Ex Libris C. K. OGDEN MAY. C AM B Cliaa. V '\ I Every Patient His own Doctor 5 OR, T PI E SICK M A N 's TRIUMPH OVER DEATH AND THE GRAVE. CONTAINING, The moft approved METHODS of curing every DISEASE incident to the rf U M A N BODY, internal or external ; whether owing to Defeats of Nature, occafioned by In- temperance, contracted by Accident, or caufed by Decay. THE BES\ REMEDIES Prefcribed by the Authority of the moft eminent Phyficians for removing each Diforder, reftoringHealth,preferving it when reftored j and extending Life to an honourable Old Age. , INCLUDING An excellent Collection of the 'moft approved RECEIPTS for MAKING AND PREPARING A great Number of cheap, eafy, and efficacious MEDICINES. That Admirable NEW DISCOVERY, by which the SCURVY, the Grand Englljb Diforder^ IS EFFECTUALLY- CURED: And for the fuccefiful Praftice of which, fcaptain COOK received the PREMIUM MEDAL from the ROYAL SOCIETY, for having preiuved himfelf and all his Men from this dreadful Diltemper, during the Space of Three Years and Eighteen Days, although he v pafled through all the Varieties of Climates and Seafons in his late Voyage rounclthe World, performed By the Command of His MAJESTY. A L SO the METHODS ufed by the HUMANE SOCIETY for the Recovery of Perfons apparently drov.-nedoi ftiffocated. A certain Cure tor the Bite of a Mad Dog, Viper, Adder, &c. An infallible Remedy againit the Goal Diltempei, Plague, or any other pellilential Diforder, &c. &c. BY LEWIS ROBINSON, M. D. I = .1 ii Read, and acquire the greateft Worldly Wealth, A Flow of Sf'lnts and a Flttjh of Health ; Triumph o'er Pain) and conquer each D:feajc t Enjoy your Life, and glory in your Eafc, LONDON: Printed for J. C O O K E, No. 17- Pater-nofter Row. [Price ONE SHILLING.] AS Health is the nobleft bleflmg of this life, the method of pro- curing it fhould be our principal en- quiry. While pofleflfed of it, we feldom pay a proper attention to its importance ; when loft, we become fenfible of its value, but are frequently carelefs con- cerning its recovery. The reafons are plain, while we have it we trifle with it till it flies us ; when fled, we trifle with our misfortune, becaufe we fuppofe the recovery to be either impofllble or im- probable. For 2015143 iv PREFACE. For the benefit of mankind, we here furnifh the public with fome of the beft and eafieft methods of recovering and fecuring health^ and of preferving life, which comprehend the greateft difco- venes in the Medical Art. Thefe will equally fuit all ranks of people ; the Poor, becaufe the Remedies may be cheaply obtained ; and the Rich, becaufe they may be eafily put in practice. Hence Hetlth may be recovered with Facility^ and a Knowledge of the powers *of me- dicine obtained without Difficulty. So that our readers may at once ceafe to be Patients themfelves, or, if they pleafe^ become Practical Phyjicians to others. t 5 ] Every Patient his own Dotor. PART i. INTERNAL DISORDERS. SCURVY. TH E Scurvy being the principal difeafe inci- dent to the inhabitants of Great Britain, and the fource from whence many of their other diforders flow, we thought it necefiary to commence this falutary Work, with an account of the nature of, and the remedies againft, this fatal foe to ENGLISH CONSTITUTIONS. SYMPTOMS. THE fymptoms or figns of this dangerous difeafe are a frequent lazinefs and iownefs of fpirits, pains in various parts of the body, fometimes livid fpots, often a fallow complexion, a continual itching of the blood, difficulty of breathing, fwelling of the legs, bleeding B at at the nofe, and fpongy gums, fubject to pains and bleedings. But it is to be obfcrvcd, that as conltl- tutions differ, the figns or fymptoms of the difeafe vary , and people, according to their years, fituations in life, and manner of living, are attacked by this difeafe, under feveral appearances ; but fome of the above fymptoms always attend it according to the constitution of thofe afflicted , for whofe benefit we lhall point out the moft approved and certain me- thods of cure hitherto difcovered. REMEDIES. A Milk diet, with weak whey, greens of all kinds, frelh vegetables, fruits, acids, icurvy-arafs ale, frefh beer and cyder, tar water taken twice a day, with camphire, one fcruple, sethiops mineral, half an ounce, powder of gum-guaiacum, two drachms, ho- ney, one ounce, mix and make an electuary, and take the bignefs of a nutmeg every night going to reft. The patient may likewife drink the decoction of the woods. Drinking fea-water will be found extremely beneficial, as will bathing in the fea. But for the called and moft efficacious remedy for this dreadful difeafe, we may thank Capt. Cook, who in his late voyage round the world, by the command of his prefent MAJESTY in the fhip Refolution, pre- ierved himfelf and all his men from the Scurvy, by the ufe of a very limple medicine -, though he pafled through the temperature, the frigid and the torrid zones, was abfent from England three years and eigh- teen days, and went through fuch a variety of cli- mates, as were (ufficient to make the fcvereft attacks on the moft robuft conftitution. But as his methods of proceeding will appear with moft propriety in his own words, we fhall prefent our readers with his Letter to Sir Jobn Pringle^ Bart. Prefident of the Royal Society > which letter - is dated March 5, 1776; and [ 7 ] and for which Captain Cook received a Premium Medal. SI R, " AS many gentlemen have cxprefTed fome furprize at the uncommon good ftate of health which the crew of the Refolution, under my command, ex- perienced during her late voyage ; I take the liberty to communicate to you the methods that were taken, to obtain that end. Much was owing to the ex- traordinary attention given by the Admiralty, in caufing fuch articles to be put on board, as either by experience or conjeclure were judged to tend mofl to prderve the health of feamen. I fhall not trefpafs upon your time in mentioning all thofe articles, but confine myfclf to fuch as were found the mod: ufeful. " We had on board a large quantity of malt, of which was made fweet-worr, and given (not or.ly to thofe men who had manifeft fymptoms of the fcurvy, but to fuch alfo as were, from circumftances, judged to be moil: liable to that diforder) from one to two or three pints in the day to each man, or in fuch proportion as the furgeon thought necefiary j- which fometimes amounted to three quarcs in the twenty four hours. This is without doubt one of the beft antifcorbutic fea-medicines yet found out; and if given in time will, with proper attention to other things, I am perfuaded, prevent the fcurvy from making any great progrefs for a confiderable time : but 1 am not altogether of opinion, that it will cure it in an advanced ftate at fea. " Sour-krout, of which we had alfo a large pro- vifion, is not only a wholefome vegetable food, but, in my judgment, highly antifcorbutic, and fpoils not by keeping. A pound of it was ferved to each B 2 man, [ 8 1 man, when at fea, twice a week, or oftner when it was thought neceffary. " Portable-foup, or broth, was another efiential article, of which we had likewife a liberal fupply. An ounce of this to each man, or fuch other pro- portion as was thought necefiary, was boiled with their peas three days in the week ; and when we were in places where frefh vegetables could be pro- cured, it was boiled, with them and with wheat or oatmeal, every morning for breakfaft, and alfo with dried peas and frefh vegetables for dinner. It enabled us to make feveral imrifhing and wholc- fome mefies, and was the means of making the peo- ple eat a greater quantity of greens than they would have done otherwile. " Further, we were provided with rob of lemons and oranges ; which the furgeon found ufeful in feveral cafes. " Amongft other articles of victualling, we were furnifhed with fugar in the room of oil, and with wheat inflead of much oatmeal, and were certainly gainers by the exchange. Sugar, I imagine, is a very good antifcorbutic ; whereas oil, fuch at leaft as is ufually given to the navy, 1 apprehend has the contrary effe<5t. But the introduction of the mod falutary articles, either as provifion or medicines, will generally prove unluccefsful, unlefs fupported by certain rules of living. O " On this principle, many years experience, to- gether with fome hints I had from Sir Hugh Palliler, the Captains Campbell, Wallis, and other intelligent officers, enabled me to lay down a plan whereby all was to be conducted. The crew, were ar three watches, except upon fome extraordinary occafions. By this means they were not fo much expofed to the weather as if they had been at watch and watch , and they had generally dry cloaths to fhifc themlelves when they [ 9 ] they happened to get wet. Care was alfo taken to expofe them as little as poffible. Proper methods were employed to keep their perfons, hammocks, bedding, cloaths, &c. condancly clean and dry. Equal pains were taken to keep the (hip clean and dry between decks. Once or twice a week me was aired with fires ; and when this could not be done, fhe was fmoaked with gunpowder moiftened with vinegar or water. I had allb frequently a fire made in an iron pot at the bottom of the well, which greatly purified the air in the lower parts of the fhip. To this and cleanlinefs, as well in the fhip as ampngft the people, too great attention cannot be paid ; the leaft neglect occafions a putrid offenfive frnell below, which nothing but fires will remove; and if thefe be not uled in time, thofe fmells will be attended with bad confequences. Proper care was taken of the fliip'? coppers, fo that