume from his idol -goddess electricity. - -The probability, supporting the hypothesis of Mr. Eeles, according to -his own expressions, rests on this: “That every particle of vapour is -endued with a portion of electric fire; and that there is no other -sufficient cause assigned for their ascending.” (_Phil. Trans. vol._ -xlix. _part._ i. _p._ 134.). My design is therefore first to attempt -to shew, that another theory, founded on principles better known, will -sufficiently explain the ascent of vapours: and then, that some kinds -of vapours are not endued with a more or less than their natural share -of electric æther. - -The immense rarefaction of explosive bodies by heat, depends either -on the escape of air before condensed in them, or on the expansion -of the constituent parts of those bodies. This distinction has not -been sufficiently considered by any one to my knowlege; nor shall I -at present amuse the Society upon this head; it being enough for my -present purpose to observe, that they may be thus distinguished: where -air is emitted, it cannot be condensed again into the same bulk by -cold; but the expansion of heated parts of bodies, as soon as that heat -is withdrawn, ceases to exist. - -Nitre comes under the first of these classes: in detonation it emits -great quantities of air, not afterwards condensible to the like space. -This may be seen by firing a few grains of gunpowder in an unblown -bladder, or in a vessel nearly full of water with its mouth inverted. -The same is true of all the solid parts of animals and vegetables, when -subjected to fire; as appears from the experiments of that learned -philanthropist, Dr. Hales. - -But of water the contrary is evident. In the steam-engine, a jet of -cold water, we find, instantly condenses that immense rarefaction; -which I apprehend could not be, if it was constituted of escaped -elastic air. And altho’ this steam must be acknowledged to put on some -properties of air; such as ventilating a fire; or that a taper blown -out by it, is capable of being again lighted immediately, and that -without a crackling noise, which occurs when touched with water; this -does not in the least invalidate our opinion, tho’ it has certainly -conduced very much to propagate the former one: since from this way of -reasoning, the whole must be air, and we should have no water at all in -vapour. - -From considering this power of expansion, which the constituent parts -of some bodies acquire by heat; and withal, that some bodies have -a greater affinity to heat, that is, acquire it sooner and retain -it longer than others; which affinity appears from experiments, and -which, I apprehend, is in some ratio of their specific gravities and -their powers of refraction, reflexion, or absorption of light; or at -least in some ratio much greater than that of their specific gravities -alone. From considering these, I say, many things, before utterly -inexplicable, became easily understood by me. Such as, Why when bismuth -and zinc are fused together, and set to cool, the zinc, which is -specifically heavier, is found above the bismuth? Why the buff covering -of inflammatory blood, the skum of heated milk, the sedative salt of -borax, which are all specifically heavier than the liquids in which -they are formed, are still formed at the surface of them? How benzoin, -sulphur, and even the ponderous body mercury, may be raised into -vapour, again to be condensed unaltered? And, lastly, how water, whose -parts appear from the æolipile to be capable of immeasurable expansion, -should by heat alone become specifically lighter than the common -atmosphere, without having recourse to a shell inclosing air, or other -assistant machinery? and when raised, I am persuaded we shall find, -that to support them floating, perhaps many days, in the atmosphere, is -not a knot so intricate, as to oblige us to conjure up a new divinity -to unravel it. - -But before we proceed to this second part of our task, it will be -necessary previously to consider, first, how small a degree of heat is -required to detach or raise the vapour of water from its parent-fluid. -In the coldest day, I might say the coldest night, of winter, when the -weather is not frosty or very damp, wet linen or paper will become dry -in the course of a few hours. A greater degree of heat must indeed -cause a quicker evaporation. But I am persuaded, that was it not for -the pressure of the superincumbent fluid, greatly less than that of -boiling water would instantly disperse the whole so heated into vapour. - -Secondly, That in the opinion of Sir Isaac Newton, well illustrated by -the late lamented Mr. Melvil, the sun-beams appear only to communicate -heat to bodies by which they are refracted, reflected, or obstructed; -whence, by their impulse, a reaction or vibration is caused in the -parts of such impacted bodies. - -This is supported by the experiment of approaching some light body, -or blowing smoke near the focus of the largest glasses; and from -observing, that these do not ascend, it is evident the air is not -so much as warmed by the passage of those beams thro’ it, yet would -instantly calcine or vitrify every opake body in nature. And from -this we may collect, that transparent bodies are only heated at -their surfaces, and that perhaps in proportion to their quantity of -refraction: which will further give and receive illustration from -those very curious experiments, of producing cold by the evaporation -of liquors, published by the learned Dr. Cullen, in the late volume -of Essays Physical and Literary, at Edinburgh. In these experiments a -spirit-thermometer was immersed in spirit of wine, and being suddenly -retracted, was again exposed to the air; and as the spirit of wine -adhering to the glass evaporated, the spirit contained within the -thermometer was observed to subside. Now as the difference of the -refraction of spirit of wine and glass is exceedingly minute, compared -with the difference of refraction of spirit of wine and air; we may -consider, in the above experiment, the heat to be communicated to -the thermometer only at its surface: but here the adherent fluid -escapes as soon as heated; by which means the glass, and its contents, -are deprived of that constant addition of heat, which other bodies -perpetually enjoy either from the sun-beams immediately, or from the -emanations of other contiguous warmer bodies; and must thence, in a few -minutes, become colder than before. - -The ingenious Mr. Eeles, I dare say, has already foreseen the use I -am going to make of this principle; _viz._ “That the little spherules -of vapour will thus, by refracting the solar rays, acquire a constant -heat, tho’ the surrounding atmosphere remain cold.” And as from the -minuteness of their diameters, if they are allowed to be globules, -they must do this to a very great degree, I apprehend none of those -objections will take place against us, with which Mr. Eeles has so -sensibly confuted the former received theories on this subject. - -If we are asked, how clouds come to be supported in the absence of -the sun? It must be remembered, that large masses of vapour must for -a considerable time retain much of the heat they have acquired in -the day; at the same time reflecting, how small a quantity of heat -was necessary to raise them; and that doubtless even a less will be -sufficient to support them, as from the diminished pressure of the -atmosphere at a given height, a less power may be able to continue -them in their present state of rarefaction; and, lastly, that clouds -of particular shapes will be sustained or elevated by the motion they -acquire from winds. - -I should here have concluded this paper, perhaps already too long; but -upon revising it, I find, where the affinity of some bodies with heat -is mentioned, that the deductions made from thence are not sufficiently -explained to be intelligible. First then, If the power of expansion -of any two bodies, by heat, be in a greater proportion than their -specific gravities, then will there be a certain degree of heat, in -which their specific gravities will be equal; and another, in which the -gravity of that, which was lighter when cold, will exceed the gravity -of that, which was heavier when cold. Hence zinc and bismuth alter -their specific gravities in fusion; some urine, and many solutions of -solids, grow turbid as they cool; others alter their colours. Secondly, -If (the power of expansion by heat being equal) the power of retaining -heat be in a greater ratio than the specific gravities; then, during -the time of cooling after being sufficiently heated, there will be an -instant, when the heavier body will become the lighter, and swim upon -the other. This seems the case in the buff covering of inflamed blood, -the skum of heated milk, and the cristallization of some salts: for -if these effects were from the evaporation of the thinner parts at -the surface, they should happen during the greatest evaporation, or -when boiling; but, on the contrary, they are all done in the greatest -degree when the liquor has for some time began to cool. Lastly, If -the quickness of acquiring heat be in a greater proportion than their -specific gravities (the power of expansion being equal), then, during -the time of their acquiring heat, there will be an instant, when the -body, that was heavier when cold, will now become the lighter. From one -or more of which principles, I apprehend, the volatility or fixity of -all minerals, and many other bodies, takes its origin. - -It is no part of my design to account to you, gentlemen, in what manner -such an expansion of the parts of bodies can be brought about by the -action of fire. Tho’ perhaps a rotatory motion only of each particle -on its own center might be sufficient to produce such a rarefaction; -and the more so, if such parts were any other figures than spheres, -as by the percussion of their angles they must result further from -each other. Nor is the existence of such a rotatory motion without -some probability, when we observe the verticillary motion given to -charcoal-dust thrown on nitre in fusion, or the wonderful agitation of -the parts of burning phosphorus, or even of a common red letter-wafer -touched by the flame of a candle. But as in this paper I have laboured -(and I hope not without success) to shew you, that some properties of -solar heat are sufficient to account for the elevation and support of -vapours; so in another letter I propose nearly to demonstrate to you, -that the electric æther is far from having any share in the production -of this important phænomenon. - -From, - - GENTLEMEN, - Your very humble Servant, - Erasmus Darwin. - -Litchfield, Mar. 20, 1757. - - -+LETTER II.+ - -_To the very honourable and learned the_ PRESIDENT _and_ MEMBERS _of -the_ Royal Society. - -[Read May 5, 1757.] - -Gentlemen, - -EVERY theoretical inquiry, whose basis does not rest upon experiments, -is at once exploded in this well-thinking age; where truth, under -your patronage, has at length broke thro’ those clouds, with which -superstition, policy, or parade, had overwhelmed her. But experiments -themselves, gentlemen, are not exempted from fallacy. A strong -inventive faculty, a fine mechanic hand, a clear unbiassed judgment, -are at once required for the contrivance, conduct, and application, of -experiments; and even where these are joined (such is the condition of -humanity!) error too frequently intrudes herself, and spoils the work. - -My very respectable antagonist, Mr. Eeles, to whose ear, I am -convinced, the voice of truth is more agreeable than that of applause, -will forgive me the following critique on his performance; as by that -means, I am persuaded, the probability of his notions will be intirely -destroyed, and the foregoing theory receive additional supports. - -For this purpose our first endeavour will be to shew the uncertainty of -some of the most material principles, that support his arguments; and -afterwards, the fallacy of the experiments he has given us. - -First then, in page 130. Mr. Eeles has asserted, that the greatest -possible rarefaction of water is when it boils. I think it might be -said, with equal propriety, that the greatest rarefaction of solids was -when they began to melt: and this may indeed be verbally true, if we -chuse to alter the names of bodies, when they undergo any alteration -by fire; so solids take the name of fluids, when they are in fusion; -and water the name of vapour, when it is greatly rarefied in the -steam-engine. Whence we find this assertion seems to be founded on a -confusion in terms, and the fact far from being existent in nature. - -In page 133. the sphere of electrical activity is said to be increased -by heat. If by electrical activity is here meant an increase of its -repulsive power (the thing, which seems to be wanted in Mr. Eeles’s -hypothesis), I know no experiment to show it. If it be meant, that it -is capable of being attracted to a greater distance; I conjecture it -may, as the heat will rarefy the ambient air, and we know the electric -æther is attracted at very great distances in _vacuo_; but this cannot -properly be called an increased activity of electric fire. - -We are afterwards told (page _ib._) “that electric fire will not mix -with air:” whence, in the succeeding section, it is argued, “That -as each particle of vapour, with its surrounding electric fluid, -will occupy a greater space than the same weight of air, they will -ascend.” In answer to this, it must be observed, that there are -some bodies, whose parts are fine enough to penetrate the pores of -other bodies, without increasing their bulk; or to pass thro’ them, -without apparently moving or disturbing them. A certain proportion of -alcohol of wine mixed with water, and of copper and tin in fusion, are -instances of the first of these; the existence and passage of light -thro’ air, and, I am persuaded, of electric fire, are instances of the -second. - -To illustrate this, the following experiment was instituted. A glass -tube, open at one end, and with a bulb at the other, had its bulb, -and half way from thence to the aperture of the tube, coated on the -inside with gilt paper. The tube was then inverted in a glass of oil -of turpentine, which was placed on a cake of wax, and the tube kept -in that perpendicular situation by a silk line from the cieling of -the room. The bulb was then warmed, so that, when it became cold, the -turpentine rose about half-way up the tube. A bent wire then being -introduced, thro’ the oil into the air above, high electricity was -given. The oil did not appear at all to subside: whence I conclude, -the electric atmosphere flowing round the wire and coating of the tube -above the oil, did not displace the air, but existed in its pores. - -This experiment I formerly tried various ways, as I had conceived, if -the electric matter would displace air, it might have been applied -to answer the end of steam in the steam-engine, and many other great -mechanical purposes. But as from the above it appears, that the -contrary is true, it is evident, that electric matter surrounding -particles of vapour must, in fact, increase their specific gravity, and -cannot any-ways be imagined to facilitate their ascent. - -I may add further, that if this be true, that it pervades the pores -of air, its specific levity cannot, by any means I know, be compared -with that of air. Its particular attraction to some bodies, at least to -much the greater part of the terraqueous globe, is abundantly greater -than that of air to those bodies: and hence its gravitation to the -whole globe would appear, at first view, to exceed that of air. But the -more I consider this, the more perplexing and amazing it appears to -me: and thence must leave it to the investigation of my very ingenious -antagonist, or some other able philosopher. - -I come now to the experiments, that are given us to show all vapour to -be electrifed. In these Mr. Eeles seems to have been led into error, -by not having observed, that many bodies electrifed will retain that -electricity for some time, altho’ in contact with conductors. The -Leyden phial may be touched three or four times by a quick finger -before the whole is discharged. Almost all light dry animal or -vegetable substances, such as feathers and cork, do this in a much -greater degree: and in general I have observed, the more slow any -bodies are to acquire electricity, the more avaritious they are to keep -it. - -Part of the plume of a feather, hanging to a green line of silk about -a foot long, which was suspended from the midst of an horizontal line -of the same, about four yards in length, was electrified with a dry -wine-glass, according to the method of Mr. Eeles; and, after being -touched nine times with my finger, at the intervals of two seconds of -time, still manifested signs of electricity, by being attracted at the -tenth approach of it. - -A cork ball, on the same line and circumstances, after being -electrised, was touched at the intervals of ten seconds repeatedly, for -seven times, before it was exhausted. The fumes of boiling water were -conveyed upon this ball after being electrised; and, after a fumigation -for thirty seconds, it shewed signs of electricity, by being attracted -to the approaching finger; and, after thirty seconds more, without -any fumigation, it again obeyed the finger; and again, after thirty -more, but at less and less distances. The same appearances occurred to -me from the fumes of resin. From whence I apprehend, that Mr. Eeles, -having dipped the electrised down of the _juncus bombycinus_ in vapour -for perhaps half a minute (for no time is mentioned), and finding it -still retained its electric attraction, was not aware, that this same -had happened, if he had by intervals touched it with his finger, or any -other known conductor of electricity. - -As Mr. Eeles had here objected, that there was no real opposition in -the electric æther of glass, and that from wax; the common experiment -to shew this was many times repeated with constant success; _viz._ -the cork ball, suspended as above, after being electrised by the -wine-glass, and repelled from it, was strongly attracted by a rubbed -stick of sealing-wax; and _vice versâ_. In the same manner I observed -the electric æther from a black silk stocking (which was held -horizontally extended by the top and foot, and, being rubbed in the -midst with an iron poker, was applied to the cork ball), to be similar -to that of glass, and opposite to that of wax. But the following -experiment appears to me to put this matter out of all doubt, and to -demonstrate, that this difference is only a _plus_ and _minus_ of the -same specific æther, and not different qualities of it, as Mr. Eeles -would suppose. - -A stick of dry sealing-wax was rubbed on the side of a dry wine-glass, -and a cork ball, suspended as in the former experiments, played for -some time between them: but glass rubbed with glass, or wax with wax, -did not manifest any electric appearance. Whence it would appear, that -in rubbing glass and wax together, the glass accumulated on its surface -the identical æther that the wax lost. Nor is this a digression from -my design: for if this opposition of the electricity of glass and wax -be established, it still contributes to demonstrate the fallacy of Mr. -Eeles’s experiments. - -But what alone would intirely destroy this electric hypothesis, is, -that from the experiments of Mr. Franklin and others, the clouds -are sometimes found to be electrised _plus_, sometimes _minus_, and -sometimes manifest no signs of electricity at all. Whence to say -an accumulation of electric æther supports these clouds, seems -an assertion built upon a very unstable foundation, whose whole -superstructure may well enough be termed an air-built castle, the -baseless fabric of a vision. - -Add to this, that Mr. Eeles, in page 140. tells us, that himself has -passed thro’ clouds resting on the sides of mountains. Ought not those -clouds to have immediately discharged their electricity, and fallen? -And common experience may remind us, that any cold bodies will condense -vapour, whatever be their electric properties. So mirrors, or the glass -of windows, in damp rooms, are most frequently found covered with dew; -which, of all other bodies, ought most to be exempted from collecting -vapours supported by electricity, as they are the least capable to -attract or draw off that æther. - -From all which, well examined, I am persuaded, gentlemen, you will -be induced to conclude, that tho’ clouds may sometimes possess an -accumulation of electricity, yet that this is only an accidental -circumstance, and not a constant one; and thence can have no possible -influence either in the elevation or support of them. I am, - - GENTLEMEN, - Your very humble Servant, - Erasmus Darwin. - -Litchfield, March 23. 1757. - -[Illustration: _Philos. Trans. Vol. L._ TAB. VI. _p. 255_. - -_The grey Coot-footed_ Tringa _shot near Halifax in Yorkshire (January -1757) and Presented to me by Mʳ. Thomas Belton Florist of Worley-clough -in Yorkshire. Drawn from nature of the Figures of Life by Geo. Edwards -in Feb.⁴ 1757._] - - - - -XXXI. _An Account of new-discovered Species of the Snipe or Tringa: -In a Letter to the Rev._ Tho. Birch, _D.D. F.R.S. from Mr._ George -Edwards, _Librarian of the College of Physicians_. - - -[Read May 5, 1757.] - -SIR, - -I TAKE the liberty to lay before you the figure and description of a -new-discovered species of the snipe or tringa kind, which was lately -shot at Sowerby-bridge in Yorkshire, and sent to me by Mr. Florist of -Worley-clough, near Hallifax in the same county. If the account, that -follows, shall be thought by you deserving to be communicated to the -Royal Society, the real bird, which I have preserved dry, shall be -produced at the same time. - -This bird is like in shape to most others of the tringa or snipe kind. -Its size is better shewn by the figure lying before you (_See_ TAB. -VI.), than by the dried bird, which is much shrunk since the drawing of -it was made. I chuse, by way of distinction, to name it the coot-footed -tringa, as it differs from other birds of that genus no otherwise, than -in having its toes webbed in the same particular manner as the fulica, -or our bald-coot. One of its feet is shewn in the plate, magnified a -little, to make it the better understood, in what manner the webs or -membranes spreading on both sides of the toes are scalloped or indented -at each of the toe-joints. These scallopings are finely pectinated on -their outer edges, as the enlarged figure expresses. The hinder toe is -small, and finely pectinated on the under side. The bill is black, and -channelled on both sides of the upper mandible; in which channels the -nostrils are placed near the forehead: it is compressed somewhat like a -duck’s bill, and ridged along its upper part, as a figure of the head -in the corner of the plate may shew. The lower head, figured with it, -is intended to shew the bill (which is very narrow) of another species -of coot-footed tringa, brought from North America, and described and -figured in my Natural History of Birds, _&c._ plate 46. The eyes are -placed farther backward from the bill than in many other sorts of -birds; in which the wisdom of Providence is remarkable: for birds of -this genus commonly feeding in soft muddy ground on the banks of rivers -or the sea, have occasion to thrust their bills deep into the shores, -to extract worms and insects; and their eyes would be in danger, were -they placed more forward. The fore part of the head, the neck, breast, -belly, thighs, covert-feathers withinside the wings and under the tail, -are white: the top and hinder part of the head is black. The lower part -of the neck behind, and the back, are of a blueish ash or slate-colour, -with a mixture of blackish or dusky: the upper sides of the wings and -tail are of a blackish or dusky colour: the tips of the covert of the -wings are white; the tips of the middlemost or shortest of the quills -are also white, and form white transverse bars across the wings. Two or -three of the middle quills are wholly white, and all of them have their -inner webs white toward their bottoms. It hath twelve feathers in the -tail; the outermost of which, on each side, is edged with white. The -covert-feathers on the rump, or upper side of the tail, are dusky and -white. The legs are bare of feathers above the knees (as they are in -most birds, who wade in shallow waters), and of an ash-colour. - -I believe no discovery of this bird has been made till now: and it is -very probable there are many more species of birds in this island, that -have hitherto escaped the notice of curious inquirers. Mr. Ray, in a -book by him published, London, 1674. called, A Collection of English -Words, _&c._ with a Catalogue of English Birds and Fishes, _&c._ after -naming the coot in his catalogue of birds, p. 92. says, “Mr. Johnson of -Brigna, near Grota-bridge in Yorkshire, shewed me a bird of the coot -kind, scallop-toed, not much bigger than a black-bird.” As so little is -said by Mr. Ray, one can hardly determine any thing concerning the bird -he mentions: and ’tis plain he thought this note scarce worth notice, -as he hath not preserved it in the Ornithology since by him published. -Nor can I believe it was the bird now before us; for he says it was not -much bigger than a black-bird; which implies, that it was something -bigger. And, on reading his description of the black-bird, I find he -makes it to weigh four ounces; consequently it is four times the weight -of the bird above described by me: for my obliging friend, Mr. Florist, -who sent me this bird, says in his letter, that, when newly killed, it -weighed one ounce. Therefore I am inclined to think, that the bird Mr. -Ray has so slightly mentioned, is a bird not as yet fully discovered. I -am, Reverend Sir, - - Your most humble Servant, - Geo. Edwards. - -College of Physicians, Lond. May the 3d, 1757. - - - - -XXXII. _Observationes de Corallinis, iisque insidentibus Polypis, -aliisque Animalculis Marinis: Quas Regiæ Societati Londinensi offert_ -Job Baster, _Med. Doct. Acad. Cæsar. Reg. Societ. Lond. & Scient. -Holland. Socius._ - - -[Read May 19, 1757.] - -DOMICILIUM meum mari propinquum[141] occasionem præbet, in nondum -satis cognitam quorundam animalium, in mare degentium, generationem -et œconomiam inquirendi. Quæ observavi Regiæ Societati temporis -successu offerre animus est; sed in hac prima dissertatione tantum -observationes quasdam de corallinis, iisque insidentibus polypis, et -aliis animalculis marinis, exhibere in animum induxi. - -Paucis abhinc annis, inter doctos viros dissensio fuit, utrum corallia, -corallinæ, et kerato-phyta veræ essent plantæ, quæ crescunt, et -vegetant, in quibus insecta marina nidificant; an vero horum ipsorum -essent opus et fabrica. Multi et sagacissimi historiæ naturalis -scrutatores ultimam complexi sunt sententiam; sed nemini contradicere -studens, simpliciter tantum et fideliter illa referam, quæ variis -temporibus in corallinis observavi, et quæ lectorem benevolum, ut -spero, convincent, corallinas non magis a polypis fabrefieri, quam -diversa fungorum genera ab illis fabricantur animalculis, quibus, -æstivo tempore, quasi repleta inveniuntur. - -Dura corallia, quæ recenter ex mari extracta, et in rotundum -animalculis obsita reperiebantur, primam ansam dedere suspicandi, hæc -ab illis esse fabrefacta. - -Cum omnia juniora conchylia tenerrimæ et viscosæ substantiæ -reperiantur, ex analogia conclusum fuit, parva et tenera animalcula, -quæ coralliis insident, æque hæc fabricare potuisse, ac illa durissimas -suas conchas et buccina. Sed in historia naturali non tuto ex analogia -licet concludere. - -Verun quidem est, quod recens natum conchylium tam tenerum est, -quam parvus ille corallio insidens polypus; sed tunc concha ejus -vel buccinum etiam erit tenerrimum, et quo magis in eo contentum -crescit animal, eo major, durior et firmior fit concha: et interior -conchæ superficies semper est lævissima et glaberrima, ne tenerrimum -animalculi corpus aliquo modo lædi posset, ut in ostreis, mytulis, -solenibus, et quibuscunque conchis et buccinis, hoc videre est. - -Sed an hoc in coralliis invenitur? Nunquam polypi in ipsa coralliorum -substantiâ habitant, sed semper intra hanc et circumdatam corticem. -Cavitates, quas in coralliis invenies, non glabræ aut læves sunt, sed -asperæ et acutæ. Parvus corallii ramulus nec tener est nec mollis, sed -æque durus habita magnitudinis proportione ac maximum: nec minores illi -insident polypi quam ramis majoribus. - -Cum vero hic, in Zelandia, necdum ulla dura corallia recenter ex mare -extracta explorare licuit, me tantum ad corallinas determinare debui, -ubique sere prope littora reperiundas, et quibus simillimi, qui -coralliis, insident polypi. - -Animadvertam tantum mihi videri, animalcula, quæ summas coralliorum -extremitates inhabitant, et Nobilissimo Marsiglio flores visa sunt, ad -genus etiam polyporum referri debere, et in his extremitatibus non nata -esse, sed irrepsisse, dum illas vacuas et domicilio aptas invenerint: -eodem certe modo, quo cancelli, quos _Bernard l’hermite_ vocant Galli, -vacua irreptant buccina. Et hi cancelli, ut observant piscatores, non -casu aut temerarie id faciunt, sed quasi ex consulto. Si sex vel septem -cancelli vivi prudenter ex suis buccinis extrahantur, et hæc inter se -permixta iis iterum exhibeantur, quisque cancellus in proprium suum, -nunquam in alterius buccinum irrepit, et hoc ablatum undique quæritat, -quod jucundum visu est. - -Necesse mihi fuit quasdam sed paucas corallinarum et polyporum figuras -addere: si vero quis plura desideret, elaboratum opus sagacissimi -Domini Ellis adeat, in quo quamplurimas et accuratissimas corallinarum -et polyporum delineationes inveniet[142]. - - -_De Plantis Marinis generatim._ - -Plantæ marinæ a terrestribus in plurimis differunt, nam hæ in raro aëre -excrescentes, nutrimentum suum radicum ope, in terra proserpentium, -hauriunt: du millæ plerumque nec radices nec folia habent, sed ex -trunco et ramis consistunt. Illa plantæ marinæ pars, qua substantiæ, -cui increscit, adhæret, radicis nomen non meretur, nisi quatenus -plantam uni semper loco tenet adfixam: sed quod primarium radicis munus -est, nutrimentum ei non adfert: ipsa planta per truncum et ramos ex -medio, cui semper immersa est, incrementum suum acquirit. Neque maris -sundus radicibus recipiendis aptus esset, nam plerumque inconstans et -volubile sabulum est, quod continuo fluctuum motu de loco in locum -dimovetur, ita ut uno temporis momento radices nudæ, altero sub arena -forent sepultae. - -Sed quamdiu vera vegetatio marinarum erit ignota, non bene explicari -poterit, quare corallia et kerato-phyta, licet ab imo ad summum -undique animalculorum cellulis obsessa, læte tamen crescant, ut hoc -in plurimis, non tamen in omnibus, observare est. Nam Nobilissimus -Marsigli kerato-phyta invenit, quæ nulla cortice, aut quæ uno loco -cortice erant obducta, altero non: et corticem hanc non nisi polyporum -cellulas fuisse clare ex ejus verbis patet[143]. - -At rogare mihi liceat, an vera vegetatio plantarum terrestrium, quæ -semper nobis ante oculos sunt, bene cognita et perspecta sit? an quidem -novimus, quæ vera sit radicum functio, et quomodo hanc exerceant? -Nonne plurimæ inveniuntur plantæ, quæ paucissimis instructæ radicibus -in altum crescunt, maxime ergo foliorum ope, quæ succos nutritios ex -vaporibus in aëre natantibus hauriunt, plantam alunt, et sic radicum -defectum supplent. Sed liceat mihi, accuratissimi Bonneti verba -adferre; “Plantæ, dicit hic sagacissimus naturæ scrutator, semper sunt -sugentes, et in statu suctionis, interdiu radicum ope nutriuntur, noctu -foliorum[144]. Sed optandum est[145], quod arte quadam exacte posset -determinari, et tunc inter se comparari hanc nutrimenti copiam, quam -plantæ radicum ope acquirunt, cum illâ, quæ folia adferunt. Examen hoc -forsan nos doceret, quod _Aër_ non minus quam _Terra_ ad plantarum -nutritionem et incrementum contribuat.” - -Si ergo medium tam rarum et tenue, ut aër (ut ex Celⁱ. Halæi et Boneti -experimentis certum est) tantum ad plantarum nutritionem adferat, -mirum non est, quod nunquam quiescens et quam maxime heterogenea -aqua maris plantas marinas, licet expansis radicibus destitutas, ad -tantam magnitudinem, altitudinem et duritiem faciat excrescere. Sed -nonne similiter crescunt plurima fungorum genera? Quas radices habent -quercubus aliisque lignis increscentes agarici? Quas phallus, elvela, -et plura, quæ in _Methodo suo fungorum_ describit _J. G. Gledisch_. - -Hæc de plantis marinis præmittere volui, ut evincam corallinas, licet -radicibus careant, crescere, vegetare, et plantas esse posse, ut aliæ -terrestres et fungi, quæ similiter aut minimas habent radices, aut -plane iis destituuntur. - -Cætera, quæ de vegetatione, floribus et seminibus plantarum marinarim -observavi, alio tempore indicabo. - - - _De Corallinis._ - -Corallinæ omnes habent proprietates, quas in genere de plantis marinis -indicavimus: Sed præterea, quod præcipuum est hujus dissertationis -propositum, omni fere corallinæ, si rami ejus ad justam magnitudinem et -firmitatem creverint, tam hyeme quam ætate, animalcula insident, quæ -a multitudine brachiorum, et similitudine, quam cum polypis, in aqua -fossarum dulci, reperiundis, habent, etiam polypi vocantur. - -Si quis corallinæ plantam, eique insidentes polypos, rite examinare -studet, non incipiat parvam tenuis ramuli partem in vitro concavo -jacentem microscopio inspicere; sed totam corallinæ plantam recenter ex -mare extractam in vitrum pellucidum, aqua marina repletum, prudenter -inserat: aut talem plantam orbi porcellano concavo in fundo coloris -profunde cærulei imponat, et addita sufficiente aquæ marinæ pellucidæ -quantitate, ejus ramos prudenter expandat; tunc post quadrantis horæ -quietem, illos lente amplificante intueatur, et sic distinctissime -in hac unica planta polypos diversi generis, et plerumque mira alia -videbit insecta; quæ microscopio dein ad libitum ulterius examinari -possunt. - -Corallinæ, quæ [146]capillares et filamentosos habent ramulos, aut quæ -[147]juniores et tenuiores adhuc sunt, ut - -Quae navibus post longum iter; - -Aut quæ doliis istis coniformibus, quæ ad littora vel fluminum -majorum exitum in mare ad nautarum securitatem ponuntur; Aut januis -emissariorum aquæ marinæ in his regionibus, accreverint, raro vel -nunquam habent polypos. - -Sed si eadem corallinæ species jam ad sufficientem magnitudinem et -firmitatem, et præsertim supra ostrea, saxa, silices, aliaque in fundo -maris quiete jacentia corpora, increverit, polypis scatet. Perspicaci -suo judicio decidat lector B. - -An hoc efficitur, quia polyporum semen, ova, vel nata progenies -gravitate sua fundum petat? - -Vel quia animalculis his perpetuus navium aut doliorum motus obstet, -ut hæc non satis tuta credant, et ideo in fundo maris semper immota -eligant corpora, quibus ovula sua confidant? - -Vel quia pix et colophonia, quibus naves, dolia, et emissariorum januæ -illuminuntur, corallinis, quæ illis increscunt, noxiam vel polypis -ingratam qualitatem communicent? Hoc saltem semper obvenit, me numquam -tot polypos invenisse in corallinis, quas a navibus, doliis aut -emissariorum januis abraseram, quam in illis, quæ ostreis, mytulis et -silicibus in fundo maris erant innatæ. - -Hoc _primum_ mihi _argumentum_ est, corallinas a polypis non formatas -esse; nam tunc plantæ juniores et minores æque suos haberent polypos, -ac maximæ. - -_Secundum argumentum_, quod polypi vel casu vel instinctu quodam sese -corallinis affigant, sed veram plantæ partem non constituant, est, -quod polypi non omnes majoris plantæ ramos æqualiter obsident; hic -ramus vel hujus rami tantum pars polypis obsessa erit quam plurimis, -altera nullis. Corallinam habeo, [148]cujus truncum plurimi inhabitant -polypi, dum nullos in ramulis poteram detegere, licet armato oculo. Et -sic algæ[149] vel quercui sic dictæ marinæ sæpius corallinæ increscunt, -in quibus nunquam polypos inveni. Hoc fieri non deberet, si corallinæ -polyporum essent opus. Omnes corallinæ semper suos deberent habere, et -ramis suis æqualiter et proportionaliter insidentes polypos; et nunquam -sine his essent reperiundæ, ut tamen sæpius sit. Cel. Jussieu[150] -quasi mirabundus dicit, se semel alcyonium et spongiam ramosam sine -polypis invenisse, licet recenter a rupe essent abstractæ. - -_Tertium argumentum_ erit, quod fere semper una eademque[151] corallinæ -planta diversi generis alat polypis: in una eademque[152] corallinæ -tubulariæ planta quinque diversas polyporum species inveni[153]. - -Liceat jam mihi rogare, quibusnam horum quinque hæc corallina ortum -suum debeat? Certe non primæ aut secundæ, ut videtur, magnitudinis, nam -hi summis tantum insident corallinæ extremitatibus, et microscopium -clare ostendit locum, ubi corpus polypi minus pellucidum et superficiei -rudioris glabræ huic corallinæ adhæret. Nec fabricavit corallinam -tertia species, quæ extrema corporis parte, quasi caudâ, corallinæ est -affixa: et minus adhuc quarta, nam clare videre est, horum cellulas -corallinæ circumdatas, ut examen apum arboris ramum circumcludit: et -si hæ polyporum cellulæ non nimis densæ sunt, ipsius corallinæ color -translucet. - -Si hæ quatuor polyporum species hanc corallinam non fabricaverint, non -fecit certe quinta. [154]Mirabilissima et minima hæc animalcula ad genus -polyporum certe pertinent, et omnibus fere corallinis, algis, aliisque -plantis marinis incredibili sæpe insident copia. Jucundissimum est -videre, quomodo se expandunt, et mox mira agilitate, capta prædâ, se -subito contrahunt, quod bis vel ter in minuto horæ repetunt. - -Æque jam, ut in una eademque corallinæ planta diversos invenis -polypos, sic in diversis corallinæ speciebus videbis similes et eosdem -polypos:[155] quod etiam illi obstat sententiæ corallinas polyporom -esse opus aut fabricam. Polypi dum operantur, ut cætera animalia, -instinctu innato operantur: ergo, una eademque polyporum species -semper easdem fubricaret corallinas: sic semper similes et uniformes -apes faciunt favos, vespæ nidos, araneæ tela. Hic vero contrarium -eveniret; iidem polypi uno tempore hanc, alio tempore illam fabricarent -corallinam: quod rationi contrarium est, et mihi _quartum argumentum_. -Sed hoc verum est, quod eadem polyporum species non diversas -corallinas, sed in diversis corallinis easdem et uniformes semper sibi -construant cellulas. - -_Quinto_, si corallinæ a polypis essent fabrefactæ, nunquam polypi -et eorum cellulæ etiam vivis animalibus, aliisque corporibus, essent -adfixæ. Polypos inveni in ostreorum[156] conchis, cancri[157] -arachnoideæ pedibus, animali[158], quod emissariorum januis et navibus -quietis sæpius adhæret et anus (_aars-gat_) vocatur, et aliis plurimis, -sine minimo corallinæ vestigio. Et animalia illa, quæ piscatores -nostri[159] _klap-konten_ vocant, et majorum polyporum species esse -videntur, nunquam teneris insident corallinis, sed semper hæc supra -ostreorum conchas et lapides inveni, et quamvis illorum progressum ipse -non viderim, tamen de loco in locum sese transmovisse, expertus sum. - -_Sexto_: Hæ corallinæ non solum polypis, sed cochleis, buccinis[160] -aliisque plurimis insectis marinis conveniunt, ut illis ova vel -progeniem confidant. Hoc præcipue mensibus Februario et Martio videre -est: accepi tunc diversas corallinas diversis cochleis et buccinis -plenas, et sæpe inter hæc quosdam cancellos ova sua jamjam excludentes. -Mater cochlea ovula sua supra vel juxta corallinas deposuit; pulli -exclusi contra has ascenderunt, ne illis innixi fluctuum motu -eluerentur, vel ut adversus hostes suos tuto se absconderent. - -Quantum omnibus animalibus divina prospexerit prudentia, animus -nunquam satis assequi quacunque industria potest. _Deus_, ut jam -animadvertit Rex[161] Psalmista, _plantavit arbores cedros Libani, ubi -aviculæ nidificent, et abietes domicilia ciconiæ: Montes excelsissimos -rupicaprarum, petras murium montanorum perfugium_. Sic corallinæ -domicilia et perfugium sunt polypis aliisque minoribus insectis -marinis. Et præsertim hoc censeo, quia tempore hyemali, mensibus -Decembri et Januario, corallinarum ramos plurimis vesiculis, operculo -vel valvula tectis, obsessos inveni: quare has vesiculas habeo pro ovis -ab aliis insectis his corallinis impositis. - -Omnes, qui nunquam satis laudanda incomparabilis +REAUMURII+ scripta -legerunt, sciunt, quam miris et differentibus modis insecta quædam -sua ova opponunt, vel in [162]gyrum, vel in [163]lineam spiralem, vel -[164]singula ova a filis libere in aere pendentia, vel, ut hic fere -casus est, per[165]paria lignosæ substantiæ ramorum imposita. Quam -mira quam varia est etiam ipsorum [166]ovorum figura! Culicum[167] -autem ova, quoad externam figuram, quam maxime his corallinæ vesiculis -similia sunt. - -Omnia vero insectorum ova inter se et cum his vesiculis in eo -conveniunt, quod[168] operculum vel valvulum habent eo in loco, ubi -eruca vel vermis exitum invenire debet; permittente quidem hac valvulâ -exitum extrorsum, omnem vero introitum aëris vel aquæ prorsus negante. -Sed præter hanc cum aliorum insectorum ovis convenientiam, ipsæ -vesiculæ mihi vera ova videntur, quia recenter ex mare extractæ erant -perspicuæ, in spiritu frumenti vero statim fiebant opacæ, albæ, cum -puncto flavo[169]. Secundo, quia hyeme plures vesiculæ in corallinis -reperiuntur, perpaucæ vero æstate; nam tum illorum pulli exclusi sunt, -et corallinæ cochleis parvis, forsan ex his ovis progenitis, magis sunt -obsessæ. - -Nam hæ vesiculæ mihi ipsorum polyporum ova esse non videntur, licet -sæpius [170]polypos in illis invenire contigit: et ideo crederem hos -polypos in vesiculis repertos, quoniam licet adulti tamen vesiculis -multo minores sint, post veri pulli exclusionem in vacua illa ova -irrepsisse; cum jam antea observavimus cancellos in vacua irrepere -buccina, et ipsos polypos vacuis corallinæ tubulariæ summitatibus sese -adfigere. Sed quam maxime has vesiculas non polyporum, sed aliorum -animalculorum ova esse censeo, quia perspicacissimus _Reaumurius_ -initio hyemis in oris Galliæ provinciæ _Pictaviensis_ (_Poitou_) ova -cochlearum marinarum invenerit, quæ quamvis his vesiculis paulum -majora, erant tamen simillima[171]. Licet corallinæ speciosam habeant -verisimilitudinem, ut quasi animalium opus appareant, aliæ tamen sunt -plantæ marinæ, præsertim _alcyonium digitatem molle_, quas adhuc magis -a polypis fabrefactas diceres; sed si accuratione indagine observantur, -pro veris plantis erunt agnoscendæ, ut in posterum, quando profusius -agam de plantis marinis, demonstrare spero. Alia vero alcyonia, ut -_vesicaria marina Bauhini_, &c. vera animalium opera, namque eorum -sunt ovaria. Plantæ marinæ unicæ non sunt, quæ pro insectorum opere -sunt habitæ. Liceat mihi locum adferre ex notis, quas Nobilissimus -_Lyonnet Theologiæ insectorum Doctiss. el Rev. Lessers_ subjunxit: -“Credendum non est, ut quidam faciunt, si stagnantes aquas viridi et -fibrosâ membrana tectas videas, hanc insectorum texturam esse. Est algæ -species, quæ in his stagnis crescit, et insectis est pro alimento.”[172] - - -_De Polypis Corallinis insidentibus._ - -Completam historiæ et oeconomiæ polyporum in corallinis repertorum -descriptionem dare nondum suscipio, sed paucis enarrabo, quæ de illis -observare mihi licuit. - -Auctores, qui aquæ dulcis polypos examinarunt, quatuor eorum species -enumerant: sed in aqua marina major differentium specierum numerus est; -plus quam viginti diversos vidi polypos, quos ut plurimum in laudatis -figuris etiam delineavit accuratissimus _Ellis_, et profecto adhuc -plures sunt. Sed hic monendum, quod cum aquæ dulcis polypi nudo oculo -facile queant conspici, plerique marini non nisi lente aut microscopio -possint examinari: et aqua marina, in qua polypi vivunt, bis, vel ad -minimum semel, nucthemeri spatio, debet renovari, aut polypi moriantur. - -Ad exemplum Dⁱ. _Schaffer_ in duas species primo polypos distinguam; -in polypos, qui cellulas sibi construant, et in polypos, qui corporis -extremitate corallinis aliisque corporibus extus sese affigant, vel -in cavitates naturales alcyoniorum, coralliorum, &c. (de quibus in -posterum) irrepant, ut cancelli in vacua buccina. Polypi, qui in -cellulis habitant, cæteris plerumque sunt minores: horum cellulæ -corallinæ[173] truncum vel ramos circumdant, a quibus prudenti manu -sine corallinæ læsione satis facile possunt abradi: et si hæ cellulæ -non nimia sint copia, et corallina contra solis splendorem inspiciatur, -præsertim si color vivide ruber, aureus aut subniger est, facile per -ipsas cellulas translucet. - -Polyporum, qui sine cellulis in corporum quorundam cavitatibus -habitant, aut extrinsecus illis affixi sunt, plurimæ sunt species. -Apertis[174] corallinæ tubulariæ ramis (nam in tali planta semper -adsunt rami vel tubi naturaliter[175] clausi, id est, integri, in -quibus nunquam polypus insidet) majorum polyporum species sæpius supra -sedet; quos a colore rubente polypos vocabo _coccineos_, et præ cæteris -observavi. In detritis et apertis, ut modo dixi, corallinæ tubulariæ -ramulis, inserta sua cauda vel corporis parte posteriore, polypus -habitat, et ex hoc ramo facile et sæpe levi quassatione delabitur, -præsertim si ille jam per aliquot dies servatus debilis, æger, aut -mortuus sit[176]. - -Si vegetum talem polypum, corallinæ insidentem, vehementius -amplificante microscopio intueris, facile differentiam vides inter -scabram et quasi granulatam polypi cutem, et lævissimam corallinæ -corticem. - -Hic polypus coccineus duplici brachiorum genere est munitus, quod -in aliis minoribus non vidi; et hæc coloris sunt subalbidi. -[177]Inferiora et longiora octodecim vel viginti sunt, nam numerus -sæpe variat, et expansa patinam formant, in cujus medio[178] ipsum -polypi corpus coccineum est. Hoc corpus in duas partes dividi potest. -Inferiori placentam referenti perpendiculariter alia pyriformis est -infixa, quæ duodecim[179] vel quatuordecim habet brachia, prioribus -tenuiora et breviora. - -Hanc partem pyriformem polypus valde [180]extendere potest, præsertim si -prædam captans expansa claudit[181] brachia; et rursus ita contrahere, -ut quasi [182]globulus inferiori et depressæ parti adhæreat. In extremo -hujus partis [183]os polypi esse videtur: sed ob partium exilitatem -non omnia satis distincta possunt videri, ut in majoribus aquæ dulcis -polypis; sed ex similitudine partium hæc tuto licet concludere. - -Si longiora brachia fortiori microscopio attente contemplaris, cutem -eorum valde asperam vides, ut est piscium (quos _Haijen_ vocant) vel -ut superficies corii granulati (_chagrein-leer_) forsitan ut minora -animalcula, quæ polyporum esca sunt, eo melius, ne elabantur, retinere -possint. Sed inter hujus speciei polypos vidi umum cæteris[184] -majorem, ex cujus corpore, illo loco ubi pars superior inferiori et -depressæ inhæret, sex vel octo enascebantur[185] ramuli, in quorum -extremitatibus erant duo vel tres parvi globuli, punctum coccineum in -medio habentes. Huic polypo bis in die novam dedi aquam, quam maxime de -ejus vita sollicitus, ea spe, ut hi globuli in juniores excrescerent -polypos, sed quamvis per mensem sic vivum servaverim, nihil mutatum -vidi, nisi quod globuli paululum evaserint majores. - -Quæ deinceps de polyporum generatione observavi, non ita mihi -satisfaciunt, ut illa pro certis et comprobatis habeam: si vero hac -æstate meliora adiscam, Regiæ Societati indicabo. - - -_De aliis Insectis Marinis._ - -Si noctu aqua maris, quæ littora nostra alluit, lapide injecto vel -baculo movetur, innumeras videre est scintillas igneas, quæ nihil aliud -sunt, quam minima animalcula lucentia, non nisi fortiore microscopio -visibilia. - -Ut hæc animalcula idoneâ colligas copiâ, sufficientem aquæ quantitatem, -in qua has scintillas observasti, per chartam emporeticam filtrare -facias, donec semiuncia aut minus aquæ supra chartam restat: hujus -guttula, vitro concavo, penicilli vel pennæ ope, imposita, fortiore -microscopio examinetur, et celerimo motu illa natare videbis. Tres -diversas horum observavi species, quas ad vivum delineatas exhibet -tabulæ X. fig. I. - -Sed mare plura alit insecta, quibus hæc lucendi facultas inest, et -quorum in corallinis repertorum quædam delineata sunt tab X. fig. 1, -2, 4, 5. sed quoniam plures [186]auctores de his scripserunt, non -commemorabo. - -Si corallinæ recenter ex mare extractæ major planta, orbi porcellano -concavo, et cujus fundus est profundi coloris cærulei, cum sufficiente -quantitate aquæ marinæ pellucidissimæ et filtratæ, at ante jam monui, -imponatur, et ejus ramuli prudenter penna expandentur, et lente oculari -inspiciantur, silvam saepius videre est, in qua plurima pascuntor -animalia, præter diversi generis polypes ramis infixos et brachia -extendentes: alia plura sunt, præsertim in infima parte, si corallinæ -supra ostrea creverint, quæ huc et illuc cursitant, et forsitan sæpius -hianti ostreo alimento inserviunt. Sic vigesimo tertio Octobris 1756 -ostreum accepi, cui magna [187]corallinæ planta erat innata, in qua, -præter tres diversas polyporum species, sex differentia reperiebam -insecta. [188]Primum vermis erat, cujus caput sex majoribus et duobus -minoribus cornubus erat instructum. [189]Alteram valde parvum -araneam longipedem (Gallis _le Faucheur_) referebat, admodum lente -se movens. Tertium vermis erat, similis figuræ 3, sed in designando -deperdebatur. [190]Quartum, quintum et sextum non nisi fortiore -microscopio distincte erant visibilia. Horum quod littera c nocatur, -mirandæ erat structuræ. - -Diversa sic ostrea et corallinas explorans, plura talia admiranda -insecta vidi, quorum delineationem sistunt tabulae X. figuræ 2, 3, 4, -5, 7. Decimo sexto ejusdem mensis Octobris, plures mihi sed valde parvæ -apportabantur corallinæ, quæ a dolio coniformi erant abrasæ: in his -licet sæpe et attente exploratis nullos detegere poteram polypos, sed -duo alia mirabilissima insecta. - -[Illustration: _Philos. Trans. Vol. L._ TAB VII. _p. 275_. - - _I. Rhosiud ad vivum pinxit._ _J. Mynde sc._] - -Horum, quæ secunda figura tabulæ decimæ littera A exhibet, erant -millia, celerrimo motu vel repentia vel natantia: sex suis pedibus -postremis ramulum arripiebant, ut erucarum, quas geometras appellant, -mos est, et mirum in modum prone et supine se flectentes, de ramo -in ramum saliebant quasi agilissimi. Inter hæc erant pauca cæteris -majora, quæ [191]naturali et [192]aucta magnitudine delineare curavi. -[193]Alterum animal non minos mirum erat; sed horum omnium cognitio -multo melius delineationis inspectu, quam ex valde prolixa descriptione -peti potest. - -Sed si omnia insecta marina, quæ in diversis corallinis reperi, -delineare vellem, infinitum opus susciperem; nam eorum numerus et -diversitas captum nostrum superant. - -Hæc ergo, ut spero, sufficient ad demonstrandum corallinas non -polyporum opus aut fabricam esse, sed his et plurimis aliis insectis -marinis domicilio et perfugio aut alimento inservire. - - Dabam Zirizœæ in Zelandia, - 17 Martii 1757. - - -TABULARUM EXPLICATIO. - -TABULA SEPTIMA. - -_Fig._ I. Exhibet corallinæ plantam, quæ corallina muscosa, sive muscus -marinus tenui capillo spermophorus vocatur. - -_Fig._ II. Corallina ramulis dichotomis teneris capillaribus -rubentibus. _Fig._ III. Junior planta corallinæ tubulariæ laryngi -similis. - -_Fig._ IV. Duæ species _a_, _b_, fig. I. et. II. et _c_ eschara -papyracea utrinque cellulifera, uni basi adnatæ, quod sæpius in doliis -marinis coniformibius contigit. - -_Fig._ V. Corallinæ rubræ ramulus, quem per aliquot hebdomadas in aqua -marina sæpius renovata servavi, quo tempore parvi ramuli _a_, _a_, -multum creverunt, et alii _b_, _b_, pullulaverunt. - -_Fig._ VI. Pars conchæ ostrei, in qua, præter filamenta quædam viridia, -duo polypi _a_ _a_ conspiciendi. - -_Fig._ VII. Cancer arachnoideus, cui duæ polyporum species insidebant. -Singulus in _a_, et multi cellulas habitantes in _b_. - -_Fig._ VIII. Animal, quod _aarsgat_ vocatur, et januis emissasiorum -veterioribus et navibus accrescit: huic parva corallinæ planta erat -innata, in qua nullos detegere poteram polypos; plurimos vero _b._ _b._ -ipsi animali insidentes. - - _N.B._ Caudas horum et præcedentis figuræ polyporum nimis longas - delineavit pictor, ut eo melius in conspectum venirent. - - -TABULA OCTAVA. - -_Fig._ I. Ramus corallinæ rubentis magnitudine naturali. - -_Fig._ II. Idem microscopio visus, et tres polyporum species in eo -conspiciendæ. - - _a. b._ Duæ diversæ species caudâ vel corporis parte posteriore - corallinæ affixæ. - - _c._ Tertia species in cellulis habitans. _d._ Polypus mortuus. - - _e._ Polyporum cellulæ. - -_Fig._ III. Planta corallinæ tubulariæ laryngi similis magnitudine -naturali. - -_Fig._ IV. Hujus plantæ ramus maximus, microscopio visus, in quo -quinque diversos polypos inveni. - - _a._ Prima et maxima species polypi, quem coccineum voco, et tab. IX. - fig. II. fortiore adhuc microscopio visum exhibet. - - _b._ Eadem sed minor species. - - _c._ Tertia, quæ eadem ut hujus tabulæ fig. II. litt. _b_. - - _d._ Quarta, quæ eadem ut hujus tabulæ fig. II. litt. _c_. - - _e._ Quinta et minima polyporum species, maxime aucta magnitudine - adhuc delineata fig. 1. tab. IX. - - _f._ Cellulæ, quas quarta species habitat. - -_Fig._ V. Corallina erecta pennata denticulis alternis caule appressis: -in hac nulli erant polypi nisi in cellulis circumcirca truncam affixis -_a a_. - - _b._ Cochleæ magnitudine auctæ in B. - - _c._ Eschara millepora minima crustacea cellulis tubiformibus, - animalculis domicilio inserviens, et magnitudinæ auctæ in C. - -_Fig._ VI. Corallina abietis forma, quam mense Decembri accepi: ejus -rami vesiculis vel ovulis _a_, _a_, per paria ordine quadam positis, -erant obsessi. - - A. Talis vesicula vel ovum microscopio visum. - - _b._ Cochleæ, & _c._ Eschara minima, ut in præcedente figura - magnitudine aucta in B et C. - - _d._ _d._ Dua corpuscula fusca, quæ microscopio visa nidum vermium - referunt in D. - -_Fig._ VII. Corallina pennata et siliquata, ab ostreo abstracta: in hac -præter tres polyporum species - - _a_ A, _b_ B. (quæ cædem ac in fig. II.) _c_ C, sex alia insecta - reperire contigit, quæ delineata sunt in tab. X. fig. 1, 6, 8. - -[Illustration: _Philos. Trans. Vol. L._ TAB. VIII. _p. 276_. - - _I. Rhodius ad vivum pinxit._ _J. Mynde sc._] - - -TABULA NONA. - -_Fig._ I. Minimorum polyporum marinorum genus, cum polypis ramosis -(_polypes à bouquet_) aquæ dulcis conveniens. - - A. talis polypus conservæ marinæ viridi insidens vix oculo nudo - conspicuus. - - B. idem lente oculari, et in C fortiore visus microscopio. - -_Fig._ II. Polypus coccineus, quem tabulæ secundæ - -_Fig._ III. & IV. naturali et aucta magnitudine exhibent, hic -fortissimo microscopio visus. - - A. hic polypus expansis brachiis, prædam expectans. - - B. idem brachia contrahendo, prædam arripiens. - - _a._ Brachia majora inferiora numero 16, 18, vel 20. - - _b._ Brachia superiora breviora numero 12, 14, vel 16. - - _c._ Corporis pars superior pyriformis, inferiori infixa. - - _d._ Corporis pars inferior compressa. - - _e._ Locus, ubi polypus corallinæ inhæret. - - C. idem polypus a parte anteriore visus, cum corporis partem - superiorem pyriformem in globulum contraxerat, quod in majoribus - polypis (vide infra fig. IV, V, VI.) magis visibile. - -_Fig._ III. Similis polypus coccineus, cæteris major, ex cujus corpore -(ubi partes _c_ et _d_ conjunguntur) octo ramuli enascebantur, qui -in summitatibus duos vel tres gerebant globulos, punctum rubrum in -medio habentes, et quos in polypos juniores excreturos fore speraveram -frustra. - - _a._ Hujus polypi brachia longiora inferiora. - - _b._ Brachia breviora superiora. - - _c._ In medio corporis pyriformis os polypi esse videtur. - -_Fig._ IV. Majus, ut videtur, genus polyporum, quos _klapkonten_ -vocant, ostreorum conchis insidentium, quorum hic, rudius attractum, -brachia penitus in corpus suum abscondit. - -_Fig._ V. Idem polypus corpore extenso brachia expandens. - -_Fig._ VI. Idem capta præda se contrahens. - - -[Illustration: _Philos. Trans. Vol. L._ TAB. IX. _p. 278_. - -_I. Rhodius ad vivum pinxit._ _J. Mynde sc._] - - -[Illustration: _Philos. Trans. Vol. L._ TAB. X. _p. 279_. - -_I. Rhodius ad vivum pinxit._ _J. Mynde sc._] - - -TABULA DECIMA. - -_Fig._ I. Tres species animalculorum lucentium in guttula aquæ marinæ -fortiore microscopio visorum. - -_Fig._ II. Mirum animalculum in corallinis a doliis marinis -coniformibus abrasis repertum. - - A. tales minores erant centeni. - - B. decem vel duodecim erant hac magnitudine naturali. - - C. idem animal microscopio visum. - - _a._ Antennæ. - - _b._ Primum par pedum vel brachiorum. - - _c._ Secundum par. - - _d._ Tertium et maximum par. - - _e_, _e_, _e_, _e_. Quatuor corpuscula oviformia, quæ animal ut - movebat natando. - - _f_, _f_, _f_, _f_, _f_, _f_. Sex pedes posteriores, quibus simul - corallinæ ramum arripiens, quaquaversum se flectore poterat. - - _g._ Cauda in cujus extrema parte anus. - - _h._ Oculi. - -_Fig._ III. Aliud animal in iisdem corallinis repertum. - - A. illud animal pronum. - - B. supinum. - - C. fortiore microscopio visum. - -_Fig._ 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. exhibent quasdam noctilucas, et alia -animalcula in diversis corallinis reperta, ea magnitudine, qua tertia -et quarta lens microscopii à Dº. Cuff in Anglia fabrefacti illa -ostendit. - -Animalculum _c_, fig. 8. mirabilissimæ erant structuræ, et plurima -habebat membra. - - - - -XXXIII. _Remarks on Dr._ Job Baster’s Observationes de Corallinis, &c. -_printed above, p. 258. In a Letter to the Right Honourable_ George -_Earl of_ Macclesfield, _President of the R. S. from Mr._ John Ellis, -_F.R.S._ - - -[Read June 9, 1757.] - -My Lord, - -I HAVE read Dr. Job Baster’s letter to the Royal Society; wherein -he endeavours to prove, that corallines are not of an animal, but a -vegetable nature; and has brought many arguments to support his system; -which, to gentlemen not well acquainted with the subject, may appear -plausible. - -I could have wished the Doctor had read and examined thoroughly what -has been lately written on the subject: I then should not have had -occasion to trouble your Lordship with the following remarks, which I -find necessary to support what I have already advanced on that head. - -His first argument is, That because he does not find as many polypes in -the corallines adhering to ships, flood-gates, and buoys, as in deep -water on oysters, muscles, and rocks, therefore he concludes, that -corallines are not formed by polypes. - -In answer to this, let us examine the pliable structure of these -bodies, and how wisely nature has defended such tender substances with -a tough thin membranaceous covering, and we shall find, that the sea is -calm enough often near the surface to give them time to grow, even in -the strongest currents: but, without doubt, they are more liable to be -destroyed in such agitated situations, than in the calm depths of the -sea. - -His second argument is, That finding polypes are not equally dispersed -over the whole plant, how can they form it? and gives us an example, -_Tab._ VIII. _fig._ 5. of a coralline, that is incrusted with many -other corallines or polypes on the stem, but has none on the branches. - -Here we plainly see the mistake: the Doctor looks for the tender part -of the polype on the surface of the coralline, considering it as a -plant; and indeed, if this was the case, he ought so to do; but he -never once takes notice of the internal hollow structure of the stem, -branches, and denticles of those bodies, to inform us whether he found -an animal in those parts or no. This material point he seems not to -have thought on; which is really the true point in controversy at -present among gentlemen, who have not examined these bodies recent in -sea-water. - -His third argument is, That almost always one and the same coralline -plant cherishes polypes of different kinds; and refers us to Tab. VIII. -fig. 2. and 4. - -In fig. 2. he gives us an elegant painting of a geniculated red -conserva for a coralline, surrounded, as is very common, by many -species of small corallines and escharas. And in fig. 4. he gives us a -drawing of one of the tubular corallines, with the head of the animal -at the top of it; the stem of this is incrusted with four different -corallines and escharas, like the conserva fig 2.; and then he asks, -which of these five polypes made the tubular coralline? - -To give him some proof of the animal nature of this coralline, let him -consult Ray’s Synopsis, ed. 3. p. 34. n. 4. and there he will find one -of his species, called _adianti aurei minimi facie planta marina_, -taken notice of so long ago as the year 1713. by Dr. Lloyd, as a -zoophyte, from its stem or tube’s being full of a thick reddish liquor, -rather resembling blood than the juice of a plant; which, upon pressing -the stem, communicated with the little head at top. - -His fourth argument is, That as upon one and the same coralline plant -you shall find different kind of polypes; so, in different species of -coralline, the same polypes; and, to confirm this, he quotes my Essay -on Corallines; where I have remarked, that the polypes in the denticles -of the setaceous or bristly coralline, Nº. 16. appear to be like those, -that are on the lobster’s horn coralline, Nº. 19. And to illustrate -this, he observes, that bees and wasps always build their cells -invariably the same; and that therefore these two corallines should be -the same. - -But herein he takes this matter wrong: he has considered, in all his -observations, the heads of those parts of the polype, in which are -the mouths, arms, or tentacula, which appear coming out of the cups, -denticles, and at the ends of the tubes of the corallines, as so many -whole and intire animals, without every observing, that the body -of the animal is contained in the tubular part of the root, stem, -and branches; and that these differ from one another widely both in -size and shape, as he may plainly see in the two corallines he has -instanced: for the more exact drawings of which, I shall refer him, -_viz._ for the setaceous or bristly coralline, to my Plate, Nº. 38. the -natural size of which is at fig. 4. and the magnified one at fig. D: -this he will observe to have a small stem, and its branches disposed in -a pinnated form: and for the lobster’s-horn coralline, I shall refer -him to Tab. xxii. of Vol. xlviii. of the Philosophical Transactions; -where, at Nº. 3. the natural size is expressed, and at C the upper part -of this coralline is drawn in proportion to the bristly coralline from -the same magnifying glass; which shews the stem to be much larger, and -surrounded by its branches growing in whorles at equal distances, not -unlike the equisetum, or horse-tail plant; and yet the heads of this -animal nearly resemble the other, only a little larger. Further, his -comparison to bees and wasps, and their cells, is not conclusive: for -these ramified, hollow, and denticulated bodies, called corallines, -which we so frequently find dead on our shores, are properly skins of -certain marine polypes, and not nests, as those constructed by these -little winged animals are. And yet we find as great a regularity in -the same species of these corallines, as when we compare two oak trees -to one another, or two of Mr. Trembley’s branched fresh-water polypes -to one another. - -He then proceeds to his fifth argument, That if corallines were formed -by polypes, neither the polypes, nor even their cells, would ever fix -on living animals, or any other bodies. - -Here we may observe, that the consequence he draws doth not follow; for -corallines may be formed or produced by certain species of polypes, and -yet polypes of another species may be found adhering to other bodies, -and even to animal bodies. - -By his sixth argument he endeavours to prove, That the vesicles, which -are found in regular rows on the sea-fir coralline in winter, Tab. -VIII. fig. 6. do not belong to it; and are no more than the eggs of -some sea insect deposited on it, of which there may be a great variety. - -But to convince him of his mistake, let him take off one of the -vesicles, and apply a large magnifier to the place, and he will -discover a hole, by which this vesicle or ovary has had a communication -thro’ the skin with the parent polype. For a further illustration of -the manner in which these vesiculated polypes breed, let him consult -the 38th Plate of my Essay, where he will find several accurate figures -(drawn by Mr. Ehret from the life) of these vesicles, with the spawn -of the polypes coming out of them; some of which spawn we evidently -discovered to be young polypes with their arms formed; and, as they -fell from the vesicle, extending themselves in the watch-glass of -sea-water. - -In examining the drawings for his plates, I have observed, that Tab. -VII. fig. 2. is evidently a red conserva, which he calls a coralline. -We have no corallines, but many conservas, of this form and bright red -colour on our coasts; and these shores, I believe, are allowed to have -similar marine productions with those of Holland. - -Tab. VII. fig. 5. he calls a branch of red coralline, which he says he -kept several weeks in sea-water, and that often changed; during which -time it sprouted and grew very much. This experiment, I am persuaded, -is very true; because it is plainly a vegetable, as appears from his -own exact drawing of it; and seems to be the _fucus teres rubens minus -in longnum protensus_ of Ray’s Synopsis, ed. 3. p. 91. N. 53. This is -one of his principal arguments to prove the vegetation of corallines. - -Tab. VIII. fig. 1. he calls a branch of red coralline; and at fig. 2. -he has it magnified, where it appears to be a geniculated red conserva, -drawn and painted with great exactness. - - -These arguments, my Lord, and these figures of real vegetables, which -the Doctor has given us for corallines, shew, how much he is willing to -support the old opinion of the botanists: but I am satisfied he will -soon alter his opinion, when he observes the remarkable difference of -the texture of vegetable and coralline bodies, when viewed in sea-water -thro’ a good aquatic microscope. And to convince him more fully, that -corallines are an animal substance, let him burn them, and he will -perceive the same pungent volatile alkaline smell, which he finds in -burning horn, hair, or oysters; whereas burnt fucus’s and conservas -yield a smell not much unlike that of common land vegetables. Even the -stony corallines, when their cretaceous covering has been dissolved in -vinegar, the membranous part, that remains of them, put into the fire, -yields the same animal smell with other corallines. - -Further, since I find the Doctor has promised the Royal Society to -continue his researches at the seaside, the following hints may be of -use to him. And, first, he will find, that those he seems to think -naked polypes, which he found adhering to corallines and other bodies, -are really small corallines and escharas, with their proper skins -and cells; all which I have particularly described already. I would -then recommend him to examine such corallines as are taken out of the -deepest water, which are found adhering to shells and fucus’s. He will -find Mr. Cuff’s aquatic microscope, or one of that form, the most -commodious for observing these animals alive. - -The most transparent ones he will find the best to discover their -gelatinous inside, which runs thro’ the stem and ramifications, and -ends in the heads, where the claws are. Some of the best kinds to -observe are as follows: The sea-oak coralline, the lily-flowering -coralline, the great tooth coralline, the sea-thread coralline, and -the branched tubular coralline. Pieces of these should be cut off -while they are in the sea water, and placed in watch-glasses full -of the same: in these they should remain a while, till they recover -themselves; and when they are placed on the stage of the microscope, -the motion of the internal part communicating with the heads will be -easily discovered. - -If the Doctor will immerse some of these corallines, when they are -extended, in two thirds of spirit of wine and one third of clear -sea-water, it will preserve them many years, as I have experienced. He -may then put the different sorts into distinct phials, and view them at -pleasure with a lens of about one inch and half focus. - -In fine, my Lord, opportunities so seldom offer at the sea-side to make -these experiments with accuracy; and likewise to this, the strong lines -of vegetation that these bodies carry in their appearance, and your -Lordship will not be surprised, that there are so many gentlemen, even -of the Royal Society, that totally disbelieve them to be animals. - -Many there are in the Society, that are wavering between both opinions. -If then, my Lord, you think, that any specimens which I have, or any -demonstrations tending to clear up this point, that lie in my power, -will be acceptable to your Lordship and the Society, your Lordship may -freely command them, whenever you think proper, from - - Your +LORDSHIP’S+ - Much obliged and most obedient Servant, - John Ellis. - -London, June 9. 1757. - - - - -XXXIV. _An Account of an extraordinary Operation performed in the -Dock-Yard at_ Portsmouth: _Drawn up by Mr._ John Robertson, _F.R.S._ - - -[Read May 26, 1757.] - -THE Royal William, a first rate man of war, built about 40 years ago, -having, upon examination, been judged in so good a state, as to be -worthy of repairing for sea service, was ordered into dock, and brought -thither on the 29th of June 1756. On these occasions it is usual to lay -across the middle line of the bottom of the dock, at distances of about -five feet from one another, thick pieces of oak timber of about four -feet long; their upper surfaces lying in the same plane, or so posited, -that a line stretched from the two extreme blocks will touch all the -intermediate ones; and on the middle of these blocks the keel of the -ship is to rest. On the said day the tide did not rise so high as was -expected; and there was not quite depth enough of water to float the -ship in, and set her on the blocks, notwithstanding the assistance of -an empty lighter, which, being fixed to the stern, lifted the ship at -the end six inches: and as the officers knew they should not have so -much water again before the next spring-tides, they were determined to -heave her in; which is a very common operation in most dock-yards. Now -it so happened, thro’ the great weight of the head and stern, that the -ship cambered very much; that is, her keel, from being straight, was -become much curved, the two extremities hanging lower than the middle -part by many inches; and consequently the foremost part of the keel, -instead of sliding over the blocks, forced all the foremost ones away, -for above 60 feet; whereby that part of the keel rested on the bottom -or floor of the dock, and the aftermost part rested on such of the -blocks, as had escaped the violence, which had displaced the others. -In this situation the keel was very far from being strait; and so it -was resolved to lift by main force the head of the ship, until the keel -should be strait; and in that position to support it by the blocks, -which had been forced away from their places. - -For this purpose there were set up, under the wales and other parts of -the ship, to the length of near 80 feet of the stem, as many shoars, -as were judged necessary; and also nine pair of bed-screws, three pair -under each bow, and three pair under the knee of the head. At each -shoar a workman was appointed, to drive wedges between the heels of -the shoars and the parts of the dock whereon they rested; whereby the -shoars were raised end-wise, and consequently the body of the ship -lifted at the same time. While this was doing, the 18 screws were also -at work: and between these efforts the fore part of the ship was raised -upwards of 19 inches, so much being necessary to bring the fore part of -the keel in a right line with the hinder part. - -In this service were employed about 270 men; whereof about 144 worked -at the screws, and the others worked at the shoars with their mawls and -wedges; and the whole operation was performed in about seven hours. - -My curiosity leading me to inquire what was the weight of the ship, -in the condition she was at the time of bringing her into the dock; -for this purpose I procured draughts of the elevation and section, and -of the plans at the line of floating, and at the parallel sections -of every foot distance down to the keel. Then, by finding the mean -area between every two sections, I was thereby enabled to come at the -magnitude of a solid, that would nearly fill the trough the ship made -in the water; and, by increasing this magnitude by that of the keel, -and so much of the stern-post and stem, as were under water, the cubic -feet of the fluid displaced by the ship were obtained, being 54869; -and consequently her weight was 3532091 pounds, or 1576 tons, 16 _C_. -2 qrs. 3 ℔. These numbers were not altogether so easily come at, as -they would have been, had the ship swam on an even keel, her draught -of water before being 13 feet 2 inches, and abast 16 feet 6 inches. -However, the computation may be esteemed as correct as the nature of -the subject would admit; because I found pretty near the same solidity -by another method. - -I got a block or model made, by a scale of a quarter of an inch to a -foot, of so much of the Royal William’s body, as was immerged, when -she was brought into dock; and this block I immersed in a trough of -sea-water, and found its weight in the following manner. - -The length of the trough was 46 inches, breadth 14 inches, and -depth 8 inches: at each corner was a graduated scale of inches, and -pencil-lines drawn round the inside of the trough at every inch. -Sea-water was poured into the trough to the height of 5 inches; and -the trough was exactly levelled, by means of the pencil-line, at 5 -inches: then the block being forced under the water’s surface, the -fluid, when still, was risen to 6⅓ inches; consequently the magnitude -of the block was equal to a parallelopipedon of 46 inches long, 14 -inches broad, and 1⅓ inches deep, or to 858⅔ cubic inches. - -Now 858⅔ cubic inches are equal to 0.4969 cubic feet. - -And a cubic foot of sea-water weighs 64.373² pounds avoirdupoize. - -Then 64.373² × 0.4969 = 31.987 pounds. - -So that by a quarter inch scale, a model similar to the Royal William -weighs near 32 ℔. - -But a quarter inch scale is ⅟48 of a foot scale. - -And the model is to the ship as 1³ is to 48³, or as 1 is to 110592. - -Then 3537506 ℔. (= 110592 × 31.987), or 1579 tons, 4 _C._ 3 qrs. 14 ℔. -is the weight sought. - -The difference by the two methods amounts to 5415 ℔. or to 2 tons, 8 -_C._ 1 qr. 11 ℔. - -Some of the persons present at this experiment read the height of the -water at 6⅜ inches: the difference between 6⅜ and 6⅓ inches is ⅟24 of -an inch; a difference easily to be made by different persons in an -experiment of this kind. But observing, that the computation made on -6⅜ inches amounted to near 50 tons more than on 6⅓ inches, I caused -the trough to be diminished in its depth to 6½ inches, had one of the -ends cut off, and a board fixed on the open side, being desirous of -making the experiment with the trough standing on one end: and indeed, -in this situation, an error of ⅒ of an inch in the height of the water -makes a difference of about 16½ tons in the weight of the ship. Into -this upright trough water was poured to the height of 36 inches; and -the block being immerged, the water was raised 9⅓ inches: so that the -block was equal in magnitude to a parallelopipedon of 14 inches long, -6½ inches wide, and 9⅓ inches deep, or to 849⅓ cubic inches: from -whence I find the weight of the ship to be 1562 tons, 1 _C._ 2 qrs. 16 -℔. And altho’ I take this number to be nearest the truth, yet it may be -observed, that it is no easy matter to come at accuracy in this subject -by any of the methods in common use. - -My next inquiry was, to find how much of this weight was lifted, and -how to proportion it among the screws and mawl-men: but in this, less -accuracy must be expected than in the preceding inquiry; for the exact -number of men employed is not known; neither can it be told, how many -worked at the screws, and how many with the mawls; and only a guess can -be made at the part lifted. However, something may be gathered, which -may, perhaps, be worth the knowing. - -Let the weight raised be taken at half the weight of the ship; for -64 feet, the length of the keel raised, is not far from half the -whole length: add to this the sally of the head, the weight of the -forecastle, the friction of the timber, and the resistance of the parts -bent by the cambering: beside, the mawls worked at several shoars set -up abast the said 64 feet. - -Now the weight by the last experiment was 3499064 pounds: one half, or -1749532 ℔. I take to be the weight raised between the screws and mawls. - -The distance between two contiguous threads of each screw was 1⅓ -inches; the length of the two opposite levers was 12 feet 8 inches, or -152 inches, and described a circumference of 477½ inches: each screw -was worked by 8 men: their force, reckoned at 30 ℔. each, makes the -power working on each screw equal to 240 ℔. - -Hence, from the known property, each screw could raise 65485 ℔. - -And the 18 screws raised 1178730 ℔. - -Then there remained 570802 ℔. to be raised among about 126 mawls: - -Which gives 4530 ℔, or a little more than two tons, to be raised by -each man with his mawl and wedges; which is considerably less than what -I have seen raised by way of experiment. - - - - -XXXV. _Observations on an Evening, or rather Nocturnal, Solar_ Iris. -_By Mr._ George Edwards, _Librarian of the College of Physicians_. - -_To the Reverend Dr._ Birch. - - -[Read June 16, 1757.] - -SIR, - -ON Sunday evening the 5th of June 1757, being walking in the fields -near Islington, about half a mile north of the upper reservoir or bason -of the New River, I observed the sun to sink beneath the visible -horizon to the north-west, it being very clear in that quarter, except -some thin clouds a little above the horizon, which were painted of fine -red and golden colours, as is usual when the sun sets in a calm clear -evening. But about 20 minutes after sun-set, as near as I could judge, -it then being darkish, I was greatly surprised to see an Iris in the -dusky air, at a height greater than is seen at any time in the rainbow. -It was in the contrary quarter of the heavens to the setting sun, and -fell on the smoke, mists, and evening vapours arising from the city of -London and its neighbourhood. The arch seemed to be a full half circle, -tho’ its lower parts fell some degrees short of the horizon. It was -very distinctly seen for about 15 minutes. Its colours the same as in -the rainbow, but fainter. The lower ends of the bow arose gradually -higher from the earth, as the sun declined beneath the horizon, until -the whole arch disappeared. The center of the arch was above the -horizon at its first appearance. What most perplexed me, was, to find -the cause of this painted arch. I could not believe, that it proceeded -from the sun-beams falling on rain; for there had been none that -afternoon; nor was there any sort of signs of rain or rainy clouds to -be seen; the wind being northerly, and the air cool, and somewhat hazy -in the quarter where the bow appeared; which was not near so bright as -the rainbow appears to be in the day-time; and I believe, that it would -not have been visible at all in the presence of the sun. I imagine it -was formed on the gross particles of the evening vapours, mixed with -those of the smoke arising from the town; for had the sun-beams shot -from beneath the horizon on falling rain at a considerable height above -the earth, I believe the darkness would have rendered the appearance of -such a bow far brighter than it appears to the sight in the presence of -the sun: but this night or evening arch being reflected, as I suppose, -from particles so minute as those of floating vapours, gave but little -light and colour to the sight, and what would not have been visible, -had the sun been above the horizon. For the same reason, the moon and -stars are visible in the absence of the sun, and, on the contrary, are -unseen when the sun is present: and if we light a candle, and set it -in the sun-beams, the flame is lost to our sight, tho’ the same candle -will give us a considerable share of light in the night. As I have -never before seen or heard of such an arch, I thought this account of -it (imperfect as it is) might not be disagreeable to the Royal Society. - -It could not be a lunar arch, the moon being then many degrees below -the horizon, and the arch in a place, where it could not be affected -by the moon’s rays. The consciousness of my inability to give a proper -account of such an uncommon appearance could not deter me from the -attempt. - -I think I have said all that is necessary on this subject; yet am ready -to answer any question for the farther illustrating of it. I am, - - Reverend Sir, - Your most humble Servant, - Geo. Edwards. - -College of Physicians, London, June 6th, 1757. - - - - -XXXVI. _The Effects of the_ Opuntia, _or Prickly Pear, and of the_ -Indigo _Plant, in colouring the Juices of living Animals. Communicated -by_ H. Baker, _F.R.S._ - - -[Read June 23, 1757.] - - June 23d, 1757. - -MR. Baker received a letter yesterday from Dr. Alexander Garden, of -Charles Town in South Carolina, part of which he hopes he shall be -excused for laying before the Royal Society. - -The Doctor writes thus:----“As you desired, I tried the effects of the -prickly pear in colouring the urine. A few days after your letter, I -went down to one of the islands, and gathered some of the fruit, and -gave four of the pears to a child of three years of age, and six pears -to one of five. The next morning I examined the urine of both, and it -appeared of a very lively red colour, as if tent-wine had been mixed -with clear water. The urine of the eldest was deeper coloured, and of -a darker look: the youngest (who always naturally made clear urine) -was of a more lively and beautiful red. Next day I gave six pears to a -Negroe wench, who gave suck, and strictly forbad her suckling her child -for six or eight hours; and then taking some of her milk in a tea-cup, -and setting it by for some hours, the cream had a reddish lustre, tho’ -it was very faint. - -I was led to this last experiment by an observation, which I made on -the milk of cows, who had fed in an indigo-field; the indigo had -not only tinged their urine blue, but the cream of the milk was of a -most beautiful blue colour, and had a radiated appearance from the -centre (Is it not hence probable, that the dye is the oily part of the -plant?). The milk underneath was clear and white as usual.” - -Dr. Garden wrote, a year ago, that the prickly pear grows in great -abundance about Carolina; and also that the cochineal insects are found -upon it; but hitherto no attempts have been made to cure them as the -Spaniards do. In hope, that some rich dye may be produced from the -plant itself, Mr. Baker proposed some experiments to Dr. Garden, which -he intends to prosecute this summer. - - - - -XXXVII. _Account of an extraordinary Shower of black Dust, that fell in -the Island of_ Zetland _20th_ October 1755[194]. _In a Letter from Sir_ -Andrew Mitchell, _of_ Westshore, _Bart. to_ John Pringle, _M.D. F.R.S._ - - -[Read June 23, 1757.] - - Pall-Mall, June 9th, 1757. -SIR, - -IN compliance with your desire, I made particular inquiry, whether -at or about the time the earthquake happened at Lisbon the 1st of -November 1755. any uncommon phænomena were observed to appear in -the islands of Orkney or Zetland, as such had happened about that -time in other parts of Scotland. From Orkney I was informed, that -nothing particular had happened; only, that about the time mentioned -the tides were observed to be much higher than ordinary. I received -from Zetland a letter, dated 28th May 1756. from Mr. William Brown, -Master of the grammar-school at Scalloway in that country, a sensible -and observing man; wherein he writes verbatim as follows. “Blessed be -God, notwithstanding the great devastations, that have been made in -other parts of the world by earthquakes, we have been intirely free -from any disaster of that nature: nor has any thing extraordinary -happened in this country since you left it; only on Monday the 20th -October last, betwixt the hours of three and four in the afternoon, -the sky being very hazy, as it uses to be before a storm of thunder -and lightning, there fell a black dust over all the country, tho’ in -greater quantities in some places than in others. It was very much -like lampblack; but smelled strongly of sulphur. People in the fields -had their faces, hands, and linen, blackened by it. It was followed -by rain.----Some people assign the cause of it to some extraordinary -eruption of Hecla. But I shall trouble you no more about it, as no -doubt some of your friends have written to you of it some time ago.”---- - -In June 1756. I returned to Zetland; and, upon further inquiry, found -what Mr. Brown had written me was attested by Mr. Mitchell, parson -of the parish of Tengwall, and by several Gentlemen of credit and -reputation, who had seen and observed the same phænomenon in different -parts of the country at the time above-mentioned. - -Mr. Brown having omitted to mention, how the wind did blow at the time -the black dust was observed, I made particular inquiry about that -circumstance, and found it was from the S. W. which does not seem to -favour the opinion, that the dust proceeded from an eruption of mount -Hecla, which lies about N. W. from Zetland; unless it may be supposed, -that a north wind happening just before had carried this dust to the -southward, and the south-west wind immediately following had brought -it back to the northward. But, in this case, would not this black dust -have been observed in Zetland at its first travelling to the southward? -Upon inquiry, I did not hear it was. - -Thus far I have obeyed your commands, which I will always do with -pleasure; and if you think it worth while to lay this letter before the -Royal Society, I leave you at full liberty to do so, or not, as you -think proper: but what it contains may be relied on as truth. I am, -with great regard, - - Dear Sir, - Your most obedient humble Servant, - And. Mitchell. - -_P.S._ I may add, that the distance from mount Hecla to Zetland is -between 500 and 600 miles. - - - - -XXXVIII. _A Description of some Thermometers for particular Uses. By -the Right Honourable the Lord_ Charles Cavendish, _V.P.R.S._ - - -[Read June 30, 1757.] - -THE thermometer (TAB. XI. _fig._ 1.) is designed for shewing the -greatest degree of heat, which happens in any place during the absence -of the observer. It consists of a cylinder of glass joined to a tube, -and differs from common thermometers only in having the top of the stem -drawn out into a capillary tube, which enters into a glass ball C, -joined on to the stem at the place where it begins to be contracted. -The cylinder, and part of the tube, are filled with mercury; the top of -which shews the common degrees of heat as usual. The upper part of the -tube above the mercury is filled with spirit of wine, and some of the -same liquor is left in the ball C, so as to fill it almost up to the -top of the capillary tube. - -Now when the thermometer rises, the spirit of wine will be driven out -of the tube, and will fall into the ball C. When the thermometer sinks -again, as the spirit cannot return back from the ball, the top of -the tube will remain empty, and the length of the empty part will be -proportional to the fall of the thermometer. Therefore, by means of a -proper scale, the top of the spirit of wine will shew how many degrees -it has been higher than when observed; which being added to the present -height, will give the greatest degree of heat it has been at. - -[Illustration: _Philos. Trans. Vol. L._ TAB. XI. _p. 300_. - -_J. Mynde sc._] - -To fit this thermometer for a new observation, it is necessary to -fill the upper part of the tube with spirits; which may be done, by -inclining the instrument till the spirits in the ball C cover the end -of the capillary tube. For if the cylinder is then heated, by applying -the hand to it, or by the flame of a lamp held at some distance, till -the spirits rise to the top of the tube and run over into the ball -C, and is then suffered to cool in the same position, the tube will -remain full of spirits, and the thermometer will be fitted for a new -experiment. - -The top of the capillary tube is made to stand pretty near to one side -of the ball, and also to the top of it, that a less inclination of the -instrument may be sufficient to make the spirit of wine in the ball -cover the end of the tube. - -The ball C is joined on as high as possible, so as to hide no part of -the tube, except that, where the bore is contracted. By this means, the -top of the spirit of wine begins to appear before the thermometer has -sunk one degree. - -It will be convenient to leave some mercury in the ball C, which may -be made to cover the end of the capillary tube, by inclining the -thermometer more than what is necessary to make the spirit of wine -cover it. By this means some mercury may be got back into the tube, -in case any of it should happen to be driven into the ball by the -thermometer’s being exposed to too great a heat. - -The scale of degrees at top, which shews the descent of the thermometer -from the highest point it has arrived at, ought not, in strictness, to -be the same at all times of the year; for those degrees exceed the -common degrees of heat pointed out by the top of the mercury, as much -as the column of spirit of wine expands, and therefore are greatest -when that column is so; that is to say, when the greatest heat to which -the instrument has been exposed is least. A difference of 30 degrees -of Fahrenheit’s scale, in the greatest rise of the thermometer, would -require the scale to be altered one sixtieth part: and the error -arising from making use of the same scale will be about one sixth of a -degree, if the thermometer is observed when it has fallen ten degrees. - -In the instrument here described, the bore of the tube is about 0.027 -inches; and one inch of it contains two grains of mercury, and answers -to about ten degrees, the cylinder containing about 2280 grains. If a -much shorter tube was made use of, a considerable error might arise -from too great a quantity of spirits adhering to the sides of the -tube, in that part, which is filled with mercury; especially when the -thermometer rises fast. This makes it necessary to employ a cylinder of -a considerable bigness, if it is desired to have the scale of degrees -pretty large. - -If the weight of the mercury is thought inconvenient, it may be avoided -by the construction described in fig. 2. where the bottom of the tube -is bent so as to point upwards, and is joined to a ball A, which -communicates with a cylinder placed above it. In all other respects it -is the same as the instrument before described. - -It is filled with spirit of wine and mercury; the quantity of the -latter being sufficient to fill the whole tube and the ball A. - -No part of the spirit, with which the cylinder is filled, can get into -the tube, as long as the instrument is kept in an erect position, or -even if it is carefully laid down flat on a table. For tho’ in this -last case some of the spirits may get into the ball A, it will rise to -that part of the ball, which is then uppermost, and will not touch the -orifice of the tube _n_; which was the reason for adding this ball, -which would be unnecessary, if the instrument was kept constantly -erect, or nearly so. If the spirit should come to touch the orifice of -the tube _n_, it would work up between the mercury and the glass; which -would put the instrument out of order. - - -The thermometer fig. 3. is designed for shewing the greatest cold, -which happens in any place during the time the instrument is left -in it. The tube is bent into the shape of a syphon of unequal legs -standing parallel to one another, the bend being at the bottom. The -top of the shorter leg is bent to a right angle, and immediately opens -into a ball A, which, by means of a short bent tube on the opposite -side, communicates with a cylinder standing parallel to the legs of the -syphon, and pointing downwards. This cylinder contains the greatest -part of the fluid; and is added only to make the thermometer more -sensible than it would be, if the ball A was made of a sufficient -bigness to contain the proper quantity of fluid. This instrument is -filled with spirit of wine, with the addition of as much mercury as is -sufficient to fill both legs of the syphon, and about a fourth or fifth -part of the ball A. - -The common degrees of heat are shown by the top of the mercury in the -longest leg, or by the top of the spirit, in case any of it is left -above the mercury. - -When the mercury in the longest leg sinks by cold, that in the shorter -leg will rise, and will run over into the ball A; from whence it cannot -return back when the thermometer rises again, as the surface of the -mercury in the ball is below the orifice of the tube _n_. Therefore the -upper part of the shorter leg will be filled with a column of spirits -of a length proportional to the increase of heat; the bottom of which, -by means of a proper scale, will show how much the thermometer has been -lower than it then is; which being subtracted from the present height, -will give the lowest point that it has been at. - -If no further contrivance was used, the mercury would fall into the -ball A in large drops; which would make the instrument less accurate. -For the thermometer’s beginning to rise immediately after a drop is -fallen, or just as it is going to fall (in which case it will return -back into the tube), will make a difference of such part of a degree -nearly as that drop answers to. To prevent this inconvenience, the top -of the shorter leg, close to the ball, is contracted, by being held -in the flame of a lamp; and the passage is further streightened by a -solid thread of glass placed within the tube, and extending from the -bottom of the shorter leg to the part near the ball A, where it is most -contracted. By this means, as soon as any small portion of mercury is -got beyond the end of the thread of glass, it breaks off, and falls -into the ball in very small drops. This thread of glass is fastened -by the heat given to the tube in making the bend next to the ball. In -order to fill the shorter leg with mercury, to fit the instrument for -a new experiment, it must be inclined till the mercury in the ball -covers the orifice of the tube _n_. The cylinder being then heated, -the mercury will be forced into the shorter leg, and will run down -the thread of glass in drops, which will soon unite. By this means, -such a quantity of mercury must be got into the shorter leg, as, upon -the cooling of the instrument, will be sufficient to drive all the -spirit of wine into the ball with a less degree of cold than what the -thermometer is likely to be exposed to. - -The ball A must always have some mercury in it, but never enough to -fill it up to the orifice of the tube _n_. It must therefore be made of -such a size, as to contain all the mercury, which can come into it from -the tube without being too full. If it should happen to be made too -small, so as to be too full in cold weather, any part of the mercury -may easily be driven into the cylinder, and got back again into the -ball when wanted in warmer weather. - -It will be better to leave a little of the spirit above the mercury -in the longest leg; in which case the top of the spirit will shew -the common degrees of heat. For the filling the tube, so as to leave -none, is attended with some trouble; and more of it will be apt to get -up there, if the instrument should happen to be held in an improper -situation, or if it be kept in too warm a place without filling the -shorter leg with mercury by the method above described. If too great -a quantity should get up, tho’ it would not affect the scale for -the common degrees of heat, it would however cause some error in the -degrees on the shorter leg; inasmuch