they were kept conflantly clean. The fat, which boiled oiT? of the fait beef and pork, I never luffrred to be given to the people, as is cuftomary ; being of opinion that it promotes the fcurvy. I never failed to take in water wherever it was to be procured, even when we did not feern to want it ; becaufe I look upon frefh water from the more to be much more wholefome than that which has been kept for fome time on board. Of this efTen- tial article we were never at an allowance, but had always abundance for every necefTary purpofe. I am convinced that with plenty of frefh water, and a clofe attention to cleanlinefs, a fhip's company will feldom be much afflicted with the fcurvy, though they mould pot be provided with any of the antifcorbutics before- mentioned. We came to few places where either the art of man or nature did not afford fome fort of refrefhment or other, either of the animal or vege- table kind. It was my firft care to procure what could be met with of either, by every means in my power t '0 ] power, and to oblige our people to make ufe thereof, both by my example and aurhority ; but the benefirs arifing from fuch refrefhments foon became fo obvious, that I h,?. t lituc occafion to employ either the one or the 6 '-' r .i. " i hefe, Sir, were the methods, under the care of Pi\,\ v .wnce, by which the Rtfolution performed a voy- age of th r ee years and eighteen days, through all the climates rro-n 52 degrees north to 71 degrees fouth, with rhe lofs of one man only by difeafe, and who died of a complicated and lingering illnefs, without any mixtu r e of icurvy. Two others were unfortu- nately drowned, and one killed by a fall , fo that of the whole number with which 1 fetout from England, D * I loft only four. " I have the honour to be, Sir, &c." Extraft of a Letter from Captain Cook to Sir John Cringle, Bart. daftd Plymouth Sound, July 7, 1 776. c< I entirely agree with you, that the dearnefs of the rob of lemons and oranges will hinder them from being furnimed in large quantities, but I do not think this fo neceffary ; for though they may afiilr. other things, I have no great opinion of them alone. Nor have I an higher opinion of vinegar : my people had it very fparingly during the late vqyage ; and towards the lauer part, none at all j and yet we experienced no ill effecis from the want or it. The cuftom of warning the infide of the fhip with vinegar I feldom obferved, thinking, that fire and fmoak anfwered the purpofe much better." To the above we fliall fuhjoin the following re- marks on Captain Cook's judicious, procedure-, with fome other intereiting particulars , being a fummary of the c.ifcovery of the great antifcorbutic virtues of fweet-wort by Dr. Macbfidc, &c. " CAPTAIN Cook begins his lift of ftores with malt : [ II ] malt : " Qf this," he fays, " was made fweet-wort, s; and given not only to thofe men who had manifeft " fymptoms of the fcurvy, but to fuch alfo as were " judged to be the molt liable to it." Dr. Marbride, who firlt fuggefted this preparation, was led, as he fays, to the difcovcry by fome experiments that had been laid before the Royal Society , by which it appeared, that the air produced by alimentary fermentation was endowed with a power of correcting putrefaction. The fact he confirmed by numerous trials, and finding this fluid to be fixed air^ he juftly concluded, that whatever fubftance proper for food abounded with it, and which could be conveniently carried to fea, would makeone of thebeftprovifions againft the fcurvy -, which he then confidered as a putrid difeafe, and as fuch to be prevented or cured by that powerful kind of antifeptic. Beer, for inftance, hath always been efteemed one of the beft antiicorbudcs , but as that derived all its fixed air from the malt of which it is made, he inferred, that malt itfelf was preferable in long voyages, as it took up lefs room than the brewed li- quor, and would keep longer found. Experience hath fince verified this ingenious theory, and the malt hath now gained ib much credit in the navy, that there only wanted fo long, fo healthful, and fo cele- brated a voyage as this, to rank it among the moft indifpenfable articles of provifion. For though Cap- tain Cook remarks, that " a proper attention to other *' things muft be joined, and that he is not altogether " of opinion, that the wort will be able to cure the " fcurvy in an advanced ftate at fea ; yet he is per- "'fuaded, that it is fufficient to prevent that diftem- " per from making any great progrefs, for a con- " fiderable time j" and therefore he doth not hefi- tate to pronounce it, " one of the beft antifcorbutic '* medicines yet found out.'* This falutary tfj, or fxtd air, is contained more or t t ] or lefs in all fermentable liquors, and begins to op- pofe putrefaction as foon as the working or inteftinc motion commences. In wine it abounds, and perhaps no vegetable fub- ftance is more replete with it than the fruit of the vine. If we join the grateful tafte of wine, we mult rank it firft in the lift of antifcorbutic liquors. Cyder is likewife good, with other vinous produc- tions from fruit, as alfo the various kinds of beer. It hath been a conftant obfervation, that in long cruizes or diftant voyages, the fcurvy is never feen whilft the fmall-beer holds out at a full allowance; but that when it is ail expended, the diforder foon ap- pears. It were therefore to be wifhed, that this moft \vholefome beverage could be renewed at fea j but our mips afford not fufficient convenience. The Ruffians however make a fhift to prepare at fea, as well as at land, a liquor of a middle quality between wort and fmall-bc-er, in the following manner. They take ground malt and rye meal in a certain proportion, which they knead into fmall loaves, and bake in the oven. Thefe they occafionally infufe in a proper quantity of warm water, which begins fo foon to fer- ment, that in the fpace of twenty-four hours their brewage is compleated, in the production of a fmall, brifk, and acidulous liquor, which they call quas, palatable to themfclves, a'nd not difagreeablc to the tafte of (trangers. The late Dr. Mounfey, member of the Royal Society, who had lived long in Ruflia, and had been Arcbiater under two fucceffive fovereigns, fays, that the quas was the common and whole- fome drink both of the fleets and armies of that em- pire, and that it was particularly good againft the fcurvy. He added, that happening to be at Mofcow when he peruled the " Observations on the Jail- Fever," publimed here, he had been induced to compare what he read in that treatife with what he {hould ||g: f '3 J Should fee In the feveral prifons of that large city : but to his furprize, after vifiting them all, and find- ing them full of malefactors, for the late emprefs then fufFcred none of thofe who were convicted of capital crimes to be put to death, yet he could dif- tover no fever among them, nor learn that any acute diftemper peculiar to jails had ever been known there. He obferved that fome of thofe places of confine- ment had a yard, into which the prifoners were al- lowed to come for the air ; but that there were others without this advantage, yet not fickly : fo that he could affign no other reafon for the' health- ful condition of thofe men than the kind of diet they ufed ; which was the fame with that of the common people of the country, who not being able to pur- chafe flem-meat live moftly on rye-bread, the moft scefcent of any bread) and drink quas. He con- cluded with faying, that upon his return to Peters- burg, he had made the fame enquiry there, and with the fame refulr. Thus far my informer: from whofe account it would appear, that the rye-meal aflifted both in quickening the fermentation, and adding more fixed air; fince the malt alone could not fo readily pro- duce fo acidulous and brifk a liquor. And there is little doubt but that whenever the other grains can be brought to a proper degree of fermentation, they will more or lefs in the fame way become ufeful. That oats will, I am fatisfied, from what I have been told by one of the intelligent friends of Captain Cook. This gentleman being on a cruize in a large fhip, in the beginning of the late war, and the fcurvy breaking out among his crew, he bethought himfelf of a kind of food, he had feen ufed in fome parts of the country, as the moft proper on this occafion. Some oatmeal is put into a wooden veflel, hot water is poured upon it, and the infufion continues until C the t H 1 the liq,uor begins to tafte fourifh ; that rs,- till a fei* mentation comes on, which in a place moderately warm may be in the fpace of two days. The water is then poured off from the grounds, and: boiled down to the confiftence of a jelly. This he ordered to be made, and dealt out in mefles, being firft fweet- ened with fugar, and feafoned with fome prize-wine he had taken, which, though turned four, yet improved the tafte, and made this aliment no lefs palatable than medicinal. GOUT. SYMPTOMS. THE urine of the perfo-n afflicted is high o> loured, and has a fandy lediment of a reddifh caft ; the part affected looks red and is fwelled. The pain is exceedingly acute, as if the bone was broken, and is fucceeded by a flight fever, and- a chillnefs or ihiver- ing, which feizes the great toe, ancle, heel, calf of the leg, &c. REMEDY. BEFORE the afflicted go to bed at night, they Ihould take a tea fpoonful of volatile tincture of guaiacum in a glafs of water : keep themfclves warm, and drink fack whey. Exercife is very requifite for thofe afflicted with this d'iibrder. As the duke of Portland's Gout Powder is