as the expansion of that portion -of spirits, which has got up into the longer leg, exceeds the expansion -of the mercury, which must supply its place. It may be got back at -pleasure, by exposing the thermometer to such a degree of cold as will -make the spirit get beyond the bend of the syphon; for then it will run -up along the thread of glass in the shorter leg till it gets above the -mercury there. For this purpose the point of 0 degrees of Fahrenheit’s -scale should be near the bend; by which means, any part of the spirit -of wine may be got beyond it by an artificial cold; and there will be -no danger of the whole getting beyond it by any natural cold; in which -case the air would get up into the ball. - -The scale of degrees on the shorter leg will, in different seasons, be -liable to an error of the same kind as that, which was explained in the -first-mentioned thermometer; but in this it will be less considerable, -as the space between the two scales is filled with mercury, whose -expansion is about six times less than that of spirit of wine. - -In the thermometer, which I have, the bore of the tube is about 0.054 -inches; and one inch of it contains eight grains of mercury, and -answers to seven degrees of Fahrenheit’s scale. The drops of mercury, -which fall into the ball A, answer to about one eighth of a degree. - - -If instruments of the nature of those above described, were to be used -for finding the temper of the sea at great depths, some alteration -would be necessary in the construction of them, principally upon -account of the great pressure of the water; the ill effect of which -can, I believe, be prevented no other way, than by leaving the tube -open. For if the thermometer was made strong enough to resist the -pressure without breaking, yet it would be impossible to be sure, that -the figure of the glass would not thereby be altered, which should make -the experiment uncertain. - -The instrument for finding the greatest heat might be made just like -that of fig. 1. only leaving the top open. It is to be filled with -mercury only, as is also the lower part of the ball at top, but not -near so high as the end of the capillary tube. The upper part of that -ball, being left open, will in a great measure be filled with the -sea-water, which will be forced into it by the pressure. - -If this instrument (the tube being quite full of mercury) is plunged -into any part of the sea, where the heat is greater than that of the -air above, part of the mercury will be driven out of the tube; and, -upon bringing it into a colder place, the sea-water or air in the ball -will enter into the tube, and will fill the space left by the mercury. - -As this thermometer does not show the common degrees of heat, it must -be placed in a vessel of water with another thermometer, and the scale -of degrees at top will shew how much the heat it has been exposed to is -greater than that of the water in the vessel. - -The sea-water getting into the glass will corrode the mercury, and -thereby foul the glass; which will make the experiment less exact: -and therefore it would be much more convenient, if the sea-water could -intirely be kept out; which probably may be done by tying a bladder -full of air to the neck of the ball C, which will contract by the -pressure of the water, without letting any of it get in. - -If this can be done, the instrument may be filled with mercury and -spirits, just like that at fig. 1. But it would be more convenient to -fill it with mercury only: in which case it may be made with as small -a tube and ball as common mercurial thermometers: or it may be filled -with spirits only. The instrument will thereby become much less bulky; -which will compensate the want of the common scale of heat. - -It is better to put but little mercury into the ball at top, for fear -of its getting into the capillary tube by the motion of the instrument. - -The thermometer for finding the greatest cold, if applied to this -purpose, must also be left open at top. There is another inconvenience -to be avoided; which is, that the mercury in the ball A, by the tossing -of the instrument, might sometimes get into the shorter leg of the -syphon; which would spoil the experiment. To prevent such an accident, -the most convenient construction, which occurs to me, is that of fig. -4. which differs from fig. 3. in having the ball A omitted; so that -the mercury running out of the shorter leg will fall to the bottom of -the cylinder, and will not be so liable to get back into the tube by -motion. The cylinder is made to stand not quite parallel to the legs -of the syphon, that the mercury contained therein may more easily be -brought to touch the end of the tube, in order to fit the instrument -for a new experiment. - -If, by means of a bladder, the sea-water can be kept out of the glass, -this instrument may be made to shew the common degrees of heat; but -even then, in order to render it less bulky, it may be better to supply -the want of them as in the last instrument. The longer leg of the -syphon may in that case be made as short as you please; only making the -ball B big enough to receive all the mercury, which may be driven into -it by heat. - -If thermometers of this kind were to be sent up into the air by means -of a kite, they might be made like those proposed for the sea; but it -would not be necessary to leave them open. - -As it would be desirable to make them as small as possible, they -should be made so as not to shew the common degrees of heat: and it -would also, on that account, be convenient to omit the thread of glass -placed within the shorter leg of the syphon in fig. 3. and 4. This -thread of glass is placed there in order to make the mercury fall into -the ball A. fig. 3. or cylinder C. fig. 4. in smaller drops, and also -to facilitate the filling the shorter leg with mercury. The latter -purpose may be answered by having a ball blown towards the bottom of -the shorter leg, as marked in fig. 4. at M: for as soon as the mercury -driven out of the cylinder by heat gets to that ball, it will pass -by the spirit of wine. The other purpose may probably be answered by -having the tube contracted as much as possible at _n_. - -In the foregoing instruments the tubes made use of were of a large -bore, as most of the errors in them would increase by making -use of smaller ones. Possibly less ones might be used without -much inconvenience. The chief advantage will be, the making these -thermometers more sensible of the changes of heat, than when large -cylinders are used. This will be of service when the greatest degree of -heat or cold continues but a short time. - -It is better to use plain spirit of wine, than what is tinged, which -seems more apt to cause a foulness in the tube, and thereby makes the -surface of the mercury less well defined. I am induced to believe so, -from observing, that the portion of spirits above the mercury in the -tube fig. 3. which at first was strongly tinged with cochineal, in -some months became perfectly colourless, the tinging particles being -deposited in different parts of the tube, and causing a foulness there. -The colour of the spirits in the cylinder does not appear to be altered. - - -The dark-shaded part in the several figures represents mercury, the -dotted part spirit of wine. - - - - -[Illustration: _Philos. Trans. Vol. L._ TAB. XII. _p. 311_. - -_J. Mynde sc._] - -XXXIX. _Observationes Anatomico-Medicæ, de Monstro bicorporeo Virgineo -A. 1701. die 26 Oct. in_ Pannonia, _infra_ Comaromium, _in Possessione_ -Szony, _quondam Quiritum_ Bregetione, _in lucem edito, atque A. 1723. -die_ 23 Febr. Posonii _in Cœnobio Monialium_ S. Ursulæ _morte functo -ibidemque sepulto. Authore_ Justo Johanne Torkos, _M.D. Soc. Regalis -Socio._ - -[_See_ TAB. XII.] - - -[Read May 23. 1751.] - -I. PARTUS hic bicorporeus singulare exemplum exhibet admirandarum -virium imaginationis maternæ in fœtum utero contentum. Mater enim hujus -bicorporis, primis graviditatis suæ mensibus vel potius hebdomadis, -attentius contemplabatur canes coëuntes, arctius cohærentes, et -capitibus erga se invicem quodammodo conversos, eosque sibi crebrius -præfigurabat. - -II. In partu, primum prodiit umbilicotenus Helenæ corpus; post tres -demum horas editi sunt ejus pedes, cum adnexo corpore altero Judithæ. -Helenæ corporis statura erat altior et rectior, Judithæ brevior et -obliquior; et quamvis infra lumbos, a tergo, in unum corpus concretæ -fuissent, attamen vultu et corporibus, semilateraliter, erga se -fuerant conversæ, ut commode sedere, lentoque gradu procedere et -recedere potuerint. Unus communi ipsis erat alvi exitus, intra duas -nates, seu Helenæ dextrum et Judithæ sinistrum femur, situatus. Unam -quoque habebant vulvam, intra quatuor pedes reconitam, ut dum erectis -starent corporibus, ne vestigium ejus conspicuum esset. Quoad duos -istos excretionum meatus, observatum est, quod, una excretionem alvi -moliente, altera quoque nisum egerendi senserit; in reddenda vero -urina, quælibet, diverso tempore, stimulos habuerit: quamobrem altera -ad urinæ missionem solicitata, altera subinde recessum negavit. Unde in -juventute, utut alias semper semet tenerrime amarent et amplexarentur, -sæpius altercationes inter ipsas exortæ, et alterutra aliam vel dorso -injectam abripuit, vel colluctando eo, quo vellet, protraxit. - -III. Anno ætatis sexto, Judithæ paralysis totius partis sinistræ; -obtigit ex qua affectione, utut convaluisset, per totam vitam suam -debilior, tardior, et stupidior perstitit; e contra Helena semper -agilior, docilior, et formosior suit. - -IV. Prout diversa erant corpora, ita functionum vitalium, animalium, -et naturalium, magna in utroque corpore, tam in sano quam ægroto -statu, observata est differentia. Et quamvis variolas et morbillos -uno eodemque tempore habuissent, reliqui tamen morbi eis non erant -communes. Cum Judith sæpius convelleretur, Helena nec alterata nec -debilitata fuit. Helena erat pleuritica. Judith benigniore febre -laboravit: alterâ tussi, catarrho, colicâ afflictâ, altera sana -exstitit. Hinc etiam quælibet, pro suo diverso statu, diversis -medicamentis tractabatur: phlebotomia autem semper in saniore et -vegetiore celebrabatur. - -V. Anno ætatis decimo sexto, menstrua comparuerunt, quæ deinde per -totam vitam, non tamen æquali tempore, modo, et quantitate successere. -Subinde alterutra majores hinc sensit molestias; Judith vero crebrius -convellebatur, variisque hystericis et pectoris affectionibus obnoxia -fuit. - -VI. Anno ætatis vicesimo secundo, seu A. C. 1723. die 8 Febr. Judith -fortiter convulsa est, postea comatosa, usque ad mortem, quæ die -23 Febr. mane contigit, perstitit. Intra hos dies Helena febricula -laboravit, eique accesserunt crebriores lipothymiæ, quibus tandem ita -debilitata est, ut integra quamvis mente et loquela, subito, tribusque -horæ minutis prius quam Judith, in agonem inciderit: postea vero ambæ, -post brevem agonem, uno ferme momento expiraverint. - -VII. Corporibus post mortem dissectis, reperta sunt in quolibet -corpore viscera singula: In Helena omnia sana; in Judithæ thorace -vero cor nimis magnum, fortissimo pericardio velatum, et pulmonum -dexter lobus putridus: Arteria aorta et vena cava ex utroque corde -descendentes, antequam arteriæ et venæ iliacæ ex iisdem emergerent, -inflexæ coadunabantur, et unam arteriam aortam, unamque venam cavam, -e corde uno ad aliud procedentes seu reflexas, præsentarunt. In -abdomine utrinque viscera omnia sana et integra. Quodlibet corpus suum -habuit hepar, splenem, pancreas, renes, vesicam, uterum cum ovariis, -tubis Fallopianis, et portione vaginæ, quæ utrinque concurrentes unam -communem vaginam efformarunt. Partes genitalium externorum, præter -commune orificium vaginæ, cuilibet erant propriæ, velut clitoris, -nymphæ, orificium urethræ; alæ seu labia utrinque ad perinæum -concurrentia fossulam navicularem densiorem constituerant. Ventriculus -cum intestinis, in utrâque, naturaliter erant situata; intestina recta -autem utrinque ad os sacrum reflexa et coalita, unum satis amplum et -communem canalem constituerunt: os sacrum ad secundam divisionem -concretum erat, et unum corpus efformando, in uno utrique ossi sacro -communi, osse coccygis, terminabatur. - - -Ex prærecensitis, sicut causa diversitaris actionum et functionum -patet, ita etiam ex arteriarum aortarum, et venarum cavarum, -intestinorum quoque rectorum et vaginarum uteri, compagine, -coadunatione et harmonia, apparet ratio conformitatis et disparitatis -morborum, synthanasiæ, communis nisus egerendæ alvi, possibilis -imprægnationis alterutrius, vel fors utriusque virginis, uno eodemque -coitu. - -Hæc omnia conquisivi et retexui, partim e relationibus fide dignis -autoptarum; partim ex ephemeridibus B. Caroli Raygeri, soceri mei, -qui, dum viveret, medicum cœnobii dicti ordinarium agebat; partim ex -libro cœnobiali, cui B. Vir formulas medicamentorum inscripserat. Dab. -Posonii die 3 Julii 1757. - - Justus Joannes Torkos, - Eques Pannonius, Medic. Doct. et - Liberæ Regiæ Civitatis Posoniensis - Physicus ordinarius. - -The interval between the reading of this paper before the Royal Society -and the present publication, was occasioned by the long indisposition, -and afterwards death, of their late President Martin Folkes, Esq; who -having taken it to his house, with a view of collecting and adding to -it some further particulars, it could not be found after his decease. -But Dr. Torkos, the writer, being again applied to, immediately -transmitted the copy of it printed above: and, in order to supply -in some measure the want of what Mr. Folkes’s extensive reading and -industry might have furnished the public with, in relation to so very -remarkable a fact, the following accounts, printed and manuscript, are -subjoined as a supplement to the preceding article. - - -_Extract of a Letter of_ William Burnet, _Esq; F.R.S. eldest Son of -Dr._ Gilbert Burnet, _Lord Bishop of_ Salisbury, _to Dr. (afterwards -Sir)_ Hans Sloane, _dated at_ Leyden, May 9. 1708. _N. S._[195] - -“+SIR+, - -I Send you inclosed the print of a wonderful union of two twin sisters, -who are at this time to be seen at the Hague. I saw them, and observed -all, that I could think tended to explain the appearance. They are -Hungarians, as the lines under the print will shew you. There is there -an exact enough description of their condition; only I may add, that -in fig. 1. the urinal passage is between the two foremost thighs, as -they are in the print. The same is true of the anus in the 2d figure, -in such manner, that the situation of these parts is the same to -outward appearance as naturally, with this difference, that they are -between two different bodies here, whereas in the course of nature -they are between the two parts of the same body. It seems probable, -that their parts are distinct; but that the most remote labia of -each are outwardly visible, and the two contiguous ones are within. -There seems to be no cheat in the thing; and the skin, where they are -joined, is perfectly smooth, without any scar. They are now about six -years old. They speak French and High German. They are very full of -action, and talk one more than the other. When one stoops to take up -any thing, she carries the other quite from the ground; and that one of -them often does, being stronger as well as more lively than the other. -They have not their feeling common any where but in the place of their -conjunction. This is all I can say about it. If you think it worth -while, you will do me an honour in giving the print, and the substance -of this account, to the Society; to which, tho’ an unworthy member, I -would be proud to be capable of any service.” - -This letter was read to the Royal Society on the 12th of May 1708[196]; -and the print mentioned in it produced; which, being now become -extremely difficult to be met with, is thought proper to be engraved -again, and inserted here. _See_ TAB. XIII. - -Soon after the date of Mr. Burnet’s letter the twin sisters were -brought to England, and publicly shewn in London, as appears from the -following MS. note in a copy of the print bound up by the writer with -Fortunius Licetus _de Monstris_[197], edit. Amstelod. 1665. 4to. in the -possession of Thomas Wilbraham, M.D. F.R.S. “_Londini 14 Junii 1708. -has vidi gemellas (plus annis sex natas) quarum forma et vivacitas -elegantior et vegetior quam pictura et descriptio._” - -[Illustration: _Philos. Trans. Vol. L._ TAB. XIII. _p. 316_. - - _Corpora Binarum sic concrevere Sororum, - Non nisi Divina dissocianda manu. - SZÖNY Patria est, vicus COMORÆ co terminus Arci, - Qvæ nunquam Lunæ paruit Imperio. - Amplexa est ulnis HELENAM Lucina priorem, - Horis deinde tribus JUDITHA fuit._ - - _Exitus Urinæ patet unicus, unicus alvo, - Observant numerum cætera membra suum. - Misit ad Ignotos tenuis Fortuna Parentum, - Neu pereat tantæ Fama stupenda rei. - InterIora Latent, neqVeVnt abstrVsa VIDerI: - eXIgVo totVM CorpVs In ære patet._ - - _J. Mynde sc._] - - -Another account of them by an eye-witness in London is in a manuscript -volume among those of Sir Hans Sloane, Bart. in the British Museum, -intituled, _A short History of human Prodigies and monstrous Births, of -Dwarfs, Sleepers, Giants, strong Men, Hermaphrodites, numerous Births, -and extreme old Age, &c._ The name of the writer was James Paris du -Plessis. In p. 39. under the Title _Two Sisters conjoined_, he gives a -drawing of them, and the following description: “These two monstrous -girls were born at Szony in Hungary in the year 1701. They were born -conjoined together at the small of the back. I asked the father and -mother, if they could not be separated one from the other? but they -answered, No; because the urinary and fœcal vessels and passages were -so united, as to have but one issue for the urine, and another for -the excrements, betwixt both. They were brisk, merry, and well-bred: -they could read, write, and sing very prettily: they could speak three -different languages, as Hungarian or High Dutch, Low Dutch, and French, -and were learning English. They were very handsome, very well shaped in -all parts, and beautiful faces. Helen was born three hours before her -sister Judith. When one stooped, she lifted the other from the ground, -and carried the other upon her back; neither could they walk side by -side. They loved one another very tenderly. Their clothes were fine and -neat. They had two bodies, four sleeves; and one petticoat served to -the bodies, and their shifts the same. When one went forward, the other -was forced to go backward.” - - -A later and more particular account is contained in p. 41, _& seqq._ of -a book very seldom met with in this country, being printed at Vienna in -1729. intituled, _Gerardi Cornelii Drieschii Historia magnæ Legationis -Cæsareæ, quam Caroli VI. auspiciis suscepit Damianus Hugo Virmondtius_, -&c. The following extract, tho’ long, will not probably be thought -unentertaining. - -“Sunt in comitatu Commaroniensi in terris illustrissimi Zichii -(pagus Hungaris Szony dicitur) à parentibus colonis, quibus sua vita -constat, dum hæc scribo, anno 1701. vii calendas Novembreis procreatæ -in lucem duæ filiæ gemellæ, posticâ parte, quâ spina dorsi definit, -concretæ, sic ut altera alteram sequi, quo se cunque vertat, cogatur: -cætera haud deformes aspectu, nisi concretio illa corporum prodigium -efficeret. Binæ singulis manus, totidem pedes, et capita, necnon -corpora: suus membris omnibus usus; rationis multò etiam, quod mirere, -certior; ut, si sedentes solum videris, neque sciveris, hic monstri -notare nihil valeas. Majori natu, quæ lucem citius aspexit tribus -horis, Helenæ, minori Judithæ nomen est. Hæc ante annos circiter tres -stupore apoplectico tacta linguæ modicum ex eo ac bonæ mentis officium -impeditum habuit, simplicitatem quandam ingenii modo ut redoleat. -Illa animo semper integro atque spiritu prædita eodem, pudicâ facie, -non inconcinnis motibus, intuentium in se oculos ad misericordiam -commovet, utpote quæ rationis planè compos, sororis tenerrimè amans, -nec status ignara sui, duplicem miseriam tolerat, suam et istius. -Ductæ sunt olim infantes per varias regiones ac provincias, Germaniam, -Angliam, Galliam, Italiam, Poloniam, Bataviam, Austriam, Moraviam, -Hungariam, à medico Hungarico nomine Csuszio, qui easdem certâ pecuniâ -ad tempus sibi a parentibus concreditas et elocatas, bonâ eorundem -veniâ, paterno à solo âbduxit; unde trium gentium linguis, Germanicâ, -Gallicâ, Hungaricâ, hodiedum etiam loquuntur; alias desuetudine usuque -interrupto, ætate præsertim nondum satis confirmatâ, omnino dedidicere. - -Dux Augustus Saxo Cizius inter purpuratos LXXII patres à constantia -religionis, timore erga Deum et caritate in proximum notissimus, -archiepiscopus Strigoniensis, veritus, ne frequentes hæ perignationes -puellarum adhuc infantium innocentiæ officerent, ac mores denique -illarum, ut fieri non raro assolet, planè depavarent, pacto -persolutoque pretio à medico redemit, et revocatas domum ad suos -virginibus à divâ Ursulâ nuncupatis intra Posonium deinceps educandas -commisit, necessariis ad hoc sumptibus benignè subministratis. Ingressæ -non diu puerilem ætatem suerant, nonusque illis annus agi cœptus -currebat, quando harum in disciplinam virginum tradebantur. Hic legere -primum ac scribere, ea, quæ ad fidem necessaria sunt, mente atque animo -comprehendere; operas manuum exercere varias, acu præcipuè phrygionicâ -pingere, denticulatas affabre fimbrias conficere, et cætera quæ sunt -ejusdem generis, edoctæ fuerunt. Vidi ego ex illarum operibus aliqua, -quæ magistras hâc in arte fecisse non pudeat. Receptæ autem sunt sacrum -hoc in collegium anno secul ix. die XII. kalendas Aprilis, ibi XI -mansionis, vitæ XIX jam planè complerunt. Istuc divarum contubernium, -quod adhuc constanter incolunt, nunquam postea deseruere. Addita illis -e prudentioribus virago, quæ indefinentur adsit, quo velint, ducat, -actonibus invigilet, de quibus respondere, ad aliosque referre, si -necessum fuerit, aliquando possit. Ex hâc scire quæ cupiebam, remotis -arbitris, nullo negotio percepi. Crediderat namque, quod res quoque -erat, non curiositatis gratiâ, sed officii, ac boni publici causâ -ista à me rogari: quare alios omnes secedere jussi, solus cum eadem -remanens, ut quæ, junioribus præsertim aliquot præsentibus, accuratius -explicare verecundia illam antea prohibuerat, majori mecum libertate -communicaret. Partes, quas vel nominare pudor honestasque vetuit, per -quas potus ciborumque fæces et reliqua corporis excrementa (sit verbo -venia) ejicimus, non illis his, quibus nobis, constitutæ locis. Illis -quidem, ubi nos eas habemus, occlusa sunt omnia; at infernè, quâ parte -concretio illa corporum incipit, easdem obtinent utrique communes. -Neque tamen cum necessitas alterutram premit ad exonerandum, exempli -gratiâ, ventrem, altera se quoque sentit tam inutili pondere gravatam, -at satisfaciendum necessario naturæ sit: sed jam huic, jam isti istud -imbecillitatis humanæ incommodum perferendum est, sitque etiam, ut -cum alvum purgat altera, alteri meatus sit urinarius aperiendus. -Muliebria, quæ statis fœminas vicibus incommodant, non uno ambabus -tempore veniunt. Octidui quandoque intervallo ac longiori disjuncta -sunt. Dum dormit hæc, sæpe vigilat illa, et in alterius labore altera -nonnunquam quiescit. Visa una potare est, aut cibo corpus reficere, -cum aliud alii agebatur. Sedent, stant, ambulant, jacent semper unà, -nec sine incommodo. Non permittit conglutinatio ista corporum, hæ uti -actiones separentur. Si colloquuntur, obtortis faciem collis obvertunt. -Suavia dant sibi, cum amant, et pugnis impetunt, cum furunt. Donec suæ -utrique vires adhuc constabant, si sorte exortæ inter illas aliquando -discordiæ essent, hæc, quæ se læsam magis credebat aut fortem, sublatam -in humeros aliam alio asportabat. Veruntamen ingenio miti magis ac -placido sunt quam incenso aut iracundo, et in communibus malis communem -fidem, commune robur adhibent, immissam sibi à Deo miseriam fortitèr -sustinentes. Ante triennium in gravi secundò genitæ morbo, de quo -nonnulla superiùs facta est mentio est, prior nata sacris omnibus -munita ad mortem quoque feliciter obeundam disposita ab sacerdote fuit, -quia medicorum pars potior credit aliâ extinctâ aliam haud posse longùm -amplius superesse. Id quod probare ex hoc etiam laborant, quod quoties -male uni sit, quamvis altera non eadem continuo ægrotatione teneatur, -angustias tamen animi certas, hebetationem sensuum, et commotionem -quandam viscerum in seipsa experiatur. Equidem dubitandum minimè reor, -quin monstrosa hæc bina corpora duplici mente ac spiritu regantur. -Nam sive cor faciamus, sive cerebrum statuamus animi sedem, ex -utrolibet idem nullo negotio evincitur. Adde tot actiones multiplices, -cogitationes rerum diversas, sensa animi varia, quæ, ut aliud nihil -sit, isthuc pariter nos docent. Unum præcipue hic admirandum venit, -quod commemorare superius memoria excidit; post prodigiosum videlicet -hunc difficilemque partum natos esse matri alios liberos, ex eodem -patre procreatos, sanos et valentes, corpore, specie ac forma integros, -qui monstri nihil admixtum habeant.” - - - - -XL. _Observations on the Origin and Use of the Lymphatic Vessels of -Animals: being an Extract from the_ Gulstonian _Lectures, read in the -Theatre of the College of Physicians of_ London, _in_ June 1755. _By_ -Mark Akenside, _M.D. Fellow of the College of Physicians, and of the -Royal Society_. - - -[Read Nov. 30, 1757.] - -IT is proved, by a multitude of experiments, that the lymphatics -communicate with the blood-vessels. They may be distended by blowing -air, or by injecting water or mercury, into an artery: and the lymph, -which they carry, is frequently, in a morbid state, found tinged with -a mixture of the red globules or crassamentum of the blood. Upon this -foundation two different theories have been raised, concerning the -connection of the lymphatics with the arteries. - -Of these, we shall first consider that of the late famous professor -Boerhaave. He observed, that every artery of the body is greater, in -its diameter, than any of its branches: and this observation being -found true, as far as our eye and the microscope can inform us, he -inferred, by analogy, that it held good even thro’ the most minute -subdivisions of the arterial system. But, says he, proportionable to -the diameter of the canal is the size of the particles moving thro’ -it: therefore, if an ultimate capillary artery, admitting only one red -globule at once to pass thro’ it, send off lateral branches, these -branches will be capable of receiving such particles only as are -smaller than a red globule. But the particles next in magnitude below -the red globules are the yellow serous ones; and the lateral vessel, -thus receiving them, is a serous artery, and the trunk of a second -order of vessels. In like manner, this trunk, being continued on thro’ -many lessening branches, will at last grow so minute, as to admit only -one serous globule: its lateral branches, therefore, will receive only -such particles as are smaller than the serous ones: but these are the -particles of the lymph; and this lateral branch is a lymphatic artery, -and the trunk of a third order of vessels. Thus, in the red arteries -are contained all the circulated fluids of the body; in the serous -arteries, all except the red blood; in the lymphatics, all except -the red blood and serum: and this subordination is, according to the -same laws, continued down thro’ fluids more subtile than the lymph, -to the smallest vessel, which is propagated from the aorta. Such was -Boerhaave’s doctrine concerning the vascular system of animal bodies; -like many of his other notions, ingenious, plausible, and recommending -itself, at first sight, by an appearance of geometrical and mechanical -accuracy: but founded upon insufficient data, and by no means to be -reconciled to appearances. - -For, in the first place, should we admit his hypothesis, it is certain, -that the conical or converging form of the aorta, and the change of -direction in its branches, must, in the distant blood-vessels, occasion -a great resistance to the moving blood, and a great diminution of its -velocity. Suppose that this resistance be, in any capillary red artery, -to the resistance in the trunk of the aorta, as any larger assignable -number is to unit: the resistance, then, in a capillary serous artery -will, to that in the aorta, be as the square of that number is to -unit; in the capillary lymphatic, as the cube; and so in progression: -that is, the velocity of the fluids, in the remoter series of vessels, -will be, physically, nothing. But we know, on the contrary, that some -very remote series of vessels have their contents moved with a very -considerable velocity; particularly the vessels of the insensible -perspiration: and in anatomical injections, the liquor thrown into an -artery scarce returns more easily or speedily by the corresponding -vein, than by the most subtile excretory ducts. Moreover, there are -an infinite number of observations of morbid cases, in which the red -blood itself has been evacuated thro’ some of the most remote series -of vessels, merely from an occasional temporary obstruction in one -part, or a præternatural laxity in another; and without any lasting -detriment to the structure and subordination of the vessels; which yet, -upon this hypothesis, must have been utterly destroyed before such an -irregularity could have happened. - -The other theory concerning the origin of the lymphatics has been -maintained by some very eminent physiologists later than Boerhaave; -and supposes, that these vessels receive their lymph from the -blood-vessels, or from the excretories of the larger glands, by the -intermediation of only one small vessel, which these authors term a -lymphatic artery, invisible in its natural state, nor yet rendered -subject to the senses by experiments. But to this it may be answered, -that the lymphatics are traced into many parts of the body, and lost -there; and therefore most probably have their origin there, where no -large gland nor blood-vessel is to be found in their neighbourhood: -that it contradicts the whole analogy of nature, to suppose the motion -of an animal fluid more discernible in the veins than in the arteries: -and, finally, that it seems rather an instance of want of thought, and -of being imposed upon by words, to call the lymphatic vessels veins, -because they are furnished with valves; and then, because they are -called veins, to take for granted, that of course they must be the -continuation of arteries. - -In attempting to investigate matters too subtile for the cognizance -of our senses, the only method, in which we can reasonably proceed, -is by inferring from what we know in subjects of the same nature: and -our conclusion thus inferred, concerning the subject sought, will -be firmer and more unquestionable, in proportion as it resembles -the subject known. But if the subjects be really of the same kind; -if no difference can be shewn between them, in any respect material -to the inquiry, in which we are engaged; in this case our inference -from analogy becomes the very next thing to a physical certainty: and -this I apprehend to be true in relation to the problem before us, -concerning the origin of the lymphatic vessels. Tho’ in general we -cannot, by experiments, arrive at the extremities of those tubes, nor -satisfy ourselves, by inspection, in what manner they receive their -fluid; yet in a very considerable number of them we can do both. There -is a certain part of the human body very abundantly provided with -lymphatics; in which part we can actually force injections thro’ those -vessels into a cavity, where their extremities open: and from this -cavity, on the other hand, we can at pleasure introduce a coloured -liquor into their extremities, and trace it from smaller into wider -canals; from capillary tubes, without valves, into large lymphatic -trunks copiously furnished with them. We know likewise, that into -this cavity are continually exhaling an infinite number of watery and -mucous vessels, both arterial tubes and excretory ducts: that these -keep it moist with a perpetual vapour, which the extremities of those -lymphatics are, in the mean time, perpetually imbibing. Does it not -seem strange, while these particulars are known and acknowledged by -all the world, that the great authors of anatomy and physiology should -never have reasoned from them; but should run into complex and obscure -suppositions, in order to explain a process, which they may at any time -examine with their own eyes? But perhaps this inadvertency may be -accounted for, if we recollect, that at the time when these vessels, -and the structure of this part, were discovered, the lymph, and every -thing belonging to it, was utterly unknown; and that the vessels in -question were first seen and considered as performing another and more -remarkable office: which circumstance, it should seem, has prevented -succeeding authors from being duly attentive to them in the capacity -of lymphatics. However this be, it is certain, that the lymphatics of -the mesentery, commonly called the lacteals, differ from those of the -other parts in no one particular, save that occasionally they carry -chyle instead of lymph; or rather carry lymph mixed, at stated times -(that is, for two or three hours after the creature has taken food) -with an emulsion of vegetable and animal substances, and coloured white -by that mixture. At other times, (that is, during sixteen of eighteen -hours out of the twenty-four) they contain nothing but lymph; and are, -in every respect, mere lymphatic vessels, not to be distinguished from -those in any other part of the body. Their structure is the same; the -membrane of which they are formed, their valves, the lymph which they -contain, the glands thro’ which they pass, their direction from smaller -tubes to larger, and from these to the blood, differ in nothing from -what we observe of the other lymphatics. Their lymph, in the mean -time, is without doubt or controversy supplied from the cavity of the -intestines; being the watery moisture continually exhaled there for -the purposes of digestion, and for the preservation of the alimentary -canal, and as continually taken up by the roots or extremities of -these vessels, in order to be carried back to the blood, after it has -performed its office in the bowels. Let it also be remembered, that -these vessels, in other places of the body, are generally, when we -trace them, lost in muscular, tendinous, or membranous parts: and then, -I should presume, it may fairly, and with a good degree of evidence, -be concluded, that the lymphatics of the body, in general, have their -origin among the little cavities of the cellular substance of the -muscles, among the mucous folliculi of the tendons, or the membranous -receptacles and ducts of the larger glands: that their extremities or -roots do, from these cavities, imbibe the moisture exhaled there from -the ultimate arterial tubes, just as the lacteals (the lymphatics of -the mesentery) do on the concave surface of the intestines: and that -the minute imbibing vessels, by gradually opening one into another, -form at length a lymphatic trunk, furnished with valves to prevent the -return of its fluid, and tending uniformly, from the extremities and -from the viscera, to reconvey to the blood that lymph, or that fine -steam, with which they are kept in perpetual moisture; a circumstance -indispensibly necessary to life and motion: while, at the same time, -the continual re-absorption of that moisture by the lymphatics is no -less necessary, in order to preserve the blood properly fluid, and -to prevent the putrefaction, which would inevitably follow, if this -animal vapour were suffered to stagnate in the cavities where it is -discharged. - - - - -XLI. _A Letter to the Right Honourable the Earl of_ Macclesfield, -_President, the_ Council, _and_ Fellows, _of the_ Royal Society, -_concerning the Variation of the Magnetic Needle; with a Sett of -Tables annexed, which exhibit the Result of upwards of Fifty Thousand -Observations, in Six periodic Reviews, from the year 1700 to the year -1756, both inclusive; and are adapted to every Five Degrees of Latitude -and Longitude in the more frequented Oceans. By_ William Mountaine -_and_ James Dodson, _Fellows of the Royal Society_. - - -[Read Nov. 10, 1757.] - - Dated London, Nov. 9th. 1757. - -SIRS, - -ON the 20th of March 1755, we presented an address to this illustrious -Body, intituled, “An Attempt to point out, in a concise manner, -the Advantages which would accrue from a periodic Review of the -Variation of the Magnetic Needle, throughout the known World; -requesting contributions thereto, by communicating such observations -concerning it, as had then been lately made, or could be procured from -correspondents in foreign parts.” - -This address was read at the same time, and afterwards honoured with -a place in the Transactions, vol. xlviii. part ii. for 1754: which -favour we now acknowledge in the most grateful manner; and, pursuant -to our engagements, beg leave to lay before you some account of the -communications received, with a specimen of the uses and applications -which we have been enabled to make of those, and other assistances with -which we have been indulged. - -On application to the Honourable the Commissioners of the Navy, we were -obliged with an order of free access to all their masters log-books and -journals. - -The Directors of the Honourable East India Company granted the like -privilege. - -The Honourable Committee of the Hudson’s Bay Company obliged us with -sundry observations, made, and tabulated, by their own Captains. - -James Bradley, D. D. Regius Professor of Astronomy, and F.R.S. -favoured us with several observations made at the Royal Observatory at -Greenwich. - -John Hyde, Esq; F.R.S. communicated a sett of useful observations, -extracted from two journals kept on board the Triton and Britannia East -Indiamen. - -A correct journal kept on board the Delawar East Indiaman was handed to -us by a gentleman unknown. - -Capt. George Snow furnished a considerable number of observations, made -with care and accuracy by himself, in several successive voyages to, -and from Barbadoes and Virginia; together with several remarks upon -the subject: _One_, which we apprehend to be material, we beg leave -to insert, as it meets with some confirmation by the tables annexed; -_viz._ “At Barbadoes the variation seems at a stand very near; for in -the road, 1752, I observed 5 degrees east; and by Mr. Halley’s draught, -in the year 1701, 5½ degrees: in 1747, at Port Royal keys, Jamaica, I -observed the variation 7° 20’ E.; and on the coast of Carthagena the -same week, off the high land of Sancta Martha, 7° 45’ E. nearly south -of Port Royal: Therefore these curves are not much altered; and the -curve at Jamaica is nearly at a stand, as tho’ tied; and the south part -of them, with the rest, dropping to the westward.” - -Mr. Mungo Murray, author of a treatise on ship-building, presented -us with several observations taken on board the Prince Edward and -Chesterfield East Indiamen, and his Majesty’s ship the Neptune. - -For all these favours we return our sincere thanks. - -No observations made upon land have been received, except Dr. Bradley’s -aforesaid; which has frustrated our intentions of continuing the curves -from sea to sea. - -By collecting, comparing, and adjusting, all these materials, we -have been enabled to construct variation-curves upon Dr. Halley’s -mercator-chart, adapted to the year 1756; which will soon be in -readiness to present to this Royal Society. - -As a work of this kind requires much time, and a multitude of -observations, both by sea and land, to render it more perfect and -general; we hope the ingenious in all nations will lend their -assistance: By this means every periodic review will be productive of -improvement. - -From the first instant that we made this affair the object of our -more particular consideration, we have attended to the mode of -increase and decrease in the variation: and as a considerable number -of observations, made at periodic times, and duly registered, seem to -be the most essential toward determining the laws of its mutation, or -proving its irregularity, we have therefore formed a sett of tables, -from actual observations collected for the years 1710, 1720, 1730, and -1744, the date of our last chart; which, together with Dr. Halley’s -for the year 1700, and the present chart now publishing, compleat six -reviews: These are tabulated, and shew the quantity of the variation, -at those several periods, to every 5 degrees of latitude and longitude -in the more frequented oceans; which we hope will prove acceptable, as -nothing of the like kind has yet appeared, or can easily be obtained. - -Our materials have been so deficient, that even in the limits to which -our tables are confined, we have been obliged to leave blanks in some -of the above periods, for want of that concurrent testimony, on which -the numbers inserted are founded: but, considering the difficulties -unavoidably attending a work of this sort, and the little assistance -which we have met with from private hands, we hope that this Royal -Society will not only excuse those vacancies, but also those in the -great tracts of sea, as well as land, concerning which we are very -unwillingly obliged to be intirely silent. - -Agreeable to our former address, we lay only what appear to be facts -before you, without attempting to introduce any hypothesis for the -solution of these phænomena; some of which (being very extraordinary) -we recommend peculiarly to the notice of those gentlemen, who may -endeavour the investigation of their causes. - -Under the equator, in longitude 40° E. from London, the highest -variation during the whole 56 years appears to be 17°¼ W. and the -least 16°½ W.: and in latitude 15° N. longitude 60° W. from London, -the variation has been constantly 5° E. but in other places the case -has been widely different; for in the latitude 10° S. longitude 60° E. -from London, the variation has decreased from 17° W. to 7°¼ W., and in -latitude 10° S. longitude 5° W. from London, it has increased from 2°¼ -W. to 12°¾ W.; and in latitude 15° N. longitude 20° W. it has increased -from 1° W. to 9° W. - -But there is still a more extraordinary appearance in the Indian seas: -for instance, under the equator, - - Longitude from| Variation in - _London_ | 1700. | 1756. - --------------+----------+--------- - Degrees. | Degrees. | Degrees. - 40 E | 16¾ W | 16¾ W - 45 E | 17¾ W | 14½ W - 50 E | 17½ W | 11¾ W - 55 E | 16½ W | 8¾ W - 60 E | 15¼ W | 6 W - 65 E | 13½ W | 4½ W - 70 E | 11½ W | 2¾ W - 75 E | 9¾ W | 1 W - 80 E | 7¾ W | 0¼ E - 85 E | 5½ W | 1¼ E - 90 E | 4¼ W | 1 E - 95 E | 3¼ W | 0½ W - 100 E | 2½ W | 1 W - --------------+----------+--------- - -Where the west variation in the longitude 40° E. is the same in both -the above years; and in 1700 the west variation seemed to be regularly -decreasing from longitude 50° E. to the longitude 100° E.; but in -1756 we find the west variation decreasing so fast, that we have -east variation in the longitude 80°, 85°, and 90° E; and yet, in the -longitude 95° and 100° E. we have west variation again. - -Such are the irregularities, that experience hath shewn us, in the -variation of the magnetic needle; which appear so considerable, that we -cannot think it wholly under the direction of one general and uniform -law; but rather conclude, with the learned and judicious Dr. Gowen -Knight, Fellow of this Society, in the 87th prop. of his treatise -upon attraction and repulsion, That it is influenced by various and -different magnetic attractions, in all probability occasioned by the -heterogeneous compositions in the great magnet, the _Earth_. - -Notwithstanding all which, should the sagacity of some eminent -philosopher be able to exhibit rules, whereby the quantity of the -variation may be computed for future times, yet then such a review, as -we have now made, will be necessary at a proper interval, to prove the -truth of them: and should no such rules appear, then will a continued -succession of such reviews be necessary so long as commerce and -navigation subsist among us. - -What we have now done is intirely for the public service, the sale of -the former chart never having made good its expence; and we propose -to continue our endeavours for another review, at the proper time, if -we shall then be alive, and capable of the task: but as the contrary -may probably happen, we beg leave to conclude with recommending such -a continuation, in the strongest manner, to such of the members of -this Royal Society, or others, who may, at the proper intervals, have -leisure and ability for such a performance. - -We are, with the greatest deference, - - Your Lordship’s, - And the Royal Society’s, - Most faithful and - most obedient Servants, - William Mountaine. - James Dodson. - - -_A_ TABLE, _exhibiting the different Variations of the_ MAGNETIC-NEEDLE -_in the more frequented Oceans, from the Year 1700 to the Year 1756_. - - | Longitude, | VARIATION. - | From | Anno | Anno | Anno | Anno | - Latitude. | London. | 1700. | 1710. | 1720. | 1730. | - ----------+------------+----------+----------+----------+----------+ - _Degrees._| _Degrees._ |_Degrees._|_Degrees._|_Degrees._|_Degrees._| - 0 | 0 | 4½ W | | | 10¼ W | - 0 | 5 W | 2¾ W | | | 8¾ W | - 0 | 10 W | 1½ W | 3½ W | 5½ W | 7 W | - 0 | 15 W | 0½ W | 2 W | 3½ W | 5 W | - 0 | 20 W | 0¾ E | 0½ W | 1¾ W | 3 W | - 0 | 25 W | 1½ E | 0½ E | 0½ W | 1½ W | - 0 | 30 W | 2½ E | 2 E | 1½ E | 1 E | - 0 | 35 W | 3¼ E | 3 E | 2¾ E | 2½ E | - 0 | 40 W | 4¼ E | 4¼ E | 4 E | 3¾ E | - 0 | 45 W | 5½ E | 5½ E | 5¼ E | 5 E | - 0 | 50 W | 6¾ E | | | 5¾ E | - 0 | 5 E | 6 W | | | 12½ W | - 0 | 10 E | 7¾ W | | | 14¼ W | - 0 | 40 E | 16¾ W | 17 W | 17¼ W | 17 W | - 0 | 45 E | 17¾ W | 17¼ W | 16¾ W | 16¼ W | - 0 | 50 E | 17½ W | 16¾ W | 16 W | 15 W | - 0 | 55 E | 16½ W | 15¼ W | 14 W | 13 W | - 0 | 60 E | 15¼ W | 13¾ W | 12½ W | 11 W | - 0 | 65 E | 13½ W | 11¾ W | 10 W | 8¼ W | - 0 | 70 E | 11½ W | 9¾ W | 7¾ W | 6 W | - 0 | 75 E | 9¾ W | 7¾ W | 5¾ W | 4 W | - 0 | 80 E | 7¾ W | 6 W | 4¼ W | 3 W | - 0 | 85 E | 5½ W | 4 W | 2½ W | 1½ W | - 0 | 90 E | 4¼ W | 3½ W | 1½ W | 0½ W | - 0 | 95 E | 3¼ W | 2¼ W | | | - 0 |100 E | 2½ W | 1 W | | | - 5 N | 0 | 4¾ W | | | 10½ W | - 5 N | 5 W | 3¼ W | | | 9 W | - 5 N | 10 W | 1¾ W | | | 7½ W | - 5 N | 15 W | 0¾ W | 2¼ W | 3¾ W | 5½ W | - 5 N | 20 W | 0 | 1½ W | 2½ W | 3½ W | - 5 N | 25 W | 1 E | 0 | 1 W | 2 W | - 5 N | 30 W | 1¾ E | 1¼ E | 0½ E | 0¼ W | - 5 N | 35 W | 2½ E | 2¼ E | 1¾ E | 1½ E | - 5 N | 40 W | 3½ E | 3¼ E | 3 E | 2½ E | - 5 N | 45 W | 4½ E | 4¼ E | 4¼ E | 4 E | - 5 N | 50 W | 5½ E | 5½ E | 5¼ E | 5¼ E | - 5 N | 55 W | 6¾ E | | | | - 5 N | 5 E | 6¼ W | | | 12¾ W | - 5 N | 10 E | 7¾ W | | | 14¼ W | - 5 N | 45 E | 16¾ W | 16 W | 15¼ W | 14¾ W | - 5 N | 50 E | 16¾ W | 15¾ W | 14¾ W | 13½ W | - 5 N | 55 E | 15½ W | 14¼ W | 13 W | 12 W | - 5 N | 60 E | 14¼ W | 12¾ W | 11¼ W | 10 W | - 5 N | 65 E | 12¾ W | 11 W | 9½ W | 8 W | - 5 N | 70 E | 10¾ W | 9 W | 7¼ W | 5½ W | - 5 N | 75 E | 8¾ W | 7 W | 5¼ W | 3¾ W | - 5 N | 80 E | 6½ W | 5 W | 3½ W | 2½ W | - 5 N | 85 E | 4¾ W | 3¾ W | 2¾ W | 1½ W | - 5 N | 90 E | 3¾ W | | | | - 5 N | 95 E | 2¾ W | | | | - 10 N | 15 W | 1¼ W | | 4½ W | 6 W | - 10 N | 20 W | 0½ W | 2 W | 3¼ W | 4½ W | - 10 N | 25 W | 0¼ E | 0¾ W | 1¾ W | 2¾ W | - 10 N | 30 W | 1 E | 0½ E | 0 | 1 W | - 10 N | 35 W | 1¾ E | 1¼ E | 0¾ E | 0¼ E | - 10 N | 40 W | 2½ E | 2¼ E | 2 E | 1¾ E | - 10 N | 45 W | 3½ E | 3½ E | 3¼ E | 3 E | - 10 N | 50 W | 4½ E | 4½ E | 4¼ E | 4¼ E | - 10 N | 55 W | 5½ E | 5½ E | 5½ E | 5¼ E | - 10 N | 60 W | 6½ E | | | | - 10 N | 50 E | 16 W | 15 W | 14 W | 12¾ W | - 10 N | 55 E | 15 W | 13½ W | 12 W | 11 W | - 10 N | 60 E | 13½ W | 12 W | 10½ W | 9¼ W | - 10 N | 65 E | 12 W | 10¾ W | 9 W | 7½ W | - 10 N | 70 E | 10 W | 8¾ W | 6½ W | 5 W | - 10 N | 75 E | 8 W | 6½ W | 5 W | 3½ W | - 10 N | 80 E | 5¾ W | 4½ W | 3¼ W | 2 W | - 10 N | 85 E | 4½ W | 3½ W | 2¼ W | 1¼ W | - 10 N | 90 E | 3½ W | | | | - 10 N | 95 E | 2½ W | | | | - 15 N | 20 W | 1 W | 2½ W | 4 W | 5½ W | - 15 N | 25 W | 0½ W | 1½ W | 2½ W | 3½ W | - 15 N | 30 W | 0¼ E | 0¼ W | 1 W | 1¾ W | - 15 N | 35 W | 1 E | 0½ E | 0 | 0½ W | - 15 N | 40 W | 1½ E | 1¾ E | 1 E | 0½ E | - 15 N | 45 W | 2¼ E | 2¼ E | 2 E | 1¾ E | - 15 N | 50 W | 3¼ E | 3¼ E | 3¼ E | 3 E | - 15 N | 55 W | 4 E | 4 E | 4 E | 4 E | - 15 N | 60 W | 5 E | 5 E | 5 E | 5 E | - 15 N | 65 W | 6 E | | | 5 E | - 15 N | 70 W | 7 E | | | 5½ E | - 15 N | 75 W | 7¾ E | | | | - 15 N | 80 W | 8¼ E | | | | - 15 N | 50 E | 15½ W | 14¼ W | 13 W | 11¾ W | - 15 N | 55 E | 14¼ W | 12¾ W | 11½ W | 10¾ W | - 15 N | 60 E | 13 W | 11¾ W | 10¼ W | 9 W | - 15 N | 65 E | 11½ W | 10 W | 8¾ W | 7½ W | - 15 N | 70 E | 9¾ W | 8¼ W | 6¾ W | 5½ W | - 15 N | 75 E | 8 W | 6½ W | 5 W | 3½ W | - 15 N | 80 E | 5¾ W | 4½ W | 3½ W | 2½ W | - 15 N | 85 E | 4¼ W | 3¼ W | 2¼ W | 1 W | - 15 N | 90 E | 3¼ W | 2½ W | 1¼ W | | - 15 N | 95 E | 2½ W | 1½ W | | | - 20 N | 20 W | 1½ W | 3 W | 4¼ W | 5¼ W | - 20 N | 25 W | 1 W | 2 W | 2¾ W | 3½ W | - 20 N | 30 W | 0½ W | 1 W | 1½ W | 2¼ W | - 20 N | 35 W | 0¼ E | 0¼ W | 0¾ W | 1½ W | - 20 N | 40 W | 0¾ E | ¼ E | 0 | 0½ W | - 20 N | 45 W | 1½ E | 1¼ E | 1 E | ¾ E | - 20 N | 50 W | 2 E | 2 E | 1¾ E | 1½ E | - 20 N | 55 W | 2¾ E | 2¾ E | 2¾ E | 2½ E | - 20 N | 60 W | 3¾ E | 3¾ E | 3¾ E | 3½ E | - 20 N | 65 W | 4¾ E | | | | - 20 N | 70 W | 5½ E | | | | - 20 N | 75 W | 6¼ E | | | | - 20 N | 80 W | 7 E | | | | - 20 N | 60 E | 12¾ W | 11¼ W | 10 W | 9 W | - 20 N | 65 E | 11½ W | 10 W | 8½ W | 7¼ W | - 20 N | 70 E | 9¾ W | 8½ W | 7 W | 5¾ W | - 20 N | 90 E | 3½ W | 2½ W | 1½ W | 1 W | - 25 N | 20 W | 2 W | 3¼ W | 4 W | 5¼ W | - 25 N | 25 W | 1¾ W | 2¼ W | 2¾ W | 4 W | - 25 N | 30 W | 1¼ W | 1¾ W | 2¼ W | 3 W | - 25 N | 35 W | 1 W | 1½ W | 2 W | 2½ W | - 25 N | 40 W | 0½ W | 0¾ W | 1 W | 1½ W | - 25 N | 45 W | 0¼ E | 0 | 0½ W | 1 W | - 25 N | 50 W | 0¾ E | 0½ E | 0¼ E | 0 | - 25 N | 55 W | 1¼ E | 1 E | 1 E | ¾ E | - 25 N | 60 W | 2 E | 2 E | 2 E | 1½ E | - 25 N | 65 W | 2¾ E | | | | - 25 N | 70 W | 3½ E | | | | - 25 N | 75 W | 4¼ E | | | | - 25 N | 80 W | 4¾ E | | | | - 25 N | 60 E | 12¾ W | 11½ W | 10¼ W | 9 W | - 25 N | 65 E | 11½ W | 10¼ W | 9 W | 7½ W | - 25 N | 70 E | 10 W | 8¾ W | 7½ W | 6 W | - 30 N | 10 W | 3½ W | | | | - 30 N | 15 W | 3¼ W | | | | - 30 N | 20 W | 3 W | 4¼ W | 5½ W | 6¾ W | - 30 N | 25 W | 2¾ W | 3½ W | 4¼ W | 5½ W | - 30 N | 30 W | 2½ W | 3 W | 3½ W | 4¼ W | - 30 N | 35 W | 2¼ W | 2¾ W | 3¼ W | 3¾ W | - 30 N | 40 W | 1¾ W | 2 W | 2½ W | 3 W | - 30 N | 45 W | 1¼ W | 1½ W | 2 W | 2¼ W | - 30 N | 50 W | 0¾ W | 1 W | 1½ W | 1¾ W | - 30 N | 55 W | 0¼ W | ½ W | 1 W | 1¼ W | - 30 N | 60 W | 0¼ E | 0 | ¼ W | 0½ W | - 30 N | 65 W | 0¾ E | ½ E | ¼ E | 0 | - 30 N | 70 W | 1½ E | 1¼ E | 1 E | ¾ E | - 30 N | 75 W | 2 E | 1½ E | 1¼ E | 1 E | - 30 N | 80 W | 2¼ E | | | | - 35 N | 10 W | 4¼ W | | | 9¾ W | - 35 N | 15 W | 4 W | | | 9¼ W | - 35 N | 20 W | 4 W | | | 8¼ W | - 35 N | 25 W | 3¾ W | 4¾ W | 6 W | 7½ W | - 35 N | 30 W | 3¾ W | 4½ W | 5½ W | 6¾ W | - 35 N | 35 W | 3¾ W | 4¼ W | 5¼ W | 6 W | - 35 N | 40 W | 3¾ W | 4 W | 4½ W | 5¼ W | - 35 N | 45 W | 3½ W | 3¾ W | 4¼ W | 4¾ W | - 35 N | 50 W | 3½ W | 3¾ W | 4 W | 4¼ W | - 35 N | 55 W | 3½ W | 3¾ W | 4 W | 4¼ W | - 35 N | 60 W | 3¼ W | 3¾ W | 4 W | 4¼ W | - 35 N | 65 W | 3 W | | | | - 35 N | 70 W | 2½ W | | | | - 35 N | 75 W | 2¼ W | | | | - 40 N | 10 W | 5 W | | | 10¾ W | - 40 N | 15 W | 5¼ W | | | 10½ W | - 40 N | 20 W | 5¼ W | | | 10 W | - 40 N | 25 W | 5½ W | | | 9½ W | - 40 N | 30 W | 5½ W | 6¾ W | 8 W | 9 W | - 40 N | 35 W | 5¾ W | 6½ W | 7¼ W | 8¼ W | - 40 N | 40 W | 5¾ W | 6¼ W | 7¼ W | 8 W | - 40 N | 45 W | 6 W | | | 7½ W | - 40 N | 50 W | 6¼ W | | | 7¼ W | - 40 N | 55 W | 6½ W | | | 7¾ W | - 40 N | 60 W | 6¾ W | | | 8 W | - 40 N | 65 W | 7 W | | | 8½ W | - 40 N | 70 W | 7 W | | | 9 W | - 45 N | 5 W | 6 W | | | 12½ W | - 45 N | 10 W | 6½ W | | | 12¼ W | - 45 N | 15 W | 6¾ W | | | 11¾ W | - 45 N | 20 W | 7 W | | | 11½ W | - 45 N | 25 W | 7½ W | | | 11½ W | - 45 N | 30 W | 8 W | | | 11¾ W | - 45 N | 35 W | 8¾ W | | | 11¾ W | - 45 N | 40 W | 9½ W | | | 12 W | - 45 N | 45 W | 10½ W | | | 12¾ W | - 45 N | 50 W | 11½ W | | | 13½ W | - 45 N | 55 W | 12½ W | | | 14 W | - 45 N | 60 W | 13¾ W | | | 14 W | - 50 N | 5 W | 7½ W | | | | - 50 N | 10 W | 7¾ W | | | | - 50 N | 15 W | 8½ W | | | | - 50 N | 20 W | 9 W | | | | - 50 N | 25 W | 9¾ W | | | | - 5 S | 0 | 4¼ W | | | 10 W | - 5 S | 5 W | 2½ W | | | 8½ W | - 5 S | 10 W | 1 W | 3 W | 4¾ W | 6½ W | - 5 S | 15 W | 0 | 1½ W | 3 W | 4½ W | - 5 S | 20 W | 1¼ E | 0¼ W | 0¾ W | 2¼ W | - 5 S | 25 W | 2¼ E | 1¼ E | 0¼ E | 0¾ W | - 5 S | 30 W | 3¼ E | 2¼ E | 1¾ E | 1 E | - 5 S | 35 W | 4¼ E | 4 E | 3½ E | 3¼ E | - 5 S | 5 E | 6 W | | | 12½ W | - 5 S | 10 E | 7½ W | | | 14¼ W | - 5 S | 40 E | 18 W | 17¾ W | 17¾ W | 17½ W | - 5 S | 45 E | 18½ W | 18¼ W | 18 W | 17½ W | - 5 S | 50 E | 18½ W | 17¾ W | 17 W | 16¼ W | - 5 S | 55 E | 17½ W | 16½ W | 15½ W | 14¾ W | - 5 S | 60 E | 16¼ W | 14¾ W | 13¼ W | 12 W | - 5 S | 65 E | 14¾ W | 12¾ W | 10¾ W | 9 W | - 5 S | 70 E | 13 W | 11 W | 9 W | 6¾ W | - 5 S | 75 E | 11 W | 9 W | 7 W | 5 W | - 5 S | 80 E | 9 W | 7 W | 5 W | 3 W | - 5 S | 85 E | 7 W | 5½ W | 3¾ W | 2½ W | - 5 S | 90 E | 5 W | 4½ W | 2¾ W | 2 W | - 5 S | 95 E | 3¾ W | 3½ W | 1½ W | 1½ W | - 5 S |100 E | 3 W | 2½ W | 1½ W | 1 W | - 10 S | 0 | 3¾ W | | | 9½ W | - 10 S | 5 W | 2¼ W | 4¼ W | 6¼ W | 8¼ W | - 10 S | 10 W | 0¾ W | 2¾ W | 4¾ W | 6½ W | - 10 S | 15 W | ½ E | 1 W | 2½ W | 4 W | - 10 S | 20 W | 1¾ E | 0½ E | 0 | 1½ W | - 10 S | 25 W | 3 E | 2½ E | 1¾ E | 0¾ E | - 10 S | 30 W | 4 E | 3½ E | 3 E | 2½ E | - 10 S | 35 W | 5¼ E | 5 E | 4¾ E | 4½ W | - 10 S | 5 E | 5¾ W | | | 12 W | - 10 S | 10 E | 7½ W | | | 14 W | - 10 S | 15 E | 9¼ W | | | 15½ W | - 10 S | 40 E | 18¾ W | 18¾ W | 18¾ W | 18¾ W | - 10 S | 45 E | 19½ W | 19¼ W | 19 W | 18¾ W | - 10 S | 50 E | 19½ W | 19 W | 18½ W | 17¾ W | - 10 S | 55 E | 18½ W | 17½ W | 16½ W | 15½ W | - 10 S | 60 E | 17 W | 16 W | 15 W | 14 W | - 10 S | 65 E | 15¾ W | 13¾ W | 11¾ W | 10 W | - 10 S | 70 E | 14½ W | 12 W | 10 W | 8 W | - 10 S | 75 E | 12½ W | 10¼ W | 9 W | 5¾ W | - 10 S | 80 E | 10½ W | 8 W | 5½ W | 4 W | - 10 S | 85 E | 8½ W | 6¾ W | 5 W | 3¾ W | - 10 S | 90 E | 6¾ W | 5½ W | 4¼ W | 3 W | - 10 S | 95 E | 5 W | 4½ W | 4 W | 3¼ W | - 10 S |100 E | 3¾ W | 3½ W | 3¼ W | 3 W | - 10 S |105 E | 2¾ W | 2¾ W | 2½ W | 2½ W | - 10 S |110 E | 2 W | | | | - 15 S | 0 | 3½ W | 5½ W | 7½ W | 9½ W | - 15 S | 5 W | 1¾ W | 3¾ W | 5¾ W | 7¾ W | - 15 S | 10 W | ¼ W | 2 W | 3¾ W | 5½ W | - 15 S | 15 W | 1¼ E | 0¼ W | 1¾ W | 3¼ W | - 15 S | 20 W | 2½ E | 1½ E | 0¾ E | 0½ W | - 15 S | 25 W | 3¾ E | 3 E | 2¼ E | 1½ E | - 15 S | 30 W | 5 E | 4½ E | 4 E | 3½ E | - 15 S | 35 W | 6½ E | 6¼ E | 5¾ E | 5½ E | - 15 S | 40 W | 7¾ E | | | | - 15 S | 5 E | 5½ W | | | 11½ W | - 15 S | 10 E | 7½ W | | | 14 W | - 15 S | 40 E | 19¾ W | 19¾ W | 20 W | 20 W | - 15 S | 45 E | 20½ W | 20½ W | 20¼ W | 20¼ W | - 15 S | 50 E | 20½ W | 20 W | 19½ W | 18¾ W | - 15 S | 55 E | 19½ W | 18½ W | 17½ W | 16½ W | - 15 S | 60 E | 18¼ W | 17 W | 16 W | 14½ W | - 15 S | 65 E | 17 W | 15½ W | 13½ W | 12 W | - 15 S | 70 E | 15½ W | 12¾ W | 10¾ W | 9 W | - 15 S | 75 E | 14 W | 12 W | 9¾ W | 7½ W | - 15 S | 80 E | 12 W | 10 W | 8 W | 6 W | - 15 S | 85 E | 10 W | 8 W | 6¼ W | 4¾ W | - 15 S | 90 E | 8½ W | 7¼ W | 6 W | 4½ W | - 15 S | 95 E | 6½ W | 5¾ W | 5 W | 4¼ W | - 15 S |100 E | 5 W | 4¾ W | 4½ W | 4¼ W | - 15 S |105 E | 3½ W | 3½ W | 3¾ W | 3¾ W | - 15 S |110 E | 2½ W | | | | - 20 S | 0 | 3¼ W | 5¼ W | 7¼ W | 9 W | - 20 S | 5 W | 1½ W | 3¼ W | 5 W | 6¾ W | - 20 S | 10 W | 0½ E | 1¼ W | 3 W | 4¾ W | - 20 S | 15 W | 1¾ E | 0½ E | 0¾ W | 2 W | - 20 S | 20 W | 3 E | 2¾ E | 1½ E | 0½ W | - 20 S | 25 W | 4¾ E | 4¼ E | 3½ E | 2¾ E | - 20 S | 30 W | 6 E | 5½ E | 5¼ E | 4¾ E | - 20 S | 35 W | 7¾ E | 7½ E | 7¼ E | 6¾ E | - 20 S | 40 W | 9¼ E | | | | - 20 S | 5 E | 5½ W | | | 11 W | - 20 S | 10 E | 7½ W | | | 13½ W | - 20 S | 15 E | 9½ W | | | 15½ W | - 20 S | 35 E | 19 W | 19¼ W | 19¾ W | 20¼ W | - 20 S | 40 E | 20½ W | 20¾ W | 21¼ W | 21½ W | - 20 S | 45 E | 21¼ W | 21¼ W | 21½ W | 21½ W | - 20 S | 50 E | 21¼ W | 21 W | 20¾ W | 20¼ W | - 20 S | 55 E | 20½ W | 20 W | 19¼ W | 18½ W | - 20 S | 60 E | 19½ W | 18¼ W | 17 W | 5¾ W | - 20 S | 65 E | 18¼ W | 17 W | 15¾ W | 14¼ W | - 20 S | 70 E | 16¾ W | 15½ W | 13½ W | 12 W | - 20 S | 75 E | 15 W | 13 W | 10½ W | 9 W | - 20 S | 80 E | 13½ W | 11¾ W | 9¾ W | 8 W | - 20 S | 85 E | 11½ W | 10 W | 8½ W | 7 W | - 20 S | 90 E | 10 W | 8¾ W | 7½ W | 6¼ W | - 20 S | 95 E | 8 W | 7¼ W | 6½ W | 5¾ W | - 20 S |100 E | 6½ W | 6¼ W | 6 W | 5½ W | - 20 S |105 E | 4¾ W | 5 W | 5 W | 5 W | - 25 S | 0 | 3 W | 5 W | 7 W | 8¾ W | - 25 S | 5 W | 1 W | 2¾ W | 4½ W | 6¼ W | - 25 S | 10 W | 1 E | 0½ W | 2¾ W | 4 W | - 25 S | 15 W | 2½ E | 1¼ W | 0 | 1¼ W | - 25 S | 20 W | 4 E | 3¼ E | 2 E | 1¼ E | - 25 S | 25 W | 6 E | 5¼ E | 4½ E | 3¾ E | - 25 S | 30 W | 7½ E | 7 E | 6½ E | 6 E | - 25 S | 35 W | 9¼ E | | | | - 25 S | 40 W | 11 E | | | | - 25 S | 5 E | 5¼ W | 7 W | 8¾ W | 10½ W | - 25 S | 10 E | 7½ W | | | | - 25 S | 15 E | 9½ W | | | | - 25 S | 35 E | 19½ W | 20¼ W | 20¾ W | 21½ W | - 25 S | 40 E | 21 W | 21½ W | 22 W | 22½ W | - 25 S | 45 E | 22¼ W | 22½ W | 22¾ W | 23 W | - 25 S | 50 E | 22½ W | 22½ W | 22¼ W | 22¼ W | - 25 S | 55 E | 22 W | 21½ W | 21 W | 20½ W | - 25 S | 60 E | 20¾ W | 19¾ W | 19 W | 18¼ W | - 25 S | 65 E | 19¼ W | 18¼ W | 17¼ W | 16¼ W | - 25 S | 70 E | 17¾ W | 16¾ W | 15¾ W | 14½ W | - 25 S | 75 E | 16¼ W | 15 W | 13¾ W | 12½ W | - 25 S | 80 E | 14¾ W | 13½ W | 12¼ W | 10¾ W | - 25 S | 85 E | 13 W | 11¾ W | 10½ W | 9¼ W | - 25 S | 90 E | 11¼ W | 10¼ W | 9¾ W | 8¼ W | - 25 S | 95 E | 9½ W | 9 W | 8½ W | 7¾ W | - 25 S |100 E | 7¾ W | 7½ W | 7¼ W | 7 W | - 30 S | 0 | 2¾ W | 4¼ W | 6 W | 7¾ W | - 30 S | 5 W | 0½ W | 2 W | 3½ W | 5¼ W | - 30 S | 10 W | 1½ E | 0 | 1½ W | 3 W | - 30 S | 15 W | 3¼ E | 2¼ E | 0¾ E | 0¼ W | - 30 S | 20 W | 5 E | 4¾ E | 3¾ E | 2¾ E | - 30 S | 25 W | 7¼ E | 6½ E | 5¾ E | 5 E | - 30 S | 30 W | 9 E | | | | - 30 S | 35 W | 11 E | | | | - 30 S | 5 E | 5 W | 7 W | 8¾ W | 10¼ W | - 30 S | 10 E | 7¼ W | 9¼ W | 11¼ W | 12¾ W | - 30 S | 15 E | 9½ W | | | | - 30 S | 30 E | 17½ W | 18½ W | 19½ W | 20½ W | - 30 S | 35 E | 20¼ W | 21 W | 21¾ W | 22½ W | - 30 S | 40 E | 21¾ W | 22½ W | 23¼ W | 24 W | - 30 S | 45 E | 23 W | 23½ W | 24 W | 24½ W | - 30 S | 50 E | 23½ W | 23¾ W | 24 W | 24¼ W | - 30 S | 55 E | 23 W | 23 W | 23 W | 22¾ W | - 30 S | 60 E | 21¾ W | 21½ W | 21 W | 20½ W | - 30 S | 65 E | 20¼ W | 19½ W | 19 W | 18½ W | - 30 S | 70 E | 18¾ W | 18 W | 17¼ W | 16½ W | - 30 S | 75 E | 17¼ W | 16½ W | 15¾ W | 14¾ W | - 30 S | 80 E | 15¾ W | 15 W | 14 W | 13 W | - 30 S | 85 E | 14 W | 13¼ W | 12½ W | 11½ W | - 30 S | 90 E | 12½ W | 11¾ W | 11 W | 10¼ W | - 30 S | 95 E | 10½ W | 10 W | 9½ W | 9¾ W | - 30 S |100 E | 8¾ W | | | | - 35 S | 0 | 2½ W | 4 W | 5½ W | 7 W | - 35 S | 5 W | 0 | 1 W | 2½ W | 4 W | - 35 S | 10 W | 2¼ E | 1½ E | 0½ W | 1¾ W | - 35 S | 15 W | 4¼ E | | | | - 35 S | 20 W | 6¾ E | | | | - 35 S | 25 W | 8¾ E | | | | - 35 S | 30 W | 10¾ E | | | | - 35 S | 35 W | 12¾ E | | | | - 35 S | 5 E | 5 W | 6½ W | 8 W | 9½ W | - 35 S | 10 E | 7¼ W | 8½ W | 10¼ W | 11¾ W | - 35 S | 15 E | 9¾ W | 11¼ W | 12¾ W | 14¼ W | - 35 S | 20 E | 12½ W | 14 W | 15½ W | 17 W | - 35 S | 25 E | 15¼ W | 16½ W | 18 W | 19¼ W | - 35 S | 30 E | 18¼ W | 19½ W | 20½ W | 21½ W | - 35 S | 35 E | 21 W | 22 W | 22¾ W | 23½ W | - 35 S | 40 E | 22¾ W | 23½ W | 24¼ W | 25 W | - 35 S | 45 E | 24¼ W | 25 W | 25 W | 26 W | - 35 S | 50 E | 24¾ W | 25¼ W | 25¾ W | 26 W | - 35 S | 55 E | 24¼ W | 24½ W | 24½ W | 24¾ W | - 35 S | 60 E | 23 W | 23 W | 23 W | 22¾ W | - 35 S | 65 E | 21½ W | 21¼ W | 21 W | 20¾ W | - 35 S | 70 E | 19¾ W | 19¾ W | 18¾ W | 18¼ W | - 35 S | 75 E | 18¼ W | 17¾ W | 17¼ W | 17½ W | - 35 S | 80 E | 16¾ W | 16¼ W | 15¾ W | 15 W | - 35 S | 85 E | 15 W | 14½ W | 14 W | 13½ W | - 35 S | 90 E | 13½ W | 13 W | 12¾ W | 12½ W | - 35 S | 95 E | 11½ W | 11½ W | 11¼ W | 11 W | - 40 S | 0 | 2 W | 3½ W | 5 W | 6½ W | - 40 S | 5 W | 0¾ E | 0½ W | 2 W | 3½ W | - 40 S | 10 W | 3¼ E | | | | - 40 S | 15 W | 5½ E | | | | - 40 S | 20 W | 8 E | | | | - 40 S | 25 W | 10½ E | | | | - 40 S | 30 W | 12½ E | | | | - 40 S | 5 E | 4½ W | 6 W | 7½ W | 9 W | - 40 S | 10 E | 7¼ W | 8½ W | 10 W | 11½ W | - 40 S | 15 E | 9¾ W | 11¼ W | 12¾ W | 14 W | - 40 S | 20 E | 12¾ W | 14¼ W | 15½ W | 17 W | - 40 S | 25 E | 16 W | 17¼ W | 18½ W | 19¾ W | - 40 S | 30 E | 19 W | 20 W | 21¼ W | 22¼ W | - 40 S | 35 E | 21¾ W | 22¾ W | 23½ W | 24½ W | - 40 S | 40 E | 23¾ W | 24½ W | 25 W | 26 W | - 40 S | 45 E | 25¼ W | 26 W | 26¾ W | 27½ W | - 40 S | 50 E | 26 W | 26½ W | 27 W | 27½ W | - 40 S | 55 E | 25¼ W | 25½ W | 25¾ W | 26 W | - 40 S | 60 E | 24 W | 24 W | 24 W | 24¼ W | - 40 S | 65 E | 22½ W | 22½ W | 22¼ W | 22¼ W | - 40 S | 70 E | 20¾ W | 20½ W | 20¼ W | 20 W | - 40 S | 75 E | 19¼ W | 18¾ W | 18¼ W | 17¾ W | - 40 S | 80 E | 17½ W | 17 W | 16½ W | 16 W | - - - | Longitude, VARIATION. - | From | Anno | Anno - Latitude. | London. | 1744. | 1756. - --------------+----------------+----------+------------+ - _Degrees._ | _Degrees._ |_Degrees._|_ Degrees._ | - 0 | 0 |14¼ W | 15¼ W | - 0 | 5 W |12 W | 13¼ W | - 0 | 10 W |10 W | 11 W | - 0 | 15 W | 7½ W | 9 W | - 0 | 20 W | 5¼ W | 6½ W | - 0 | 25 W | 3 W | 4 W | - 0 | 30 W | 0¾ W | 0½ W | - 0 | 35 W | 1½ E | 1½ E | - 0 | 40 W | 3½ E | 3½ E | - 0 | 45 W | 4¾ E | 5 E | - 0 | 50 W | 6 E | 6½ E | - 0 | 5 E |15¾ W | 16½ W | - 0 | 10 E |17 W | 17½ W | - 0 | 40 E |16½ W | 16¾ W | - 0 | 45 E |15¾ W | 14½ W | - 0 | 50 E |14 W | 11¾ W | - 0 | 55 E |11½ W | 8¾ W | - 0 | 60 E | 9 W | 6 W | - 0 | 65 E | 6½ W | 4½ W | - 0 | 70 E | 4 W | 2¾ W | - 0 | 75 E | 1¾ W | 1 W | - 0 | 80 E | 0¼ W | 0¼ E | - 0 | 85 E | 0¼ E | 1¼ E | - 0 | 90 E | 1¼ W | 1 E | - 0 | 95 E | 2 W | 0½ W | - 0 |100 E | 2½ W | 1 W | - 5 N | 0 |15 W | 15¼ W | - 5 N | 5 W |13 W | 13 W | - 5 N | 10 W |10¾ W | 11¼ W | - 5 N | 15 W | 8½ W | 9¼ W | - 5 N | 20 W | 6 W | 7¼ W | - 5 N | 25 W | 3¾ W | 4½ W | - 5 N | 30 W | 1½ W | 1½ W | - 5 N | 35 W | 0½ E | 0½ E | - 5 N | 40 W | 2¼ E | 2¼ E | - 5 N | 45 W | 3¾ E | 4 E | - 5 N | 50 W | 5 E | 5¼ E | - 5 N | 55 W | 6¼ E | 6½ E | - 5 N | 5 E |16¼ W | 16½ W | - 5 N | 10 E |17½ W | 17½ W | - 5 N | 45 E |14 W | 13¾ W | - 5 N | 50 E |12¼ W | 11 W | - 5 N | 55 E |10 W | 8¼ W | - 5 N | 60 E | 8¼ W | 6 W | - 5 N | 65 E | 6 W | 4½ W | - 5 N | 70 E | 3¾ W | 2¾ W | - 5 N | 75 E | 1¾ W | 0¾ W | - 5 N | 80 E | 0¼ W | 0¼ E | - 5 N | 85 E | 0¼ W | 1¼ E | - 5 N | 90 E | 1¼ W | 0½ E | - 5 N | 95 E | 2¼ W | 0½ W | - 10 N | 15 W | 9¼ W | 10 W | - 10 N | 20 W | 7 W | 8 W | - 10 N | 25 W | 4½ W | 5½ W | - 10 N | 30 W | 2¼ W | 3 W | - 10 N | 35 W | 0½ W | 1 W | - 10 N | 40 W | 1¼ E | 1 E | - 10 N | 45 W | 2¾ E | 2½ E | - 10 N | 50 W | 4 E | 4 E | - 10 N | 55 W | 5¼ E | 5½ E | - 10 N | 60 W | 6½ E | 6¾ E | - 10 N | 50 E |11¼ W | 10½ W | - 10 N | 55 E | 9¼ W | 8 W | - 10 N | 60 E | 7¾ W | 6 W | - 10 N | 65 E | 6 W | 4½ W | - 10 N | 70 E | 3¾ W | 3 W | - 10 N | 75 E | 1¾ W | 1 E | - 10 N | 80 E | 0½ W | 0¼ E | - 10 N | 85 E | 0 | 1 E | - 10 N | 90 E | 1½ W | 0½ E | - 10 N | 95 E | 2¼ W | 0½ W | - 15 N | 20 W | 7 W | 9 W | - 15 N | 25 W | 4¾ W | 6½ W | - 15 N | 30 W | 2¾ W | 4½ W | - 15 N | 35 W | 1¼ W | 2½ W | - 15 N | 40 W | 0 | 0½ W | - 15 N | 45 W | 1½ E | 1 E | - 15 N | 50 W | 2¾ E | 2½ E | - 15 N | 55 W | 4 E | 3¾ E | - 15 N | 60 W | 5 E | 5 E | - 15 N | 65 W | 6 E | 6 E | - 15 N | 70 W | 6¾ E | 7 E | - 15 N | 75 W | 7 E | 7¾ E | - 15 N | 80 W | 7 E | 8 E | - 15 N | 50 E |10½ W | 9¾ W | - 15 N | 55 E | 8¾ W | 7¾ W | - 15 N | 60 E | 7½ W | 6 W | - 15 N | 65 E | 6 W | 4½ W | - 15 N | 70 E | 4 W | 2¾ W | - 15 N | 75 E | 2¼ W | 0¾ W | - 15 N | 80 E | 1¼ W | 0 | - 15 N | 85 E | 0¼ W | 0¾ W | - 15 N | 90 E | 0¾ W | 0½ W | - 15 N | 95 E | 2¼ W | 0½ W | - 20 N | 20 W | 7 W | 10 W | - 20 N | 25 W | 4¾ W | 8 W | - 20 N | 30 W | 3¼ W | 5¾ W | - 20 N | 35 W | 2¼ W | 4 W | - 20 N | 40 W | 1 W | 2½ W | - 20 N | 45 W | 0¼ E | 0¾ W | - 20 N | 50 W | 1¼ E | 0¾ E | - 20 N | 55 W | 2½ E | 2 E | - 20 N | 60 W | 3½ E | 3¼ E | - 20 N | 65 W | 4¼ E | 4 E | - 20 N | 70 W | 5 E | 5 E | - 20 N | 75 W | 5¼ E | 5¼ E | - 20 N | 80 W | 5¼ E | 6 E | - 20 N | 60 E | 7½ W | 6 W | - 20 N | 65 E | 6 W | 4½ W | - 20 N | 70 E | 4½ W | 2¾ W | - 20 N | 90 E | 0½ W | 1 E | - 25 N | 20 W | 7 W | 11 W | - 25 N | 25 W | 5¼ W | 9½ W | - 25 N | 30 W | 4 W | 7½ W | - 25 N | 35 W | 3 W | 5½ W | - 25 N | 40 W | 2¼ W | 3¾ W | - 25 N | 45 W | 1½ W | 2½ W | - 25 N | 50 W | 0½ W | 1 W | - 25 N | 55 W | 0½ E | 0 | - 25 N | 60 W | 1½ E | 1¼ E | - 25 N | 65 W | 2¼ E | 2¼ E | - 25 N | 70 W | 3¼ E | 2¾ E | - 25 N | 75 W | 3½ E | 3 E | - 25 N | 80 W | 3½ E | 3 E | - 25 N | 60 E | 7½ W | 6 W | - 25 N | 65 E | 6 W | 4½ W | - 25 N | 70 E | 4½ W | 2¾ W | - 30 N | 10 W |11½ W | 13¾ W | - 30 N | 15 W |10¼ W | 12¾ W | - 30 N | 20 W | 8½ W | 12 W | - 30 N | 25 W | 6¾ W | 10¾ W | - 30 N | 30 W | 5¼ W | 9 W | - 30 N | 35 W | 4¼ W | 7 W | - 30 N | 40 W | 3½ W | 5¼ W | - 30 N | 45 W | 2¾ W | 4 W | - 30 N | 50 W | 2¼ W | 3 W | - 30 N | 55 W | 1½ W | 2¼ W | - 30 N | 60 W | 1 W | 1½ W | - 30 N | 65 W | ¼ W | 1 W | - 30 N | 70 W | ¼ E | ½ W | - 30 N | 75 W | ½ E | 0 | - 30 N | 80 W | ¾ E | 0 | - 35 N | 10 W |12¼ W | 14¾ W | - 35 N | 15 W |11½ W | 13¾ W | - 35 N | 20 W |10¼ W | 13 W | - 35 N | 25 W | 9 W | 12¼ W | - 35 N | 30 W | 8 W | 10½ W | - 35 N | 35 W | 7 W | 8¾ W | - 35 N | 40 W | 6¼ W | 7¼ W | - 35 N | 45 W | 5½ W | 6¼ W | - 35 N | 50 W | 5 W | 5½ W | - 35 N | 55 W | 4¾ W | 5 W | - 35 N | 60 W | 5 W | 5¼ W | - 35 N | 65 W | 5¼ W | 6 W | - 35 N | 70 W | 5¾ W | 6¾ W | - 35 N | 75 W | 6½ W | 7 W | - 40 N | 10 W |13¼ W | 15 W | - 40 N | 15 W |12¾ W | 14½ W | - 40 N | 20 W |12¼ W | 14¼ W | - 40 N | 25 W |11¼ W | 13½ W | - 40 N | 30 W |10¼ W | 12¾ W | - 40 N | 35 W | 9½ W | 11¼ W | - 40 N | 40 W | 9 W | 10 W | - 40 N | 45 W | 8½ W | 9½ W | - 40 N | 50 W | 8½ W | 9½ W | - 40 N | 55 W | 8¾ W | 10 W | - 40 N | 60 W | 9¼ W | 11 W | - 40 N | 65 W |10¼ W | 12 W | - 40 N | 70 W |11½ W | 12¾ W | - 45 N | 5 W |15½ W | 16½ W | - 45 N | 10 W |15 W | 16½ W | - 45 N | 15 W |14¾ W | 16¼ W | - 45 N | 20 W |14½ W | 16 W | - 45 N | 25 W |14 W | 16 W | - 45 N | 30 W |13¾ W | 15¾ W | - 45 N | 35 W |13¼ W | 15¼ W | - 45 N | 40 W |13 W | 15 W | - 45 N | 45 W |13¼ W | 15½ W | - 45 N | 50 W |14 W | 16 W | - 45 N | 55 W |15¼ W | 17 W | - 45 N | 60 W |16 W | 18½ W | - 50 N | 5 W |17 W | 19¼ W | - 50 N | 10 W |17¼ W | 19½ W | - 50 N | 15 W |17½ W | 20 W | - 50 N | 20 W |17½ W | 20½ W | - 50 N | 25 W |17¾ W | 21 W | - 5 S | 0 |13¼ W | 15 W | - 5 S | 5 W |11¼ W | 13 W | - 5 S | 10 W | 9¼ | 10¾ W | - 5 S | 15 W | 6¾ W | 8½ W | - 5 S | 20 W | 4 W | 6 W | - 5 S | 25 W | 2 W | 3 W | - 5 S | 30 W | 0¼ E | 0 | - 5 S | 35 W | 2¾ E | 2¾ E | - 5 S | 5 E |15 W | 16 W | - 5 S | 10 E |16½ W | 17 W | - 5 S | 40 E |17½ W | 18 W | - 5 S | 45 E |17 W | 16 W | - 5 S | 50 E |15½ W | 12¾ W | - 5 S | 55 E |13 W | 9¼ W | - 5 S | 60 E |10 W | 6½ W | - 5 S | 65 E | 7 W | 4½ W | - 5 S | 70 E | 4½ W | 3 W | - 5 S | 75 E | 2¼ W | 1 W | - 5 S | 80 E | 0¾ W | 0 | - 5 S | 85 E | 0½ W | 0¾ E | - 5 S | 90 E | 1¼ W | 0¾ E | - 5 S | 95 E | 2 W | 0½ W | - 5 S |100 E | 2¾ W | 1½ W | - 10 S | 0 |12½ W | 14¼ W | - 10 S | 5 W |10½ W | 12¾ W | - 10 S | 10 W | 8¼ W | 10¼ W | - 10 S | 15 W | 5¾ W | 7¾ W | - 10 S | 20 W | 3 W | 4¾ W | - 10 S | 25 W | 0¾ W | 2 W | - 10 S | 30 W | 1¾ E | 1 E | - 10 S | 35 W | 4 E | 3½ E | - 10 S | 5 E |14½ W | 15¾ W | - 10 S | 10 E |16 W | 16¾ W | - 10 S | 15 E |17¼ W | 17¾ W | - 10 S | 40 E |19 W | 19¼ W | - 10 S | 45 E |18½ W | 18 W | - 10 S | 50 E |16¾ W | 14¼ W | - 10 S | 55 E |14½ W | 10½ W | - 10 S | 60 E |11¼ W | 7¼ W | - 10 S | 65 E | 8 W | 5 W | - 10 S | 70 E | 5½ W | 3½ W | - 10 S | 75 E | 3½ W | 2 W | - 10 S | 80 E | 1¾ W | 1 W | - 10 S | 85 E | 1½ W | 0¼ W | - 10 S | 90 E | 1¾ W | 0¼ W | - 10 S | 95 E | 2½ W | 1 W | - 10 S |100 E | 2¾ W | 2 W | - 10 S |105 E | 3¼ W | 2¾ W | - 10 S |110 E | 3¾ W | 3¼ W | - 15 S | 0 |11¾ W | 14 W | - 15 S | 5 W | 9½ W | 12 W | - 15 S | 10 W | 7½ W | 9½ W | - 15 S | 15 W | 4¾ W | 7 W | - 15 S | 20 W | 1¾ W | 4 W | - 15 S | 25 W | 0½ E | 1 W | - 15 S | 30 W | 3 E | 2 E | - 15 S | 35 W | 5 E | 4½ E | - 15 S | 40 W | 6¾ E | 6½ E | - 15 S | 5 E |13¾ W | 15¼ W | - 15 S | 10 E |15½ W | 16½ W | - 15 S | 40 E |20 W | 20 W | - 15 S | 45 E |20 W | 19½ W | - 15 S | 50 E |18 W | 16¼ W | - 15 S | 55 E |15½ W | 12½ W | - 15 S | 60 E |12½ W | 9 W | - 15 S | 65 E | 9¾ W | 6 W | - 15 S | 70 E | 7¼ W | 4¼ W | - 15 S | 75 E | 5 W | 3¼ W | - 15 S | 80 E | 3½ W | 2½ W | - 15 S | 85 E | 2¾ W | 2¼ W | - 15 S | 90 E | 3 W | 2¼ W | - 15 S | 95 E | 3¼ W | 2¾ W | - 15 S |100 E | 3¾ W | 3½ W | - 15 S |105 E | 4¼ W | 3¾ W | - 15 S |110 E | 4½ W | | - 20 S | 0 |11 W | 13½ W | - 20 S | 5 W | 8¾ W | 11¼ W | - 20 S | 10 W | 6½ W | 8¾ W | - 20 S | 15 W | 3½ W | 5¾ W | - 20 S | 20 W | 0½ W | 3 W | - 20 S | 25 W | 2 E | 0 | - 20 S | 30 W | 4¼ E | 2½ E | - 20 S | 35 W | 6½ E | 5 E | - 20 S | 40 W | 8 E | 7½ E | - 20 S | 5 E |13¼ W | 15 W | - 20 S | 10 E |15 W | 16¼ W | - 20 S | 15 E |16½ W | 17¾ W | - 20 S | 35 E |20¾ W | 22 W | - 20 S | 40 E |21¾ W | 22 W | - 20 S | 45 E |21¾ W | 21¼ W | - 20 S | 50 E |19¾ W | 18¾ W | - 20 S | 55 E |17 W | 15 W | - 20 S | 60 E |14½ W | 11¼ W | - 20 S | 65 E |12 W | 8 W | - 20 S | 70 E |10 W | 6 W | - 20 S | 75 E | 7¾ W | 4¾ W | - 20 S | 80 E | 6 W | 4½ W | - 20 S | 85 E | 5 W | 4¼ W | - 20 S | 90 E | 4¾ W | 4½ W | - 20 S | 95 E | 4¾ W | 4½ W | - 20 S |100 E | 5 W | 4¾ W | - 20 S |105 E | 5 W | 4¾ W | - 25 S | 0 |10½ W | 12½ W | - 25 S | 5 W | 8 W | 10 W | - 25 S | 10 W | 5½ W | 7½ W | - 25 S | 15 W | 2½ W | 4½ W | - 25 S | 20 W | 0½ E | 2¾ W | - 25 S | 25 W | 3 E | 1 E | - 25 S | 30 W | 5½ E | 3½ E | - 25 S | 35 W | 7½ E | 6 E | - 25 S | 40 W | 9 E | | - 25 S | 5 E |12½ W | 14½ W | - 25 S | 10 E |14½ W | 16 W | - 25 S | 15 E |16¼ W | 17¾ W | - 25 S | 35 E |22¼ W | 23½ W | - 25 S | 40 E |23¼ W | 23¾ W | - 25 S | 45 E |23¼ W | 23 W | - 25 S | 50 E |22 W | 21 W | - 25 S | 55 E |19¾ W | 18 W | - 25 S | 60 E |17 W | 14¾ W | - 25 S | 65 E |15 W | 11¾ W | - 25 S | 70 E |13 W | 9½ W | - 25 S | 75 E |11¼ W | 8 W | - 25 S | 80 E | 9¼ W | 7½ W | - 25 S | 85 E | 8 W | 7¼ W | - 25 S | 90 E | 7¼ W | 7 W | - 25 S | 95 E | 7 W | 6½ W | - 25 S |100 E | 6¾ W | 6 W | - 30 S | 0 | 9½ W | 11¾ W | - 30 S | 5 W | 7 W | 9 W | - 30 S | 10 W | 4½ W | 6¼ W | - 30 S | 15 W | 1½ W | 3½ W | - 30 S | 20 W | 1½ E | 0½ W | - 30 S | 25 W | 4 E | 2 E | - 30 S | 30 W | 6½ E | 4½ E | - 30 S | 35 W | 8½ E | 7¼ E | - 30 S | 5 E |11¾ W | 13¾ W | - 30 S | 10 E |14 W | 15½ W | - 30 S | 15 E |16 W | 17½ W | - 30 S | 30 E |21¾ W | 23¼ W | - 30 S | 35 E |23½ W | 24¾ W | - 30 S | 40 E |24¾ W | 25¼ W | - 30 S | 45 E |25¼ W | 24½ W | - 30 S | 50 E |24½ W | 23¼ W | - 30 S | 55 E |22½ W | 21 W | - 30 S | 60 E |20 W | 18 W | - 30 S | 65 E |17¾ W | 15 W | - 30 S | 70 E |15½ W | 13 W | - 30 S | 75 E |13¾ W | 11½ W | - 30 S | 80 E |12 W | 10¾ W | - 30 S | 85 E |10½ W | 10¼ W | - 30 S | 90 E | 9½ W | 9½ W | - 30 S | 95 E | 8¾ W | 9 W | - 30 S |100 E | 8¼ W | | - 35 S | 0 | 8½ W | 10½ W | - 35 S | 5 W | 5¾ W | 7¾ W | - 35 S | 10 W | 3¼ W | 5 W | - 35 S | 15 W | 0¼ W | 2¼ W | - 35 S | 20 W | 2½ E | 0½ E | - 35 S | 25 W | 5 E | 3 E | - 35 S | 30 W | 7¼ E | 5¾ E | - 35 S | 35 W | 9¼ E | 8¼ E | - 35 S | 5 E |11 W | 13 W | - 35 S | 10 E |13½ W | 15¼ W | - 35 S | 15 E |15½ W | 17½ W | - 35 S | 20 E |18½ W | 19¾ W | - 35 S | 25 E |20¾ W | 22½ W | - 35 S | 30 E |22¾ W | 24¼ W | - 35 S | 35 E |24½ W | 26 W | - 35 S | 40 E |26 W | 26¾ W | - 35 S | 45 E |27 W | 26 W | - 35 S | 50 E |26½ W | 24¾ W | - 35 S | 55 E |25 W | 23 W | - 35 S | 60 E |22¾ W | 21 W | - 35 S | 65 E |20¼ W | 18¾ W | - 35 S | 70 E |17¾ W | 16¾ W | - 35 S | 75 E |16 W | 15¼ W | - 35 S | 80 E |14¼ W | 14¼ W | - 35 S | 85 E |13 W | 13½ W | - 35 S | 90 E |12 W | 12¾ W | - 35 S | 95 E |10¾ W | | - 40 S | 0 | 7¾ W | 9¼ W | - 40 S | 5 W | 5 W | 6¾ W | - 40 S | 10 W | 2½ W | 4¼ W | - 40 S | 15 W | 0½ E | 1½ W | - 40 S | 20 W | 3¼ E | 1¼ E | - 40 S | 25 W | 5½ E | 4 E | - 40 S | 30 W | 8 E | 6½ E | - 40 S | 5 E |10¼ W | 12 W | - 40 S | 10 E |12¾ W | 14½ W | - 40 S | 15 E |15½ W | 17¼ W | - 40 S | 20 E |18½ W | 20 W | - 40 S | 25 E |21¼ W | 22¾ W | - 40 S | 30 E |23½ W | 25¼ W | - 40 S | 35 E |25½ W | 27 W | - 40 S | 40 E |27 W | 28½ W | - 40 S | 45 E |28¼ W | 27¼ W | - 40 S | 50 E |28¼ W | 26 W | - 40 S | 55 E |26½ W | 24½ W | - 40 S | 60 E |24¼ W | 22¾ W | - 40 S | 65 E |22 W | 20¾ W | - 40 S | 70 E |19½ W | 19½ W | - 40 S | 75 E |17¼ W | 18¼ W | - 40 S | 80 E |15½ W | 17¼ W | - - -VARIATION _of the_ Magnetic-Needle, _from the Islands of_ Orkney _to_ -Hudson’s Straits, _for the Year 1757_. - - ----------+------------+--------------------------------------- - West | | - Longitude | | Degrees of North Latitude. - From | | - _London_. | | 56 | 57 | 58 | 59 | 60 | 61 | 62 | 63 - ----------+------------+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+---- - Degrees. | | | | | | | | | - 4 | | | | | 18 | 18 | 19 | 19 | - 10 | Degrees | | | 19 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 21 | - 27 | of | | | 24 | 24 | 25 | 25 | | - 45 | West | 29 | 29 | 30 | 31 | | | | - 55 | Variation. | | | | | | | | - 65 | | | | | | 39 | 40 | 41 | - ----------+------------+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+ - - -VARIATION _in_ Hudson’s-Bay _and_ Straits, _for the Year 1757_. - - ----------+------------+-------------------------------------------- - West | | - Longitude | | Degrees of North Latitude. - From | | - _London_. | |52|55|56|57|58|59|60 | 61 | 62 | 63 - ----------+------------+--+--+--+--+--+--+---+----+----+---- - Degrees. | | | | | | | | | | | - 65 | | | | | | | | 39| 40 | 41 | - 71 | Degrees | | | | | | | | 41 | 41 | - 79 | of | | | | | | | | | | 43 - 81 | West | | | | | | | | 38 | 39 | 40 - 83 | Variation. |18|20| | | | | | | 39 | 40 - 86 | | | | | | | | | 35 | 37 | - 92 | | | | |17|17| | | | | - 94 | | | | | |17|18| | | | - 95 | | | | | | |18| | | | - ----------+------------+--+--+--+--+--+---+---+----+----+ - -We have been informed, that in Hudson’s-Bay, there has been very little -alteration in the variation of the compass during the twenty years last -past. - - - - -XLII. _An Account of some extraordinary Tumors upon the Head of a -labouring Man, now in_ St. Bartholomew’s _Hospital. By_ James Parsons, -_M.D. F.R.S._ - - -[Read Nov. 10, 1757.] - -THIS poor man, whose name is John Tomlinson, gives this account of -himself: That he was born at or near Rotherham in Yorkshire, and is now -about 25 years of age: that when he was a boy of four or five years -old, at play with other children, he received a blow from one of them -upon the top of his head; and believes that hurt, he then received, -was the beginning of the appearances, that are represented before you. -_See_ TAB. XIV. The tumor upon the top of his head, however, grew -first, and, after having spread all over the vertex, extended gradually -downwards over his right shoulder, and forwards over the _os frontis_, -on the same side, till it stretched downwards into a lax flabby -substance all over the right side of his face and shoulder: then the -upper of the three anterior tumors arose from the large one; the middle -one from the _ala nasi_, pulling it down by its weight, as you see it -in Figure 1.[198]; and the lower one was pendulous from the inside -of the great tumor by a narrow neck. These are the appearances which -present themselves at first sight; but those under the great tumor -are no less extraordinary; for, upon lifting up the great tumor, and -looking up under it, his right eye comes in sight, with which he sees -very well, and the eye is clear and sound; but the under lid is pulled -down, and stretched to six or seven inches long, to which a tumor hung -also, as large as that anterior one at the chin, the lowest of the -three; besides several flaps and _rugæ_ of skin, and smaller tumors. - -[Illustration: _Philos. Trans. Vol. L._ TAB. XIV. _p. 350_. - - I. Parsons MD. _ad viv. del._ _J. Mynde sc._] - -The hairy scalp is so stretched by the vertical tumor, that the hairs -are driven asunder; so that the tumor is in some places bald, and the -whole is rugged and uneven. At its basis, all round, till we come to -the extended part that goes away to the right shoulder, a bony edge -may be distinctly felt, as if the skull was depressed at the top: and -yet I cannot but believe, that there is no depression of the arch of -the inner table, because the man was from his childhood ever very -healthy; being never troubled with those symptoms, which usually attend -a depression of the _cranium_. From this seeming edge the _os frontis_ -shoots out a great way over the _ossa nasi_, perhaps to two or three -inches beyond the frontal sinus’s; and is the basis, from which the -great pendulous tumor hangs downwards and forwards. - -From the root of the nose, under the upper of the three smaller tumors, -arises a large trunk of a vein, which ramifies up to the vertical -tumor, and to the right over the upper part of the great pendulous one: -these are very conspicuous, and serve to bring back the residual blood -from the tumors: nor is it unlikely that the arteries bear a proportion -with these veins in their size, in order to supply the tumors with the -matter, which has given them their great increase; but these, lying -concealed, cannot be spoken to with any certainty. - -If we compare this growth of the frontal bone with that of other -_exostoses_, I believe there may this difference be rationally -observed; that other _exostoses_ are generally attended with ulcerous -tumors, which are for the most part cancerous; and these may commence -at any age. I have now drawings, taken from the right hand of a man -of 50, which represent risings of the _radius_ and _ulna_, with the -fingers, to a most frightful degree; and these begun but six years -before, and are attended with foul running ulcers; and now the bones -of the arm and hand, on the left side, are beginning to have the same -appearances: whereas the frontal bone of the present subject appears -sound, as far as we are able to judge by examination: nor does there -appear the least disposition to ulceration in any part of it. When -this is the case, the growth generally begins while the subjects are -young; upon which we shall be more particular a little further on. -His sensation upon every part of these tumors, is exactly like that -of every other part of his skin, having not the least uneasiness upon -being handled. This poor man worked at day-labour in the fields till -some months before he came to town. - -Perhaps it may not be improper to lay down the dimensions of these -tumors, as the case is so extraordinary; for the size of them is -almost incredible: but I made my drawing in the presence of several of -the gentlemen of that hospital, who allowed it to be very exact, and -precise in the expression of the parts, as well as in the dimensions. -The vertical tumor is about seven inches diameter at the basis, where -the bony edge is felt, mentioned before, and about four inches high -from that edge. From that edge, or the basis of the vertical tumor, -to the bottom of the great tumor, is ten inches; so that the length of -both, from the vertex to the end of the great one, is about 14 inches: -and upon viewing it, when he turns his side towards you, the whole -mass is eight or nine inches over all the way; hard at top, and flabby -downwards, hanging in kinds of plaits. From the eye to the opposite -outline of the great tumor is six inches; and lower down, from the -left corner of his mouth to the opposite outline of the same tumor, -eight inches. The upper small tumor, over the nose, is one inch three -quarters long by one inch and a half; the middle tumor is two inches -long from the _ala nasi_, to which it hangs, and of the same breadth; -and the lowest tumor, shaped like a goose’s egg, is four inches and a -half long by near three inches over. - -This man is under the care of Mr. Crane, an eminent surgeon of St. -Bartholomew’s Hospital, who has just now taken off the lowest of -these three anterior tumors, and also the tumor mentioned, which hung -underneath to the under lid of his right eye. He intends proceeding to -take off that at the _ala nasi_ next, and so on till he takes away all -the smaller tumors first: afterwards the larger will be considered. The -substance of those cut off was intirely fat; nor was there the least -speck of blood in the lowest of the three smaller tumors; but there was -an hæmorrhage from a vessel divided in taking off that hanging to the -right eye-lid; which soon yielded to the methods he made use of, and -went on successfully till quite healed. - -It is pity no one of the people of condition in the country, where -this poor man lived, took notice of him while he was a lad; because, -when the vertical tumor begun, or even after it had made some progress, -if he had been sent up to any of our hospitals, there would have been -no difficulty in curing him. This leads me to some precautions, which, -I hope, will render my account of the case of some use, considered in -a physiological light; which was my intention in thus laying it before -this learned Society. - -There is a great deal of difference between injuries received in young -subjects and in adults. In the latter, the consequences are not apt -to be of so dangerous a nature as in the former (except indeed where -there happen violent fractures or wounds, which immediately dispatch -the person, young or old); because, in such as are so far advanced -in years, as that the parts have done growing, or, in other words, -are incapable of carrying the person to any larger size, preserving -the natural proportion, a tumor arising from a blow on the head would -be merely local, without extending to any neighbouring parts in so -extraordinary a manner: but in children, as in the case before you, -a tumor may increase every moment from a blow, and spread itself to -the neighbouring parts, to the ruin of the child, unless timely care -be taken to prevent it; because in such young subjects the parts are -continually growing, the vessels enlarging in their diameters, and -carrying more and more nutrition to every point, in proportion to the -nature of each individual organ, always preserving such an equilibrium, -in the distribution of the nutritive juices, as is proper to secure -the due proportion of every part as it increases: but when a tumor -arises from a blow in such a growing subject, if no wound is made, nor -suppuration brought on in the tumor, then the parts of the tumor being -only weakened, the equilibrium is destroyed, a greater flux of juices -than ordinary is carried to it, the due resistance being impaired, and -a luxuriancy of growth is produced in the place of the injury, which -greatly exceeds that of the rest of the body; and will most certainly -continue in the same manner, during the growth of the subject, -when once thus begun. In the present subject, this luxuriancy was -communicated even to the veins, which are apparent and large, and which -were before, in their natural state, scarce visible; and not only to -these, but to the very bones of the forehead: and as to the integuments -and membranes of the body, their great distensibility is well known -to every one. I have seen an _ovarium_ so distended by water, and -thickened as it grew, that it had substance enough to bear being -dressed by a tanner, and contained nine gallons, which I saw poured -into it after it was dressed. And does not every corpulent person shew -the same power of distension in the membranes and integuments of the -body, as well as wens of all kinds upon the surface? - -I thought so extraordinary a case well worth the notice of the learned -members of this Society in itself; and the more so, as these few hints -fall naturally from it, to render its publication useful. We are taught -by this, how necessary it is for all such as have the management of -youth under their care, to have an early regard to every accident that -may befall children; for many times injuries of this kind have been -thought very trivial, which, being overlooked and neglected too long, -have been followed by very direful circumstances. I have known about a -young gentleman to have great hard swellings about his head, and become -epileptic, losing his senses as he advanced in years, from a blow with -the back of a book given him by a master. I am, with due respect, - - The +SOCIETY+'s - Most obedient Servant, - James Parsons. - -Sept. 18. 1757. - - - - -XLIII. _An Extract of the Register of the Parish of_ Great Shefford, -_near_ Lamborne, _in_ Berkshire, _for Ten Years: With Observations on -the same: In a Letter to_ Tho. Birch, _D. D. Secret. R. S. from the -Rev. Mr._ Richard Forster, _Rector of_ Great Shefford. - - -[Read Nov. 17, 1757.] - - Great Shefford, near Lamborne, Berks, July 8. 1757. - -Rev. Sir, - -WHEN I settled in the country, abundant leisure enabled me to keep an -exact parish-register. I have now finished ten years, I trust, with -sufficient care, having examined every thing accurately myself. The -sight of three letters, lately published in the Transactions, upon -the subject of political arithmetic, put me upon overlooking and -methodizing my own account; which I here send you, to make what use you -think proper of it. - - -From Lady-day 1747. to Dº. 1757. - - { Males 73 } - Baptized { Females 75 } 148 - - { Males 44 } - Buried { Females 39 } 83 - --- - Increase 65 - - { Under 2 years of age 25 - { Between 2 & 5 4 - { 5 - 10 3 - { 10 - 20 4 - { 20 - 30 5 - Buried { 30 - 40 9 - { 40 - 50 4 - { 50 - 60 4 - { 60 - 70 9 - { 70 - 80 11 - { 80 - 87 5 - -- - 83 - -- - - And but one alive above 87, who is 91. - - The Number of People 425. - The Number of Houses 90. - The Number of Acres 2245. whereof ⅙ is waste. - -I do not offer such trifling numbers as these, as a fit subject to -build a canon of life upon; but only as they may furnish us with a few -particulars, which may throw some small light upon a subject hitherto -very little cultivated: and as what has been advanced this way has been -always taken from great cities, a little from the country perhaps may -not be disagreeable. - -The first observable in my numbers is, that the two infancies of human -life are exactly equal; i. e. as many die above 60 as under 2 years of -age; and that these two periods of life are by much the most sickly, -five eighths of the whole, nearly, dying in these two stages, which -renders the intermediate numbers very small. - -This will give us some reason to suspect, that capital cities are very -improper to estimate the probabilities of life from. The continual flux -of people from the circumjacent country, to seek for employment, makes -the decrements of life seem much larger than they really are. London -is very remarkable upon this account; and Breslaw must receive pretty -large accessions, as a very considerable manufacture is carried on -there. - -The second thing I would observe from my table is, that it confirms -what Dr. Brackenridge observes of the Isle of Wight; _viz._ that the -births are to the burials as 2 to 1 almost; ours being as 15 to 8 -nearly. Now if this is the case of all the country places in England, -it will give us a strong presumption, that the increase of mankind is -much quicker than Dr. Derham’s proportion of 1 to 12; especially if we -consider, - -Thirdly, That of the living not 1 in 50 dies yearly; and this in a -village not very healthy. We are situated upon the celebrated Lamborne -stream, which dries up generally in August, and leaves a stagnated -water, and stinking mud, at a critical season of the year, which bring -on a putrid fever, and make our place sometimes very sickly. In the -year 1751 we buried 17, and in 1756. 11: and therefore we may presume, -that in the healthiest parts of the nation, the proportion is still -greater, perhaps not one in 60. In order to clear up this, it were to -be wished, that the actual number of the people was known, where-ever -the bills of mortality are exhibited. All reasoning without this -preliminary is really not much better than groping in the dark. - -A fourth thing observable from my numbers is, that the quantity of -people allotted to a house is too big in all former calculations: for -if we divide 425, the number of people, by 90, the number of houses, -it gives but 4.72, which is not quite 4¾ to a house; and therefore 5 -to a house, I believe, is as much as ought to be allowed, taking the -nation all together. Now if the number of houses, taken in Queen Anne’s -time, be any thing near the right, with one fourth more allowed for -cottages, according to Dr. Brackenridge’s computation, we shall make -the people in England, allowing 5 to a house, to be only 4,556,550. -which appears, at first sight, to be too small a number. However, of -Shefford I would beg leave to observe, (and it is far from being the -poorest of villages) that more than two thirds of all the houses are -downright cottages, and must be excluded, one as much as another, from -any proposed assessment. Upon this foundation we must grant, that at -least half the houses in England, take towns and all together, must be -cottages, and plead an exemption from taxation all alike. And thus -the number of houses will be 1,458,096. which, multiplied by 5, will -give us the number of people, 7,290,480. If to this we add the proposed -increase, 789,558. we shall have 8,080,038 for the number of people now -alive in England. - -The fifth and last thing I would observe from my numbers is, that we -may hence guess at the number of people in the whole kingdom: for -if 1871, the good acres in Shefford, demand 425 persons for their -cultivation, then will 25,300,000 good acres in England require -5,704,168 for the cultivation of the land only. Now supposing one third -part of the people only to live in towns, above what is necessary for -the cultivation of the land belonging to such towns, then we must add -2,852,084 to the above sum, which gives us 8,556,252 for the number -of people in England. It may probably here be said, that this is but -little better than reckoning at random. Indeed I allow it is so. But -then I must beg leave to observe, that it has full as good a foundation -to stand upon, as any calculation, that I have seen hitherto advanced. -It has one _datum_, viz. a certain number of persons to a certain -number of acres. It ought to be noted at the same time, that we are an -inland place, have no sort of manufacture carried on, and consequently -no accession of strangers. - -If we examine the calculation arising from the consumption of wheat, -we shall see some reason to suspect, that the number of inhabitants -in England is not short of eight millions. I am persuaded I do not -exaggerate, when I affirm, that three fourths of the people north of -Trent, and in Wales, do not eat wheat: and as this is near a third -part of England, it will follow, that one fourth of the whole is left -out of the calculation, and that we must add near two millions to it to -make it complete. - -Again, I compute, that in my parish there are killed annually 160 -fat hogs, _viz._ above one to three persons; and that this humour of -pig-killing prevails over half of England at least, and is in some -measure indulged in all parts. Now we will suppose, that there are but -six millions of people in the nation, and that what is killed in the -northern half makes up for what is deficient by reason of towns in the -southern half; we must from hence conclude, that a million of fat hogs -are killed in England every year. Now one hog with another takes two -quarters of corn, sometimes barley, sometimes pease: if we put half -barley, we shall be under the truth. And here we shall have a million -quarters of barley, not only to balance the exportation of wheat, but -also to be equivalent to, as much bread-corn as will maintain a full -million of people. - -Farther, it is well known, that the greatest part of the corn-trade -is, of late years, got into the hands of millers: and it has been -whispered about for a considerable time, and, I think, now the millers -do not deny it, that _some_ whiting is carried to all the great mills. -The excuse alleged for it is, that it makes the flour _wet_, and -consequently _bake_, the better. I am rather inclined to be of opinion, -that it is to give a colour to something that wants colour. And indeed, -who-ever tastes the common bakers bread against a piece of genuine -wheat-bread, will have some reason to suspect, that all is not gold, -that glitters. Every body knows, that the millers buy large quantities -of barley and pease, they say, to fat hogs: but then they have pollard, -middlings, _&c._ to fat them with; and so may possibly mix the barley -and pease with wheat to grind. But as this is all surmise, I would have -no more weight laid upon it than it deserves. - -The next article is of the same nature; I mean, something of a mystery -in trade; and therefore to be touched very gently. What I would hint -is, that it is the opinion of many very intelligent persons, that a -good deal of malt is made, which does not pay the excise. I do not -pretend to ascertain the quantity: perhaps one eighth may not be an -extravagant supposition. And if this be the case, we shall find as much -barley, as will weigh against bread for half a million of people. - -But here, in all probability, you will object, that if all these -articles be admitted, we shall make the number of people near eleven -millions; which is undoubtedly too much. I am ready to grant it. And -here, if I might take the liberty to speak my mind, I think, that the -allowance of one quarter of wheat to three persons is too scanty, -and must quite starve the poor, whose chief provision is bread: and -therefore, two persons to a quarter may be pretty near the truth. And -then the numbers will stand thus: - - Such as eat wheat, by supposition 4,500,000 - In the North, and in Wales 1,500,000 - Against the fatting article 1,000,000 - Against the two last articles 1,000,000 - --------- - 8,000,000 - -I cannot conclude this long scroll without recommending it strongly -to the members of the Royal Society, who have many of them seats in -parliament, and most of them interest in those that have, to get an -Act passed for perfecting registers. The trouble is trifling; the -expence nothing. It would be of great service likewise to number the -people: and this might be done with great ease. I was not three hours -in finishing mine on foot; tho’ it is, perhaps, as extensive, for the -number of people, as most in England, being near five miles in length. -I am, - - Reverend Sir, - Your affectionate Brother, - and very humble Servant, - Richard Forster, _Rector_. - - - - -XLIV. _A remarkable Case of an Aneurism, or Disease of the principal -Artery of the Thigh, occasioned by a Fall. To which is prefixed a short -Account of the Uncertainty of the distinguishing Symptoms of this -Disease. By_ Jos. Warner, _F.R.S. and Surgeon to_ Guy’s Hospital. - - -[Read Nov. 17, 1757.] - -WHEN the coats of an artery become by any means præternaturally -distended, when they become wounded, or when they become ruptured in -such a manner as to discharge and deposit their former contents under -the neighbouring integuments, under the aponeurosis, or tendinous -expansion of a neighbouring muscle, or still more deeply under the -muscles themselves; the natural consequence attending this accident -will sooner or later be a degree of elevation, or tumor: which species -of tumor is known by the term _aneurism_. - -If a true aneurism happens, that is, a swelling arising from a general -weakness of the coats of an arterial vessel, or from a wound or rupture -of some of its coats, it may be often distinguished from a tumor -proceeding from any other cause by a degree of pulsation, supposing -the situation of the injured vessel be superficial; as may be evinced -in recent aneurisms of the humeral artery, which sometimes happen from -bleeding near the bending of the elbow-joint; as well as in aneurisms -of the inferior part of the radical artery, of the ulnary artery, or -of the anterior artery of the leg called _tibialis antica_; and as -may be observed to be sometimes the case too in those arteries, whose -situations are not superficial; to wit, in aneurisms of the _aorta -ascendens_, the curvature of the _aorta_, and of the _carotides_. - -The symptom of pulsation in tumors, which take their rise from a -partial wound, or from a general