re- markably efficacious in the cure of this diforder, we fhall here tranfcribe the receipt for making it. TAKE of round birthwort root and gentian root, of the tops and leaves of germander, ground pine, and cenraury : take of all thcfe, well dried, powdered and fifted as fine as poflible, an equal quantity ; mix them well together, and take one drachm of this mixed powder every morning falling in a cup of wine and broth, tea, or any other vehicle you like beft; [ '5 1 *&eep fatting .an hour and an half after it. Continue this medicine for three months without interruption then diminifh thedofe.to three quarters of a drachm for three months longer, then to half a drachm for fix months more, taking it regularly every morning if pofiibie. After the firft year, it will be fufficient to take half a drachm every other day. As this medi- cine operates infenfibly, it will, take perhaps two years before you receive any great benefit ; fo you muft not be difcouraged, though you do not per- ceive at firft any great amendment ; it works flow but fure : it doth not confine the patient to any par- ticular diet, if he lives foberly, and abftains from thofe meats and liquors that have always been ac- counted pernicious in the gout ; as champaign, drams, Jjigh fauces, &c, RHEUMATISM. SYMPTOMS. FEVERISH and coftive body, lof$ of apetito f.oldnefs of the extreme parts, heavinefs of the joints* chillncfs, fhivering, and racking pains in the jimbs. REMEDIES, BE covered warm when you go to bed, and take 3 drachm of powder of gum-guaiacum. The duke of Portland's Gout Powder is likewife ufed in this dif- order ; but it is to be obferved, that in the rheuma- itifm, which is only accidental and not habitual, a few of the drachm dofes may do ; but if habitual, or has been of long duration, then you may take it as for the gout, The remedy requires patience, as it ope T fates buc flow in both diftempers. C 2 P L E , I t > 6 1 PLEURISY. SYMPTOMS. HEAT, thirft, a troublefome cough, and a vio- lent pain of the fide. If the patient is bled, the blood has a refcmblance of tallow when melted. REMEDIES. FREQUENT bleedings, a blifter on the fide, and half a pint of the following infufion taken twice a day : a quart of boiling penny royal water poured on fix ounces of frefh horfe dung, (train it when cold, and fweeten ic with a quarter of an ounce of Venice treacle. FEVERS. SYMPTOMS. THERE are two principal fources of fevers, one comprehends the caufes which render the blood and other fluids of the body too thick j the other includes thofe which make them too thin. Let us now exa- mine how one Tort may be diftinguifhed from the other. It mould be obferved, that in all fevers of every kind, there is a morbid or malignant quality intro- duced and fubfifting in the blood as the productive caufe ; and the proper means for curing them are fuch methods and medicines as by experience have been found effectual for removing their morbid qua- lity, and recovering the fick in the Ihorteft time. In fome perfons, when there is too much blood, fuch bleeding may be advifed as will draw off the- excefs, except in peftilential diftempers, in which blood-letting has proved almoft always mortal, even in the bodies fulleft of blood j this evacuation muft be C *7 ] be moderately ufed in pleu rifles, as the extremity of pain and difficulty of breathing mall require it. That the common people (who generally know when perfons have fevers) may have a little more knowledge of thefe acute difeafes, and how to dif- tinguifh one kind of them from the other-, the per-* fon who is to direct for the fick, mould "carefully enquire into the ftate of his body-, he mould exa- mine his pulfe. Let him feel the pulfe of two or three that are in health, and his own pulfe ; and then compare them with the pulfe of the patient, and thereby he will come nearly to know how much it differs from the healthful ftandard, as to quicknei's Or flownefs, and as to its ftrength and weaknefs, and be able to deduce fome conclufions which may guide his conduct ; then let him learn the degree of febrile heat ; and one way to do this may be by feeling the fide of the neck below the ears (through which the large blood veflels paft to and from the brain) and thus the degree of the heat of the blood may be known -, and the other fymptoms of the patient mould be particularly enquired into. If the heat of the body be excefllve, the pulfe quick and ftrong, the flefh very dry, the pores 6f the fkin very clofe, and the thirft very great, it may be concluded that the caufe which produced that fever has rendered the blood too thick. If the pulfe is too quick, and not ftrong, and the heat, of the body not -great ; if the tongue is very black or dry, and the thirft is great, or if the patient voids blood by urine, or ipitting, or at his nofe, or by ftool ; or if he has flat fpots on his fkin, black or redifli in colour, or if he has a great loofenefs, with' watery or thin floolsj or if he has profufe fweats, with afenfible finking of his fpirits, and decreafe of ftrength, it may be inferred, that the fever is of a putrid kind. R M - t '8 J REMEDIES. THE following: ;eneral rules fhould be obferved : o o Co drink as plentifully as pofiible fome diluting liquor whenever thirfty, fuch as barley-water, mint and balm and fage tea, thin water-gruel, or beef tea made as follows : Take a pound of lean beef, cut it fmall, pour upon it two quarts of water, boil it for the-fpace of five minutes, then keep for ufe. To ufe fuch nutritious food, as moft freely may .be taken, becaufe it abates the acrimony of the blood, repairs the wafte of the body, and is one of the beft cordials ; fmall whey made with Canary or Mountain wine may be frequently ufed. It may be neccfiary, before we proceed farther, to premife that in liquid, by four table fpoonfulls, is meant half a gill, or two ounces-, two fpoonfulls one ounce, one fpoonfull half an ounce, or four idrachms. If feized with any feverifh complaint, take the fol- lowing mixture. Salt of wormwood, two drachms, lemon juice, or any acid, a Sufficient quantity to make a neutral me- dicine, fugar about two drachms, common water about half a pint, and about two ounces of nutmeg water, or any fpirit; mix together, and take two fpoonfulls every three hours. At night take a little fweat going to reft, and the next morning continue the mixture. Or if inconve- nient to make up the above medicine, or too poor to get it, we recommend Salt Petre as an efficacious as well as cheap remedy. We mall mention one inftance of its utility. A poor woman afked advice for her hufband (a man about forty years of age) who had a fever, with a violent pain in his fide, and was light- headed at times. \Yc "tVe ad vifed her to get an ounce of falt-petre, andpow- der it -, then to divide it into four equal parts, and each of them into four others, for fo many dofes, each of which will contain about half a drachm, directing that me fhould give one of them, difiblved in a coffee dim. of iage tea, fweetened with fugar to his palate every three or four hours; and when he had taken this fait, fhe came and faid, that his fever was gone ; but that his cough remained. We then, advifed her to give him about twenty drops of balfam capivi, with powder fugar, night and morning; and he happily recovered. But if troubled with a cough, add, of fperm-a-ceti in powder two drachms, difiblved with the yolk of an egg, to be taken in the fame manner. Or, if that cannot be had, the following powder.' Take fperma-ceti in powder, half an ounce; fugar and fak-petrc each two drachms ; mixt together, and take as much as will lay on a milling every three or four hours in any liquid. If bound, take the following opening mixture. Take two drachms of fenna leaves, boil in ten ounces of common water to eight ounces -, ftrain off, and add manna half an ounce, tincture of fenna- one ounce ; mix, and take two table fpoonfulls every three hours, till it operates. This medicine is eafily prepared, and very handy on many occafions, efpecially when the body calls for a remedy of this nature ; it is cooling as well as lax- ative ; walhes its paffage through the bowels, without any griping or diforder, and ftands in need at the fame time of no over drift regimen. Thus far fevers in general ; proceed we therefore to thofe more particular. Of an Acute Inflammatory Fever. THE young, 'robuft plethoric habit, will ever be rnoft liable to inflammations ; whilft, on the contrary, in in the weakly and infirm, the circulation cannot readily be worked up to fuch a pitch as is requifite to conftitute a difeafeof an inflammatory kind ; in both, cold or obftrufted perfpiration is almoft the only occalional caufe. This fever may be eafily known from the conflitution of the fick perfon 5 a quick, full and tenfe pulfe, hard beyond its natural flate ; florid countenance, with great heat and thirft, acute pains in the head, back and loins, &c. To the cure of an inflammatory fever therefore it is necefTary, firft, to take away about fix or eight ounces of blood, then give about fifteen grains of Ipecacuanha in a cup of any liquid, and work it off with camomile flower tea, having nothing after ic that night, but a little mulled wine to fettle the ftomach. Tartar emetic two grains, diaphoretic antimony, ten grains, barley water, eight ounces -, mix and take two fpoonfulls every four hours ; and every now and then about as much falt-petre as will lay on a /hilling diflblved in the drink. If all this mould not open the body, it will be ne- cefTary to add an emollient clyfter. Jf at the end of the difeafe the pulfe mould