weakness, and subsequent dilatation of -the coats of an artery, is not confined to this species of aneurism, -but is frequently attendant upon false aneurisms (that is, such -tumors, as are occasioned by extravasated arterial blood), supposing -the disease to be a recent one of either of the preceding vessels, or -of any other arterial vessel not deeply situated: and this symptom -of pulsation in false aneurisms will sometimes be accompanied with a -discoloration, or variegated appearance, of the integuments dependent -upon the insinuation of the blood underneath them. - -But if the extravasation be confined under an aponeurosis, or if the -disease has been of so long standing, as to admit of the thinner -parts of the extravasated blood being absorbed, or by any other means -dispersed, and the fibrous parts, which are left behind, should be -accumulated in considerable quantities, and acquire so compact and -solid an appearance, as to resemble brown macerated leather in their -colour and texture, which I have always observed to be the case in old -diseases of this kind; under these circumstances, the original symptoms -of pulsation on the swelling, and a discoloration of the integuments, -for the most part become imperceptible: for which reasons the true -nature of the disease must be attended with a degree of uncertainty. - -It must be acknowleged by all those, whose experience has given them -opportunities of examining into these diseases, that the symptoms of -a pulsation, and a discoloration of the teguments from extravasated -blood, are not only very often wanting in old aneurisms, but in the -most recent ones: which proves the non-existence of these symptoms to -be no certain characteristics of tumors not being aneurismal: and the -reason why this often happens may be readily explained, and conceived -of, from demonstrating the very deep or low situation of many arteries, -that are known to be liable to these injuries; such as the femoral -arteries, the _arteriæ tibiales posticæ_, the _arteriæ peroneæ_, and -some others. - -Notwithstanding I have treated of pulsation on tumors, and a -discoloration of the integuments or coverings of the part, when they -do exist, as being the truest marks of aneurisms; yet it must not be -inferred from what has hitherto been advanced, that the appearances of -these symptoms are unexceptionable rules of tumors being aneurismal; -seeing it does happen, that mere imposthumations, or collections -of matter, arising from external as well as from internal causes, -are sometimes so immediately situated upon the heart itself, and at -other times upon some of its principal arteries, as to partake in the -most regular manner of their contraction and dilatation (systole and -diastole). - -Some years ago I saw an instance of a boy, about 13 years of age, -who had his breast-bone much broken by a fall. On this account he -was admitted into Guy’s Hospital; but not till a fortnight after the -accident happened. - -Upon examination, there appeared an evident separation of the broken -parts of the bone, which were removed at a considerable distance -from each other: the intermediate space was occupied by a tumor of a -considerable size: the integuments were of their natural complexion: -the tumor had as regular a contraction and dilatation as the heart -itself, or the aorta could be supposed to have. - -Upon pressure, the tumor receded; upon a removal of the pressure, the -tumor immediately resumed its former size and shape. All these are -the distinguishing signs of a true recent aneurism. The situation -and symptoms of this swelling were judged sufficient reasons for -considering the nature of the disease as uncertain; on which account -it was left to take its own course. The event was, the tumor burst in -three weeks after his admittance, discharged a considerable quantity of -matter, and the patient did well. - -From what has been above advanced it is plain, if these arguments can -be supported by facts, that the laying down such rules for infallibly -distinguishing aneurismal tumors from tumors proceeding from very -different causes, must be a matter of the greatest difficulty: and, as -a further proof of their uncertainty, I take the liberty of offering -the following short history of a remarkable case, which has lately -occurred in my own experience. - - -In the month of December 1756. John Yates, aged 35 years, received an -hurt upon and about his knee, by falling upon the ground from a man’s -back. The accident was immediately followed with a considerable degree -of lameness and pain; which upon standing or walking were greatly -increased. - -He continued in much the same state for about six weeks after the -accident. At the end of this time, the calf or the leg was attacked -with an œdematous or doughy swelling; which, in a fortnight, became -so painful, as to disable him from walking. The tumor continued to -increase for about eight weeks; and at length extended itself so far -upwards, as to affect the greatest part of the thigh, the whole of -which was attended with excessive pain, but more particularly so about -the knee. - -_N. B._ So far I relate from the patient’s own account. - -On the 28th of April 1757. he was admitted into Guy’s Hospital under my -care. - -Upon examination, the thigh appeared enlarged to a very great size. The -tumor was uniform, and extended from the inside of the knee to within -a very small space of the groin. The integuments were in every part of -their natural colour. - -Upon pressing the tumor on the inside, it appeared soft, and there was -a very evident fluctuation to be felt on its internal and lateral part; -but there was not the least appearance of pulsation. - -The tumor, on its superior and posterior parts, was of a stony hardness. - -The leg, which, according to the patient’s account, had some time ago -been much swelled, did not now appear to be at all so. - -He was continually in great pain, and had been for some time incapable -of getting any sleep. His appetite was bad. He was a good deal -emaciated. He had a constant slow fever, which arose about five weeks -before his admission into the hospital. He appeared pale and sallow in -his complexion. - -From the time of his being placed under my care to the end of ten days, -there was no alteration in the swelling, or in the symptoms attending -it. - -In expectation therefore of affording him that relief, which could by -no other means be procured, I judged it adviseable to make an opening -into the tumor; which I did by incision into the most prominent and -fluctuating part; upon which there immediately gushed out a large -stream of thin florid blood, and at this instant discovered to me the -true state of that disease; which, till now, could not be ascertained -by any peculiar symptom distinguishable by the touch, or perceptible to -the eye. - -Seeing this, I immediately filled up the wound with lint and tow; and -then proceeded, in as expeditious a manner as possible, to apply a -tight bandage upon the thigh, near to the groin; and, lest this might -accidentally break, I applied a second ligature below the first, and -proceeded to amputate the limb upon the spot. - -During the operation the man fainted, but soon recovered from this -deliquium; and, without any bad symptoms, gradually recovered his rest, -appetite, and strength, and is now in perfect health. - -Upon a dissection of the thigh and leg, I discovered the following -appearances: - -A great part of the fleshy portions of two of the extensor muscles of -the leg, to wit, the _vastus internus_, and _crureus_, were destroyed, -with the subjacent _periosteum_. - -Four of the muscles, whose uses are to bend the leg, and which -compose the internal and external hamstrings; to wit, _gracilis_, -_semitendinosus_, _semimembranosus_, and _biceps tibiæ_, together -with that adductor and flexor muscle of the leg called _sartorius_, -were removed at a considerable distance from the thigh-bone on its -inferior part, and from the _tibia_ and _fibula_ on their superior -parts; by which means a large bed or cavity was formed for containing -the extravasation, which consisted partly of a fluid, and partly of -a coagulated blood; but by far the greatest part of the coagulum had -acquired so firm and fibrous a consistence and appearance, as nearly -to resemble brown macerated leather in its colour and texture. The -neighbouring muscles appeared livid and lacerated. - -The _os femoris_ was become carious on its inferior and posterior -parts; and, at about an inch distance above the condyle of that bone -internally, there arose a considerable _exostosis_. - -The capsular ligament of the knee-joint was become much thickened, and -contained about two ounces of a viscid yellow _synovia_. - -The femoral artery, on its inferior part, just above its division into -_tibialis antica_ and _postica_, was diseased; which disease extended -four inches upwards. - -The coats of the artery were considerably thickened, and lacerated -longitudinally. - -The smallest diameter of the diseased part of the artery was two inches -and one quarter: the largest diameter of the diseased part of the -artery was two inches and one half. - - Hatton-Garden, - Nov. 17. 1757. - - - - -XLV. _Farther Experiments for increasing the Quantity of Steam in a -Fire-Engine. By_ Keane Fitz-Gerald, _Esq; F.R.S._ - - -[Read Nov. 24, 1757.] - -I Gave a former account to the Royal Society of some experiments made -for increasing the quantity of steam in a fire-engine, by blowing air -thro’ boiling water[199]. The effects then evidently produced left me, -and I believe many others, who came to view the experiments, no room to -doubt the seeming cause. In which error I should probably have still -remained, had not farther experiments demonstrated the mistake. - -Whatever apology I ought to make this learned Society, for having given -in that account prematurely, I believe their great regard to truth, -which has always been the basis of their researches for the improvement -of natural knowlege, will require none for this. I shall therefore, as -briefly as I can, relate the further experiments, that were made, which -evidently demonstrate the error of the former; and from which some -phænomena have occurred, perhaps hitherto unknown. - -In order to try what difference the air passing thro’ a thinner body -of water might occasion, I brought the horizontal pipe, which (as -mentioned in the former account) was placed 12 inches under the surface -of the water, to within six inches; and found, on setting the engine to -work, that the leaden pipe, for the conveyance of air from the bellows -into the boiler, became much hotter than I had perceived it before; -which could not happen, if a constant cool air had passed thro’: and -on shutting the cock, which was fixed in the leaden pipe to hinder the -steam from ascending into the bellows before the engine should be set -to work, tho’ no air could then possibly pass thro’, yet the bellows -still continued to move with the same regularity as before; which, on -examination, was found defective on the inside, where the middle board, -that divides the two bodies, was warped and cracked in several places, -thro’ which the air passed very regularly from one body to the other -at each stroke, instead of passing thro’ the pipe into the boiler, as -imagined. By this, the cause of deception was evident; which I was -still in hopes of remedying, by having a new pair of bellows made, -somewhat larger, and much stronger. When this was fixed, and the engine -worked a few strokes, I was surprised to find the bellows did not come -down, but remained fully charged with air, tho’ it had 400 lb. weight -upon it; and that, on increasing the weight gradually to 1400 lb. which -was as much as the bellows could support, the air was not forced thro’. - -I also made several experiments, by lowering the horizontal pipe two -feet under the surface of the water, and raising it at different times -to within four inches of the surface, and could not at any depth force -the air thro’, whilst the engine worked; but on opening the steam-pipe, -which is a pipe for letting the steam pass from the boiler whenever -the engine stops, the bellows could then readily force the air thro’, -tho’ the water boiled ever so strong, and seemingly made a surprising -increase of steam. - -I had the leaden pipe to convey the air from the bellows, which was -first put thro’ the top into the boiler, carried on the outside, and -passed horizontally into it, about the height the water generally -stands, that by opening a cock, fixed for the purpose close to the -boiler, I could readily discharge all the steam lodged in the pipe; and -by shutting the cock, and making small holes at three or four inches -distance, I could almost find the point, where the air and steam met in -opposition, cool air being strongly expelled thro’ one, and hot steam -thro’ the other. - -It was also perceptible, that the air was impelled somewhat, tho’ not -considerably, more forward by the addition of each hundred weight on -the bellows: - -That the deeper the horizontal pipe was placed in the water, the less -resistance was made by the steam: - -That in proportion as the heat of the steam was increased, by making -the water boil more strongly, the resistance to the pressure of the air -by the weight on the bellows became greater. - -It is a very doubtful matter, whether air forced thro’ boiling water -would have answered the purpose intended: but I believe it was never -imagined, that air could not be readily forced thro’, until proved by -the foregoing experiments. The attempt, tho’ it has failed demonstrably -in that point, has produced the same effect from another cause, as to -saving coals, and throwing up more water. For, by the constant care, -that was taken during the time of making these experiments, to measure -the coals, to admit only a proper quantity of fuel to be laid on, and -also to mark the time exactly it took in burning; the engine then did, -and still continues to require eight bushels of coals less, in every 24 -hours work, than it did before; and also, from the regularity of its -stroke, to throw up more water; the same care being required from the -engineer, who can have no pretence for consuming more coals now, than -appeared sufficient during the time the experiments were making. - -Tho’ some of the properties of steam are well known; yet the degrees of -expansion it is capable of; whether air be mixed with, or necessary -to, its formation; as also how far its power of resistance may reach; -are probably not yet known, to a proper degree of exactness. Niewentit -fixes the expansion of a cubical inch of water, converted into steam, -at 13365, Dr. Desaguliers at 14000, and Mr. Payne at 4000 times. The -great scope in this subject from a plenum to a vacuum, if I may be -allowed the expression, as also the very useful purposes, to which it -has already been, and possibly may be still further applied, will, I -hope, be an inducement to those, who are much better qualified, to -proceed in so useful an inquiry. - - - - -XLVI. _Observatio Eclipsis Lunæ Die 27_ Martii, _Ann. 1755. habita -Ulissipone in Domo Patrum Congregationis Oratorii à_ Joanne Chevalier -_ejusdem Congregationis Presbytero, Regiæ_ Londinensis _Societatis -Socio, Regiæque_ Parisiensis _Scientiarum Academiæ correspondente_. - -Tubo optico 8 pedum peracta est observatio cœlo sereno, claroque. - - -[Read Dec. 8, 1757.] - -IMMERSIONES. - - Hora postmeridiana - temporis veri. - h ’ ” - Initium penumb rædubium 10 29 50 - Initium eclipsis dubium 10 33 35 - Certe jam incæperat 10 34 05 - Umbra ad mare humorum 10 44 00 - Umbra ad Grimaldum 10 44 53 - Grimaldus totus in umbra 10 47 58 - Mare humorum totum in umbra 10 51 14 - Thico incipit mergi 10 53 29 - Thico totus mergitur 10 55 14 - Umbra ad Reinholdum 11 08 04 - Umbram ingreditur Copernicus 11 19 22 - Umbra ad mare nectaris 11 24 52 - Totum in umbra 11 33 50 - Umbra ad mare tranquillitatis 11 35 24 - Promontorium acutum in umbra 11 45 46 - -EMERSIONES. - - h ’ ” - Incipit emergere ab umbra Copernicus 12 04 38 - Totus Copernicus extra umbram 12 07 40 - Incipit egredi Grimaldus 12 09 38 - Totus Grimaldus extra umbram 12 12 38 - Incipit emergere mare fœcunditatis 12 31 37 - Emergit mare humorum 12 36 11 - Incipit emergere Capuanus 12 39 40 - Egreditur Schicardus 12 48 30 - Emergit Thico 12 51 40 - Totum mare nectaris egreditur 12 58 09 - Finis eclipsis 13 13 02 - Finis penumbræ dubius 13 16 50 - - - - -XLVII. _Eclipsis Lunæ Die 4ᵃ_ Februarii, _Ann. 1757. habita Ulissipone -à_ Joanne Chevalier _Presbytero Congregationis Oratorii, Regiæ_ -Londinensis _Societatis Socio, Regiæque Scientiarum_ Parisiensis -_Academiæ correspondente, et a_ Theodoro de Almeida _ejusdem -Congregationis Presbytero, ac Physicæ publico Professore_. - - -[Read Dec. 8, 1757.] - -HANC observationem peregi tubo optico novem pedes longo, cujus -lens ocularis focum habebat ad 4 pollices, et lineam unam: adhibui -preterea vitrum planum cæruleum, quod oculum inter et ocularem lentem -interponebam, ut ingressum macularum in umbram observarem juxta ea -quæ in observatione eclipsis lunæ ann. 1755. invenit clarissimus -vir Josephus Soares de Barros ex regia Berolinensi academia. Primum -igitur vitro cæruleo adhibito observabam ingressum maculæ in umbram, -et tempore notato iterum solo tubo optico ingressum ejusdem maculæ in -umbram observabam, et differentiam utriusque ingressûs notabam. - -Initio eclipsis cœlum serenum ac clarum fuit, postea nubilum, et post -maximam obscurationem vapores horizontis et claritas incipientis diei -observationem peragere impediere. - - Manè. - H. M. S. - Initium penumbræ 4 52 49 - Initium dubium eclipsis 4 55 29 - Certo jam incæperat 4 57 30 - Umbra ad Aristarchum observata vitro - cæruleo plano 5 00 19 - Solo tubo optico adhibito 5 00 50 - Keplerus umbram ingreditur observatus - tubo, et vitro cæruleo plano 5 13 20 - Observatus solo tubo optico 5 14 00 - Plato umbram ingreditur observatus - tubo, et vitro cæruleo 5 15 2 - ---- Solo tubo 5 15 40 - Umbra ad Eudoxum 5 17 18 - Mare serenitatis incipit mergi 5 30 10 - Copernicus observatus tubo et vitro - cæruleo umbram ingreditur 5 36 48 - ---- Solo tubo 5 37 22 - Mare Crisium ingreditur umbram 5 53 51 - ---- Medium in umbra 5 59 30 - ---- Totum mergitur 6 5 21 - Mare fœcunditatis occultari incipit 6 7 41 - Umbra ad promontorium acutum 6 8 33 - Umbra tangit mare nectaris 6 22 51 - Umbra ad Langrenum 6 23 33 - - -_Observationes Eclipsium Satellitum Jovis Ulissipone habitæ a_ JOANNE -CHEVALIER, _&c._ - - ANNO 1757 telescopio Gregoriano 7 pedum nocte serenâ, nullâque lunari - luce illustratâ, observavi immersionem totalem primi satellitis die 21 - Martii tempore vero postmeridiano 11ʰ 13’ 1” - - Die vero 22 Martii tempore vero, et antemeridiano, observavi - immersionem totalem tertii satellitis 0ʰ 13’ 32” - - - - -XLVIII. _Observationes Eclipsium Satellitum Jovis Ulissipone habitæ -à_ Joanne Chevalier, _Presbytero Congregationis Oratorii, Regiæque_ -Londinensis _Societatis Socio, Anno 1757_. - - -[Read Dec. 8, 1757.] - - TElescopio Gregoriano 7 pedum observavi emersionem primi satellitis die - 7 Junii cum cœlum serenum ac clarum esset, hora postmeridiana temporis - veri 10ʰ 29’ 12” - - Die 8 Junii eodem telescopio observavi emersionem secundi satellitis - hora postmeridiana 8ʰ 32’ 48” - cœlum aliquantum nubilum erat. - - Eadem die observavi emersionem tertii satellitis hora postmeridiana - 9ʰ 36’ 25” - cœlo claro. - - Die 15 Junii cœlo claro observavi emersionem secundi satellitis hora - postmeridiana 11ʰ 6’ 15” - - Sequenti die 16 Junii observavi immersionem tertii satellitis hora - matutina temporis veri 0ʰ 0’ 29” - - - - -XLIX. _A remarkable Case of the Efficacy of the Bark in a -Mortification. In a Letter to_ William Watson, _M.D. F.R.S. from Mr._ -Richard Grindall, _Surgeon to the_ London _Hospital_. - - -[Read Dec. 8, 1757.] - - Austin-Friars, Dec. 7th, 1757. - -SIR, - -THE following case being very singular has induced me to lay it before -the Royal Society, and beg the favour to do it through your means. -Although numerous instances are related in the records of medicine, of -the great danger in interrupting nature in her operations, there is not -one (so far as I know), in which more violent and extraordinary effects -have been produced, than in the following. - -It may happen also, that this instance may be of service in -ascertaining the virtue of the medicine in intermittents, when in the -hands of men of judgment. - -On the 28th of June 1757. Mary Alexander, aged 31 years, of the -parish of Whitechapel, was brought into the London hospital, having -a mortification in both hands, which reached about an inch and half -above the wrists. All her toes, and about an inch of one foot beyond -the last joint, were mortified; her nose was also intirely destroyed -by a mortification; and all these happened at the same time. Upon -inquiry into the cause of this misfortune, I found, that on Monday -the 30th of May she was seized with a quotidian ague, which usually -began about three of the clock in the afternoon, and lasted near two -hours; which was succeeded by a hot fit, and then a violent sweat. And -in this manner she was afflicted for seven days without any material -alteration; when, being informed by a neighbour, of a person, who had -an infallible remedy for the cure of an ague, she applied to him. He -brought her two phials, containing about an ounce and half each, of a -pale yellowish liquor; one of which he directed her to take directly, -promising, that she should have no return of the fit of consequence; -and that, if she had any small return, the second bottle should cure -her effectually. In consequence of which, she took one dose, which -was at the time the cold fit had been on about a quarter of an hour: -she had no sooner swallowed it, but, as she says, her stomach was on -fire, and felt as if she had swallowed the strongest dram possible. -The cold fit left her instantly; but she was immediately seized with -so violent a fever, as to make her burn, and be extremely thirsty, -all the following night; much more so than ever she had been before, -till the next morning, when a sweat a little relieved her from the -violent heat. When she rose in the morning, she was much troubled with -a great itching in the hands, feet, and nose; and soon after all those -parts began to feel numbed, or, as she describes it, as if her hands -and feet were asleep; which she took but little notice of, till the -evening of that day, when she found the nails of both hands and feet -were turning black, and, at the same time feeling great pain in both, -as also in her nose, and that they appeared of a darkish red colour, -like the skin in cold weather. Upon which, at nine o’clock that night -she sent for an apothecary, from whom, I have since been informed, the -person before mentioned had bought the medicine, which he gave her. -The apothecary was not at home; his journeyman went, and finding the -woman had a difficulty of breathing, ordered her a mixture with sperma -ceti and ammoniacum to be taken occasionally. The apothecary did not -see her himself till the 16th of June, when finding her in a very bad -condition, that her hands, and feet, and nose, were intirely black, and -had many vesicles or small bladders upon them, filled with a blackish -bloody water; he opened them, and let out the fluid, and dressed them -with yellow basilicon; and in this manner continued treating her till -the 20th of the same month, when, finding no material alteration for -the better, he ordered her a brownish mixture, of which she was to -take four spoonfuls every four hours; which, he informed me, was a -decoction of the bark; and says, on taking this, she was better, as the -mortification seemed inclined to stop. But as it was a bad case, he -advised the woman to be carried to an hospital: and in this condition -was she brought in, when she was immediately put into a course of the -bark, taking a drachm of the powder every four hours; and in 48 hours -taking it there was a perfect separation of all the mortified parts. -She was then ordered to take it only three times in 24 hours; and -pursuing this method for eight days, there was a very good digestion -from the parts above the mortification. - -The mortified part became now so offensive, that the poor woman pressed -me much to take off her hands, assuring me she would go through the -operations with good courage, being very desirous to live, though in -this miserable condition. - -On the 12th of July I took off both her hands: I had very little more -to do, than saw the bones, nature having stopped the bleeding, when she -stopped the mortification. In a day or two after, I took off all the -toes from both feet, and now discontinued the bark, the parts appearing -in a healthy and healing condition; which went on so for five weeks, -when, on a sudden, the parts began to look livid, her stomach failed -her, and she was feverish; but, upon taking an ounce of the bark, in 36 -hours her sores began again to look well. She was not suffered to leave -off the bark so soon this time, but continued taking it twice a day for -a month. She is now almost well: that part of her face, from whence the -nose mortified, was healed in seven weeks; the stumps of both arms are -intirely healed; and both feet are well, only waiting for one piece of -bone scaling off, which I believe will be in a very short time; and she -is now in good health. - -The person, who gave her this medicine, is a Barber and Peruke-maker -at Bow. I applied to him several times, to inform me what it was he -had given her. The affair was talked of so much in his neighbourhood, -and the man threatned by the woman’s husband, that for a long time I -could not get him to tell me, till I told him, I had been informed -where he bought the medicines; and the time of the day, that he had -them, corresponding with the time of his giving them to the woman, and -that I knew it was tincture of myrrh, he at last told me, that he had -frequently given the above quantity of an ounce and half of it in an -ague; that it had never done any harm; and hardly ever failed to cure. -Upon which information, I carried some tincture of myrrh to the woman, -who tasted it, and is well assured it is the same liquor the barber -gave her in her ague-fit. - -I am, with respect, - - Your obliged and obedient Servant. - Richard Grindall. - - - - -L. _A Letter to the Rev._ Tho. Birch, _D.D. Secret. R.S. from_ John -Pringle, _M.D. F.R.S. inclosing Two Papers communicated to him by_ -Robert Whytt, _M.D. F.R.S._ - - -[Read Dec. 15, 1757.] - - Pallmall-Court, St. James’s, Dec. 10. 1757. - -SIR, - -ABOUT three weeks ago I put into your hands an extract of a letter, -I had then received from Dr. Whytt, containing a postscript to his -_Observations on Lord_ Walpole’_s Case_; and slightly mentioning some -doubts he had then about the justness of Dr. Springsfeld’s experiments -with lime-water, from some trials he himself had made, upon reading -that gentleman’s curious treatise on the extraordinary lithontriptic -quality of the waters at Carlsbad in Bohemia. Within these few Days, -Dr. Whytt having favoured me with a full account of those experiments, -I have herewith sent you his paper, in order, if you please, to lay -it before the Society; which the author desires may be done, in case -these observations should be judged useful. - -The other paper inclosed was sent me by the same hand, to be likewise -presented to the Society, as a well-attested instance of the electrical -power in the cure of a palsy. To the other testimonies I have subjoined -what Dr. Whytt says in his letter to me, by way of strengthening the -evidence. I shall only add, that since Mr. Brydone, the author of -this account, has omitted telling how long the patient has continued -in perfect health since the operation, it appears she must have been -well for some months before the date of his paper; because, before the -end of last summer, Dr. Whytt transmitted the same case to me, which -I then returned, in order to have it drawn up in a fuller manner, and -with other vouchers besides the gentleman, who performed the cure. The -Doctor has been so good as to comply with my request, having procured -a more ample account of the circumstances from Mr. Brydone, and the -attestation of two ministers, besides that of the patient herself.[200] -My difficulties being thus removed, I believe I may now with freedom -offer this very curious case to the attention of the Society. - -I am, - - SIR, - Your most obedient humble Servant, - John Pringle. - - -_Postscript to Dr._ Whytt’_s Observations on Lord_ Walpole’_s -Case_[201]. - -[Read Dec. 8, 1757.] - -“I Do not know, if it be worth while to observe, that lately, in making -some experiments with different _calculi_, there was one almost as -white as chalk, but of a less hard substance than the others; and which -was not in the least degree dissolved or softned by being infused 20 -days in oystershell lime-water, but yielded somewhat to a solution of -Spanish soap in common water. - -From this experiment one may conclude, that it is better to prescribe -both soap and lime-water for the stone, than any one of them alone; -and that if one of these remedies has failed of giving relief, the -other ought to be tried: for as the above white _calculus_, which -yielded a little to the solution of soap, resisted lime-water; so there -may perhaps be others, that are readily dissolved by lime-water, but -little affected by soap. - -Dr. Springsfeld’s experiments with lime-water are somehow not just; for -in several _calculi_ I have found the dissolving power of oystershell -lime-water above eight times greater than he makes it.” - - -_Some Observations on the lithontriptic Virtue of the_ Carlsbad -_Waters, Lime-water, and Soap: In a Letter to Dr._ John Pringle, -_F.R.S. from Dr._ Robert Whytt, _F.R.S. and Professor of Medicine in -the University of_ Edinburgh. - -[Read Dec. 15, 1757.] - -SIR, - -FROM the experiments related in Dr. Springsfeld’s _Commentatio de -prærogativa thermarum Carolinarum, &c._ which you were so good as to -send me some time ago, it appears, that these waters are not only -possessed of a very extraordinary power of dissolving the stone, but -that in this respect they greatly exceed lime-water. - -(A) Thus, Dr. Springsfeld having infused, for 14 Days, in a heat of 96 -degrees of Fahrenheit’s scale, three pieces of the same _calculus_, -each weighing 30 grains, in eggshell lime-water, the Carlsbad water, -and in the urine of one who daily drank this last water, renewing these -several menstruums every day, he found, on the 15th day, that the -_calculus_ in the lime-water had lost 1 grain, the _calculus_ in the -Carlsbad water 6 grains, and that in urine 5 grains. - -(B) Again, having divided another _calculus_ into four parts, each -of which was reduced to 80 grains, he put the first in oystershell -lime-water, the second in Carlsbad water, and the third in the urine -of a person who drank this water. After 20 days, during which time the -menstruums were renewed every day, and kept in a heat of 96 degrees, -the dried _calculi_ had lost of their weight as follows: the first 3 -grains, the second 18 grains, and the third 14 grains. - - -Altho’ I make no doubt that Dr. Springsfeld, who appears to be a man -of candour, as well as learning, has faithfully related the event of -the experiments, which he made; yet either the lime-water he used must -have been very weak, or some other mistake must have happened in his -experiments: for in all the numerous trials I made, about 15 years -ago, of lime-water, as a solvent for the stone, I always found its -dissolving power much greater, than it appears in Dr. Springsfeld’s -experiments. And as in these trials different urinary stones were used, -it can scarcely be imagined, that it was owing to the peculiar hardness -of Dr. Springfeld’s _calculi_, that the lime-water made so little -impression on them. However, to be still further satisfied of this -matter, I made the following experiments. - -1. I put a piece of a very hard _calculus_, which I shall call _x_, -weighing 80 grains, in oystershell lime-water, renewing the lime-water -every day, and keeping it in a heat between 90 and 106 degrees of -Fahrenheit’s scale. After 20 days, I took out the _calculus_; and -having set it by for some days, till it was become quite dry, I brushed -away all the rotten part of it, which was reduced to a kind of chalky -powder, and found that the undissolved part of it weighed 57 grains. - -2. At the same time a piece of another _calculus_, _z_, weighing -15 grains, was, after a like infusion of 20 days in oystershell -lime-water, reduced to 10 grains. - -3. I put a piece of _z_, weighing 14 grains, in a solution of half an -ounce of the internal part of Spanish soap in nine ounces of water, and -every third day renewed the solution, which was kept in a heat of about -60 degrees. After 14 days, I found the undissolved part not to exceed -11 grains. - -4. A piece of a white chalky _calculus_, _y_, weighing 30 grains, had -near 4 grains of its substance dissolved, by being 14 days infused as -above in a solution of soap. - - -From Nº. 1. above, compared with Dr. Springsfeld’s Exper. (B), it -appears, that the dissolving power of oystershell lime-water is to that -of the Carlsbad water as 23 to 18, supposing the _calculi_ used in -these experiments to have been equally easy to dissolve. - -Nº. 3. compared with Dr. Springsfeld’s Exper. (A), shews, that the -dissolving power of a solution of the inner part of Spanish soap, in a -heat of 60 degrees, is to that of the Carlsbad water, in a heat of 96 -degrees, as 15 to 14. - -From Nº. 4. compared with (A), the dissolving power of soap is to that -of the Carlsbad water only as 4 to 6; but it is probable, that had the -solution of soap been kept in a heat of 96 degrees, its dissolving -power would, even in this experiment, have nearly equalled that of the -Carlsbad water. It may, perhaps, be worth while to observe, that a -piece of the white chalky _calculus_ of Nº 4. was not in the smallest -degree dissolved by lying in lime-water 20 days. - - -5. In Exper. 19. of my Essay on the Virtue of Lime-water, a piece of -a _calculus_, _b_, weighing 31 grains, lost 7 grains by being infused -36 hours, in a heat of above 100 degrees, in very strong oistershell -lime-water. And in the same water, of a moderate strength, another -piece of _b_ lost, in the same time, 5 grains. - - -In this last experiment, the lithontriptic virtue of lime-water appears -to be stronger than in Nº. 1. and 2. above; and greatly exceeds that of -the Carlsbad water in Dr. Springsfeld’s Exper. (A) and (B). - -But altho’, from what has been said, it appears not only that -lime-water, but also a solution of soap, dissolves the stone in close -vessels as fast, nay faster, than the _thermæ Carolinæ_; yet these last -waters, when the _calculi_ were so placed in open vessels, that the -water from the fountain might constantly flow along them, effected a -much quicker dissolution than lime-water, or even soap-lye, or indeed -any known menstruum, except, perhaps, strong spirit of nitre: for, -in the first experiment made by Dr. Springsfeld, a _calculus_ of two -ounces and a half was, in this manner, quite dissolved in six days. -From this experiment, compared with that of Dr. Springsfeld mentioned -above (B), it will be found, upon calculation, that the dissolving -power of the Carlsbad water, when it is allowed to flow constantly from -the fountain along the stone, is nearly 39 times greater than when it -is only poured fresh on the _calculus_ once a day[202]. What may have -been the reason of this surprising difference of the lithontriptic -power of the Carlsbad water in these different circumstances, I will -not pretend to say. I think it can scarcely be accounted for from the -gentle motion of the water along the surface of the _calculus_. Was it -then owing to some very volatile active part, which the water quickly -loses, after being taken from the fountain? - -But how great soever the dissolving power of the Carlsbad waters may -be, when they issue from the bowels of the earth, yet that they do -not communicate a much greater dissolving power to the urine, than -lime-water, will appear from comparing the two following experiments. - -In Dr. Springsfeld’s Exper. (A) above, the urine of a person, who -drank the Carlsbad waters, reduced, in 14 days, a piece of _calculus_, -weighing 30 grains, to 25 grains. And in an experiment made by Dr. -Newcome, now Lord Bishop of Llandaff, who drank four English pints of -oystershell lime-water daily, his Lordship’s urine reduced, in four -months, a piece of _calculus_, weighing 31 grains, to three small bits, -weighing in all 6 grains[203]. Whence it follows, that the dissolving -power of his Lordship’s urine must have been to the dissolving power -of the urine of the person who drank the Carlsbad waters nearly as 35 -to 65[204]. But if we consider, that the _calculus_ infused in the -urine of the person who drank the Carlsbad waters was kept always in a -heat of 96 degrees, while in Dr. Newcome’s experiment, which was made -during part of the autumn and winter, no artificial heat was used, -it will appear probable, that the dissolving power of his Lordship’s -urine was little inferior to that of the person who drank the Carlsbad -waters; for lime-water, in a heat of 96 degrees, dissolves the -_calculus_ at least twice as fast, as in the common heat of the air in -winter. Further, if it be attended to, that the quantity of Carlsbad -waters drank every day before dinner is from six to eight lib. while -his Lordship only drank four lib. of lime-water in 24 hours, it will -follow, that whatever the different dissolving powers of the lime-water -and Carlsbad waters may be out of the body, yet the former seems, in -proportion to the quantity drank, to communicate at least an equal -dissolving power to the urine. - -But without presuming to decide certainly, as to the comparative virtue -of the Carlsbad waters and lime-water, I shall conclude with observing, -that tho’ the Carlsbad waters are less disagreeable to the taste, and -may be drank in larger quantity, than lime-water, yet this last may be -drank equally good in all places, and at all seasons of the year; which -is not the case with the Carlsbad waters. - - November 30. 1757. - - -_An Instance of the Electrical Virtue in the Cure of a Palsy. By Mr._ -Patrick Brydone. - -[Read Dec. 15, 1757.] - -ELizabeth Foster, aged 33, in poor circumstances, unmarried, about 15 -years ago was seized with a violent nervous fever, accompanied with an -asthma, and was so ill, that her life was despaired of. She recovered -however from the violence of her distemper, but the sad effects of it -remained. For, from this time, she continued in a weakly uncertain -state of health till the month of July, 1755, when she was again taken -ill of the same kind of fever; and after it went off she was troubled -with worse nervous symptoms than ever, ending at last in a paralytic -disorder, which sometimes affected the arm, sometimes the leg, of -the left side; in such a manner as that these parts, tho’ deprived -of all motion for the time, yet still retained their sensibility. In -this condition she remained till the spring 1756, when unexpectedly -she grew much better; but not so far as to get quite rid of her -paralytic complaints; which, in cold weather, seldom failed to manifest -themselves by a numbness, trembling, sensation of cold, and a loss of -motion in the left side. - -This paralytic tendency made her apprehensive of a more violent attack; -which accordingly soon happened: for, about the end of August, in the -same year, her symptoms gradually increased, and in a very short time -she lost all motion and sensation in her left side. In this state -she continued throughout last winter with the addition of some new -complaints; for now her head shook constantly; her tongue faltered so -much, when she attempted to speak, that she could not articulate a -word; her left eye grew so dim, that she could not distinguish colours -with it; and she was often seized with such an universal coldness and -insensibility, that those who saw her at such times scarce knew whether -she was dead or alive. - -Whilst the woman was in this miserable condition, observing that she -had some intermissions, during which she could converse and use her -right leg and arm, in one of those intervals I proposed trying to -relieve her by the power of electricity. With this view, I got her -supported in such a manner as to receive the shocks standing, holding -the phial in her right hand, whilst the left was made to touch the -gun-barrel. After receiving several very severe shocks, she found -herself in better spirits than usual; said she felt a heat, and a -prickling pain in her left thigh and leg, which gradually spread over -all that side; and after undergoing the operation for a few minutes -longer, she cried out, with great joy, that she felt her foot on the -ground. - -The electrical machine producing such extraordinary effects, the action -was continued; and that day the woman patiently submitted to receive -above 200 shocks from it. The consequence was, that the shaking of -her head gradually decreased, till it intirely ceased; that she was -able at last to stand without any support; and on leaving the room -quite forgot one of her crutches, and walked to the kitchin with very -little assistance from the other. That night she continued to be well -and slept better than she had done for several months before, only -about midnight she was seized with a faintishness, and took notice -of a strong sulphureous taste in her mouth; but both faintness and -that taste went off, upon drinking a little water. Next day, being -electrised as before, her strength sensibly increased during the -operation, and when that was over she walked easily with a stick, and -could lift several pounds weight with her left hand, which had been so -long paralytic before. The experiment was repeated on the third day; -by which time she had received in all upwards of 600 severe shocks. -She then telling us that she had as much power in the side that had -been affected as in the other, we believed it unnecessary to proceed -farther as the electricity had already, to all appearance produced a -compleat cure. And indeed the patient continued to be well till the -Sunday following, _viz_. about three days after the last operation; but -upon going that day to church, she probably catched cold; for on Monday -she complained of a numbness in her left hand and foot; but, upon being -again electrised, every symptom vanished, and she has been perfectly -well ever since. - - Coldingham, Nov. 1757. - - Patrick Brydone. - -That the above is a true and exact account of my case, and of the late -wonderful cure wrought on me, is attested by - - Elizabeth Foster. - -I was eye witness to the electrical experiments made by my son on -Elizabeth Foster, and saw with pleasure their happy effects. By the -blessing of God accompanying them, from a weak, miserable, and at -sometimes almost an insensible state, she was, in a very short time, -restored to health and strength; of which the above is in every respect -a true account. - - Robert Brydone, - Minister of Coldingham. - - -_Extract of a Letter from Dr._ Whytt _to Dr._ Pringle, _relating to -this Account: Dated_ Edinburgh, _1 Dec. 1757_. - -SOME days ago I had transmitted to me Mr. Brydone’s account (inclosed) -of the success of the electrical shocks in a paralytic patient, -attested by the patient herself, and by Mr. Brydone’s father, who is -minister at Coldingham, in the shire of Berwick. At the same time I -had a letter from the Reverend Mr. Allan, Minister of Eymouth (in -the neighbourhood), informing me, that he had examined the patient -particularly, and found Mr. Brydone’s account to be perfectly true. -He further informs me, that he never observed the electrical shock -so strong from any machine, as from Mr. Brydone’s. It seems, that -gentleman has not only applied himself to the study of natural -philosophy, but also of medicine. - - Robert Whytt. - - - - -LI. _An Account of some fossile Fruits, and other Bodies, found in the -Island of_ Shepey. _By_ James Parsons, _M.D. F.R.S._ - - -_To the Right Honourable the_ EARL _of_ MACCLESFIELD, President _of -the_ Royal Society. - -[Read Dec. 15, 1757.] - - Sept. 25, 1757. - -My Lord, - -BEING ever desirous to promote the business of this learned Society, -I could not lose the opportunity that presented, of laying before -you an account, and drawings (_See_ TAB. XV. _&_ XVI.), of a most -curious parcel of fossil fruits, and some other bodies, sent me from -Shepey-Island, by my ingenious friend Mr. Jacob, of Faversham, Surgeon, -and Fellow of the Antiquary Society. - -I do not remember, that fossil seeds, or fruits, are recorded in our -Transactions, tho’ many of other kinds have places in them; nor indeed -that the memoirs of other academies have made mention of any such -fruits; and therefore, as these are chiefly pyritical, and consequently -liable to fall to pieces, I thought it necessary to make drawings of -them while in a sound state, in order for engraving, if the Society -shall think fit; lest their being so subject to moulder away might put -it out of my power to preserve their forms. However, I have great hopes -I shall be able to preserve the greater part of them intire till they -are shewed to the Society. - -In describing these bodies, we shall be obliged to make the best -conjectures we can of some of them only; for several are sufficiently -obvious to every naturalist, and easily known by comparing them to -such recent fruits, as are frequent enough among us. Some of them are -absolutely exotics; and indeed they are all rare and curious, and, in -my humble opinion, well worth the notice of the Royal Society. - -Doctor Woodward’s catalogue[205], which is so ample and full of all -kinds of fossil bodies, has only a very few fruits; and these are -only some hazle nuts found in different places, a few pine-cones, and -laryxes; and one fruit, which was taken for an unripe nutmeg. In this -collection before us they are all very different, and such as have not -been seen before. - -It will not be amiss, in this place, to give a short detail of such -bodies as are capable of either being petrified themselves, or of -leaving their impressions in stony matter. By being petrified, is meant -being impregnated with stony, pyritical, or any other metalline or -sparry matter; for there are inumerable specimens, wherein all these -are apparent. - - -TESTACEOUS _and_ CRUSTACEOUS ANIMALS. - -The shelly matter of these is of so compact and dry a nature, that -they will endure for ages: and if in a soil or bed where moisture -has access, they will receive stony matter into their pores, and -become ponderous in proportion to the quantity imbibed. If in a dry -place, they will remain fair and sharp, suffering very little change -by any length of time; whilst the flesh of these, being subject to -putrifaction, is soon destroyed; and yet, according to circumstances -that happen, some of these may be replaced in due form by stony -particles. I have a gryphites, with the form of the fish in its place, -as is the case in several of the oyster kinds. This may be occasioned -by the shells being close, or nearly so, and stony matter gradually -insinuating into their cavity, so as to fill up the whole. - - -WOOD. - -The kinds of wood found fossil are very different: some are of a firmer -texture than others: and this too is according to the places wherein -they are deposited. Some I have seen so highly impregnated with a fine -stony and pyritical matter, as to bear a polish like a pebble; some, -tho’ quite reduced to stone, yet preserving the fibrous appearance of -the original state; and some which is found in boggy bottoms, being -not at all changed, except in color: this is called bog oak, or bog -deal, well known to country people in many places of these three -kingdoms, who light themselves about their business with slips of this -wood, cut on purpose instead of candles, as it burns with a clear and -durable flame. It is