flag, difcontinue the medicines, and ufe cordials. If an intermiffion fhould happen, with gentle fweats, and turbid urine ; the bark in fmall dofes or rather a decoction of it, may be thrown in. Of ike Nervous Fever. THIS low nervous fever is diredly oppofite to the acute inflammatory, and therefore muft be dif- ferently treated. It moftly happens from profufe evacuations, and to thofe of relaxed folids, and diffolved watery fluids ; the pulfe, though quick, is here weak and low, the heat of body but little beyond the natural, and the fymptons [ ** J -_ fymptoms in general of the fpafmodic kind, and In- dependent of inflammation. In the one it becomes neceflary to lower the im* petus of the circulation, by evacuations arid coolers; in the other, the warm cordial, the ftimulating me- dicines are by all means advifable to excite the vis vitse, and promote fuch a degree of fever as may furHce for its expulfion. Evacuations of blood, and by ftool, can then" be of no fervice in the cure of a low fever, but a great detriment. A gentle vomit in the beginning, and a breathing fweat throughout its continuance will be ufeful. A warm, light, nouriming diet, and plenty of generous wine will be expedient, with bliflers and fi- napifms, or muftard plaifters and other drawers of the feet, for the relief of the fymptons. Firft then give the ipecacuanha v0mit, with the mulled wine as before defcribed ; and going to bed, half a drachm of mithridate. The next day the fol- lowing mixture. Take Venice treacle, two drachms, fyrup of fafFron, half an ounce^ fimple mint water, eight ounces, ftrong cinnarrion water, two ounces, volatile tincture of valerian, two drachms, mix, and take two fpoon- Fuls every three or four hours* To thefe may be added as occafion requires, a little opiate camphirej contrayarva, valerian, cochi- neal, warm aromatics, and fpme volatile falts; and when better, the gum pills ; but if towards the latter end of the dileafe, when gentle fweats break, outi and the urine becomes turbid or thick, the bark will be attended with great advantage, though there mould appear no intermifiion. t INTERMITTING FEVER, OR SYMPTOMS. ACCORDING to the air, conftitution and ftrength of the patient, intermittents frequently vary, fome will have a tendency to the inflammatory, or degene- rate into an acute continual fever, efpecially if too hot a regimen has been ufed ; which if it mould have been the cafe, gentle cooling purges will reduce it, and then give the bark with nitre joined with it. On the contrary, intermittents will urge on the nervous fever; in which cafe join the cordial aromatics, fuch' as fnake root, contraryarva, myrrh,, camphire, and the like, with the bark. REMEDIES. TO cure an intermifiion, the following is ad- vifabk. Beft bark one ounce, finely bruifed ; fnake root, two drachms, finely bruifed ; boil in common water from a pint and a half to one pint, ftrain it off, and take four fpoonfuls every three or four hours. If it (hould purge, add to each dole five or fix drops of liquid laudanum ; . if it fhould bind, about five or fix grains of powdered rhubarb -, if want of appetite, about five or fix drops of elixir of vitriol. A variety of different medicines have been found to fucceed, but the preference has ever been given to the bark ; twelve drachms of which generally puts by the fit, though it : is necefiary to continue a few dofes more to prevent a return. One or two grains of Roman vitriol given, during the intermitfion, two, three, or four times in the twenty-four hpurs ; or about a drachm of allum, with thirty grains of nutmeg, or make-root, in half a pint of warm ale or barley water has fuc- ceed ed ivell, Intez> Intermitting Fevers, thofe efpecially whofe fits re- turn every other day, have been often cured with a few dofes of cochineal, by taking about half a drachm of it in powder, fome time before the acceflion of each fit ; and others have been recovered, by taking five, fix, or feven grains of the Virginian fnake root, three times on the days of intermiflion, at about four or five hours diftance ; and I have with fuccefs ad- vifed -fome of the poor -to drink a quarter of a pint of tea, made with the root of burdock, every third or fourth hour, during the intermifiions, fweetened with fugar or not fweetened, as the patient chufes. TJiefe fort of intermittents allow a good opportu- nity for taking the Peruvian bark, and that the poor, thole great objects of our companion and charity, may have the benefit of that excellent remedy, at the leaft expence, advife the following method, viz. To buy an ounce of the belt bark in powder, then divide it into eight or twelve equal parts, and take a dole of it every third hour, during the intermiflions, beginning as foon as they are quite free from a fit, in the following manner, viz. Mix a dole of the bark, with a tea cup of hot wa- ter, with which it will mix eafily ; and when it is cool enough, then let the patient drink it, and take after it a glafs of punch, made in the common way, and take his meals at his ufual times. Suppofe the time for taking the bark happens at the time of din- ing, let him firft take the bark, and then eat his din- ner. 1 have done fo myfelf. We advice the patient to take the bark in the night, as well as in the day, which I have done my- felf feveral times, having a perfon to fit up and wake me, when the time for taking the bark comes. If the patient can take a drachm of the bark for a dofe, without finding his ftomach loaded, let that Quantity be the dofe; and when he has taken one D 2 ounce. ounce, though he miffes the fit, yet let the bark bq prepared, and the dofes taken at four hours dif- tance. HECTIC FEVERS attended with Cougbs or Consumptions* SYMPTOMS. HECTIC Fevers with coughs, are commonly called Confumptions, on account of the great wade, or decreafe of the bodies afflicted with them. The fymptoms, which are obvious, and necefiary confequences of an ulcerated ftace of the lungs, arc a cough, a copious fpitting of a purulent-like mat- ter, which is thrown up night aad morning, and if tried, finks in v/ater. Oppreftion of the bread, bad appetite, third great, hectic fever, colliquative fweats, which fucceed night and morning alternately, a lownefs, and great dif- charge of urine, the pulfe becomes quick and fharp, the body pines, and is emaciated, and its feveral functions totally impaired and decayed. REMEDIES. THE air where the patient lies ought to be free and pure, the conditution mud be kept in action, and take as much exercife every day as it can bear. Horfe-riding, giving the body motion with little fatigue, if convenient, is preferable to any carriage, which mould be before dinner, elfe it proves hurtful. Great care mud be taken to prevent catching cold by damp things or otherwife. A ibuthern voyage by fea frequently cures, when all things elfe fail, provided the provifiona are frefti \ and as milk cannot there be eafily obtained, fruits, broths and balfamics mud fupply the place. A proper regimen, with the patient's own endea- voursj yours, acl: moftly towards the cure; a mind kept jeafy, with varying objects to divert the attention; yet it may be neceflary to fubjoin fome ferviceable medicines. Firit, I would recommend for diet, light, but re- ilorative, and diluting drink. Milk, affes milk (if obtainable) water-gruel made of meal, or fine white; flour, with a little butter or fugar, or cyder whey, or barley water, or ground-ivy tea fweetened with fugar or honey, acidulated with the juice of lemon, or an apple boiled in a pint of water, with one large fpoon- ful of brandy, and fweetened as before directed, as neceflary to promote the fpitting up the phlegm. Secondly, to remove the fever, give the following medicine : Salt petre, two drachms ; cochineal, half a drachm ; pure water, half a pint ; fyrup of balfam, or fugar, or honey, fufficient to pallate ; brandy, or rather- rum, two ounces; mix thefe and take two fpoonfuls every third or fourth hour. If there mould be a flux, then the following: Tincture of rofes, one pint ; liquid laudanum, twenty grains ; drink a cupful often. If reftlefs at night, take ftorax pill four grains. When there is great difficulty of breathing, the am- noniac medicine, with, the oxymei of fquills, give jthe moft relief. ULCERATED LUNGS. THE SYMPTOMS are defcribed in the laft Article. REMEDIES; COMPOUND powder of gum-tragacanth, one fcruple; falt-petre, ten grains; make a powder to be taken in any foft liquid, four times a day. If If the cheft or ftomach mould be fore, emultions pf fperma-ceti, or oil of almonds will be ufcful, as well as twenty drops of the balfam capivi, night and morning, and continued for fome weeks, even afrer well ; and to ftrengthen all the mufcular fibres and ycffels of the body, clofe with the preparation of the bark, and elixir of vitriol. PESTILENTIAL DISORDERS. SYMPTOMS. THESE diforders which go under the different names of morbid, malignant, putrid, peftilential, perechial, hofpital, and goal fevers, differ only in a degree from each other. They arife from many cau/tt, fuch as foul air, or putrid animal and vege- table effluvia, or from confined places, not properly ventilated or kept clean, or frequently communi- cated by contagipn. The fymptoms in general are lafiitude and weak- nefs, or lofs of ftrength, an oppreflion or pain in the ftomach, pulfe low or weak, bitter tafte in the mouth, drowth, foetid breath, a dejected mind, frequently fighing, wanting to vomit, great pain in the head, back and loins, tongue black, chaped, though at firft white, and fmall fpots about the fkin, refembling the meafles, but of a purple or livid colour. Eyes heavy, yellowifh and inflamed, and frequently pro- fufe fweating. REMEDIES. BLEEDING here is to be avoided as moft dan- gerous : and the firil thing, clear the ftomach by Ipe- cacuanha wine, about one ounce, worked off with camomile, flower tea, and mulled wine at night. Then begin and take the recipe prelcribed for in- jtermitting fevers, and drink weak mountain whey, with [ '7 1 -with tin&ure of rofes plentifully acidulated, with the elixir of vitriol. Likewife the following bolus, three times a day, in fome tormentile root tea, and fweet- eiied with the fineft fugar. Powder of valerian, ten grains ; powder of fnake root, ten grains, cochineal, four grains, gum cam- phire, five grains ; fyrup of faffron, a fufEcient quan- tity to bind it. If bound, the bowels fhould be gently opened by powdered rhubarb, in fmall dofcs ; and if occafion, emolient clyfters; if a diarrhea, or purging, cordial reftringents, and gentle opiates occafionally ; omit alf volatiles as prejudicial. If any morbid quality of the blood difcovers itfelf by anyfymptomon thefkin, it is an argument againfb every evacuating remedy, which makes a revulfion from the furface of the body; therefore never ufe them for the cure of any cutaneous difeafe. ST. A N T H O N Y's FIRE. SYMPTOMS. CHILLNESS, and fhivering, great third, reft- lefihefs, the face fuddenly fwelled, becomes painful, and appears red and pimply, and the eyes are clofed with the fwelling. REMEDIES. THE patient mud lofe eight or ten ounces of blood, which mud be repeated if the fymptoms con- tinue ftrong. Apply to, the part a pultice of white bread and milk, and a little hog's lard in it; let the pultice be changed twice in a day ; but flannels wrung out of a ftrong decoction of elder flowers ap- plied warm afford the fpeedieft eafe and relief; 2nd every other morning take the following purge, till the diforder is cured i viz, Glauber's t 28 ] Glaubers fait one ounce, manna half an ounce; mix and diflblve it in warm water for one dofe. The diet in this difeafe muft be very low, chiefly water-gruel, or at moft weak broth j all ftrong liquors and flem meat muft be avoided as poifon. APOPLEXY, SYMPTOMS. SHORT breathings, imaginary noifes in the ear$> drowfmefs, lofs of memory, tremblings, daggerings^ a giddinefs in the head, and dimnefs of fight. The difeafe at its height is a total deprivation of all fcnfe and motion, refpi ration exccpted, and even that is performed with great difficulty. It greatly injures the faculty both of the mind and body, and is feldom perfectly curable. REMEDIES. CUPPING in the nape and fides of the neck is always ufeful, provided the fcarifications are deep enough to give a free pafTage to the blood ; ftimu- lating clyfters and warm purges are aifo of fervice, as is the following electuary. Take half an ounce of powdered heath valerian, and one ounce and an half of conferve of orange peel, and mix them together; the dofe is the quantity of a nutmeg every four hours, diflblved in a cup-full of rofemary tea. Apply a ftrong blifter to the back and the le^. The diet muft be very fparing. ASTHMA. SYMPTOMS. A laborious breathing, or obftruclion of the lung* attended with great anxiety, and a ftraitnefs about the breaft. REMEDIES,' R E M E D I E S? , gentle vomits, a large blitfer applied o the back or legs, (lender diet and malt liquors to particularly avoided. Likewife frequently take three large fpoonfuls of tHe following mixture; two drachms of giim ammoniacum in half a pint of pennyroyal water j intermixed with an ounce of oxy- mel of fquills. BLOODY FLUX. SYMPTOMS. SHIVERING, coldnefs, gripirigs, quick pulffci Intenfe thirft, greafy flools frequently mixed with blood and filaments which appear like melted fuet. REMEDIES. FIRST lofe blood, then take the following vomit:; Half a drachm of powder of ipecacuanha worked off with camomile tea : daily repeat this vomit three or four times. Malt and fpirituous liquors muft be carefully avoided, and between the vomitings the patient mould every hour take a large fpoonful warn! of a drink made rhus. DifTolve half an ounce of gum arabic, and half an ounce of glim tragacanth in a pint of barley water, over a gentle fire. Cly~ fters made of fat mutton broth are of great fef vice. STONE AND GRAVEL. SYMPTOMS. A fuppreffion, or ftoppage of urinej may proceed from various caufes, fuch as the kidnies, or the neck of the bladder being inflamed, {mall ftones lodging in. the urinary paflages, fpafms or contraction of the *eck of the bladder, &c. 1 t 30 ] In all obftruclions, if the patient's ftrcngth will admit: of it, draw off about eight ounces of blood, give feme cooling, gentle, opening medicines, with a little fweet oil, and foment the part with a decodioa of mallows, or camomile flowers j let there be drank often fotne diluting liquor, with about forty nitre drops in it, and every fix hours, about one drachm of Caftile foap, diflblved in any liquid, efpecially it frnall gravel comes away with the urine, or it mould be bloody , for when I mall ftones are lodged in the kidneys, which come away with the urine, it is called gravel ; but when they lodge feme time in the bladder, they colled together, form a body, and accumulate frefli matter, begin to be too lame CJ O to pafs off with the urine, and then is called a fbcne. When afflicted with the ftone, avoid all aliments of a windy or heating nature, all fait meats, fouf fruits, acids of all kinds, ufe every thing that pro- motes the fecretion of urine, and keeps the belly open, artichoaks, afparagus, lettuces, &c. are pro- per; and to drink .milk and water, barley water, decoctions of marfhmallows, parfiey, liquorice, lin- feed, or gin and" warm water mixt, not too ftrong ufe gentle exercife, and take foap leers, beginning with thirty or forty drops, in a cup of lime water", every night and morning, and increalc the dole re- gularly to fixty drops, as the ftorr.ach will bear. Likewife nitre drops in marfhmallow tea, with gum arabic; or take broom feed, finely ground, as much in quantity as will lay on a fhilling, in a gill ot the belt white port, morning and evening. REMEDIES, TAKE, f.vo fcrupKs of calcined egg fhells three times a day, in aglafsof any convenient liquor, drink- ing sfttr each dofe, a third part of the following de- coction. Take .. 3' 1 Take two ounces of Caflile foap, difiolve it in a I A B E T E S, SYMPTOMS. A great difcharge of urine, of the fmell, colour snd tafte of honey, a decay of the whole frame, and jp intenfe thirft. REMEDIES. INFUSE for three days in one gallon of lime water, three ounces of liquorice root, two ditto of the fhavings of faflafras, and one of guaiacum. The dofe is half a pint, three times a day. Lime water is made by pouring twelve pints of boiling water on one pound of unflacked lime, which is fit for ufe as foon as cold. Or make allum whey, by boiling four pints of milk over a flow fire, with three drachms of allum, till it is turned into whey. When as much as will a four ounce phial may be taken three times a E A R- f 34 ] E A R - A C H. S y M P T o M s. A pain in the ear, arifing from a cold, or a diforder of the nerves of the head. R E M E D I E S. THE fmoak of tobacco blown into the ear, or a roafted onion or fait put into the ear, will take away the pain, but the head mud b\e kept warm. DRY BELLY ACH. SYMPTOMS. THE Symptoms of the dry belly a.ch, or in other words, the nervous cholic, are, coltivenefs, violent pains in the bowels, coldnefs of the hands and feet, iaintings, a kind of paralytic diforder, great anxiety of mind and tremblings. REMEDIES. THE warm bath is. an admirable remedy, as i balfam of Peru, given inwardly from twenty to forty; drops in a fpoonful of powdered loaf fugar, three or tour times a day ; befides which you may give the following clyftcr. Boil in a pint of water an ounce of dried mallow leaves, half an ounce of camomile fbwers, and half an ounce of f *eet fennel feeds. Half a pint of this decoction, with ha'f an ounce of Epfom falts, and two fpoonfuls of f\ve.et oil muft be ufed for, a clyfter, and repeated as often' as necefiary. YELLOW JAUNDICE. SYMPTOMS. A ytrllownefs of the whole body, and more par- ticularly about the eyes, urine of a faffron colour, tlools almoit white, bitternefs of the tongue, vomit- * Q ' * g of galls, hcavinels and Uflitude of the limbs. [ 35 ] REMEDIES. TAKE the white of an egg, and two glafies of fpring water-, beat them well together, and drink the quantity off at a draught. It cools the lungs, which in this diftemper are always inflamed ; expels the afthmaticdiforder, which alfo always, in fome degree, afflicts the party difeafed ; it fpeedily procures peripiration, invigorates the animal ipirits, caufes digeftion, and creates an appetite. By thefe means the late lord Blakeney cured great numbers in Ireland, Minorca, and in this kingdom; and faid that he never knew it to fail. INDIGESTION. SYMPTOMS. FREQUENT belchings, heart-burn, and an op" preffion-or weight at the ftomach. REMEDIES. PYRMONT and Spa waters. Or from ten to twenty drops of acid elixir of vitriol in a glafs of \vater, two or three times a day, or a large fpoonful of tincture of hicra pica, every day an hour before dinner. INFLAMMATION OF THE BOWELS. SYMPTOMS. A feverifli complaint, a vomiting, a great coftive- neis, and a burning pain in the belly. REMEDIES. SPARE diets and weak broths fhould be ufed. Juice of lemons taken inwardly affords furprizing relief; or let the patient lofe ten ounces of blood, and .have the bkeding repeated according to the urgency of the t 36 ] the complaint. Then, till the patient has