remarkable, that altho’ oak or fir shall lie ages -immersed in water under ground, it shall not putrify; but acquire -such sulphureous particles by lying in steep, in the bog-water, as to -qualify it for this use. Other wood, deposited in marly ground, is -found incrusted over, trunk and branches, with a white crust; the wood -remaining intire within. At other times, wood thus incrusted shall be -eroded by the matter which covers it, having something acrimonious in -its substance. We may add to these, clusters of the twigs of shrubs, -and small wood, which we find flakes of, incrusted with sparry or -calcarious matter, in many places; parts of which are totally changed -into that matter, whilst others are only inveloped with it. - - -BONES _of_ ANIMALS. - -We see, by every day’s experience, that the human skeleton moulders -to dust in a very few years, when buried in mould: so it does even -in vaults, where the coffins are kept dry. In the first case, the -moisture and salts of the earth divide and dissolve the texture -of the bones; in the latter, those of the air, which gradually -insinuate themselves into them, and at length destroy them. How long -a skeleton whose bones are well dried and prepared, being totally -deprived of its medullary substance, will last, as we now order them -for anatomical purposes, we cannot say: but it may be reasonably -conjectured, that they will undergo the fate of the softer kinds of -wood, such as beech, which grows rotten in no great number of years; -because their internal substance is spungy and cellular, and their -crust is very thin, except about the middle of the bones of the arm -and thigh, I mean the humerus and fœmur. The same destruction would -happen, if bodies were deposited in a sandy soil; because water finds -its way either by dripping downwards, or by springs underneath. But -human skeletons have been found intire within a rock, where neither -moisture nor air could get at them. Mr. Minors, an eminent Surgeon -and Anatomist of the Middlesex-hospital, when he was in the Army, at -Gibraltar, saw an intire skeleton, standing upright, in a dry rock, -part of which had been blown up with gunpowder, in carrying on some -works in the fortifications, which left the skeleton quite exposed. -Indeed, the bones of Elephants have been found in Shepey-Island, but -much destroyed, several of which I have in my Collection; an account -of which we have in the last volume but one[206] of our Transactions; -their size and substance being so considerable, as to resist for a long -time that decay which those of the human could not withstand. To these -we may add the horns of large animals, as the elk, and others, which -have been found in bogs, preserved as the bog-oak, _&c._ mentioned. - - -TEETH _and_ PALATES _of_ FISHES _and other Animals_. - -These are of so hard and firm a texture, as to suffer no great change, -wheresoever found; for we see, that no erosion appears in them, their -enamel and its polish being intirely preserved; yet sometimes their -roots will be found changed, especially in the yellow ones, having no -enamel to guard them in their roots. - - -_Parts of_ VEGETABLES. - -The leaves of plants, whose fibres are firm and dry, will endure for a -long time; but those of a succulent nature never can, as they putrify -very soon. We see the leaves of ferns of several kinds, polypodium, -tricomanes, and other capillary plants, with nodules of stone formed -about them; flags, reeds, rushes, equisetum, and many such, of a firm -texture, are found in slate and stone; and even the iuli of trees are -said to have been found fossil as well as their leaves. - - -SEEDS _and_ FRUITS. - -All seeds and the stones of fruits, having a firm texture, are also -capable of being strongly impregnated with stony and pyritical matter; -and I make no doubt but that the smaller seeds, if carefully looked -for, might be found fossil, as well as these before you; such, I mean, -as have a firmness in the covering; but being small, and mixt with -the dirt, sand, and the like, probably is the reason of their being -overlooked. Fruits of various kinds are found petrified; but this is -only in their green state, when they are hard enough to endure till -they are impregnated with stony or mineral particles. The rudiments -of fruits, when once well formed, and a little advanced, are firm and -acid: and the more remote they are from maturity, the more secure -from putrifaction; and their acid juice is no small help to their -preservation from growing soon rotten. But indeed, when the fruit -advances in growth, the texture grows gradually more lax; the acid -juices are now beginning to be replaced by saccharine or others more -soft; the fibres are driven farther asunder, and they now arrive at -their most ripe state: and the utmost maturity of fruits is the next -step to putrifaction. Hence they are destroyed before stony or other -particles can have time enough to impregnate them: and this is exactly -the case with the flesh of animals of every kind. The husks and hard -calyces of fruits, as well as their stones, are also susceptible of -petrifaction. - -If these fruits, which I have the honour to lay before you, are -antediluvian, one would be apt to imagine they, in some measure, point -out, with Dr. Woodward, the time of year in which the deluge began; -which he thinks was in May: and yet this very opinion is liable to some -objections; because altho’ fruits capable of being petrified, from -their green state, may be pretty well formed in May here, as well as in -the same latitude elsewhere, in favour of this opinion; yet there are -the stones of fruits, found fossil, so perfect, as to make one imagine -they were very ripe, when deposited in the places where they are -discovered; which would induce one to think the deluge happened nearer -Autumn, unless we could think them the productions of more southern -latitudes, where perhaps their fruits are brought to perfection before -ours are well formed. - -What follows is a catalogue of these fossil fruits &c. before you: and -I should be glad, if any of the gentlemen would take the trouble of -examining them, in order to assist in our conjectures about such of -them, as appear doubtful: but first beg leave to insert the following -remark: - -I cannot omit an observation of Doctor Mason, Woodwardian professor, -in this place; which is well worth notice, and indeed which I never -attended to. It regards the impressions of fishes upon slate. Now -there are several kinds of slate, which have such impressions upon -them: in some there remains only the bare impression, without any -part of the fish; in others the scales only, but retaining the intire -form of the animal; and in others no part adheres to the slate, but -the skeleton, or part of it, most commonly the spine. He says that he -always observed, that the bones are never seen but upon the grey or -blue slate, or their impressions; and that the scales or skin are to be -found only upon the black stone or slate; which makes him conjecture, -that something erosive in the grey slate destroys every part but the -bony system; but that the black, being of a more soft and unctuous -nature, preserves the scales, and often the very skin. This, however, -must be referred to further observation. - -[Illustration: _Philos. Trans. Vol. L._ TAB. XV. _p. 403_. - - IP MD. _delin._ _J. Mynde sc._] - -TAB. XV. - -_Fig._ 1, 3. These two bodies seem to be figs, petrified when hard and -green; being, as I have just observed, then capable of receiving the -pyritical particles, with which they are manifestly impregnated. One -is more perfect in its form than the other; and they are now shooting -their salts, and will soon fall to pieces. - -_Fig._ 2. appears to be a Myrobalan, distinguished from the other -species of that name by its round figure; and is called the belleric -Myrobalan. It is nearly destroyed by the pyritical matter, and will not -long remain whole. - -_Fig._ 4. seems to be a species of Phaseolus, one of those especially -distinguished by the fruits. _Fructibus splendentibus nigris._ - -_Fig._ 5. Another Phaseolus. - -_Fig._ 7. Another. See _Fig. 4._ - -_Fig._ 8. Semen Cucurbitæ, a large species of American gourd. - -_Fig._ 9. Coffee-berries. - -_Fig._ 10, 11. Two species of Beans, very apparent. - -_Fig._ 12. Unknown. This, however, appears to be a fruit, with the -calyx running up, and embracing it, in its hard green state; being -somewhat compressed on the upper part, as it lay confined in the earth. - -_Fig._ 13. _An Staphilodendri species?_ The learned and reverend Dr. -Hales gave me, some years ago, a handful of the recent fruits, one or -two of which are sent with this fossil one, for your consideration. He -had them from Bengal, and called them, in the Indian name, Neermelis; -and said the natives used them to fine down liquors. - -_Fig._ 14. A compressed pod of the Arachidna, or Underground-Pea. The -full-grown pods are much larger, but of various sizes, as are other -kinds. This, however, seems to have been, when deposited where it was -found, not so far advanced. It has the reticulated surface, the apex -on one side, and every other character of that fruit or seed-pod, but -somewhat compressed. - -_Fig._ 15. is evidently an Acorn. We have of this species here, and in -America also. - -_Fig._ 16. An exotic fruit, like a small melon; but uncertain. It is -somewhat deformed by compression. - -_Fig._ 17. This I took at first for a fruit; but now I rather believe -it a Fungoides of a very pretty kind. _Fig._ 18. _An Anguria?_ I take -it for a seed of a species of water-melon. - -_Fig._ 19. seems a small plumb-stone. - -_Fig._ 20. Unknown. The calyx seems to run up and embrace this fruit -towards the apex. - -_Fig._ 21. Unknown. This resembles an American seed, which I have in -my collection, but do not know its name. Its apex is inclining to one -side; and it appears to have had a strong pedicle. - -_Fig._ 22. _An Lachryma Jobi?_ - -_Fig._ 23. A Cherry-stone. - -[Illustration: _Philos. Trans. Vol. L._ TAB. XVI. _p. 406_. - - IP _MD. delin._ _J. Mynde sc._] - - -TAB. XVI. - - _Fig._ 1. _An Euonymi species?_ If this be an Euonymus, it is not so -far advanced as to form the seeds: and is therefore to be considered -only in its progress from the flower towards seeding: which is the case -in several of these, whose calyces appear still upon them, and hinder -us from absolutely determining what they are. - -_Fig._ 2. A berry of the Sapindus, or Soap-tree, of America, being not -at all deformed, only having a little lump of pyrites upon it: but -there is another quite free. - -_Fig._ 3. _Huræ Germen._ This is undoubtedly the young Sand-box, or -fruit of the Hura, so well known for its beautiful form to the curious, -who collect specimens of natural history; and seems to shew the time of -the deluge. - -_Fig._ 4. This, I think, is certainly the stone of an eastern Mango; -such as comes over to us pickled, and, the stone being opened on one -side, is generally stuffed with spices. - -_Fig._ 5. _Euonymi latifolii species._ This is a large species of -Euonymus, perhaps of Clusius. - -_Fig._ 6. This body seems to be a Milleped, or Wood-louse. It is turned -round, the two extremities meeting; which is the attitude assumed by -these animals, upon being in any-wise obstructed in their passage, or -handled. - -_Fig._ 7. A small long Bean, like our horse-bean; but longer than any -we have in England. - -_Fig._ 8. Unknown to me. - -_Fig._ 9. A species of Horse-chesnut from America. - -_Fig._ 10. The external husk of the fruit of the Sapindus, or Soap-tree. - -_Fig._ 11. I cannot determine whether this be an Olive, or the yellow -Myrobalan; but believe it the Myrobalan. - -_Fig._ 12. _A Palmæ species?_ It seems a small Palma-coco. - -_Fig._ 13, 14. unknown, as well as _fig._ 15. - -_Fig._ 16. Unknown. The reason of the four last being not to be -distinguished is, that they seem to be the buds of their several -species, before they were perfectly formed. So that while some of the -antediluvian productions are mature, others appear to be premature; and -consequently one would be inclined to think them the inhabitants of -places of different latitudes. - -_Fig._ 17. A species of foreign Walnut, injured and compressed. - -_Fig._ 18. A Plumb-stone. - -_Fig._ 19. The claw of an American Crab; which, being on the opposite -side of the mass containing the body, could not come in view with it at -the same time. - -_Fig._ 20. The body of the crab, with other parts, appearing thro’ the -stony matter that invelopes it, which appears to be an induration of -yellow clay. - -_Fig._ 21. seems a long American Phaseolus. Part of the petrified husk -is upon it. - -_Fig._ 22. An American Echinite of the flat kind, much resembling that -species which Rumphius calls _Echinus sulcatus primus_. - -_Fig._ 23. _Arista cujusdam Graminis._ This body has all the -characteristics of an ear of corn, or some species of grass, of which -there are many. - -This has been taken for a spine of an Echinus: but, as we are to -consider its nearest resemblance to whatsoever body, we must conclude -it as we have said. I never saw any spine in the least like it; but -an ear of corn, ripe and dry, is as susceptible of being petrified, -as a crustaceous animal, in every respect. Indeed the spiculæ of the -ear, each arising from the grain, being very slender, are of course -destroyed during the petrifaction; but the form of the ear is actually -preserved, as much as the nature and circumstances of the thing will -allow. - -_Fig. a._ A manifest species of Pediculus Marinus crumped up. - - _b._ A Seed-vessel, given me by Mr. Da Costa, found in a clay-pit in - Staffordshire. - - _c._ Cocculus Indicus. - - - - -LII. _Observations upon the Comet that appeared in the Months of_ -September _and_ October _1757, made at the Royal Observatory by_ Ja. -Bradley, _D.D. Astronomer Royal, F.R.S. and Member of the Royal Academy -of Sciences at_ Paris. - - -[Read Dec. 22, 1757.] - -I Deferred to give an account of my observations upon the Comet that -hath lately appeared, till I could settle the places of the stars -with which it had been compared; several of them not being inserted -in the British catalogue, and those which are, requiring some small -corrections, which I have since made from my own observations. - -When I first discovered this Comet, it appeared to the naked eye -like a dull star of the 5th or 6th magnitude; but viewing it thro’ a -seven-foot Telescope, I could perceive a small Nucleus (surrounded, -as usual, with a nebulous atmosphere), and a short tail extended in a -direction opposite to the sun. - -Some small stars then appearing in the field of the telescope with the -Comet, I measured its distance from them with a Micrometer; and on -September 12ᵈ at 16ʰ 2’ mean time, I found it to be 1° 13’ 5" distant -from a small star, whose right ascension was afterwards found to be -89° 49’ 40" and declination 36° 11’ 30" north: and near the same time -the Comet was observed to be 43’ 10" from another star, whose right -ascension was 90° 20’ 0" and declination 35° 12’ 0" north. - -Hence I collected, that the Comet’s right ascension was 89° 29’ 10“ and -its declination 35° 0’ 20" north. - -September 13ᵈ 12ʰ 37’ mean time (which is likewise made use of in the -following observations), the Comet had the same right ascension with -a small star, whose right ascension was 93° 5’ 30" and declination -34° 36’ 40" north; and it was about two minutes more northerly than -the star. Hence the Comet’s right ascension was 93° 5’ 30" and its -declination 34° 38’ 40" north. - -September 14ᵈ 14ʰ 0’ the Comet preceded θ Geminorum 1° 31’ 35“ in right -ascension, and was 11’ 35" more southerly. The apparent right ascension -of θ Geminorum was then 99° 11’ 40“ and its declination 34° 13’ 25" -north. Hence the right ascension of the Comet was 97° 40’ 5" and its -declination 34° 1’ 50" north. - -Sept. 17ᵈ 13ʰ 0’ a small star (whose right ascension was 109° 55’ -20“ and declination 31° 27’ 40") preceded the Comet 47’ 10" in right -ascension, and was 12’ 30" more northerly. Hence the Comet’s right -ascension was 110° 42’ 40" and its declination 31° 15’ 10" north. - -Sept. 19ᵈ 15ʰ 17’ a star (whose right ascension was 118° 29’ 40" -and declination 28° 9’ 45") preceded the Comet 1° 14’ 0" in right -ascension, and was more southerly 15’ 45“. Hence the Comet’s right -ascension was 119° 43’ 40" and declination 28° 25’ 30" north. - -Sept. 23ᵈ 15ʰ 57’ a star (whose right ascension was 134° 55’ 45" and -declination 22° 15’ 55" north) preceded the Comet 12’ 30" in right -ascension, and was 29’ 0" more northerly. Hence the Comet’s right -ascension was 135° 8’ 15" and its declination 21° 46’ 55" north. - -Sept. 24ᵈ 15ʰ 21’ the Comet had the same declination with a small -star that preceded it 10’ 15“ in right ascension. This star’s right -ascension was afterwards found to be 138° 13’ 45" and its declination -20° 5’ 20". Hence the Comet’s right ascension was 138° 24’ 0" and its -declination 20° 5’ 20" north. - -Sept. 28ᵈ 16ʰ 22’ the Comet followed Regulus 1° 7’ 12" in right -ascension, and was 14’ 45" more northerly. The right ascension of -Regulus being then 148° 51’ 13" and its declination 13° 8’ 35" north; -the Comet’s right ascension was 149° 58’ 25" and its declination 13° -23’ 20" north. - -Sept. 30ᵈ 16ʰ 24’ ρ Leonis (whose right ascension was 155° 0’ 10" and -declination 10° 32’ 53" north) followed the Comet 18’ 45" in right -ascension, and was 7’ 53" more northerly. Hence the Comet’s right -ascension was 154° 41’ 25" and its declination 10° 25’ 0" north. - -October 2ᵈ 16ʰ 48’ the 37th star Sextantis. Hevel. in the British -Catalogue (whose right ascension was 158° 21’ 25" and declination 7° -38’ 40" north) preceded the Comet 32’ 50" in right ascension, and was -3’ 20" more southerly. Hence the Comet’s right ascension was 158° 54’ -15" and its declination 7° 42’ 0" north. - -October 3ᵈ 16ʰ 45’ _c_ Leonis (whose right ascension was 162° 2’ 15’ -and declination 7° 24’ 0" north) followed the Comet 1° 12’ 55" in right -ascension, and was 56’ 40" more northerly. Hence the Comet’s right -ascension was 160° 49’ 20" and its declination 6° 27’ 20" north. - -October 4ᵈ 17ʰ 0’ _d_ Leonis (whose right ascension was 162° 0’ 15" -and declination 4° 54’ 57" north) preceded the Comet 40’ 15” in right -ascension, and was more southerly 20’ 53". Hence the Comet’s right -ascension was 162° 40’ 30" and its declination 5° 15’ 50" north. - -October 7ᵈ 16ʰ 54’ the 79th Leonis in the British Catalogue (whose -right ascension was 167° 53’ 37" and declination 2° 44’ 15" north) -followed the Comet 13’ 0" in right ascension, and was more northerly -38’ 35". Hence the Comet’s right ascension was 167° 40’ 37" and its -declination 2° 5’ 40" north. - -October 8ᵈ 16ʰ 53’ the Comet preceded _v_ Leonis 1° 53’ 30" in right -ascension, and was 37’ 20" more northerly. The right ascension of this -star was 171° 7’ 45" and its declination 0° 30’ 55" north; therefore -the Comet’s right ascension was 169° 14’ 15" and its declination 1° 8’ -15" north. - -October 11ᵈ 16ʰ 52’ the Comet followed _v_ Leonis 2° 33’ 30" in right -ascension, and appeared 1° 55’ 5" more southerly; but it being near the -horizon, the difference of right ascension must have been contracted by -refraction about 1’ 5", and the difference of declination about 1’ 30": -so that the corrected right ascension of the Comet was 173° 42’ 20" and -its declination 1° 25’ 40" south. - -Immediately after this observation a fog arose, which prevented me from -repeating it; and several mornings following proving hazy or cloudy, -I could not see the Comet again till October 18th, about an hour and -a quarter before sun-rising; when the twilight being strong, and the -Comet low, it appeared very faint. However, I was unwilling to omit -the opportunity of determining its place, as near as I could, by a -single observation, in the following manner. - -At 6ʰ 59’ 54" ½ sidereal time, I observed the passage of the Comet -over the perpendicular wire of my equatorial Sector; then leaving the -instrument in the same position till the next evening, I observed, that -at 22ʰ 8’ 15" sidereal time, the 17th star of Eridanus in the British -Catalogue passed over the same wire (or horary circle) 9’ 30" more -southerly than the Comet. And at 23ʰ 45’ 36" sidereal time the star -marked _b_ in Eridanus passed, 19’ 55" more northerly than the Comet. - -I found that the situation of my instrument was not sensibly altered -between the 18th and 19th of October; for the transits and the -difference of declination of the same stars being observed with it -again on the 19th of October, they agreed very well with those that -were taken the preceding night. It may therefore be supposed, that the -position of the instrument continued the same likewise during the time -of the foregoing observations. - -The right ascension of the 17th star of Eridanus being 49° 39’ 10" -and its declination 5° 55’ 25" south; and the right ascension of _b_ -of Eridanus being 73° 59’ 15" and its declination 5° 25’ 10" south; I -collected, that when the Comet passed the wire (or horary circle) which -was October 17ᵈ 17ʰ 12’ mean time, its right ascension was 182° 34’ 0" -and its declination 5° 45’ 35" south. - -The last time that I saw the Comet was on the 19th of October in the -morning; but it then appeared so faint, that I could not observe its -place. Its elongation from the sun was then but about 20 degrees; and -from that day to the present it hath always been less; which is the -principal reason why it was invisible to us at the time when it was in -its perihelion, and hath remained so ever since. The elongation will -indeed soon become greater, and yet it is probable that we shall not -be able to see the Comet again; because its real distance from the sun -will be greater than it was when I first saw it, and it will be also -four times further from us than it was at that time. - -The Comet kept nearly at the same distance from the earth for ten or -twelve days together after I first saw it; but its brightness gradually -increased then, because it was going nearer to the sun. Afterwards, -when its distance from the earth increased, altho’ it continued to -approach the sun, yet its lustre never much exceeded that of stars of -the second magnitude, and the tail was scarce to be discerned by the -naked eye. - -All the forementioned observations were made with a Micrometer in a -seven-foot Tube, excepting those of the 3d, 11th, and 17th days of -October, which were taken with a curious Sector constructed for such -purposes by the late ingenious Mr. George Graham; of which Dr. Smith -has given a very exact description in his third book of Optics. - -Supposing the Trajectory of this Comet to be parabolic, I collected -from the foregoing observations, that its motion round the sun is -_direct_, and that it was in its _perihelion_ October the 21st, at 7ʰ -55’ mean (or equated) time at Greenwich. That the inclination of the -plane of its Trajectory to the ecliptic is 12° 50’ 20"; the place of -the descending Node ♉ 4° 12’ 50"; the place of the Perihelion ♄ 2° 58’ -0"; the distance of the Perihelion from the descending Node 88° 45’ -10"; the Logarithm of the Perihelion distance 9.528328; the Logarithm -of the diurnal motion 0.667636. - -From these Elements (which are adapted to Dr. Halley’s general Table -for the Motion of Comets in parabolic Orbits), I computed the places -of this Comet for the respective times of the foregoing observations, -as in the following table; which contains likewise the longitudes and -latitudes deduced from the observed right ascensions and declinations, -and also the differences between the computed and observed places. -These differences (no-where exceeding 40") shew, that the elements here -set down will be sufficient to enable future astronomers to distinguish -this Comet upon another return; but as they do not correspond with the -elements of the orbit of any other Comet hitherto taken notice of, we -cannot determine at present the period thereof. - - Greenwich, 1757.| Comet. Long.| - Mean Time. | Observ. | Latit. Observ. - ----------------+--------------+-----------------+ - _d._ _h._ '| S. ° ’ " | ° ’ " - ----------------+--------------+-----------------+ - Sept. 12 16 2 | ♊ 29 34 13 | 11 32 16 No. - 13 12 37 | ♋ 2 35 34 | 11 12 13 - 14 14 0 | 6 27 45 | 10 44 3 - ----------------+-------------+-----------------+ - 17 13 0 | 17 49 40 | 9 3 31 - 19 15 17 | 26 6 8 | 7 36 49 - 23 15 57 | ♌ 11 19 18 | 4 33 38 - ----------------+-------------+-----------------+ - 24 15 21 | 14 44 19 | 3 49 37 - 28 16 22 | 27 23 43 | 1 3 44 No. - 30 16 24 | ♍ 2 45 43 | 0 5 30 So. - ----------------+-------------+-----------------+ - Octob. 2 16 48 | 7 37 43 | 1 5 50 - 3 16 45 | 9 51 36 | 1 32 22 - 4 17 0 | 12 1 4 | 1 56 42 - ----------------+-------------+-----------------+ - 7 16 54 | 17 51 3 | 2 56 48 - 8 16 53 | 19 39 45 | 3 13 7 - 11 16 52 | 24 47 22 | 3 48 49 - 17 17 12 | ♎ 4 38 58 | 4 15 42 So. - - - Greenwich, 1757.| | | Diff. | Diff. - Mean Time. | Long. Comp. | Latit. Comput. | Long. | Latit. - ----------------+----------------+---------------+-------+-------- - _d._ _h._ '| S. ° ’ " | ° ’ " | " | " - ----------------+----------------+----------------+-------+------- - Sept. 12 16 2 | ♊ 29 34 11 | 11 32 20 No. | -2 | +4 - 13 12 37 | ♋ 2 35 47 | 11 12 11 | +13 | -2 - 14 14 0 | 6 27 42 | 10 43 43 | -3 | -20 - ----------------+----------------+----------------+-------+------- - 17 13 0 | 17 50 16 | 9 3 11 |+36 |-20 - 19 15 17 | 26 5 50 | 7 36 30 |-18 |-19 - 23 15 57 | ♌ 11 19 4 | 4 33 32 |-14 | -6 - ----------------+----------------+----------------+-------+------- - 24 15 21 | 14 44 3 | 3 49 39 |-16 | +2 - 28 16 22 | 27 23 32 | 1 3 52 No. |-11 | +8 - 30 16 24 | ♍ 2 45 39 | 0 5 17 So. | -4 |-13 - ----------------+----------------+----------------+-------+------- - Octob. 2 16 48 | 7 37 42 | 1 5 32 | -1 |-18 - 3 16 45 | 9 51 29 | 1 31 55 | -7 |-27 - 4 17 0 | 12 0 25 | 1 56 23 | -39 | -19 - ----------------+----------------+----------------+-------+------ - 7 16 54 | 17 51 6 | 2 56 24 | +3 | -24 - 8 16 53 | 19 39 33 | 3 12 28 | -12 | -39 - 11 16 52 | 24 47 47 | 3 49 29 | +25 | +40 - 17 17 12 | ♎ 4 38 36 | 4 15 2 So. | -22 | -40 - - - - -LIII. _The Resolution of a General Proposition for Determining the_ -horary _Alteration of the Position of the Terrestrial Equator, from -the Attraction of the Sun and Moon: With some Remarks on the Solutions -given by other Authors to that difficult and important Problem. By Mr._ -Tho. Simpson, _F.R.S._ - - -[Read Dec. 22, 1757.] - -SINCE the time, that that excellent Astronomer, my much honoured friend -Dr. Bradley, published his observations and discoveries concerning the -inequalities of the precession of the equinox, and of the obliquity -of the ecliptic, depending on the position of the lunar nodes, -mathematicians, in different parts of Europe, have set themselves -diligently to compute, from physical principles, the effects produced -by the sun and moon, in the position of the terrestrial equator; -and to examine whether these effects do really correspond with the -observations. - -Two papers on this subject have already appeared in the Philosophical -Transactions; in which the authors have shewn evident marks of skill -and penetration. There is, nevertheless, one part of the subject, that -seems to have been passed over without a due degree of attention, as -well by both those gentlemen, as by Sir Isaac Newton himself. - -This part, which, upon account of physical difficulties, is indeed -somewhat slippery and perplexing, I shall make the principal subject of -this essay. - - -GENERAL PROPOSITION. - -_Supposing an homogeneous sphere_ OABCD (Fig. 1.) _revolving uniformly -about its centre, to be acted on at the extremity_ A _of the radius_ -OA, _in a direction_ AL _perpendicular to the plane of the equator_ -ABCD, _and parallel to the axis of rotation_ Pp, _by a given force, -tending to generate a new motion of rotation at right angles to the -former; It is proposed to determine the change, that will arise in the -direction of the rotation in consequence of the said force._ - -[Illustration: FIG. 1.] - -Let _F_ denote the given force, whereby the motion about the axis P_p_ -is disturbed, supposing _f_ to represent the centrifugal force of a -small particle of matter in the circumference of the equator, arising -from the sphere’s rotation; and let the whole number of such particles, -or the content of the sphere, be denoted by _c_: let also the momentum -of rotation of the whole sphere, or of all the particles, be supposed, -in proportion to the momentum of an equal number of particles, -revolving at the distance OA of the remotest point A, as _n_ is to -_unity_. - -It is well known, that the centripetal force, whereby any body is -made to revolve in the circumference of a circle, is such, as is -sufficient to generate all the motion in the body, in a time equal -to _that_, wherein the body describes an arch of the circumference, -equal in length to the radius. Therefore, if we here take the arch AR -= OA, and assume _m_ to express the time, in which that arch would -be uniformly described by the point A, the _motion_ of a particle of -matter at A (whose central force is represented by _f_) will be equal -to _that_, which might be uniformly generated by the force _f_, in -the time _m_; and the motion of as many particles (revolving, all, at -the same distance) as are expressed by _cn_ (which, by hypothesis, -is equal to the momentum of the whole body), will, consequently, be -equal to the momentum, that might be generated by the force _f_ × -_cn_, in the same time _m_. Whence it appears, that the momentum of -the whole body about its axe P_p_ is in proportion to the momentum -generated in a given particle of time _m’_, by the given force _F_ in -the direction AL, as _ncf_ × _m_ is to _F_ × _m’_, or, as _unity_ to -(_F_/_ncf_) × (_m’_/_m_) (because the quantities of motion produced by -unequal forces, in unequal times, are in the ratio of the forces and -of the times, conjunctly). Let, therefore, AL be taken in proportion -to AM, as (_F_/_ncf_) × (_m’_/_m_) is to _unity_ (supposing AM to be -a tangent to the circle ABCD in A), and let the parallelogram AMNL be -compleated; drawing also the diagonal AN; then, by the composition of -forces, the angle NAM (whose tangent, to the radius OA, is expressed -by OA × (_F_/_ncf_) × (_m’_/_m_)) will be the change of the direction -of the rotation, at the end of the aforesaid time (_m’_). But, this -angle being exceeding small, the tangent may be taken to represent -the measure of the angle itself; and, if Z be assumed to represent -the arch described by A, in the same time (_m’_) about the center O, -we shall also have (_m’_/_m_) = (Z/AR) = (Z/AO), and consequently OA -× (_F_/_ncf_) x (_m_/_m’_) = Z × (_F_/_ncf_). From whence it appears, -that the angle expressing the change of the direction of the rotation, -during any small particle of time, will be in proportion to the angle -described about the axe of rotation in the same time, as _F_/_ncf_ is -to _unity_. _Q.E.I._ - -Altho’, in the preceding proposition, the body is supposed to be a -perfect sphere, the solution, nevertheless, holds equally true in every -other species of figures, as is manifest from the investigation. It -is true, indeed, that the value of _n_ will not be the same in these -cases, even supposing those of _c_, _f_ and _F_ to remain unchanged; -except in the spheroid only, where, as well as in the sphere, _n_ will -be = ⅖; the momentum of any spheroid about its axis being 2-5ths of the -momentum of an equal quantity of matter placed in the circumference of -the equator, as is very easy to demonstrate. - -But to shew now the use and application of the general proportion here -derived, in determining the regress of the equinoctial points of the -terrestrial spheroid, let AE_a_F (_Fig. 2._) be the equator, and P_p_ -the axis of the spheroid: also let HECF represent the plane of the -ecliptic, S the place of the sun, and HAPNH the plane of the sun’s -declination, making right-angles with the plane of the equator AE_a_F: -then, if AK be supposed parallel, and OKM perpendicular, to OS, and -there be assumed _T_ and _t_ to express the respective times of the -annual and diurnal revolutions of the earth, it will appear (from the -_Principia_, B. III. prop. xxv.) that the force, with which a particle -of matter at A tends to recede from the line OM in consequence of the -sun’s attraction, will be expressed by (_3tt_/_TT_) × (AK/OA) × _f_; -_f_ denoting the centrifugal force of the same particle, arising from -the diurnal rotation. Hence, by the resolution of forces, (_3tt_/_TT_) -× (AK/OA) × (OK/OA) × _f_ will be the effect of that particle, in a -direction perpendicular to OA, to turn the earth about its center O. - -[Illustration: FIG. 2.] - -But it is demonstrated by Sir Isaac Newton, and by other authors, that -the force of all the particles, or of all the matter in the whole -spheroid AP _ap_, to turn _it_ about its center, is equal to ⅕th of -the force of a quantity of matter, placed at A, equal to the excess -of the matter in the whole spheroid above _that_ in the inscribed -sphere, whose axis is P_p_. Now this excess (assuming the ratio of -π to 1, to express _that_ of the area of a circle to the square of -the radius) will be truly represented by (4π/3) × OP × (OA² - OP²); -and, consequently, the force of all the matter in the whole earth, by -(_3tt_/_TT_) × (AK/OA) × (OK/OA) × (4π/15) × OP × (OA²- OP²). Let, -therefore, this quantity be now substituted for _F_, in the general -formula _F_/_ncf_, writing, at the same time, (4π/3) × OA² × OP, -and ⅖, in the place of their equals _c_ and _n_; by which means we -have (here) (_F_/_ncf_) = (_3tt_/_2TT_) × ((OA² - OP²)/OA²) × ((AK × -OK)/OA²). Put the given quantity (_3tt_/_2TT_) × ((OA² - OP²)/OA²) = -_k_; and let the angle EA_e_ represent the horary alteration of the -position of the terrestrial equator, arising from the force _F_ (here -determined), and let the arch E_e_ be the regress of the equinoctial -point E, corresponding thereto: then, in the triangle EA_e_ (considered -as spherical) it will be sin. _e_ ∶ sin. AE (∷ sin. EA_e_: sin. E_e_) ∷ -EA_e_ ∶ E_e_ (= (sin. AE x EA_e_)/sin. E) = _k_ × (sin. AE/sin. E) × -((AK × OK)/OA²) = _k_ × ((sin. AE × cos. AH × sin. AH)/sin. E). But in -the triangle EHA, right-angled at A (where HA is supposed to represent -the sun’s declination, AE his right ascension, and HE his distance from -the equinoctial point E[207]) we have (_per spherics_) - - sin. AE ∶ 1 (rad.) ∷ co-t. E ∶ co-t. AH, - (sin. AH)² ∶ (sin. EH)² ∷ (sin. E)² ∶ 1² (rad.²) - -From whence we get, sin. AE × co-t. AH × (sin. AH)² = (sin. EH)² × -co-t. E × (sin. E)². But co-t. AH × sin. AH = co-s. AH × 1 (rad.), and -co-t. E × sin. E = co-s. E × 1 (rad.): therefore sin. AE × co-s. AH × -sin. AH = (sin. EH)² × co-s. E × sin. E; and, consequently, _k_ × (sin. -AE × co-s. AH × sin. AH)/sin. E = _k_ × co-s. E × (sin. EH)² (= E_e_). - -Let, now, the sun’s longitude EH be denoted by Z (considered as a -flowing quantity); then, (sin. Z)² being = ½-½ co-s. 2 Z, we shall have -_k_ × co-s. E × (sin. EH)² = ½_k_ × co-s. E × 1-co-s. 2 Z. But the -angle described about the axe of rotation P_p_, in the time that the -sun’s longitude is augmented by the particle Ż, will be = (_T/t_) × Ż. -Therefore (by the general proposition) we have, as 1: ½_k_ × co-s. E × -1-co-s. 2 Z ∷ (_T/t_) × Ż : ½_k_ × (_T/t_) × co-s. E × Ż - Ż co-s. 2 Z, -the true regress of the equinoctial point E, during that time: whose -fluent, ½_k_ × (_T_/_t_) × co-s. E × (Z- ½ sin. 2 Z), will consequently -be the total regress of the point E, in the time that the sun, by -his apparent motion, describes the arch HE or Z; which, on the sun’s -arrival at the solstice, becomes barely = ½_k_ × (_T_/_t_) × co-s. E × -an arch of 90°: the quadruple whereof, or ½_k_ × (_T_/_t_) × co-s. E × -360° (= (3_t_/4_T_) × ((OA²-OP²)/OA²) × co-s. E × 360°) is therefore -the whole annual precession of the equinox caused by the sun. This, in -numbers (taking OP/OA = 229/230) comes out (3/(4 × 366¼)) × (2/230½) × -0.917176 × 360° = 21´´ 6´´´. - -The very ingenious M. Silvabelle, in his essay on this subject, -inserted in the 48th volume of the Philosophical Transactions, makes -the quantity of the annual precession of the equinox, caused by the -sun, to be the half, only, of what is here determined. But this -gentleman appears to have fallen into a twofold mistake. First, in -finding the _momenta of rotation_ of the terrestrial spheroid, and of -a very slender ring, at the equator thereof; which _momenta_ he refers -to an axis perpendicular to the plane of the sun’s declination, instead -of the proper axe of rotation, standing at right angles to the plane of -the equator. The difference, indeed, arising from thence, with respect -to the spheroid (by reason of its near approach to a sphere) will be -inconsiderable; but, in the ring, the case will be quite otherwise; the -equinoctial points thereof being made to recede just twice as fast as -they ought to do. This may seem the more strange, if regard be had to -the conclusions, relating to the nodes of a satellite, derived from -this very assumption. But, that these conclusions are true, is owing -to a second, or subsequent mistake, at Art. 27; where the measure of -the sun’s force is taken the half, only, of the true value; by means -whereof the motion of the equinoctial points of the ring is reduced to -its proper quantity, and the motion of the equinoctial points of the -terrestrial spheroid, to the half of what it ought to be. - -That expert geometrician M. Cha. Walmsley, in his Essay on the -Precession of the Equinox, printed in the last volume of the -Philosophical Transactions, has judiciously avoided all mistakes of -this last kind, respecting the sun’s force, by pursuing the method, -pointed out by Sir Isaac Newton; but, in determining the effect of that -force, has fallen into others, not less considerable than those above -adverted to. - -In his third Lemma, the momentum of the whole Earth, about its -diameter, is computed on a supposition, that the momentum or force of -each particle is proportional to its distance from the axis of motion, -or barely as the quantity of motion in such particle, considered -abstractedly. No regard is, therefore, had to the lengths of the -unequal levers, whereby the particles are supposed to receive and -communicate their motion: which, without doubt, ought to have been -included in the consideration. - -In his first proposition, he determines, in a very ingenious and -concise manner, the true annual motion of the nodes of a ring (or of -a single satellite) at the earth’s equator, revolving with the earth -itself, about its center, in the time of one siderial day. This motion -he finds to be = (3co-s. 23° 29´/4 rad.) × (⅟366¼) × 360°. Then, in -order to infer from thence, the motion of the equinoctial points of the -earth itself, he, first, diminishes that quantity, in the ratio of 2 -to 5: Because (as is demonstrated by Sir Isaac Newton in his 2d Lemma) -the whole force of all the particles situated without the surface of a -sphere, inscribed in the spheroid, to turn the body about its center, -will be only 2-5ths of the force of an equal number of particles -uniformly disposed round the whole circumference of the equator, in -the fashion of a ring. The quantity ((3co-s. 23° 29´/4 rad.) × ⅖ × -(⅟366¼) × 360°) thus arising, will, therefore, express the true motion -of the equinoctial points of a ring, equal in quantity of matter to the -excess of the whole earth above the inscribed sphere, when the force -whereby the ring tends to turn about its diameter is supposed equal -to the force whereby the earth itself tends to turn about the same -diameter, in consequence of the sun’s attraction. Thus far our author -agrees with Sir Isaac Newton; but, in deriving from hence the motion -of the equinoctial points of the earth itself, he differs from him; -and, in the corollary to his third Lemma, assigns the reasons, why he -thinks Sir Isaac Newton, in this particular, has _wandered a little -from the truth_. Instead of diminishing the quantity above exhibited -(as Sir Isaac has done) in the ratio of all the motion in the ring to -the motion in the whole earth, he diminishes it in the ratio of the -motion of all the matter above the surface of the inscribed sphere to -the motion of the whole earth: which matter, tho’ equal to that of the -ring, has nevertheless a different momentum, arising from the different -situation of the particles in respect to the axis of motion. - -But since the aforesaid quantity, from whence the motion of the earth’s -equinox is derived, as well by this gentleman, as by Sir Isaac Newton, -expresses truly the annual regress of the equinoctial points of the -ring (and not of the hollow figure formed by the said matter, which -is greater, in the ratio of 5 to 4) it seems, at least, as reasonable -to suppose, that the said quantity, to obtain from thence the true -regress of the equinoctial points of the earth, ought to be diminished -in the former of the two ratios above specified, as that it should be -diminished in the latter. But, indeed, both these ways are defective, -even supposing the momenta to have been truly computed; the ratio, -that ought to be used here, being that of the momenta of the ring and -earth about the proper axe of rotation of the two figures, standing -at right-angles to the plane of the ring and of the equator. Now this -ratio, by a very easy computation, is found to be as 230²-229² to ⅖ of -230²; whence the quantity sought comes out = (3co-s. 23° 29´/4 rad.) -× (⅟366¼) × (230²-229²)/230² × 360° = 21´´ 6´´´: which is the same that -we before found it to be, and the double of what this author makes it. - -What has been said hitherto, relates to that part of the motion -only, arising from the force of the sun. It will be but justice to -observe here, that the effect of the moon, and the inequalities -depending on the position of her nodes, are truly assigned by both -the gentlemen above-named; the ratio of the diameters of the earth, -and the density of the moon being so assumed, as to give the maxima of -those inequalities, such as the observations require: in consequence -whereof, and from the law of the increase and decrease (which is -rightly determined by theory, tho’ the absolute quantity is not) a true -solution, in every other circumstance, is obtained. - -The freedom, with which I have expressed myself, and the liberty I have -here taken, to animadvert on the works of men, who, in many places, -have given incontestible proofs of skill and genius, may, I fear, stand -in need of some apology. ’Tis possible I may be thought too peremptory. -Indeed, I might have delivered my sentiments with more caution and -address: but, had not I imagined myself quite clear in what has been -advanced, from a multitude of concurrent reasons, I should have thought -it too great a presumption to have said any thing at all here, on this -subject. The great regard I have for this Society, of which I have the -honour to be a member, will, I hope, be considered as the motive for my -having attempted to rectify some oversights, that have occurred in the -works of this learned body. - - - - -LIV. _Remarks upon the Heat of the Air in_ July 1757. _in an Extract -of a Letter from_ John Huxham, _M.D. F.R.S. to_ William Watson, _M.D. -F.R.S. dated at_ Plymouth _19th of that Month. With additional Remarks -by Dr._ Watson. - - -[Read Dec. 22, 1757.] - -“FROM the beginning of June last we have had a very dry season, -generally very warm, and sometimes excessively hot. From the 7th to the -14th of this month the heat was violent; greater, indeed, than has been -known here in the memory of man. I have talked with several persons, -who have lived a considerable time in Jamaica, Gibraltar, and Minorca; -and they severally assert, that they never felt such intense heat in -any of those places. Upon the 11th, 12th, and 13th of this month, -Fahrenheit’s thermometer, in the shade, about three o’clock in the -afternoon, was at 87; nay, upon the 12th it was even above 88. - -Abundance of people have suffered very severely from these excessive -heats: putrid, bilious, petechial, nervous fevers, are exceedingly -common every-where. Dysenteries, hæmorrhages, most profuse sweats, -affect not only those in fevers, but a vast many others. The days and -nights were so intolerably hot, that little or no sleep was to be -gotten day or night. The wind we had, like the Campsin, actually blew -hot, tho’ strong. - -Upon the 15th, about seven at night, at Falmouth, Penryn, Truro, and -thereabouts, a pretty smart shock of an earthquake was felt, attended -with a hollow rumbling noise, throwing down pewter, china-ware, and -such-like. The tinners felt it eighty fathom under ground. No great -damage however was done. The day before we had, about eleven o’clock -before noon, a most violent hurricane, which lasted five or six -minutes, attended with a heavy shower.” - -Thus far Dr. Huxham. - - -The heat of the air at London, during the period above-mentioned, was -much greater than has been usually observed in these high latitudes; -tho’ it was never quite so severe here as at Plymouth. The following -table exhibits the degrees of the heat, taken here upon the respective -days, about four o’clock in the afternoon, by a Fahrenheit’s -thermometer. The instrument was placed in the shade; and the accuracy -of the observer, who favoured me with his minutes, is not to be -questioned. - - 1757. July 5 75 - 6 78 - 7 75½ - 8 78 - 10 80¼ - 11 83¼ - 12 80¼ - 13 80 - 14 85 - 15 81 - 16 73 - -From hence it appears, that the air at London was, upon several -days, hotter than it had been observed at Madeira for ten years -together: for, by Dr. Thomas Heberden’s observations, mentioned in the -Philosophical Transactions, the heat of the air at Madeira, during that -period, was never but once at 80. - - William Watson. - - - - -LV. _Remarks upon the Letter of Mr._ John Ellis, _F.R.S. to_ Philip -Carteret Webb, _Esq; F.R.S. printed in the_ Philosophical Transactions, -_Vol._ xlix. _Part_ ii. _p._ 806. _By Mr._ Philip Miller, _F.R.S._ - - -[Read Dec. 15, 1757.] - -THE paper of mine, which was read before the Royal Society on the -8th of May 1755, and afterward printed in the xlixth volume of the -Philosophical Transactions[208], was written at the request of Mr. -Watson; who informed me, that a letter from the Abbé Mazeas to the -reverend Dr. Hales had been communicated to the Royal Society, in -which it was mentioned, that the Abbé Sauvages had made a discovery of -the juice of the Carolina Toxicodendron staining linen of a permanent -black. But Mr. Watson said, that the letter, he thought, required a -careful perusal before it was printed; and he wished I would confirm -it. I told him, if the letter was put into my hands, I would look it -over, and deliver my opinion of it. - -Accordingly Dr. Birch delivered the letter to me; and, upon reading it, -I found, that tho’ this might be a discovery to those two gentlemen; -yet, as it had been mentioned in several printed books long before, I -thought it might not be for the reputation of the Royal Society to have -it printed as such in their Transactions. - -This was my motive for writing that paper: in which I have not -endeavoured to depreciate the discovery of the Abbé Sauvages, but -have only mentioned what had occurred to me in those books of botany, -where that shrub is taken notice of. And as the knowlege of it, and -the method of collecting the varnish, might be of service to the -inhabitants of the British colonies in America, I took the liberty of -adding the account given of it by Dr. Kœmpfer. - -Mr. Ellis, in his letter to Mr. Webb, asserts, that the American -_Toxicodendron_ is not the same with Kœmpfer’s _Arbor vernicifera -legitima_. This assertion of his makes it necessary to lay before -the Society the authorities, upon which I have grounded my belief, -that they are the same. But it may not be amiss first to take notice, -that the shrub mentioned by the Abbé Sauvages is the same with that, -which the gardeners about London call the Poison-ash. The title of it, -mentioned by the Abbé Sauvages, was given by myself to that shrub, in -a catalogue of trees and shrubs, which was printed in the year 1730; -before which it had no generical title applied to it. And about the -same time I sent several of the plants to Paris and Holland with that -title, which I had raised a few years before from seeds, which were -sent by Mr. Catesby from Carolina. - -And altho’ this shrub had not been reduced to any genus before, yet it -had been some years growing in the gardens of the Bishop of London at -Fulham, at Mr. Reynardson’s at Hillenden, Mr. Darby’s at Hoxton, and in -the Chelsea garden, which were raised from seeds sent by Mr. Banister -from Virginia; two of which were growing at Chelsea in the year 1722, -when the care of that Garden was intrusted to me. - -The first intimation I had of the American shrub being the same with -Dr. Kœmpfer’s true varnish-tree, was from the late Dr. William Sherard, -in the year 1726, when that gentleman desired me to bring him a -specimen of the American Toxicodendron from the Chelsea garden; which -I accordingly did: and then the Doctor, and Dr. Dillenius, compared -it with a dried specimen in the collection of the former, which was -gathered in Japan, and which, if I remember right, he told me he -received from Dr. Kœmpfer some years before. It appeared to those two -gentlemen, that they were the same; and their skill in the science of -botany was never doubted. - -About a year after this, I carried a specimen of the American -Toxicodendron to an annual meeting of some botanists at Sir Hans -Sloane’s in Bloomsbury; where there were present Mr. Dale of Braintree, -Mr. Joseph Miller, Mr. Rand, and some others; which was then compared -with Dr. Kœmpfer’s specimen, whose collection Sir Hans Sloane had -purchased: and it was the opinion of every one present, that they were -the same. Nor has any one doubted of their being so, who has compared -the American shrub with Kœmpfer’s figure and description of his true -varnish-tree, but Mr. Ellis. - -And now give me leave to examine his reasons for differing in opinion -from every late botanist, who has mentioned this shrub. - -He says, that the midrib, which supports the lobe leaves, is quite -smooth in the poison-ash, as is also the under side of the leaves; -whereas Dr. Kœmpfer, in his description of the midrib of the true -varnish-tree, calls it _læviter lanuginoso_; and in his description -of the lobes or _pinnæ_ he says, they are _basi inequaliter rotunda_; -whereas those of the poison-ash come to a point at their footstalks -nearly equal to that at the top. These characters, Mr. Ellis thinks, -are sufficient to prove, that they are different plants: and he blames -Dr. Dillenius for having omitted these necessary characters in his -description of it; and supposes this must have misled the accurate -Linnæus, who quotes his synonyma. - -But as Dr. Linnæus is possessed of Kœmpfer’s book, he would little have -deserved the appellation of accurate in this particular, had he not -consulted the original, but trusted to a copy. But this I know he has -done, and is as well assured, that the plants in question are the same, -as Mr. Ellis can be of the contrary. - -But here I must observe, that the branch, from which Dr. Kœmpfer’s -figure is taken, is produced from the lower part of a stem, which seems -to have been cut down, and not from a flowering branch; and it is not -improbable, that his description may have been taken from the same -branch: and if this be the case, it is easy to account for the minute -differences mentioned by Mr. Ellis; for it would not be difficult to -produce instances of hundreds of different trees and shrubs, whose -lower and upper branches differ much more in the particulars mentioned -by Mr. Ellis, than the figure and description given by Kœmpfer do -from the American Toxicodendron. I will only mention two of the -most obvious: the first is the white poplar, whose shoots from the -lower part of the stem, and the suckers from the root, are garnished -with leaves very different in form and size from those on the upper -branches, and are covered on both sides in the spring with a woolly -down. The next is the willow with smooth leaves, which, if a standard, -and the head lopped off, as is usual, the young shoots are garnished -with leaves much broader, and of different forms from those on the -older branches; and these have frequently a hairy down on their under -surface, which does not appear on those of the older. So that a person -unacquainted with these differences in the same tree would suppose they -were different. And the American Toxicodendron has varied in these -particulars much more, in different seasons, than what Mr. Ellis has -mentioned. - -Mr. Ellis next says, that the Toxicodendron mentioned by Mr. Catesby, -in his Natural History of Carolina, is not the same with that, which -is now called by the gardeners poison-ash: but I am very positive of -the contrary; for most of the plants in the nursery-gardens about -London were first raised from the seeds, which were sent by Mr. Catesby -from Carolina; part of which were sent to the late Dr. Sherard, as -is mentioned by him in the Philosophical Transactions, Nº. 367; and -another part came to my hands, from which I raised a great many of the -plants, which were distributed, and some of them are now growing in the -Chelsea garden. - -And that this shrub grows naturally in Carolina, I can have no doubt, -having received the seeds of it two or three times from the late Dr. -Dale, who gathered them in the woods of that country. - -In my paper above-mentioned I likewise observed, that the seeds, which -were sent to the Royal Society by Father D’Incarville, for those of -the true varnish-tree, did not prove to be so; but the plants, which -were raised from them, were taken to be referred to the spurious -varnish-tree of Kœmpfer; which I believed to be the same, and own, that -it is yet my opinion, notwithstanding what Mr. Ellis has said to the -contrary: for the number of lobes or _pinnæ_ on each leaf, with their -manner of arrangement on the midrib, are the same. And here we must -observe, that the figure of this given by Kœmpfer is from a flowering -branch; and every gardener or botanist must know, that the leaves, -which are situated immediately below the flowers of most winged-leaved -plants, have fewer lobes or _pinnæ_, than those on the lower branches: -therefore I must suppose it to be the case in this plant; and from -thence, with some other observations which I made on the seeds, I have -asserted it to be the wild or spurious varnish-tree of Kœmpfer. But Mr. -Ellis is of a contrary opinion, because the base of the lobes of those -plants, which were raised from Father D’Incarville’s seeds, are rounded -and indented like two ears. In Dr. Kœmpfer’s figure and description of -the _fasi-no-ki_, the leaves are intire, and come to a point at their -base. - -Here I think Mr. Ellis is a little too hasty in giving his opinion, -as he has not seen this plant in the state, that the branch was, from -which Kœmpfer’s figure was taken. For as there are often such apparent -differences between the leaves on the lower branches of trees, and -those which are at their extremities, as that in the descriptive -titles of the species Dr. Linnæus frequently uses them to distinguish -one from another; so in making the same allowance for the plant in -question, I cannot help thinking that I am in the right, and must abide -by my opinion, till the plants, which have been raised from Father -D’Incarville’s seeds, have flowered, to convince me of the contrary. - -However, I cannot help observing, that Mr. Ellis has given a title -to this shrub before he had seen any of the characters, which are -necessary to determine the genus. And I have pretty good reason to -believe it should not be joined to the Rhus; for the three seeds, -which I received from the Royal Society, were shaped like a wedge, -being thicker on one edge than the other, and not unlike those of the -beech-tree, as I noted in my catalogue when I sowed them; and, by their -structure, seemed as if the three seeds had been inclosed in the same -capsule. - -If it proves so, this will by no means agree with the characters of -Rhus; especially if the male flowers should grow upon different plants -from the fruit, which is what I suspect. Nor can I agree with Dr. -Linnæus in this particular of joining all the species of Toxicodendron -to the genus of Rhus, many of which have their male flowers growing -upon different plants from the fruit; and therefore would more -properly come into his twenty-second class of _Dioecia_, than his fifth -of _Pentandria_, into which he ranges the Rhus. At the bottom of the -characters of that genus he has added a note, to shew the varnish-tree -is so. - -But as there are several other species which agree in this essential -character of distinction; so, according to the Linnæan system, they -should be separated from the Rhus, with another generical title. - -Mr. Ellis observes, upon the poetical description, which he lays -Kœmpfer has given of the leaves of the wild varnish-tree turning red in -the autumn, that he had not found it to be the case of the tree growing -in the stove at Busbridge. How it appeared in that situation, I know -not; but the leaves of all those, which are growing in the Chelsea -garden, and stand in the open air, do constantly change to a purple -colour in the autumn, before they fall off from the shrub: but those -of the true varnish-tree are much more remarkable for the deepness of -their colour. - -Mr. Ellis says, he had received a letter from Dr. Sibthorp, professor -of botany at Oxford, in which the Doctor informs him, that there is -no specimen of the true varnish-tree in the Sherardian collection at -Oxford; but that there is one of _fasi-no-ki_, or spurious varnish-tree -of Kœmpfer. How the Doctor could write so, I cannot conceive; for I am -very sure there was no specimen of the latter in that collection while -it remained in London, having myself often viewed that part of it: -and sure I am, Dr. Dillenius never added that synonym to the former: -and I do believe the latter was no other way known in Europe, than by -Kœmpfer’s figure and description of it, excepting that specimen of -Kœmpfer’s now in the British Museum. - -But, to confirm what I have before said, of Dr. Sherard’s having a -specimen of the true varnish-tree, I beg leave to quote what Dr. -Dillenius has written in the _Hortus Elthamensis_; where, after -having described the American Toxicodendron, he says, _Ceterum -historiam verniciferæ arboris Japoniæ, diligenter et accurate more suo -exsequutus est laudatus Kœmpferius, cujus et descriptio et figura, -quin et planta sicca, quæ in Japonia lecta servatur in phytophylacio -Sherardino, nostræ huic speciei examussim quadrat: id tantum, sexus -nempe differentia, prætervisa fuit auctori: quoniam autem ille liber -non in omnium his in locis, multo minus in America, manibus versatur, -non alienum videtur, si qui, quorum interest, hæc legerint, ut norint, -quæ ille de collectione & preparatione vernicis illius habet, hoc loco -transcribere._ Then he goes on transcribing from Kœmpfer the manner, in -which it is collected. - -After this, I find Mr. Ellis is inclinable to think, that the -poison-ash, as it is called by the gardeners, is the same with the -_fasi-no-ki_, or spurious varnish-tree of Kœmpfer. The difference -between these shrubs does not consist in small and minute particulars, -but the most obvious striking marks of distinction appear at first -sight; for the poison-ash has rarely more than three or four pair of -lobes to each leaf, terminated by an odd one: in which particular it -agrees with the true varnish-tree of Kœmpfer; whereas in the figure, -which Kœmpfer has given of the spurious varnish-tree, the leaves have -seven or eight pair of lobes terminated by an odd one: and this -figure, as I before observed, is drawn from a flowering branch. Every -one, who is the least acquainted with these things, knows, that the -leaves immediately below the flowers are considerably less than those -on the lower part of the branches: therefore this is a more essential -note of distinction than those mentioned by Mr. Ellis. - -I must also observe, that Mr. Ellis would suggest, that I supposed -these two shrubs were only varieties of each other produced by culture: -whereas it must appear to every one, who reads my paper, that my -intention in mentioning the spurious varnish-tree was to shew it was -different from Kœmpfer’s true varnish-tree, altho’ Kœmpfer supposes -otherwise. - -For the satisfaction of the curious, I have added a leaf of each shrub, -which are now growing in the Chelsea garden, that if any person has the -curiosity, they may compare them with Kœmpfer’s. - -In my paper I took notice, that one of the best kinds of varnish was -collected from the Anacardium in Japan; and recommended it to the -inhabitants of the British islands in America, to make trial of the -occidental Anacardium, or Cashew-nut tree, which abounds in those -islands. This has occasioned Mr. Ellis to take great pains to shew, -that the eastern and western Anacardium were different trees: a fact, -which was well known to every botanist before; and of which I could not -be ignorant, having been possessed of both sorts near thirty years. -But as I was assured, from many repeated experiments, that the milky -juice, with which every part of the Cashew-tree abounds, would stain -linen with as permanent a black as that of the oriental Anacardium; so -I just hinted, that it was worth the trial. Nor was my hint grounded -on those experiments only, but on the informations I had received -from persons of the best credit, who had resided long in the American -islands, that people are very careful to keep their linen at a distance -from those trees, well knowing, that if a drop of the juice fell upon -it, they could never wash out the stain. - -But Mr. Ellis, in order to prove that this tree has no such quality -of staining, says, he has made some experiments on the caustic oil, -with which the shell or cover of the Cashew-nut abounds; and that he -found it was not endued with any staining quality. But surely those -experiments cannot be mentioned to prove, that the milky juice of the -tree has not this property: and Sir Hans Sloane, in his History of -Jamaica, says, that the inhabitants of Jamaica stain their cottons with -the bark of the Cashew-tree. - -I shall not intrude farther on the patience of the gentlemen, who may -be present when this paper is read; but humbly crave their pardon for -detaining them so long: nor should I have given them this trouble, had -not I thought my reputation concerned on the occasion. - - - - -LVI. _An Answer to the preceding Remarks. By Mr._ John Ellis, _F.R.S._ - - -[Read Jan. 19, 1758.] - -MY letter to Mr. Webb, which is printed in the second part of the -xlixth volume of the Philosophical Transactions[209], was intended to -shew this Honourable Society, that Mr. Miller, in his reply to the -Abbé Mazeas’s letter, had brought no proofs to lessen the discovery, -which he tells us the Abbé Sauvages had made, in attempting to improve -the art of painting or staining linens and cottons of a fine durable -black colour, by making use of the juice of the Carolina pennated -Toxicodendron, instead of the common method of staining black with -gauls and a preparation of iron; which, he says, always turns to a -rusty colour when washed. - -Mr. Miller, instead of producing the proper proofs, to shew that this -method of staining cottons and linens of a black colour was known -before, or quoteing the authors in which he says it is mentioned, -contents himself with telling the Society, that this American -Toxicodendron is the same plant with the true varnish-tree of Japan; -and that callicuts are painted with the juice of this shrub. - -In my letter to Mr. Webb, I have endeavoured to shew, that -notwithstanding the authority of Dr. Dillenius, and the authors that -have followed him, it does not appear, from Dr. Kœmpfer’s description -of this Japan plant, that it can be the same with our American one. -The design, then, of this paper, is to lay before this Society some -further reasons, why these plants cannot be the same; and that even -if they were the same, Mr. Miller has produced no authority to shew, -that this juice was ever made use of for this purpose abroad; with some -remarks on his reply to my letter, in which he obliges me to be more -particular than I intended, in explaining some errors, which I find he -has run into. - -In my letter to Mr. Webb, I have pointed out the exact description, -which Kœmpfer has given us of the leaves of this plant, shewing how -much they differ from our American one: but now I shall mention some -observations that escaped me before, and which, I think, will give us a -clearer proof of this matter. - -Kœmpfer, then, informs us, that this Japan varnish-tree, or -_Sitz-dsju_, is a tree, not a shrub: and this author (it is well known) -is remarkably exact in the description of his Japan plants, making the -necessary distinctions between a shrub, an arborescent shrub, and a -tree. He then goes on to explain the manner of its growth; and tells -us, that it grows with long sappy shoots, very luxuriantly, to the -height of a sallow or willow-tree, which we may reasonably allow to be -from 20 to 30 feet: whereas this Carolina pennated Toxicodendron, as -Mr. Miller tells us in his Dictionary, 6th edit. in folio, is a shrub, -and seldom rises above five feet high with us: and many people, who -have been in North America, agree, that it is but a slow grower there, -and is one of the shrubby underwoods of that country: so that, allowing -it to grow even double the height it does here, it is still but a -shrub, in companion with the other. - -Further, while Dr. Dillenius was warm with this supposed discovery, of -our having got the true Japan varnish-tree in America, attempts were -made there, by intelligent persons under his direction, to procure -this varnish after the manner of Kœmpfer; but without success, as I -am assured by persons of that country now here, with whom the Doctor -corresponded. - -Let us now consult the growth of the Carolina and Virginia Sumachs, -or Rhus’s, in our nursery-gardens, and compare them with this little -shrubby Toxicodendron, and we shall find, that even in this cold -climate nature keeps her regular proportionable pace in the growth of -vegetables of the same country. - -Let us observe the growth of some of these Rhus’s, and we shall find -that great luxuriancy of the shoots, which Kœmpfer so justly describes -in his varnish-tree. One of these American ones even seems to promise -the same height as the Japan Rhus; whereas this little shrubby -Toxicodendron still preserves the same dwarfish slow-growing habit, -that it has in its native country. - -This leads me, in the next place, to shew, that these two plants must -be of different genus’s; the one a Rhus, and the other a Toxicodendron: -and if so, according to Mr. Miller, they ought to be properly -distinguished, and not ranked together, as Dr. Linnæus has done. - -In order to prove this, let us then examine Kœmpfer’s description of -the parts of the flower, and see whether it does not answer exactly -to the genus of Rhus; and whether the flowers are not male and female -in themselves, that is, hermaphrodites, on the same tree. The original -of Kœmpfer is as follows, p. 791 of his _Amœnitates_: “Flosculos -continent pumilos, et citra coriandri seminis magnitudinem radiantes, -in luteum herbaceos, pentapetalos, petalis carnosis nonnihil oblongis -et repandis, staminibus ad petalorum interstitia singulis, apicatis, -brevissimis, stylo perbrevi tricipite, floris turbini insidente; -fructus flosculum excipit gibbosus utcunque in rhomboides figuram -compressus.” Whereas Dr. Dillenius, and the authors that have copied -after him, say, that his Toxicodendron has the male blossoms on one -plant, and the female on the other; from whence it must evidently be -another genus. - -It appears, however, that Dr. Dillenius was not altogether ignorant -of this difference of genus in these two plants; but, rather than his -Toxicodendron, which he had made agree exactly in the leaves, should -not agree in the fructification, he makes the accurate Kœmpfer guilty -of an unpardonable oversight, in not taking notice of the difference -of the sexes of this varnish-tree in different plants: whereas we have -just now shewn, that nothing can be more minutely and judiciously -described, than he has done both the male and female parts of the -blossom, which change into the fruit on the same plant. - -The original of Dr. Dillenius’s remarks on Dr. Kœmpfer’s specimen runs -thus: “Planta sicca, quæ in Japonia lecta, servatur in phytophylacio -Sherardino, nostræ huic specie examussim quadrat, id tantum sexus -nempe differentia prætervisa fuit auctori.” Hence we find how this -error came to spread, and this false synonym to be adopted by the -botanic writers, who copied after Dillenius. - -This shews us what little dependance we can have upon the result -of that meeting, which Mr. Miller mentions he had with his botanic -friends; where, from the similitude of leaves only, without the parts -of fructification, they determined these two plants, so different in -their growth, to be one and the same plant. - -Mr. Miller remarks very justly, that the leaves of the same tree often -vary much in shape, such as those of the poplar, sallow, _&c._ - -But in answer to this, we may reasonably suppose, that Dr. Kœmpfer, who -was on the spot, would not choose for his specimens leaves of the most -uncommon sorts that were on the tree, and neglect the most common. This -would be carrying the supposition farther than can be allowed, unless -we suppose this author had not the understanding even of a common -gardener; for otherwise, I am persuaded, Sir Hans Sloane would not have -thought his specimens worth purchasing. - -For another synonym to the true Japan varnish-tree, as also to -Dillenius’s pennated Toxicodendron with rhomboidal fruit, Mr. Miller -brings in (in his answer to the Abbé Mazeas’s letter) the Bahama -Toxicodendron _foliis alatis fructu purpureo pyriformi sparso_ of -Catesby’s Nat. Hist. vol. i. p. 40. so that he would have all these -three different plants one and the same; and, in his reply to my -letter, he still insists on it, that these two Toxicodendrons are the -same. But here I must beg the favour of this Honourable Society, -when they come more attentively to consider this matter, to compare -his answer to the Abbé Mazeas’s letter, and his reply to me, in this -particular part. - -I shall only at present take notice, that Catesby says, this -Toxicodendron, with the pear-shaped fruit, grows usually on rocks in -Providence, Ilathera, and other of the Bahama islands; and does not -mention, that he ever saw it in Carolina. I cannot find it described -by any author as growing in Carolina, or in any other part of the -continent of North America: nor do I believe that there is a plant -of it now growing in England, or that it is even the same genus with -Dillenius’s rhomboidal-fruited one, from the different structure both -of its leaves as well as fruit. - -In looking over Dr. Linnæus’s _Hortus Cliffortianus_, I find he gives -this Bahama Toxicodendron of Catesby as a synonym to his _Elemifera -foliis pinnatis_, p. 486. - -I now come to that part of Mr. Miller’s reply, relating to the China -varnish-tree, that was raised from seeds sent to the Royal Society by -Father D’Incarville; where he still insists on it, that this is the -same with the spurious varnish-tree of Kœmpfer. His reasons are, that -notwithstanding the indentation and roundness of the bottom of the -lobe-leaves of the China varnish-tree, and tho’ the lobe-leaves of the -spurious Japan varnish-tree come to a point at the base, and are no-way -indented, but quite even on the edges; yet he says, because they have -an equal number of _pinnæ_, or lobe-leaves, on the whole leaf of each -tree, they must be the same. - -[Illustration: _Philos. Trans. Vol. L._ TAB. XVII. _p. 447_. - - _Rhus sinense foliis alates foliolis oblongis - Acuminatis ad basin sultrotundis et dentatis._ - - _J. Mynde delin et sc._ - - _Ex Horto Betanice Philippe Carter. & Webb. Armig._] - -In answer to this, I say their lobe-leaves are not equal; for I have -examined both the specimens and drawings of Dr. Kœmpfer’s spurious -varnish-tree, and I don’t find that the number of the _pinnæ_ exceed -seven on a side: whereas I have a small specimen of a leaf by me, that -was taken from the top of one of D’Incarville’s China varnish-trees, -which is above eight feet high, and stands in an open exposure; and -this leaf, tho’ but a foot long, has 12 lobe-leaves, on a side, and -each lobe indented at the base[210]. At the same time I observed, that -the leaves of the young shoots of another tree were a yard long, as -they were this summer at the garden of the British Museum. Another -thing is remarkable in the leaves of this China varnish-tree; and that -is, the lobes of the leaves, as they approach to the end, grow smaller -and smaller; whereas in the spurious Japan varnish-tree they are -rather, if there is any difference, larger towards the end. - -I shall make this further remark, that tho’ these indentations on the -lobe-leaves may vary in number in this China varnish-tree; yet, as -I observed before, since they are continued on even in the smaller -leaves at the top of the branches of a tree eight feet high in the open -ground, it appears to me, that this specific character, besides the -form and insertion of the lobe-leaves, will ever distinguish it as a -different species from the _Fasi-no-ki_, or spurious varnish-tree of -Kœmpfer. - -Mr. Miller now goes on to tell us, he is confirmed in his belief of -their being the same, by making some observations on the seeds of this -China varnish-tree; and therefore asserts, that they are the same. It -is natural to suppose he compared them with the accurate drawings of -the seeds of Kœmpfer’s _Fasi-no-ki_, p. 794. that being the only place -where the seeds of it are described. - -In the very next paragraph Mr. Miller seems to forget, that from -his own observations on the seeds of the China varnish-tree, he has -asserted it to be the _Fasi-no-ki_ of Kœmpfer; but now he finds, in his -memorandums, that those seeds were wedge-shaped, and like the seeds of -the beech-tree; and that all the three seeds he received seemed to be -inclosed in one capsule: so that now he is at a loss what to call it; -and at the same time says I have been too hasty in calling it a Rhus. - -Mr. Miller goes on, and allows this China varnish-tree changes to a -purple in the autumn; but not so deep as the true varnish-tree. I -suppose he means, by this true varnish-tree, the Carolina pennated -Toxicodendron; for Kœmpfer has not told us what colour the true -varnish-tree of Japan changes to in autumn. - -But this is no certain proof on either side of the question, only a -corroborating circumstance of the species of a tree: nor should I have -mentioned it, but for the manner in which Kœmpfer, with an imagination -truly poetical, describes the autumnal beauty of his _Fasi-no-ki_, or -spurious varnish-tree. “Rubore suo autumnati quâ viridantes sylvas -suaviter interpolat, intuentium oculos e longinquo in se convertit.” -Even this description would make one suspect it is not the same with -the China varnish-tree, which, I am informed, did not turn purplish -in the garden of the British Museum till the first frost came on: -whereas it is well known, that some of the Rhus’s and Toxicodendrons, -particularly the Carolina pennated one, change to a fine scarlet colour -in the beginning of a dry autumn, even before any frost appears. - -Mr. Miller seems surprised, how I should think, that the Carolina -pennated Toxicodendron, or poison-ash is like the _Fasi-no-ki_ of -Kœmpfer. I must here acknowledge, at this time, not having seen Doctor -Kœmpfer’s specimen, I imagined, from the shape of the lobe-leaves (as -he has described them) and from the remarkable scarlet colour of both -these trees in autumn, that Mr. Miller might be right in what he has -advanced; for it was from his authority I took it, depending on the -information he gives us in his Dictionary, fol. edit. 6. under the -article _Toxicodendron_, where he takes some pains to assure us, that -they are the very same plants. - -In the next paragraph I find Mr. Miller has intirely mistaken the -meaning of one part of my letter to Mr. Webb; which I must recommend -to him to read again, and he will find it exactly agrees with his own -sentiments. There he will find my opinion is, that notwithstanding the -change of soil and situation, this _Sitz-dsju_, or true varnish-tree, -and the _Fasi-no-ki_, or spurious varnish-tree of Kœmpfer, are distinct -species of Rhus or Toxicodendron, and will ever remain so. - -Mr. Miller now desires me, since I have seen Dr. Kœmpfer’s specimens in -the British Museum, to declare, whether I think I am mistaken. - -In answer to this, and to satisfy Mr. Miller as well as myself, I have -been very lately at the Museum, and have looked very carefully over -Dr. Kœmpfer’s specimens, and do sincerely think, as did other judges at -the same time, that the _Sitz-dsju_ is not the same with the Carolina -pennated Toxicodendron, nor the _Fasi-no-ki_ the same with Father -D’Incarville’s China varnish-tree. - -Mr. Miller informs us, that one of the best kinds of varnishes is -collected from the Anacardium in Japan. - -In answer to this, I must beg leave to shew the Society, that Dr. -Kœmpfer does not so much as mention, that this Anacardium grows in -Japan; but that the varnish, which is collected from it, is brought -to them from Siam: and I believe it will appear plainly, from what -follows, that there is not a plant of this kind in the kingdom of -Japan; for Siam and Cambodia, especially the parts of those kingdoms, -where Kœmpfer informs us this Anacardium[211] grows, lie in the -latitudes of from 10 to 15 degrees north, which must be full as hot as -our West Indies: so that it is not probable, that it would bear the -cold of the winters in Japan; for Japan lies from the latitudes of 33 -to above 40 degrees north, which is about the same parallel with our -North American colonies. - -I shall now beg leave to lay before the Society that passage of Dr. -Kœmpfer, which relates to this dispute, together with my translation -of it, that it may be compared with Mr. Miller’s translation, which he -gives us in his reply to the Abbé Mazeas’s letter, Philosoph. Trans. -vol. xlix. p. 164. 2d paragraph. Dr. Kœmpfer, in his _Amœnitates_, -p. 793. speaking of the true varnish-tree, says, “Colitur frequens in -provinciis Tsi-kocko et Figo, in quibus inserti agris scapi radices -agunt et caudices edunt post triennium vernicem suppeditantes. -Optima regionis, quin totius mundi, vernix perhibetur circa urbem -Jassino colligi. Vernicem ceres Japonica largitur oppido nobilem -et pretiosissimam, sed admodum parcam; nec pro operibus, quæ regio -construit, sufficeret, nisi prius cum, _Nam Rak_, i. e. vernice -ignobiliore ex Siamo invecta, pro basi illinerentur. Siamensis vernix -promitur in provincia Corsama, et regno Cambodiæ ex arbore Anacardo, -incolis _Tong Rak_, i. e. _Arbor Rak_ dicta, cujus fructus officinis -nostris Anacardium dictus _Luk Rak_, liquor _Nam Rak_ appellatur. -Perforatus truncus immisso tubulo, tantâ copiâ fundit liquorem ut Sinæ, -Tunquino et Japoniæ pro deliniendis utensilibus sufficiat, quin jam -Bataviam et alia Indiæ loca vasis ligneis inclusa appellit.” - -Which, translated into English, appears to me to be thus: - -'This varnish-tree is often cultivated in the provinces of Tsi-kocko -and Figo: there they plant the cuttings or truncheons in the fields, -which take root, and send forth vigorous shoots, which in three years -time yield this varnish. - -'The best varnish of the kingdom, nay, of the whole world, is said to -be collected about the city of Jassino. The produce in Japan of this -most noble and very precious varnish, is so very little, that there -would not be sufficient for the wares made in the kingdom, if they did -not first lay on a ground with an ordinary kind of varnish, which they -call _Nam Rak_, and is brought to them from Siam. - -'This Siam varnish is collected in the province of Corsama, and in the -kingdom of Cambodia, from the tree Anacardus, called by the inhabitants -_Tong_ or _Tree-Rak_; the fruit of which is called in our shops -Anacardium, or _Luk Rak_, and the liquor is called _Nam Rak_. - -'To collect this liquor, they bore a hole in the trunk, and put in a -tube. By this method they get as much of it as is sufficient not only -to varnish all the utensils of China, Tonquin, and Japan, but it is -even exported in close wooden vessels to Batavia, and other parts of -India.’ - -The original of Kœmpfer, p. 794. speaking of the true Japan varnish, is -as follows: “Prostat non sincera modo, sed et colorata, vel cinnabari -nativa Sinensi, vel terra rubra (quam Batavi antea, nunc Sineses -advehunt) vel atramenti popularis materiâ.” - -Which I apprehend may be read thus in English: - -'This varnish is not only sold quite pure, but likewise coloured, and -that with Chinese native cinnabar, and a kind of red earth, which the -Dutch formerly, but now the Chinese, bring them; and also with the -materials that they make their common (or Japan) ink of.’ - -Mr. Miller translates it thus (_See p._ 164. _vol._ xlix. _Phil. -Transact._): 'This varnish is used without mixture to stain black: but -the Chinese mix native cinnabar, or a red kind of earth, with it, to -make a different colour.’ - -Here we may observe, that Mr. Miller uses the words staining black; -which is not the sense of the author, who, by mentioning the materials -of Japan ink, shews, that even in varnishing black it was necessary to -use this black mixture. - -Further, Mr. Miller says, that the Chinese mix these colouring -ingredients with this varnish: but the original plainly says, that the -Chinese import them, and the Japanese mix them with their varnish for -sale. - -And in a former part of this letter, p. 162. vol. xlix. Phil. Trans. he -says, speaking of this true varnish-tree, that callicuts are painted -with the juice of this shrub. But this bare assertion of his, without -producing a proper authority, I am persuaded this Honourable Society -will never admit as a matter of proof to invalidate the discovery of -the Abbé Sauvages. - -In looking over one of the numbers of Mr. Miller’s Dictionary, under -the title of Anacardium, I find he quotes a passage from Dr. Grew, -which Sir Hans Sloane has placed among his observations on the -Cashew-tree, _Hist. Jam. vol._ ii. _p._ 127. which is, that cottons -are stained with lime, and the oil, or mellaginous succus, called Mel -Anacardium (but for the account of this Mel Anacardium I shall refer to -Parkinson’s Theat. p. 1568); and Mr. Miller seems to think it difficult -to know which of the Anacardiums is here meant. - -One would be apt think, from this passage, and another that follows -a little after in the same page of the Hist. of Jamaica, relating to -the black dye of the mellago of this nut, that Sir Hans, at the time -his history was published, thought them, as Caspar Bauhin did, of -the same genus, but different species; and therefore he has mixt the -observations on both together. - -For, immediately after mentioning the staining of cottons with this -mellaginous succus, Sir Hans says, that the gum is, in faculties and -colour, like gum-arabic; and that it is given internally in female -obstructions; and that the juice stains linen, which will not wash out -suddenly: but he says it is false, that they remain till they flower -next year, as Du Tertre asserts. - -Sir Hans further quotes, from an anonymous Brasilian author, that the -apples stain linen; and that the gum is good to paint and write; and -the bark dyes yarn and vessels serving for pots. - -And in another place he quotes De Laet, who compiled a general history -of America, and who likewise takes his quotation from an old Brasilian -author, treating of the trees of Brasil, That the gum of the Acajou -is used by painters; the bark is used to dye cotton-yarn and earthen -ware. Here I must remark, tho’ foreign to our present purpose, that in -the original of Laet, what relates to the earthen ware runs thus: “Et -a faire de vaisseaux de terre.” So that I believe it will appear more -probable, that the bark of these trees was used rather to burn earthen -ware vessels, than to dye them, as we find these earthen vessels were -used to boil their victuals in. - -These two quotations from Sir Hans Sloane confirm the former, with -regard to the use of the gum; that is, its being fit, like gum-arabic, -to be used for water-colours, and to make ink; and that it is the juice -of the apple that stains, but this we find is not durable. - -Mr. Miller has now only the bark of the Cashew-tree left to support -his argument. This the above-mentioned Brasilian writers say, that -the native Indians of Brasil used to dye their cotton-yarn with; but -of what colour no mention is made. And whether this bark is used to -give strength to this yarn, as we dye and tan our fishing-nets with -oak-bark, or for ornament, is uncertain; for a great deal of this yarn -was used in the making their net-hammocks, as well as their coarse -garments. - -Mr. Miller then introduces Sir Hans Sloane, in opposition to Dr. -Browne, whose History of Jamaica I had quoted, to prove that the juice -of the Acajou was of the same nature and properties with that of the -gum-arabic, and consequently not fit for varnish: whereas it plainly -appears from the foregoing quotations, taken from Sir Hans Sloane, that -Dr. Browne is right, and agrees exactly in opinion with him. - -He then makes Sir Hans say, that the inhabitants of Jamaica stain -their cottons with the bark of the Cashew-nut tree. By this, one would -naturally conclude, that Mr. Miller has been endeavouring to prove, in -opposition to the Abbé Mazeas’s letter, that the art of painting or -staining cottons of a fine deep black colour, equal to that discovered -by the Abbé Sauvages, as described in his experiments on the Carolina -Toxicodendron, was practised by the English forty or fifty years ago in -Jamaica. - -If this was the case, it is something surprising, that, notwithstanding -our great intercourse with that island, the callico-printers of England -never got intelligence of this valuable secret. - -Further, if Mr. Miller will consult Piso and Margrave, writers of the -best authority on the Brasilian plants, he will find their accounts of -the Acajou exactly correspond with that delivered by Dr. Browne, in -his History of Jamaica, as well as Sir Hans Sloane’s: for they say, -that the juice of this tree is equal in virtue, and mechanical uses, to -the best gum-arabic. And if he still doubts, I shall lastly recommend -him to go to the British Museum, and there he may see a most elegant -specimen of the Cashew-gum, which will put this matter quite out of all -doubt. - -I shall now leave the decision of this controversy, which Mr. Miller -has obliged me so fully to explain in my own vindication, to the -candour and impartiality of this Honourable Society. - - _P.S._ Since the foregoing paper was read, Professor Sibthorp was - so kind to deliver me an exact drawing of the _Fasi-no-ki_ in the - Sherardian collection at Oxford, taken by the Rev. Mr. William - Borlase, F.R.S. the title and synonym of which are both in the - Hand-writing of Dr. Dillenius, as the Professor assures me. See TAB. - XVIII. - -[Illustration: _Philos. Trans. Vol. L._ TAB. XVIII. _p._ 456. - -_Fasi-noki_ - -_Foccicodendron foliis alatis fructu Rhomboide H. Elth. from Japan._ - - _In Horto situ Shorards Oxon._ - - _W. Borlase delin. - J.M.Sc._] - - - - -LVII. _A Letter to the Rev._ Thomas Birch, _D. D. Secr. R.S. concerning -the Number of the People of_ England; _by the Rev. Mr._ Richard -Forster, _Rector of_ Great Shefford _in_ Berkshire. - - -[Read Dec. 22, 1757.] - - Shefford, Nov. 9. 1757. - -Revᵈ Sir, - -Since I did myself the honour of writing to you in July[212], my -bookseller has sent me part ii. of vol. xlix. of the Transactions; in -which[213] I find another medium advanced to determine the amount of -the people in England: and this is the number of houses, which pay the -window-tax, and which “amount to about 690,000, besides cottages, that -pay nothing.” To this is added, that “tho’ the number of cottages be -not accurately known, it appears from the accounts given in, that they -cannot amount to above 200,000.” - -Here I cannot but express my concern, that this very ingenious -gentleman has not been a little more explicit, by informing us, what -these accounts are, upon which he builds so positive a conclusion. The -law requires no such accounts to be delivered in; and parish-officers -cannot be accused of works of supererogation: besides (which is more to -the purpose) I am very certain no such accounts have been given in from -this part of the world. On the other hand, in all parts of England, -which I have seen (and that is, I think, almost the whole) the number -of cottages greatly exceeds that of all other houses, except in the -middle of towns, and some villages about London. - - This is agreeable to the general interpretation of that sentence -passed upon our original parent, that _he should eat bread by the sweat -of his brows_; which is, that the majority of his descendents should be -poor labouring people. This I do not mention with design to defend the -interpretation, but only to shew the general sense of mankind. - -As my notion of the matter differs so widely from that of this worthy -gentleman, I did every thing in my power to check any mistake, which -might arise from a fondness of one’s own opinion; and which, I hope, -will vindicate me in the eye of every candid inquirer. In a word, I set -myself to count all the houses in several contiguous parishes; and then -examined how many of them paid the window-tax, or duty upon houses. And -here I must observe, that if there be any small mistake, it can hardly -be supposed to be in favour of my own scheme; because I had the whole -number of houses, by counting as I rode along; and some might possibly -be missed, tho’ of this I took the utmost care: whereas the number of -those, that pay the window-tax, I had from the collectors rolls. - -The following table is the fruit of my labours: - - Great Shefford 90 17 - Little Shefford 12 3 - Welford 162 62 - Chaddleworth 62 20 - Bright-Walton 72 21 - Catmore 10 1 - Farmborough 34 5 - Fawley 47 7 - East Garston 99 41 - ---------- - 588 177 - -Here we see, that out of 588 houses only 177 pay the window-tax. Now if -we say with the philopher _ex pede Herculem_, and suppose, that 200,000 -taxable houses stand in the country, we shall have the following -proportion, 177: 588 ∷ 200,000: 664406, for the whole number of houses -that stand in the country, commonly so called. - -Again, Lamborn parish, in which is a market-town, contains 445 houses, -of which 229 pay the window-tax. Now if we suppose, in like manner, -200,000 taxable houses to stand in country towns (I mean of the -middling and inferior classes), we must then say 229: 445 ∷ 200,000: -388646, the whole number of houses, that stand in country towns. - -The remaining 290,000 houses must be placed in cities and flourishing -towns; and must have Dr. Brakenridge’s proportion assigned them; for -without all doubt he had some reason for pitching upon such numbers; -and as they could not be taken from country towns or villages, must be -assumed from the present state of some flourishing place. Upon this -supposition, we must say 690,000: 200,000:: 290,000 : 84,058. for the -number of cottages in great towns; which, if added to the houses that -pay, makes the whole number in large towns to be 374,058. These three -sums added together make the total amount of houses in the nation to be - - 664,406 - 388,646 - 374,058 - ---------- - 1,427,110 - ---------- - -The two former of these numbers should be multiplied by 5, and the -latter by 6. The reason of this difference is the great quantity of -servants kept in large towns. - - 1,053,052 × 5 = 5,265,260 - 374,058 × 6 = 2,244,348 - ----------- - 7,509,608 - ----------- - -By this way of proceeding it appears, that the whole number of people -now alive in England is somewhat more than seven millions and an half. -I would not be understood, as if I meant to recommend this as exact; -tho’ I am in hopes, that, upon trial, it will be found nearer the -truth, than any thing hitherto advanced. Neither will I lay any stress -upon its approaching so near to the numbers advanced in my former -letter; being sensible, that all the methods I have hitherto tried are -liable to very great objections. Where certainty may be arrived at by a -little industry, all hypothesis should be despised and rejected. - -The militia act levies 32,000 men upon the whole kingdom; and in -the west riding of Yorkshire 1 in 45, if my intelligence is right, -completed their quota. Now if this proportion be applied to the whole -nation, 32,000 × 45 will give 1,440,000 for the number of ballotters; -and this multiplied by 5 (which, considering the number of persons -excepted, must be under the truth) will amount to 7,200,000 for -the total of our people. But I dare not build any thing upon this -computation, as many parts of the nation may have heavier quota’s laid -upon them than the west riding. - -Whether the kingdom is really in a declining or increasing state, -is, in like manner, a problem not to be solved, I think, by mere -calculation. If there happens but a small mistake in the principles, -what is built thereupon will be extremely wide of the truth. If one -might take the liberty to guess by appearances, I should think we are -greatly increased within these forty years, or since the accession -of the present Royal Family. This conjecture I found upon the great -facility, with which the government raises men, compared to the violent -methods made use of in King William’s and Queen Anne’s time. Indeed I -am sensible, that when the great ease, with which the government raises -money, and the low interest it pays, have been urged in the House of -Commons, as evident proofs of a flourishing trade, and plenty of cash, -it has constantly been answered by a gentleman, who understands these -matters better than any body else, that they are rather proofs of a -want of trade, and that people do not know what to do with their money. -In the same manner it may be answered, that the great facility, with -which the government raises soldiers, is not owing so much to the great -plenty of men, as to the want of employment: which it is possible may -really be the case. - -But where certainty may be had, it is trifling to talk of appearances -and conjectures. For a century now past, the English way of -philosophising (and all the rest of the world is come into it) is not -to sit down in one’s study, and form an hypothesis, and then strive -to wrest all nature to it; but to look abroad into the world, and see -how nature works; and then to build upon certain matter of fact. In -compliance with this noble method, I have done all in my power: I -have examined the registers of several neighbouring parishes, and send -you the substance of three of the most perfect ones. Indeed, I could -have added several others; but as they seem to have been now and then -neglected, I did not care to trust to them. However, this I can safely -deduce from them; _viz._ that what I have here sent will be a proper -standard for these parts: and if other gentlemen would take the like -pains (and it is next to nothing) in four or five parishes in each -county, and in every great town, we might perceive, by one cast of the -eye, whether our people are in an ebbing or flowing state. I have not -set down the burials, as that would but have embarrassed the table; -and the increase will appear very well without them. However, upon an -average of all the parishes I have examined, the proportion of the -burials to the baptisms is as 83 to 149,4. - - Lambourn. Welford. Shefford. Total. - From 1614 to 1623 inclus. 