had or three ftools, give twice every day the following clyfter. Take of dried mallow-leaves an ounce ; chamo- mile flowers, and fennel feeds, of ear.h half an ounce ; boil them in a fufficient quantity of water to flrain off about half a pint ; then add two ounces of fwcet oil, and it is fit for ufe. To eafe the pain, and flop the vomiting, give teri drops of liquid laudanum, in a little broth, every fix hours. MEASLES, SYMPTOMS. THIRST, drowfinefs, flight cough, chillnefs,' ftiivering, accompanied by a fever, great ficknefs^ and an effufion of tears. The little red fpots, which do not rife above the furface of the Ikin, appear the fourth day< REMEDIES. THE diet and management to be the fame as in the fmall pox ; then bleeding and frequent purging 5 and let the patient drink plentifully of the following deception. Take pearl barley, raifins and figs, of each two ounces, (lick liquorice bruifed, half an ounce : boil them in four quarts of water, till the water is reduced to two quarts ; ftrain it for ufe, and tincture it with a quarter of an ounce of fait pru- nella* r t 37 Every Patient his own Do&or. EXTERNAL DISORDERS. PILES, SYMPTOMS. TH E piles are of a two-fold nature, the bleed- ing piles and the blind piles ; the former, when there is any difcharge, the latter, when there is not. Perfons of a bulky fize, who lead an inactive life, and live high, are moft fubject to this difeafe, though it is fometimes hereditary, and then it at- tacks more early in life than when it is accidental. They may be occafioned by an excefs of blood, by ftrong aloetic purges, ,high feafoned foods, by drink- ing great quantities of wines, the neglect of any cuftomary evacuations, much riding, great coftive- nefs, or any thing that occafions hard or difficult ftools. Pregnant women are fometimes afflicted with them. F R E M * f. 3 I F only little fwellings within and without fundament, touch them with a little oil of amber.- Or, take lime water, four ounces, liquid laudanum, half an ounce, mix together, and make a liniment to bathe the parts with it very often. If they are bleeding piles, care mud be taken not to flop them too loon, efpecially if they are pe- riodical, and return frequently, as they prove falutary , but if they continue in fuch quantity as to wafte the patient's ftrength, hurt his digeflion, or impair any functions, then a proper regimen and aflringent me- dicines muft check the difcharge. A linen cloth dipped in camphorated fpirits of wine, may be applied to the parts, and a bread and milk pultice, if exceffively painful, or a little cool- ing ointment of elder, equal parts of each mixed together; a dofe of manna and falts, or fena tea, OF fome cooling phyfic given in the morning, and an electuary made of one ounce of lenitive electuary, flower of brimftone, half an ounce of cream of tar- tar, two drachms, fyrup of rofesy a fufficient quan- tity to mix together ; then take the bignels of a nut- meg twice a day, occaftonally. Leaches applied to the part, or on the pile itielf, gives great relief. GREEN WOUNDS. S Y M P T O M S. THE appearance and nature of green wounds muft be various from the nature of the accident, bf which they were occafioned, or the weapons from which they were received. REMEDIES. DRESS- them daily with yellow bafilicon fpread on- ,[ 39 3 <0n fine lint, after fomenting them with-a fomentation made of fouthernwood and wormwood, camomile flowers of each an ounce ; bay leaves dried half an .ounce. Boil them gently in fix pints of water, and {train it off for ufe. Foment all green wounds as well ^s old fores with this before they are dreffed every day. BITE OF A MAD DOG. SYMPTOMS. I T is neceffary to mention the figns by which a dog that is mad may be known. 'A mad dog is feemingly rapacious and thirfty, yet eats and drinks nothing; his eyes are fierce and fUrning , he hangs down his ears, and thrulls out his tongue; froths much at the mouth, and barks at Jus lhadow j oftentimes runs along fad and anxious without barking at all ; frequently pants for breath, as if tired with running ; carries his tail bent inwards ; runs without diftinclion againft all he meets, with great fury and bites j hurrying on in an hafty and un- . certain courfe. Dogs that are well are afraid and fly, both at the fight and barking of one that is mad. The firft mad fymptom in a, dog, is an un- ufual trembling;. With refpeft to the fymptoms in perfons bit, they are, principally, confufcd and milchievous looks, and an utter abhorrence of water. R E M E D i E s. MIX one pound of common fait in a quart of water, and then fqueefe, bathe and wafh the wound with the fame for an hour, and not drink any of it ; then bind a little fait to the part affected for twelve hours. But be very careful to apply it in- jftantly after the bite of the animal. F 2 Take [ 40 ] Take the leaves of rue, picked from the ftalks and bruifed, fix ounces ; garlic picked from the ftalks and bruifed, Venice treacle and mithridate, and the fcrapings of pewter, of each four ounces ; boil all thefe over a (low fire, in two quarts of ftrong alej till one pint be confumed ; then keep it in a bottl clofe (lopped, and give nine fpoonfuls to a man or woman, warm, feven mornings following, fading, and fix fpoonfuls to a dog. This will not fail, if it be given within a few day? after the biting of the dog. Apply fome of the ingredients from which the liquor was drained to the bitten place. Bathing in the fea, where the patient can be ac- commodated with conveniences, is likewife deemed an admirable remedy. To this we may add, that, to cure the bite of a viper or adder, if you will rub the part bitten with fome of the fat of the animal, it will prevent any bad effects from arifing; but if the fat of the animal cannot be procured, warm fallad oil will be attended with the lame good confequences. . , . C A N C E R. SYMPTOM s. T HI S ^dreadful diforder originates from a fmall tumour, which often remains for years without en-r creafir.g, and does not change the colour of the (kin,- However, when the humour becomes more active, the fwelling fuddenly grows large, livid, round, un- equal, painful, then breaks^ and (harp (linking fores fuccecd, which eat away the found parts, when the lips of the wound become exceeding difgudful to the fight. This diforder generally affects the breads, but .fomctimes attacks the privities, ears, nofe, and arm-pus, : ..... R E M E- [ 4? 3 REMEDIES: A quarter of a pound of guaiacum fhavings muft be'boiled in fix pints of water, till the quantity is reduced to four pints, a pint of which, milk warm, tnuft be drank daily. Fomentations of milk and water, and pultices of white bread and milk muft be ufed externally, and the wounds mould be de- fended from the cold air by a piece of fine linen, fpread with fpermaceti ointment, which mould be renewed' twice or thrice a day. This ointment is made thus. Take a quarter of a pint of the beft fallad oil, a quarter of a pound of white wax, and half an ; ounce of fpermaceti. Melt them together over a gentle fire, and afterwards keep them ftirring $ill the whole is cold, CHILBLAINS, SYMPTOMS, CHILBLAINS are iwellings on the hands and feet, from- exceffive cold, accompanied with into- lerable pains, prickings, itchings, heat, and rednefs, REMEDIES. ON their fir ft appearance bathe them with fnow water, if that can be procured, or hold them over the fteam of boiling vinegar. If they grow fore and break, ufe the fomentation mentioned, in the article of green wounds, and then apply a drefiing of yellow bafilicori, mixed with a few drops of fpirits of turpentine, and fpread on fine lint. A (paring diet mould be ufed, and the parts affec>ed kept warm, . , JTCH, [ 42 ] I . T C H. SYMPTOMS. T.HE itch is moftly communicated by infect on, 2nd generally appears in fmall watery puttules about the wrifts, and between the ringers, and affects ths arms, legs, thighs, &c. is attended with intolerable itching, when fitting by the fire, but more particu* larly when in bed ; is never dangerous, unlefs ren- dered fo by neglect or improper treatment. It muft not be luddenly drove in j alter cure, have proper .evacuations. REMEDIES. THE beft medicine is fulphur of brimftone ufed externally , or internally, take flower of brimftone in treacle or milk every night and morning, and rub the parts every night, going to bed, with an ointment made of flower of brimftone, two ounces, crude falc ammoniac in ne powder, half an ounce, hog's lard a quarter of a pound, mixed together ; the fmell, if dilagreeable, may be taken off by adding a few diops of efience of lemons: if neceffary, rub the whole body j let it be done at different times; the linen fhould not be changed, and Ihould afterwards be well dried and fumigated with brimftone, to prevent a frefh infection when cured, and three or four brifk purges, at different times, taken ; it will not be amiis to drink a glafs of cream of tartar whey every morning for a week or more, ufing wholfome food, ?nd obierving cleanlineis. SORE EYES. SYMPTOMS. THEfymptoms of fore eyes are eafily kncwn s being redne's, a iliff gumminefs, a fait rheum or water I 43 1 water Sowing from them, weaknefs of fight, dim- nefs* a painful heat in the eye-lids, and many others tmneceflary to relate, as thofe who feel them muft be well acquainted with their nature ; proceed we therefore to the REMEDIES. WE mall here prefent our reader with the great Sir Hans Sloane T s celebrated remedies. Take of prepared tutty, one ounce; of lapis hae- rnatids prepared, two fcruples , of the ,beft aloes prepared, twelve grains ; of prepared pearl, four grains; put them into a porphyry, or marble mor- tar, and rub them with a peftle of the fame (lone very carefully, with a fufficient quantity of viper's greafe, or far, to make a liniment ; to be ufed daily,- morning or evening ; or both 4 according to the con- Veniency of the patient. The doctor prefcribes bleeding and bliftering in the neck, and behind the ears, in order to draw ofir the humours from the eys ; and afterwards, accord- ing to the degree of inflammation, or acrimony of" the juices, to make a drain by ifiues between the- fhoulders, or perpetual blifter. And for wafhtng ther eyes, recommends cold fpring water. And the belt inward medicines, which he has experienced, to be conferve of rofcmary flowers;, antiepileptic powders, fuch as Pulvis adGuttetam, betony, fage, rofemary, eye-bright, wild valerian root, caftor, &c. walhed down with a- tea made of the fame ingredients ; as alfo drops of fpirrt Lavendulas Compofu, and fal. vol. oleos. If the inflammation returns, the Do6lor fays,, drawing about fix ounces of blood from the temples, by leaches, or cupping, on the fhoulders, is very proper, The t 44 ] The liniment is to be applied with a fmall hair pencil, the eye winking, or a little opened. FISTULA. SYMPTOMS. A deep, winding, callous ulcer, with a narrow en- trance into a fpacious bottom, and yielding a fharp virulent matter. REMEDIES. A quarter of a pound of elecampane root, three quarters of a pound of fennel feeds, and a quarter of a pound of black pepper , pound thefe feparately, and firt them through a fine fieve , take half a pound of honey, and half a pound of powder fugar, melt the honey and the fugar together over the fire, fcum- ming them continually, till they become bright as amber; when they are cool, mix and knead them into your powder, in the form of a fmall pafte. The dole is the fize of a nutmeg, morning, noon and night, drinking a glafs of wine or water after it. If the above Ihould not fucceed, immediate re- courfe muft be had to a fkilful furgeon. MORTIFICATION. SYMPTOMS. THE juices lofe their proper motion and fer- ment, and thereby deftroy the texture of the parts, and corrupt. REMEDIES. The part muft be fomented every night and morn- ing with hot flannels, wrung out, of the following fomentation : Take Take lime water a pint, and diflblve in it half an Dunce of crude fal armoniac ; then add three ounces of camphorated fpirits of wine. Afterwards apply a pultice of dale beer grounds and oatmeal, moift- ened with a little hog's lard : when the part begins to fuppurate, apply under the pultice a drefiing of black bafilicon inwardly. Take a dram of the beft Peruvian bark in fine pow- der;, every four hours in a gill of mountain wine. OLD ULCERS. SYMPTOMS. ULCERS are wounds or fores of long continu- ance, and their fymptoms virulent matter iffuing from them. When any ulcer is of long {landing, it is dangerous to dry it up, without fubftituting in the place of a difcharge, (which is become almoft natural,) fome others j fuch as purging from time to time, or cut- ting an iflue near thedifeafed part. To forward the cure, fait meat, fpices, and ftrong liquors muft be molt avoided : the ufual quantity of flefli meat mould be leflened, and the body be kepc moderately open, by a vegetable^ or milk diet; and if the ulcers are in the legs, it is of great importance to keep in a lying pofture ; for negligence in this material point changes the fligheft wounds into ulcers, and the molt trifling ulcers into obftinate and incu- rable ones. To cure which, Take a quarter of a pound of bafilicon, and an ounce and an half of oil of olives, and m ; x therewith half an ounce of verdigreafe ; cirefsthe fore with this ointment, fpread open a little tow, after fomenting it well with a decoction made of camomile flowers, and mallow leaves. Take frequently a dofe of cooling phyfic, and live regularly. Q SUP- SUPPLEMENT. DISEASES, wliofe Symptoms are ob-- vious ; with fome ufeful and approved RECIPIES, BALDNESS. RUB the part with an onion frequently till it looks red, or rub it with bear*s greafe, which/ penetrates more than any other kind of fat. BLEEDING AT THE NOSE. APPLY to the back part and the fides of the neck, a linen cloth dipt in cold water, in which fait prunella has been diffblved. In very obftinate cafes bleeding in the foot is ufeful. Internally, the quan- tity of a nutmeg of the following electuary may be taken three or four times in a day. Take the feeds of white henbane, and white poppies, each half an ounas; conferve of rofes, three ounces; and mix them' . ito an electuary with fyrup of diacodium. S P I TV t 47 1 SPITTING OF BLOOD: TAKE red rofe leaves dried, half an ounce; twenty drops of oil of vitriol ; one ounce and an half of refined fugar, and pour two pints and an half of boiling water on thefe ingredients in an earthen yeflel ; let it ftand to be cold, and take half a quarter of a pint frequently. In this diforder, frequent bleeding in fmall quantities is proper, not exceeding four, or, at the moft, fix ounces at each time, ac- cording to the ftrength of the fick perfon. A LIP SALVE. THIS may be made by adding a quarter of an t>unce of alkanet root to the fpermaceti ointment (mentioned among the remedies for a cancer) and letting them fimmer together a few minutes over a gentle fire, BILES. APPLY a plaifter of diachylon with the gums, once every day, till they are cured. To prevent their return, a few dofes of cooling phyfic are proper. BURNS AND SCALDS. TAKE May butter unfalted, and white wax, of ..each fix ounces ; oil of olives, half a pint ; lapis ca- laminaris one ounce and an half; melt the wax and ,butter with the oil, and ftir in the lapis calaminaris finely powdered, till it is too hard to let it fettle. This is an excellent ointment for the above purpofes, and is to be applied once a day fpread on a fine linen, rag. BRUISES, EXTERNAL. BATHE the part with a little fpirits of wine and Samphire, which in flight cafes will effect a cure bst G 2 if C 48 3 if that fails, it will be necefiary to apply a pultice of ftale beer grounds and oatmeal, with a little hog's lard, which muft be applied frefh every day till the bruiltf is entirely cured. BRUISES, INTERNAL'. TAKE a large fpoonful of cold drawn linfeed oil, two or three times in a day. The patient muft alfo bd blooded to the quantity of eight or ten ounces : and if the fymptoms are violent, the bleeding muft be repeated at difcretiori. C H O L I C K. TAKE two ounces of Daffy's elixir, and repeat it as occafion may require ; or half a drachm of pow- der of rhubarb toafted a little before the fire, COLDS. COLDS may be cured by lying much in bed, by drinking plentifully of warm fack-whey, with a few- drops of Ipirits of hartfhorn in it, or any other warm liquor \ living upon puddings, fpcJon meats, chickens, &c. and drinking every thing warm. In fhort, jc muft at firft be treated as a fmall fever, with gentle diaphoretics ; fuch as half a drachm of the compound powder of contrayerva, taken night and morning; or half an ounce of Mindererus's fpirit may be givert every night going to reft, drinking a plentiful draught of weak fack-whey after it. This is a much more eafy, natural, and certain method, than the common practice by balfamics, lin&us's, and the like, which ipoil the ftomach, dc- firoy the appetite, and hurt the conftitution. ACHES AND PAINS. RUB a little opodeldoch upon the part afFecled. two or three times a-day, and wear a flannel uppa f 49 3 it j if this does not give relief, take twenty drops of volatile tinfture of guaiacum (prepared as directed in the Appendix,), every night and morning, in a glafs of fpring water. HOARSENESS. TAKE an ounce of linfeed oil, frefh drawn; half an ounce of fperma ceti ; fix drachms of white fugar-candy in powder ; and an ounce and a half of balfamic fyrup. Mix for an eleftuary. A fpoonful of it to be taken now and then on the occafion fpe- pified by its title. C O S T I V E N E S S. TAKE the fize of a nutmeg of lenitive-electuary very morning, or as often as occafion requires. DEAFNESS. SYRINGE the ears well with fome warm milk and oil : then take a quarter of an ounce of liquid opo- deldoch, and as much oil of almonds ; mix them well, and drop a few drops into each ear, {topping them with a little cotton or wool; repeat this every night going to reft, CORNS. AFTER foaking them for a confiderable time in warm water, pare away carefully with a penknife the uppermoft and hardeft furface : then apply a plaifler of green wax, or diachylon with the gums, fpread on. thin leather ; repeat this method (which is perfectly fafe) a few times, and it will feldom fail to extirpate them entirely. COUGH, I so 3 COUGH. TAKE oil of fweet almonds, and fyrup of bal, lam, of each two ounces; four ounces of barley* water, and thirty drops of fpirits of fal volatile ; fhake them well together, and take two large fpoon- fuls when the cough is troublefome. If this medi- jcine does not remove the cough in a few days, it will be abfolutely neceJTary to be blooded. EXCORIATIONS IN CHILDREN. DISSOLVE a little white vitriol in fpring water, dip a rag into the liquid, and dab the part, which will Keal it. FAINTING. G I V E a few drops of fal-armoniac in a wine glafs of water inwardly, and apply to the .noftrils and temples fome fpirits of the fame. The The METHODS purfued by the Humane Society for the Recovery of Perfons apparently dead by Drowning. THE fociety eftablifhed in London for the re- covery of perfons apparently drowned, induced by a principle of humanity, have undertaken to make public the following methods of treating fuch cafes, which are now practifed in