327 67 69 463 - 1624 to 1633 ---- 401 62 64 527 - 1634 to 1643 ---- 391 119 86 596 - 1662 to 1671 ---- 441 146 93 680 - 1672 to 1681 ---- 380 132 108 620 - 1682 to 1691 ---- 451 201 112 764 - 1692 to 1701 ---- 366 134 88 588 - 1702 to 1711 ---- 387 137 84 608 - 1712 to 1721 ---- 422 171 97 690 - 1722 to 1731 ---- 483 156 106 745 - 1732 to 1741 ---- 578 205 128 911 - 1742 to 1751 ---- 566 253 137 956 - 1752 to 1756 ---- 349 120 64 533 - -This table stands in need of no remarks: it speaks loud enough of -itself, that our people increase in a very rapid manner. All I shall -take the liberty of observing from it is, that all the registers I have -looked over seem to resent the wretched policy of King Charles II. who -submitted himself and kingdom too much to a powerful neighbour: and -that our civil war had no effect upon our numbers, in comparison to our -foreign wars. - - -I trust, that the very ingenious author of the _politico-arithmetical_ -letters, I have all along had my eye upon, will take no offence, if I -recommend an article or two advanced by him to be reconsidered; which, -if pursued, might perhaps induce some small errors in government. - -The first is, That all ways to increase our people would be for the -public welfare, even the naturalizeing of foreigners: whereas, if I -remember right, all political writers lay it down as a maxim, that -numbers of people without employment are a burden and disease to the -body politic; and where there is full employment, there the people -multiply of course. So that we should not measure the happiness of -the nation by the number of mouths, but by the number of hands. Nay, -if we were to import a quantity of foreigners we must immediately -re-export them, as we actually did in the case of the Palatines and -Saltzburghers. Indeed, I cannot deny, but that if the new-comers were -to bring new trades with them, they would be welcome: tho’ I apprehend -it is not an easy matter to find out many new manufactures. I can at -present think of nothing but the cambrick business; and that, with -a little encouragement, might be established in either Scotland or -Ireland, without the importation of strangers. - -The next thing I propose to be ruminated is the assertion, That our -commerce at sea is one cause of the decay of our fencible men: which -sounds in my ear like saying, that if we had less trade, we should have -more people. And if this is the purport of it, I am afraid it is a -paradox, literally so called. - -That emigrations to our colonies do lessen our numbers in appearance, -is beyond dispute: but then it is only in appearance: for if employment -begets people, the filling our plantations must increase us beyond -imagination, it having been made out, if I misremember not, that every -man rightly occupied in America finds employment for three persons in -Old England. But then care should be taken, that the planters were -generally employed in raising rough materials; and that every thing -imported there were manufactured by ourselves; because, if we settle -colonies, and then supply them with East-India stuffs and foreign -linens, it is neither better nor worse than being at a vast expence to -maintain other people’s poor. - - -I cannot conclude without begging leave to observe, that this -gentleman’s doctrine is, from beginning to end, to say the best of -it, ill timed. We are contending with our hereditary enemy, the -most powerful prince in the world, not for superiority, but for -independence, _pro aris et focis_. And, at such a time as this, to be -told, that we are but little better than half peopled, and the few we -have dwindling away every day, is indeed very discourageing: whereas, -on the contrary, I do not balance one moment to declare it, as my fixt -persuasion, that we can spare 100,000 brisk young fellows, and still be -the most populous flourishing nation in Europe. - - I am, - - Reverend Sir, - Your affectionate Brother, - and very humble Servant, - Richard Forster. - - - - -LVIII. _A Letter to the Right Honourable the Earl of_ Macclesfield, -_President of the_ Royal Society, _from the Rev._ William Brakenridge, -_D.D. F.R.S. containing an Answer to the Account of the Numbers and -Increase of the People of England, by the Rev. Mr._ Forster. - - -[Read Mar. 16, 1758.] - -My Lord, - -As I endeavoured, at a former meeting of the Society, to answer -ex-tempore some objections offered by a Gentleman in the country, to -what I have wrote concerning the number of people in England; I now -presume to send you what I said then in writing, with some farther -reflections. And this subject I never intended to have meddled with -any more; but as I seem to be called upon, to defend what I have -formerly wrote, I hope I shall be excused if I briefly attempt it. -Your Lordship, I know, and our illustrious Body only desire a fair -representation of facts, which is the ground of all philosophical -inquiries; and therefore I shall endeavour to do this, as far as I can, -without regarding any hypothesis. - -My design, when I first entered on this subject, was to discover -whether our people were in an increasing or decreasing state, with -regard to their numbers; which I thought of great importance to be -known, because of its influence on the affairs of Government, in -determining our strength, in settling of taxes, and directing us in -the œconomy and imployment of our people. Now, in order to proceed in -this inquiry, it was evident to me, that if the number of houses were -exactly known, the number of people would be nearly ascertained. And -therefore I attended to this, to find out the number of houses, as -the only thing that could with any certainty help us to judge of this -matter. And accordingly, being resolved to depend only upon the most -sure, and general observations, I applied to a public office, where I -thought I might possibly get at their number. And I there found, that -from the last survey that was made, since the year 1750, there were -690,700 houses in England and Wales that paid the window-tax, and the -two-shilling duty on houses; besides cottages that paid nothing. By -cottages are understood those who neither pay to church or poor, and -are, by act of parliament in 1747, in consideration of the poverty -of the people, declared to be exempted both from the tax and the -two-shillings duty, and they only remain not accurately known, to -ascertain the whole number of houses. However, they are so far known, -that from all the accounts that are hitherto given in, they do not -appear to be so many as 300,000; and from what I myself have seen, -in the books of that office, I should think they were not much above -200,000; for in some places, that I was perfectly acquainted with, I -found many of the day labourers rated to the two-shillings duty, and -there did not appear to be one house in ten omitted. And therefore, -if there are not 300,000 cottages, as seems plain to me, there cannot -be a million of houses in the whole in England and Wales; and the -rated houses are to the cottages more than two to one; of both which, -according to the returns made, there is now about one in seventeen or -58,800 empty throughout the kingdom. But if we were to allow, that -there are a million of houses in the whole; which is more than the -Gentlemen in the above mentioned office believe, and then deduct those -that are empty, there could not be above 941,200 inhabited houses; and -consequently supposing six to a house, about 5,647,200 people, or near -about five millions and an half; which at the utmost, is what I insist -on to be the real number. - -But now the Gentleman, who objects to my calculations, thinks, that I -have made the number of houses too few, and that in the whole there -are above 1,400,000 houses, of which he imagines there are more than -700,000 cottages; for he supposes them to be more than the rated -houses; and from thence he infers, that there are about seven millions -and an half of people, in England and Wales; which I wish, with all my -heart, was the true number: But I am so far from thinking that I have -under-rated them, that I suspect I have rather made them more than they -are. However, this controversy will soon be determined, there being now -orders given, as I am informed, to all the Officers concerned in the -window-tax, to make an exact return of all the cottages, as well as the -rated houses, in each of their several districts. In the mean time, the -Gentleman and I differ in this, that he supposes above 400,000 cottages -more than I can possibly imagine. - -Let us now see upon what grounds, and by what method of reasoning he -determines his numbers. He makes a division of the 690,000 taxed houses -into three classes, placing 200,000 of them in the open country and -villages, and 200,000 in the market and inferior towns, and the next, -_viz._ 290,000, in the cities and great towns; for, which division he -has nothing to direct him; no proof, nor even probability. And as it is -a mere arbitrary supposition, all reasoning and calculations founded -upon it are nothing to the purpose, and the number of houses or people -comptued from thence must be false or uncertain. But yet, upon this -supposition, as if it was absolutely certain, he goes on to compute the -houses and people in each division. - -As to the first, he says he has counted all the houses in nine -contiguous parishes in Berkshire, in which, he has found the whole -number to be 588, and those charged to the duty to be only 177; and -therefore the cottages are to the rated houses as 411 to 177, or -above, two to one. And from this he assumes, that the whole number of -houses thro’ the villages and open country in England will be to the -cottages nearly in the same proportion. But here I am surprised, that -he should reason in so loose and an inaccurate a manner. For, as there -may be 7000 parishes in the villages and open country, to infer from -the numbers in nine of them that are contiguous, and that all of them -together do not make a very large parish, many being much larger as to -the number of houses, and where there may be particular circumstances; -I say, to infer from them what the proportion will be in all parishes, -in the villages and open country, is the same way of reasoning as to -say, because the poor in one parish are in such a proportion, therefore -they are so in 1000 parishes, or thro’ four or five counties: whereas -it is plain, that the proportion differs almost in every parish, and -in every county; and the sum of all must be added together, before -we can know what the real proportion is. And nothing can be inferred -from the circumstances of a few parishes, or even of a County, what -the proportion will be in the whole. And yet, from such precarious and -vague reasoning he presumes to compute, that there are above 460,000 -cottages in the villages and open country; having assumed, without any -hesitation, that there are 200,000 rated houses in that extent. Such -reasoning is unusual in philosophical inquiries. - -In like manner the Gentleman reasons very inaccurately about his second -division, containing the lesser market and country towns, having -supposed in them 200,000 taxed houses: For from one instance of the -market town of Langborne, having found the whole number of houses to be -to the cottages as 445 to 229, or the rated homes to the cottages as -216 to 229, he supposes the like proportion in all the market towns. -That is, tho’ there be perhaps above 300 market towns in England, he -supposes each of them has the same proportion of the poor in it as the -single town of Langborne; which is unreasonable to imagine. For every -one of them may have a different proportion, according to the various -circumstances of their trade and situation. But yet from this strange -and uncertain way of reasoning, without any induction, and from one -instance among 300 cases at least, he concludes by proportion, that -there are 388,646 houses in the country market towns, of which there -are 188,646 cottages, besides those in the cities and great towns. - -In the next place, as to his third class, the cities and great towns, -he allows, that my proportion may be among them, _viz._ that the rated -houses are to the cottages as 690,000 to 200,000, or 69 to 20: For he -thinks, that it cannot be any-where but in the most flourishing places. -And therefore, as he has arbitrarily placed 260,000 taxed houses in -them, he computes that they must contain 84,058 cottages. But he has -given no proof, that my proportion is only in the most flourishing -places, besides these few instances that he has produced; which are -nothing to form any general conclusion upon. For if we were to be -directed by a few cases, we might think that there were much fewer -cottages than I have allowed. There are some parishes, in which there -are none at all. In the great parishes of St. James’s and St George’s -Westminster, in which there are about 7000 houses, there are none: -in the country parish of Chiselherst in Kent, where there are above -100 houses, there are but three: and in many parishes there is not -one in 20. So that from particular instances, there is nothing to be -concluded. But in all Middlesex, London, Westminster, and Southwark -included, in which the poor are as numerous as in most places in -the kingdom, because of the numbers of labouring people that flock -hither for imployment, there is nearly the same proportion that I have -assigned. For from a late survey in that district, as I am informed, -there are 87,614 houses in the whole, and of these 19,324 cottages, and -4810 empty. Which indeed shews, that we are not so populous, in and -near the metropolis, as is commonly supposed, and much less than I had -calculated in my first letter: For from this account, if it be true, -there are not above 530,000 people in that compass; of which, within -the bills of mortality, there die about 25,000 yearly; that is, not -less than one in 20. - -As to what the Gentleman mentions concerning the militia, he seems to -be much mistaken. For if the proportion be as he says, that one in -45 is levied, this directly proves the number of people in England -and Wales to be about five millions and an half, according to my -calculation; because the electors or balloters are the fencible men, -or those able to carry arms. And if the whole levy be 32,000, then 45 -multiplied by 32,000 will give 1,440,000 for all the fencible men in -England. But Dr. Halley has clearly shewn, that the fencible men are -one quarter of the whole people, children included; and therefore, four -times 1,440,000, or 5,760,000, will be the whole number of the people; -which is nearly what I have made them. - -And thus, having seen how he has established his numbers in opposition -to me, let us now, in the next place, consider what he has said with -regard to the increase of our people. He says, whether the kingdom -is really in a declining or increasing state, is a problem not to be -solved by calculation: And yet he himself can guess by appearances, -that it has greatly increased within these 40 years. But, by his good -leave I must tell him, that it is a problem in political arithmetic to -be solved from some _data_, as well as others. If the number of people -be nearly found, and the general proportion of births to burials, at -an average, thro’ the kingdom be known, with the annual losses of our -fencible men, at a moderate computation; from these _data_, I say, -any one, who understands numbers, will easily determine whether we -are increasing or decreasing. And accordingly, I have shewn, that the -annual increment of our fencible men is not much above 8000, which -number is consumed by our annual losses; and therefore we are not in -an increasing state. For the whole number of people must always be in -proportion to the fencible men; so that, if there is no increase of -them, there can be none upon the whole. - -It is true, I am the first who ventured upon a solution of this -question; but when I consider what I have done, I cannot see but -that the principles upon which I reasoned are right. The _data_ are, -I think, exact enough to discover our state. And Dr. Halley’s rule -to compute the fencible men, where our losses are to be reckoned, -is undoubtedly true. So that if there is any difficulty, it is in -fixing the general proportion between births and burials, thro’ the -kingdom, _viz._ 112 to 100; which I have taken from Dr. Derham, who -had collected many observations; being a greater proportion than Sir -William Petty allowed. And which if it is thought too small, it is to -be considered, that within the bills of mortality the births are much -under the burials as 4 to 5; and in some of the great towns there are -fewer births than burials, and in others they are nearly equal; so that -these reduce the proportion that arises from the villages and open -country. - -But if we were to make a calculation from the births and burials, -only in the villages and open country; which Dr. Derham has found to -be at an average as 117 to 100, or nearly as 7 to 6; and suppose this -to obtain all over Britain and Ireland, in the towns as well as the -country, which is surely more than the truth; we shall then find, that -the annual increment cannot be more than 9000 fencible men; which -corroborates my former estimate. For, to compute it by the principles -I have formerly endeavoured to establish; let the number of our people -in Britain and Ireland be eight millions and an half, that is, five and -an half in England and three millions in Scotland and Ireland; because -some Irish Gentlemen have assured me, from some facts, that there is -half a million more in their country than I formerly allowed; for I did -not pretend to calculate them; and then the annual number of the dead, -in Britain and Ireland, being one in 40, will be about 212,500; which -will be to the births as, 100 to 117: And therefore the births must be -248,625, and the increase 36,125; of which the fourth part is about -9000 for the fencible men, which I am persuaded is more than the real -number. - -Now let any one compute our losses in the moderate way that I have -done, and he will easily see, that they cannot be less than this -number; and consequently we are far from increasing. And indeed it is -evident from the number of empty houses thro’ the kingdom, mentioned -above, _viz._ one in seventeen, or 58,000, and one in twelve of those -that are taxed within the bills of mortality. For it is impossible, if -we were increasing, that there could be so many empty; And therefore -the appearance of so much building is only the effect of our luxury, -requiring larger, more convenient, and more elegant houses, and not -caused by our increase. - -However, the Gentleman objects to all this, and says, that he has -examined the Registers of some neighbouring parishes, and particularly -of three that are perfect; and he finds, that the burials are to the -baptisms as 83 to 149; which may possibly be the case, as I myself -have known it in one parish in the Isle of Wight, where the place is -healthy, and people generally marry. But does he imagine that this -proportion is general all over England? If so, we should increase in -a rapid manner indeed! for then we should double our people in 35 -years, if it were not for our losses; which no reasonable man will -venture to say. He does not reflect, that in many country places, from -their bad situation, there is very little increase, and in some towns -none at all, and in others a decrease, continually supplied from the -neighbouring country. Within the bills of mortality there are annually -5000 burials more than the births; and consequently, to maintain our -numbers here, there must be a yearly supply of 5000; which destroys -the whole increase of six or seven counties. And Dr. Derham found, -from the accounts he had of country parishes, that in general among -them the proportion of births to burials was not greater than 117 to -100, as we mentioned above; so that nothing can be concluded from -particular healthy places. The question is, what is the result upon the -whole thro’ the kingdom? what is the general proportion of the births -to burials, from which the increase is to be estimated? and which Sir -William Petty says is 111 to 100, and Dr. Derham as 112 to 100. See if -he can disprove these numbers by putting together all the different -accounts from every corner, among the towns as well as the country; -and if he cannot, to argue only from a few instances is nothing to the -purpose; for where there is a multitude of different cases, they must -all be considered, to arrive at the general truth. But even in the -particulars he mentions, he has not completed his argument; for, to -make it conclusive, he should have shewn, that, within these last forty -years, the time, he thinks, of our great increase, in those parishes -the number of houses or people were increased, in proportion almost as -the births were above the burials, as 149 to 83: and if that cannot -be made to appear, it is plain, that, for all he has said, the annual -increase may be constantly consumed by our losses. - -And now the worthy Gentleman having endeavoured to shew, from the case -of a few parishes in the country, that we are in an increasing state, -he proceeds to give me his serious advice in two particulars: - -_First_, That I would reconsider a proposition advanced by me, That -all reasonable ways of increasing our people, even to the naturalizing -of foreigners, would be for the public welfare. In answer to which -kind admonition I must say, that I have often considered the thing, -as far as I can; and I think this may be easily shewn against any -political writer. That it is the interest of a government, when they -have powerful and dangerous neighbours, to increase their people by all -reasonable means, even to the inviting of foreigners, so far as the -natural produce of the country can sustain them; and that it is the -fault or weakness of an administration not to be able to employ them. -And in Britain, where they can have the assistance of the produce of -so many large and fruitful countries of their own in America, I will -venture to say, that it is an error in their policy, not to endeavour -to increase their people; by which they might be more formidable, and -perhaps stronger than their grand Enemy. The present King of Prussia -has shewn the utility of this within his dominions; by which he has -been enabled to make such a figure in Europe. - -The _second_ thing he admonishes me to reconsider is, That I have -supposed our commerce to be one cause of the loss of our fencible men. -And who in the world doubts of it, but himself! Do shipwrecks, the -disasters and inclemency of the sea, the scurvy, _&c._ beget people? -But he will say, without these we could not have trade, which employs -great numbers of our people; and therefore, what we lose, we may gain -another way. And just so he may say of our wars, that occasion the -destruction of so many of our people, that they are no loss to us; for -we gain by them in their consequences, in securing of our liberties -and property, and by which our trade is preserved and promoted. But -notwithstanding this, can it be said, that war does not diminish our -fencible men! The truth is, trade increases riches, and gives more -of the conveniences of life, and brings luxury along with it; but it -does not necessarily breed people: For we see in those countries where -they have little trade, the people increase much faster than they do -with us, as appears from the Bills of mortality in Prussia; where the -general proportion of the births to the burials is greater than it is -here, _viz._ 4 to 3; and by which the people might double in 84 years, -if it were not for their losses. (_Vid. Phil. Trans. vol._ xxxvi.) -Which great increase, by the way, easily accounts for those vast swarms -of people that came from thence and the adjacent countries in former -ages, and over run all Europe. And therefore it is not so terrible a -paradox, as he imagines, that possibly where there is much less trade -the people may increase faster; for luxury and other vices, that come -with trade, do not promote an increase. - -And now, as he has been so good as to give me his advice, I will return -the favour, and desire him to reconsider the method of reasoning by -induction; which may possibly help him to escape some paralogisms, in -arguing upon these subjects. And I would likewise recommend it to him -to inquire diligently, whether the number of our houses in England be -increased these last sixty years; which, according to his reasoning, -ought at least to be doubled: For if there is no increase of the -houses, there can be none of the people. - -To conclude: He adds, that my doctrine, from beginning to end, to -say the best of it, is ill-timed, when we are contending with our -hereditary enemy, _pro aris & focis_. But here his zeal hurries him on, -that he does not look to the dates of my Letters. For the first three -were read before the Society, and ordered to be printed, long before -the war was proclaimed; and as for the last, it is only a supplement -to the rest; in which I have shewn, that France, by the bad œconomy -of her people, is not in an increasing state; which, I think, is a -comfortable hearing. But supposing they had been all printed during the -war: What then? Is a fact to be concealed that, if discovered, may be -useful to prevent errors in government, and rectify our notions of the -œconomy of our people? What advantage can our enemies make of such a -discovery? Will it encourage them to imagine that we shall be easier -subdued, when they know, by the most moderate computation, we have at -least two millions of fencible men in our British islands. Enough, -surely, to resist them in all their attempts! But I doubt we are not -so deficient in our numbers as in public virtue, without which the -greatest multitude may be easily overcome. - - -And thus, my Lord, I have endeavoured to answer what this Gentleman has -wrote in his second Letter; for I pass over the first, as it does not -seem to contain any more in opposition to me, than what I have here -considered. And upon the whole I cannot see, that he has said any thing -to invalidate what I have formerly advanced. If I could discover it, -I should be very ready to acknowlege my error. I am sensible I have -made this reply too long; but I trust your usual benevolence to all our -worthy Members will excuse me, who shall always esteem it an honour to -be, - - My Lord, - Your Lordship’s - Most obedient - and faithful Servant, - Wm. Brakenridge. - - Sion-College, March 16. 1758. - - -+END+ of +PART+ I. +VOL.+ L. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[1] Nom. Etymol. ad Calcem. Cat. Cant. p. 43. item Hist. Plant. p. 680. - -[2] Bella-donna dicitur quod imaginationes non injucundas efficiat, vel -ut honeste satis Plinius, quod lusum generet. Bod. Comment. in Theophr. -p. 586 quod in somnis pulchras ostendat virgines feminasque. Ibid. p. -1078. - -[3] Locis citatis. - -[4] Oper. omnia edit C.B. p. 756. - -[5] Ruell. in Dioscor. p. 536. - -[6] Nomina generica quæ ex Græca vel Latina lingua radicem non habent -rejicienda sunt. - -[7] Atropos una furiarum. Crit. Botan. p. 75. - -[8] See Lin. Syst. Naturæ, edit. Lugd. Bat. 1756. p. 97. No. 222. - -[9] Mat. Med. lib. iv. cap. 69. - -[10] See Sennert. lib. vi. par. 7. cap. 9. - -[11] Stirpium Adversar. p. 103. - -[12] Oper. Omn. p. 754. - -[13] Rerum Scoticar. lib. vii. - -[14] Ger. em. p. 341. - -[15] Page 586. - -[16] Quadripart. Botan. p. 488. - -[17] Cicut. Aquat. Historia et Noxæ. Basil. 1716. p. 228. - -[18] Histoire de l’Academie Royale. 1703. - -[19] Hist. Plant. Lugd. Bat. Hort. p. 510. - -[20] For August and September 1747, and for Sept. 1748. - -[21] Page 329. - -[22] Raii Hist. Plant. I. p. 681. - -[23] Enumerat. Stirp. Helvet. p. 507. - -[24] See Forestus, Etmuller, and the old chirurgical writers. - -[25] Bibliotheque des Sciences et des beaux Arts pour les mois Jan. -Fevr. Mars. 1755. - -[26] Tiberii Lambergen Lectio inauguralis, sisters Ephemeriden -persanati Carcinomatis. Groning. 1754. - -[27] Dr. Van Swieten Comment. in Aphor. Boerh. sect. 492. - -[28] Hom. Iliad. 23. _v._ 88. - -[29] _Ut enim----si hoc fingamus, esse quasi finem----ita jacere talum, -ut rectus assistat; qui ita talus erit jactus, ut cadat rectus_----Cic. -de Fin. L. 3. §. 16. Ed. Verb. - -[30] Vid. Dacier not. on Hor. L. ii. Od. 7, _v._ 25, &c. - -[31] Τὸ δέ σχῆμα τοῦ κατά τὸν Ἀϛράγαλον Πτώματος Ἀριθμοῦ Δόξαν εἶχεν. -Jul. Pollux. L. ix. c. 7. - -[32] _Quatuor tali jacti casu venereum efficiunt._ Cic. de Div. L. i. -§. 13. Ed. Verb. - -[33] Mart. L. xiv. epig. 14. - -[34] _Nec regna vini sortiere talis._ L. i. od. 4. _v._ 18. - -[35] _Quem Venus artbitrum dicet bibendi?_ L. ii. od. 7. _v._ 25. Some -think, that this cast was also named _basilicus_ from the usage here -mentioned. Sanad. in Loc. - -[36] Prop. L. iv. el. 9. _v._ 18. - -[37] Jul. Pollux. L. ix. c. 7. Lubin. on Pers. sat. 3. _v._ 49, &c. - -[38] - - ----_Quid dexter_ senio _ferret_, - ----_Damnosa_ canicula _quantum_ - Raderet---- - - Pers. sat. 3. _v._ 48. - -[39] Dial. Ἀϛραγαλισμὸς. - -[40] Sueton. C. Aug. §. 71. - -[41] Sat. 3. _v._ 48. See Prat. not. in us. Delph. in loc. - -[42] Hor. L. ii. sat 7. _v._ 17. - -[43] Mart. L. xiv. epig. 16. - -[44] Germ. Ant. Mon. p. 38. - -[45] Not. on Hor. L. i. ep. 20. _v._ 2. - -[46] Mem. lit. de l’Acad. des Inscrip. V. 9. - -[47] Rerum Mem. L. ii. tit. 13. - -[48] _Deum ipsum (Serapidem) multi Æsculapium--quidam Osirim--plerique -Jovem--plurimi Ditem patrem insignibus, quæ in ipso manifesta, aut per -ambages, conjectant._ Tac. His. L. iv. Εἷς Ζεὺς, εἷς Ἀΐδης, εἷς Ἥλιος -ἐστὶ Σάραπις, Oraculum Apollinis apud M.A. Caus. Museum Rom. vol. ii. § -6. tab. 13. - -[49] Antiq. T. ii. P. 2. pl. 121, 122. - -[50] Porphyr. apud Euseb. Præp. Evang. L. iv. c. 23. Τοὺς δὲ πονηροὺς -δαίμονας οὐκ εἰκῇ ὑπὸ Σάραπιν ὑποπτεύομεν, &c. - -[51] Suppl. T. ii. L. vi. c. 10. Tab. xlviii. - -[52] Montfaucon, ibid. - -[53] Montfaucon, ibid. - -[54] Vid. Observations sur les Antiquités d’Herculaneum, _&c._ par -Mess. Cochin & Bellicard, p. 83, Paris 1755. - -[55] Within two miles of this place there is a steel Spaw of good -repute for the performance of several extraordinary cures, which gives -the same tincture with galls, and appears in every respect to be the -same with the water, that flows from this level. - -[56] The proportions were adjusted according to the carat weights, as -it is by these, that the fineness of gold is usually expressed: A carat -is the twenty-fourth part of the whole compound: thus gold of so many -carats is a composition, of which so many twenty-fourths are fine gold, -and the rest an inferior metal. - -[57] Observations sur les Antiquités d’Herculaneum, _&c._ p. 82 - -[58] For a more particular account of this statue, now in the palace at -Portici, I beg leave to refer you to a paper of mine read before the -Royal Society on Feb. 24, last. - -[59] Dio. L. xl. - -[60] Suet. Vesp. c. 7. - -[61] For authorities, see Middleton’s Germana Antiq. Mon. p. 152. - -[62] Pliny (L. ix. ep. 39.) acquainting his architect with his purpose -to repair a temple of Ceres, which was upon his estate, says, _Nullum -in proximo suffugium aut imbris, aut solis. Videor ergo munifice simul -religioseque facturum, si ædi, quam pulcherrimam exstruxero, addidero -porticus: illam ad usum deæ, has ad hominum._ That these portico’s -commonly inclosed the whole site of the ancient temples, as in this at -Pozzuoli, seems implied in what follows: _Quantum ad porticus, nihil -interim occurrit, quod videatur esse istinc repetendum: nisi tamen, ut -formam secundum rationem loci scribas; neque enim possunt circumdari -templo: nam solum templi hinc flumine--hinc viâ cingitur._ - -[63] Mess. Cochin and Bellicard seem to think this room was intended -for another purpose, by their calling the funnels under the holes -in the seats of it, _conduits des fosses d’aisance_. Which of the -two hypothesis’s is to be preferred, I submit to the judgment of the -learned; or rather, whether both of them may not be admitted, as in -no-wise incompatible the one with the other. - -[64] Vitruvius Lib. iii. cap. 3. _Gradus in fronte ita constituendi -sunt, uti sint semper impares: namque cum dextro pede primus gradus -ascendatur, item in templo primus erit ponendus._ - -[65] The learned Abbate de Venuti, F.R.S. and Antiquary to the Pope at -Rome, has lately by letter favoured me with an ingenious account of -this phænomenon; tho’ he mentions the granite columns only as affected -by it. _Cùm columnæ, quæ circumibant templum, excavarentur e terrâ, -quâ erant partim abrutæ----minutissimæ conchæ, quæ ex testaceorum -genere sunt, atque in saxorum rimulis prope mare reperiuntur, ideoque a -vulgo_ Trutti di Mare _appellatæ, columnas hasce (i. e. Thebaicas) quam -sæpissimè perforaverant, sese componentes, veluti apes in alveari, cùm -essent sejunctæ integumentis ex ipso lapide subtilissimis_.-- - -[66] Vid. p. 168. - -[67] Nec alius a Διονύσω sive sole est Δυσάρης, sive Δουσάρης, vel -Δευσάρης. Quæ vox (ut suspicor) conflata ex דוץ _Dutz_ et ארץ _Aretz_. -Quorum prius (_gaudium_) alterum notat (_terram_) ut notat _lætitiam -terræ_, sive mortalium. Nam Liber sive sol lætitiâ implet mortales, -maturando fruges, et uvas, unde de vino sic Maro, - - _Munera lætitiamque Dei._ Æn. i. - -Dusarem verò esse Arabum numen indicat locus ille Tertulliani in -Apolog. c. 24. “Unicuique etiam provinciæ et civitati suus deus est. Ut -Syriæ Astartes; _ut Arabiæ Disares_.” - -Etiam apud Stephanum sive Hermolaum Byzantium--Δυσάρη--σκόπελος ϗ -κορυφὴ ὑψηλοτάτη Αραβίας. Ἒιρηται δὲ ἀπό τοῦ Δυσάρου. Θεὸς δὲ οὗτος -παρὰ Ἂραψι ϗ Δαχαρηνοῖς τιμώμενος----Vossius de Idololat. L. ii. c. 8. - -[68] Nicol. Haym Roman. _Del. Tesor. Britan._ Vol. ii. p. 36, 37. In -Londra, 1720. - -[69] J. Foy Vaill. in _Arsacid. Imper._ Parisiis, 1728. _Numism. -Antiqu. Collect. a_ Thom. Pembroch. et Montis Gomer. Com. P. 2. T. 76. -Nicol. Haym Roman. ubi sup. p. 30-38. - -[70] Montfauc. _Palæograph. Græc._ p. 123, 124, 125. Parisiis, 1708. - -[71] Idem ibid. - -[72] J. Foy Vaill. ubi sup. - -[73] J. Foy Vaill. ubi sup. p. 335, 341. - -[74] Montfauc. ubi sup. p. 118, 119. Hadrian. Reland. _Palæstin. -Illustrat._ Tom. ii. p. 1014, 1015, 1055. Trajecti Batavorum, 1714. -I have a Latin dissertation in the press here, almost printed off, -containing an explication of a considerable number of coins of Tyre and -Sidon, with Phœnician legends upon them. - -[75] _De Num. quibusd. Sam. et Phœn. &c. Dissert._ p. 53-56. Oxon. 1750. - -[76] _Philosoph. Transact._ Vol. xlix. p. 593-607. - -[77] _Philosoph. Transact._ Vol. xlviii. p. 693. - -[78] _Philosoph. Transact._ Vol. xlviii. p. 693, 740. - -[79] _Philosoph. Transact._ ubi sup. - -[80] _Philosoph. Transact._ ibid. - -[81] _Philosoph. Transact._ ubi sup. p. 693, 740. - -[82] Chard. _Voyages en Perse_, &c. Tom. iii. p. 119. A Amsterdam 1711. -_Philosoph. Transact._ Vol. xlix. p. *597, *598. - -[83] That the plural termination of PADESHAH, or SHAH, which, according -to Khojah Asdhalo’ddîn, denoted originally the same thing, was AN, or -perhaps ANE, in the days of Ammianus Marcellinus, there is good reason -to believe; the word SAANSAA, KING OF KINGS, having been then used -by the Persians, and handed down to us by that author. The term ΣΑΑ, -SAA, equivalent to the Persic SHAH, KING, likewise occurs in Agathias, -a writer of the sixth century. Should my explication of the Parthian -legend of the coin before me meet with the approbation of the learned, -it will perhaps be granted me, that the plural of PADESHAH, or PADESHA, -amongst the Parthians was PADESHAN, if not PADESHANE, in the second -century after CHRIST. Hyd. _Hist. Rel. Vet. Pers._ p. 416. Khojah -Asdhalo’ddîn, D’Herbel. _Biblioth. Orient._ p. 767. Hadr. Reland. -_Dissert._ viii. _de Vet. Ling. Pers._ p. 221, 222. Ammian. Marcellin. -Lib. xix. cap. 2. Agath. Lib. iv. p. 135, 136. Parisiis, 1660. Ezech. -Spanhem. _De Præstant. et Us. Numism. Antiquor._ Tom. i. p. 463-466. -Lond. 1706. - -[84] Hyd. _Hist. Rel. Vet. Pers._ p. 79. Oxon. 1700. - -[85] D’Herbel. _Biblioth. Orient._ p. 699, 767. Hyd. ubi sup. Hadr. -Reland. _Dissert._ viii. _de Vet. Ling. Pers._ p. 147. Trajecti ad -Rhenum, 1707. - -[86] Hyd. ubi sup. p. 326. - -[87] Hyd. ubi sup. p. 18, 312. - -[88] Matth. Hiller. _Onomast. Sacr._ p. 619. Hadr. Reland. ubi sup. p. -259-262. - -[89] Nicol. Haym Roman. ubi sup. p. 33. - -[90] J. Foy Vaill. & Nicol. Haym Roman. ubi sup. & alib. - -[91] Esth. c. x. _v._ 1. - -[92] Scalig. _Prolegom. in Lib. de Emend. Temp._ p. 41. Col. Allobrog. -1629. & _Can. Isag._ s. 317. Matth. Hiller. ubi sup. p. 619, 620. - -[93] Moses Chorenens. _Hist. Armen._ Lib. ii. iii. Theophil. Sigefr. -Bayer. _Hist. Osrhoen. &c._ p. 97. Petropoli, 1734. - -[94] Herodot. Lib. iv. c. 87. - -[95] Epiphan. _Adv. Hær._ Lib. ii. Tom. ii. p. 629. Paris. 1622. - -[96] J. Foy Vaill. ubi sup. p. 339. - -[97] Maffeius, in _Gall. Antiqu. Quæd. Select._ Epist. 22. p. 106. -Parisiis, 1733. - -[98] J. Foy Vaill. ubi sup. p. 334, 335, 336, 339. - -[99] Dio, Lib. lxxi. p. 802. _Imperator. Romanor. Numism. &c. Stud. -& Cur._ Francisc. Mediobarb. Birag. p. 218. J. Foy Vaill. _Can. -Chronologic. Reg. Parthor._ p. 41. - -[100] Jul. Capitolin. in _M. Antonin. Philos._ et in _Ver._ - -[101] _Imperator. Romanor. Numism. &c. Stud. & Cur._ Francisc. -Mediobarb. Birag. S.R.I. Com. &c. p. 220. Mediolani, 1683. - -[102] J. Foy Vaill. ubi sup. & in _Arsacid. Imper._ p. 338. - -[103] Dio, Lib. lxxv. p. 853. J. Foy Vaill. in _Arsacid. Imper._ p. -356. & in _Can. Chronologic_. p. 42. Ludovic. Du Four de Longuerüe, -Ab. S. Joan. de Jardo ad Melod. et Sept. Font. in Therasc. _Annal. -Arsacidar._ p. 51. Argentorati, 1732. Erasm. Froelich, S. J. S. in -_Dub. de Minnisar. Aliorumque Armen. Reg. Num. et Arsecidar, Epoch. -nuper vulgat._ p. 66. Viennæ Austriæ, 1754. - -[104] Edv. Corsin. Cl. Reg. Scholar. Piar. in Acad. Pisan. Humanior. -Litterar. Profess. _De Minnisar. Aliorumq; Armen. Reg. Num. et Arsacid. -Epoch. Dissertat._ p. 13-29. Liburni, 1754. - -[105] Maff. in _Gall. Antiqu. Epist._ 22. p. 106. - -[106] J. Foy Vaill. ubi sup. p. 338. - -[107] Arrian. in _Parthic._ apud Photium, _Cod._ 58. & apud Syncell. in -_Chronograph._ p. 226. - -[108] Just. Lib. xli. c. 4. - -[109] Athen. _Deipnosoph._ Lib. iv. c. 13. - -[110] Corsin. ubi sup. - -[111] Corsin. ubi sup. p. 2. - -[112] Erasm. Froel. ubi sup. p. 72. - -[113] Corsin. in _Ded. Nob. Vir._ Phil. Venut. p. 5. - -[114] _Philosoph. Transact._ Vol. xlviii. p. 693, 740. - -[115] Ptol. _Tab. Urb. Insign._ p. 39. Ed. Huds. Oxon. 1712. - -[116] J. Foy Vaill. in _Arsacid. Imper._ pass. - -[117] Hamdalla Ism. Abu’lfed. Mohammed Al Firauzabad. Nassîr Al Tûsi, -Ulugh Beik, &c. Golii not. ad Alfragan. p. 200-204. - -[118] Upon inquiry, I find, that no such thing was taken notice of in -Northumberland; so it probably has not extended any further to the -eastward, than the skirts of our own county. - -[119] In an adjoining bleach-yard, a piece of cloth, which had been -left out all night, was turned yellow; and was not without some -difficulty washed out again. Some also, which was spread out the next -day, contracted the same colour. - -[120] The wind was westerly, and consequently would sweep the Irish sea. - -[121] No rain, or however very little, during the hurricane. - -[122] Mr. Derham, in his Physico Theology. - -[123] Distance about thirty miles. - -[124] _Viz._ About four feet long, and one inch square. - -[125] Philosoph. Transact. Vol. xlvii. p. 48. and Essay on the Virtues -of Lime water, _&c._ edit. 2d. p. 197. - -[126] Philosoph. Transact. Vol. xlvii. p. 48 and 473. and Essay on -Lime-water, p. 157 and 200. - -[127] The two stones found in Lord Walpole’s bladder were of this size, -and weighed one of them 22 and the other 21 grains. - -[128] Philosoph. Transact. Vol. xlvii. p. 47. - -[129] The stone found in the beginning of the passage from the bladder -was of this size, and weighed about a grain. - -[130] It is printed in this volume of the Philosoph. Transactions, -under the 28th of April, p. 221, & seqq. - -[131] Essay on the Virtues of Lime-water, 2d edit. p. 140. - -[132] Phil. Transact. Vol. xlvii. p. 46. - -[133] Phil. Transact. Vol. xlvii. p. 472, 473. - -[134] Essay on Lime-water, _&c._ p. 200, 201. - -[135] Physical Experiments, p. 19. - -[136] Essay on Lime-water, _&c._, 2d edit. p. 171, 201. - -[137] Essay on Lime-water, _&c._ 2d edit. p. 170. - -[138] Ibid. p. 24, 25, 30 & 31. - -[139] The celebrated Dr. Scheuchzer has arranged the fossile plants -botanically, by Tournefort’s system, in his folio work, intituled, -_Herbarium Diluvianum_; and Dr. Woodward’s fossile plants, Catalogue B, -he informs us, were botanically considered and arranged by those famous -botanists Dr. Plukenet, and Mess. Doody, Buddle, and Stonestreet. - -[140] Woodward, Catalogue B. p. 104. specimen _q._ 1. was of 6 1-half -feet in length; and Catalogue D. p. 60. specimen _h._ 38. was a yard -long; _et alibi passim_. In the collieries at Swanvich in Derbyshire, -in 1752. a plant of the cane kind was found 14 feet long: it ended in -a point at one end, and at the root in a large knob, and in the middle -measured nine inches about. - -[141] Zirizææ, quæ, in insula Scaldiæ, secundum Zelandiæ oppidum est. - -[142] Dominus Ellis, anno 1755. Lond. in 8º edidit _Essay on the -Natural History of Corals_, &c. quem librum Gallice versum in 4º -recudit P. de Hond Hagæ Comitum, sub titulo _Essay sur l’Histoire -Naturelle des Corallines, &c. par J. Ellis_, 1756. - -[143] Il y a une sorte de Lithophyte, qui veritablement est curieuse, -et bien extraordinaire: elle n’a point d’ecorce continuée, mais bien -quelques fragmens, par ci par la interrompus d’un glu, qui fleurit dans -l’eau. Hist. de la Mer. pag. 89. fig. 101. 179, 1. - -[144] Bonnet sur l’usage des Feuilles, pag. xviii. & 286. - -[145] Id. ibid. pag. 66. - -[146] Tab. VII. fig. I, II. - -[147] Ibid. fig. III. - -[148] Tab. VIII. fig. V. - -[149] Vide talem delineatam in Mem. de l’Acad. p. 394, anni 1711. - -[150] Mem. de l’Academie, 1742. - -[151] Tab. VIII. fig. II, IV. - -[152] Tab. VIII. fig. IV. - -[153] Sic Dˢ. _Ellis_ in una eademque planta diversos, polypos -delineat, tab. IV. fig. C. tab. V. fig. A. tab. XIV. fig. A. B. tab. -XXXVIII. F. N. E. - -[154] Tab. IX. fig. A, B, C. - -[155] Sic Clar. _Ellis_ eosdem etiam polypos invenit in corallina -astaci cornicularum æmula Nº. 14. et in corallina setacea instar -arundinis geniculara Nº. 16. - -[156] Tab. VII. fig. VI. - -[157] Ibid. fig. VII. - -[158] Ibid. fig. VIII. - -[159] Tab. IX. fig. IV, V, VI. - -[160] Tab. VIII. fig. VI. - -[161] Psalm. civ. vers. 16, 17, 18. - -[162] Memoir. des Insect. tom. ii. tab. iv. fig. 6, 8. - -[163] Id. ibid. tab. iii. fig. xv. - -[164] Id. tom. iii. mem. xi. tab. xxxii. fig. 1. - -[165] Id. tom. v. mem. iii. tab. xv. fig. 1, 2, 3. - -[166] Id. tom. ii. mem. ii. tab. iii. tom. iv. tab xxxvii. fig. 11, 12, -19, 20. - -[167] Id. tom. iv. tab. xliv. fig. 8. - -[168] Id. tom. ii. mem. ii. pag. 163. tab. iv. fig. 11, 12, 13. Ellis -Essay, pag. 100. tab. xxxiii. _a_ A. - -[169] Tab. VIII. fig. VI. _a_ A. - -[170] Ellis passim in figuris, præsertim tab. v. fig. A. - -[171] Mem. de l’Acad. viii. pag. 253. tab. vi. fig. 1, 2, 3, 4. - -[172] Lesser, Theologie des Insect. tom. ii. p. 112. - -[173] Tab. VIII. fig. II. IV. - -[174] Tab. VIII. fig. III. - -[175] Tab. VII. fig. III. - -[176] Idem observat Cel. Jussiæus, licet corillinas a polypis tamen -fabrifatas autumat. Vide Mem. de l’Acad. 1742. et figuram inspice, -quomodo corporis extremitate corallinæ insident. - -[177] Tab. IX. fig. II. _a_ A. - -[178] Tab. IX. fig. II A. _c._ - -[179] Ibid. _b. b._ - -[180] Ibid. A. _c._ - -[181] Ibid. B. - -[182] Ibid. C. _c._ - -[183] Ibid. fig. III. - -[184] Ibid. fig. III. - -[185] Ibid. _c. c._ - -[186] _Vionelli_ nuove luci coperte. _Linnæi_ Amæn. Acad. tom. iii. de -noctiluca marina. - -[187] Tab. VIII. fig. VII. - -[188] Tab. X. fig. I. - -[189] Ibid. fig. 6. - -[190] Ibid. fig. 8. - -[191] Tab. X. fig. II. B. - -[192] Ibid. C. - -[193] Ibid. fig. III. - -[194] See Phil. Transact. Vol. xlix. Part 2. p. 509. - -[195] Original Letters to Sir Hans Sloane, Bart. vol. A-B. in the -British Museum. - -[196] Journal, vol. xi. p. 143. - -[197] In this treatise, L. 2. p. 80. is the following passage: _In pago -Rorbachio non procul Heydelbergâ, Paræi etiam relatu, gemini utriusque -sexûs obversis tergoribus annexis orti sunt._ - -[198] The two figures shew a fore and back view of this subject. - -[199] See above, Nº. X, p. 53. - -[200] After this paper was read at the Society, Dr. Pringle having -acquainted Dr. Whytt, that Mr. Patrick Brydone had omitted, in his -account, the name of the parish, where the woman lived, the time when -she was cured, and also that he had not fully dated his paper; Dr. -Whytt some time after wrote to Dr. Pringle, that having desired Mr. -Brydone to furnish him with these particulars, he had received for -answer, “That the woman, on whom the cure was performed, had lived all -her life in the parish of Coldinghame, and for the last twelve years in -that town: That her father had died of the palsy seven years ago, after -having been subject to that distemper for several years: That the cure -was performed in his father’s house at Coldinghame, on the 4th, 5th, -6th, and 11th of days of April 1757. a circumstance he had noted down: -That as to the date of his paper, presented to the Royal Society, he -only recollects it was written some day in the beginning of November -last; but as the woman still continued well, he hoped the precise day -of the month was no material omission.” This letter to Dr. Whytt is -dated, Coldinghame, January 9th, 1758. - -[201] See above, p. 209, & seqq. - -[202] Vid. Essay on the Virtue of Lime-water, 2d edit. p. 176, 177. - -[203] Essay on Lime-water, 2d edit. p. 208, &c. - -[204] Ibid. p. 176 and 177. - -[205] Since my writing this discourse, Dr. Mason informs me, that these -are found no other than recent nuts and laryxes. - -[206] Vol. xlviii. - -[207] No error arises from considering the triangles E A _e_ and AEH, -as being formed on the surface of a sphere, tho’ the earth itself is -not accurately such. The angle (E A _a_) representing the effect of the -solar force, is properly referred to the surface of a sphere; therefore -(after the measure thereof is truly determined) the figure AP _ap_ is -itself taken as a sphere, in order to avoid the trouble of introducing -a new scheme. - -[208] Part I. p. 161. - -[209] Page 806. - -[210] See TAB. XVII. where this specimen is exactly delineated. - -[211] This is likewise called the Malacca Bean, from its growing in -great plenty on that coast, near the equinoctial line. - -[212] See above, p. 356. - -[213] Page 887. - - - - -Corrections - -p. 29 - - The medicinal virtues of these waters have been been treated - The medicinal virtues of these waters have been treated - -p. 36 - - which indeed greaty relieved him: - which indeed greatly relieved him: - -p. 85 - - infusion from the eightteenth scruple - infusion from the eighteenth scruple - -Footnote 28 - - Hom. Iiad. 23. _v._ 88. - Hom. Iliad. 23. _v._ 88. - -Footnote 67 - - conflata ex דוצ _Dutz_ et ארצ - conflata ex דוץ _Dutz_ et ארץ - -p. 133 - - in addding too large - in adding too large - -p. 206 - - He eat with an appetite - He ate with an appetite - -p. 369 - - by any peculiar symptom distinguishable by by the touch, - by any peculiar symptom distinguishable by the touch, - -p. 449 - - he will find it exactly agees - he will find it exactly agrees - -p. 475 - - for where there there is a multitude of different cases - for where there is a multitude of different cases - -p. 453 - - that the Chinese import them, and the Japanese mix them with - varnish for sale. - - that the Chinese import them, and the Japanese mix them with their - varnish for sale. - -The missing word “their” was added according to page 220 of this -edition: PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS: GIVING SOME ACCOUNT OF THE -Present Undertakings, Studies, and Labours, OF THE INGENIOUS IN -MANY Considerable Parts of the WORLD, by C. C. 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