feveral countries of Eu- rope with amazing fuccefs ; and which they earneftly recommend to the attention of every man, but par- ticularly to thofe who live in fea-port towns, or places adjacent to rivers, brooks, ponds, &c. METHODS OF TREATMENT; I. In removing the body to a convenient place,, great care muft be taken that it be not bruifed, nor fhaken violently, nor roughly handled, nor carried over any one's fhoulders with the head hanging down- wards, nor rolled upon the ground, or over a barrel, nor lifted up by the heels, except with the greateft caution. For experience proves, that all thefe me- thods are injurious, and often deftroy the fmall re- mains of life. The unfortunate object fhould be autioufly conveyed to two or more perfons, or in a carriage f # I carriage upon draw, lying as on a bed with the head a little raifed, and kept in as natural and eafy a po- iition as pofiible. II. The body being well dried with a cloth, mould be placed in a moderate degree of heat, but not too near a large fire. The windows or door of the room Ihould be left open, and no more perfons be admitted into it than thofe who are abfolutely neceffary, as the life of the patient greatly depends upon their having the benefit of a pure air. The warmth moft promifing of fuccefs is that of a bed or blanket, properly warmed. Bottles of hot water mould be laid at the bottoms of the feet, in the joints of the knees, and under the arm-pits ; and a warming-pan, moderately heated, or hot bricks wrapped in cloths, fhould be rubbed over the body, and particularly along the back. The natural and kindly warmth of a healthy perfon lying by the fide of the body, has been found in many cafes very efficacious. The mire or clothes of an attendant, or the fkin of a fheep frefh killed, may alfo be ufed with advantage. Should thefe accidents happen in the neighbourhood of a warm bath, brew-houfe, baker, glafs-houfc, faltern, foap-boiler, or any fabric where warm lees, afhes, embers, grains, fand, water, &c. are eafily procured, it would be of the utmoft fervice to place the body in any of thefe, moderated to a degree of heat, but yery little exceeding that of a healthy perfon. III. The fubject being placed in one or other of thefe advantageous circumftances as fpeedily, as pofiible, va- rious ftimulating methods mould next be employed, The moft efficacious are, to blow with force into the lungs, by apply ing the mouth to that part of the patient, clofing his noftrils with one hand, and gently expell- ing the air again by preffing the cheft with the other, imitating the flrong breathing of a healthy perfon : the medium of a handkerchief or cloth may be ufed to -E S3 . Co render the operation lefs indelicate. Whilft one .affiftant is conftantly employed in this operation, ano- ther mould throw the fm'oak of tobacco up by the fundament into the bowels, by means of a pipe or fumigator, fuch as are ufed in admini.lering clyfters : a pair of bellows may be ufed until the others can be procured. A third attendant fhould, in the mean time, rub the belly, chert, back and arms, with a coarfe cloth or flannel dipped in brandy, rum, gin, or with dry fait, fo as not to rub off the fkin : Jpirits of hartfhorn., volatile ialts, or any other flimulaung iubftance, mutt allb be applied to the noftriJs, and rubbed upon the temples very frequently. The body mufl at intervals be fhaken alfo, and varied in its >ofition. IV. If there be any figns of returning life, fuch .as lighing, gafping, twitching, or any convulfive .motions, beating of the heart, the return of the na- tural colour and warmth; opening a vein in the arm -or neck may prove beneficial, but the quantity of -blood taken away mould not be large ; nor mould .any artery ever be opened, as profufe bleeding has appeared prejudicial, and ven deftrudive to the fmall remains of life. The throat mould be tickled .with a feather, in order to excite a propenfity to .vomit; and the noftrils allb with a feather, fnuffj or any other ftimulant, fo as to provoke fneezings. A tea-fpoonful of warm water may be adminiftered now and then, in order to learn whether the power of fwallowing be returned : and if it be, a table-lpoon- ful of warm wine, or brandy and water, may be given with advantage, but not before, as the liquor might get into the lungs before the power of fwallow- ing returns. The other methods fhould be continued with vigour, until the patient be gradually reftored. We have been as circumftantial as poffible in the above directions, that if one conveniency mould be H t 54 1 wanting, the attendants may not be at a lofs fbtf others. Where the patient has lain but a (hort time fenfelefs, blowing into the lungs or bowels has been, in fome cafes, found fufficient ; yet a fpee-y recovery is not to be expected in general. On the contrary,- the above methods are to be continued with fpirit for two hours, or upwards, although there fhould not be the leaft fymptoms of returning life. The vulgar notion that a perfon will recover in a few minutes, or not at all , and the ignorant, foolifli ridiculing of thofe who are willing to perfe- vere, as if they were attempting impombilities, has moft certainly caufed the death of many who mighc otherwife have been faved-. Moft of the above rules are happily of fuch a nature, that they may be begun immediately, and^ that by perfons who are not acquainted with the me- dical art; yet it is always advifeable to feek the affiftance of fome regular practitioner as foon as pof- fible ; not only as bleeding is proper, and frequently neceffary -, but as it is to be prefumed that fueh a one will be more fkilful and expert, and better able to vary the methods of procedure as circumftances may require. N. B. It is proper to obferve, that thefe means of reftoration are applicable to various other cafes of apparent deaths-, fuch as hanging, fuffocation by damp and noxious vapours, whether proceeding from coal-mines, the confined air of wells, cifterns, caves, or the muft of fermenting liquors; to thofe feized with apoplectic and convulfive fits, and alfo to the frozen. \Vherever any good has been produced by the means recommended, the perfon who has fu per intended the cure is defired to write a circumftantiaf account of it to James Horsfall, Efq-, Treafurer, Middle Temple, or Mr. M. Robinfon, Garden - Court 3 Middle Temple, Secretary to the Society. t 55 J u%t Univerfal PRESERVATIVE again/I tfo PLAGUE or any other INFECTION. EVERY perfon, who fees others languifhing under any ficknefs or diftemper, if he has a mind to preferve himfelf from the infection, ought always to difeharge his faliva, or fpittle, and never fwallow it, whilft he remains in the fphere of infected vapours j for the faliva is the firft thing that very readily attracts the infected vapours, which being fwallowed with it, are carried as it were, by this ve-* hide into the ftomach, where they occafion moft fatal effects. The greater part of diftempers, and particularly malignant fevers, are contagious. This contagion,- arifing from the ferment that proceeds from the fick perfon, diffufes itftlf as a vapour in the ambient air, and infects every thing to a certain diftance ; fo that rhefe infected vapours, being drawn into the moutli by refpiration, are capable of corrupting the faliva, which being fwallowed, infects the ftomach, and after- wards the reft of the body. But when one fpits, the body is fecured from infection. For this reafon tobacco, or fpicey fubftances, or of a ftrong fmell, kept in the mouth and chewed, for exciting the faliva, may be of great fervice to ail thofe who vifit infected peffons. DireBions concerning BLEEDING. OF all the remedies recurred to in relieving the; difeafed part of mankind, there are none of fuch general fervice and advantage, as that of bleed- ing ; as there is no one, on the other hand, attended with more pernicious confequences when indirectly and injudiciQiifly ordered, A number of illnefies act C ^ 1 are abfolutely owing to too great a quantity of blood $ tfi which cafe there is ever of coijrfe an indifpenfable neceifity for proportionably draining this fluid. In all inflammatory diftempers, it is next kin to a facrilege to omit ic: as it is, on the contrary, ex- pofing the patient to the utmoft hazard, to injoin it in a low, languid, depreiTed ftate, where the fpirits before were too much exhausted, and nature, con- fequently, unable to fupport the lead evacuation. In a word, wherever prevail fore-eyes, a fciacic, a dry, hufky cough, an head-ach, inflammations of the womb, or bladder, a virulent gonorrhoea, cordee, venereal ftricture, inflamed pries, hot rheumatifm, dry gripes, fore throat, an afthma, cholic, ftrangury, gravel, nephretic pains, haemorrhages, an inveterate itch, and the like, the opening of a vein is of peculiar fervice. But in dropfies, a jaundice, the gout, and all complaints arifing from too great a relaxa- tion of the veflels, or obftruction of them, remedies adapted to the refpective diforders muft be fought for from other fpecific quarters, without the leaft thought of increafmg thofe diforders, by abrupt and prepofterous bleeding. FINIS, ANALYSIS O F Mr. A R D E COURSE of LECTURES ON NATURAL AND EXPERIMENTAL VIZ. NATURAL PHILO- SOPHY In General, CHEMISTRY, ELECTRICITY, MECHANICS, i GEOGRAPHY, ! ASTRONOMY, ; HYDROSTATICS, PNEUMATICS, .OPTICS, & c . By JAMES ARDEN. Cultura animi Philofophia eft. Cic. Tufc. 2. 5. Printed for, and Sold by the AUTHOR, M,DCC,LXXIV. [ Price One Shilling and Six-pence. ] ADVERTISEMENT. Having frequently heard the Subscribers to this Courfe requeft the Publication of fome fuch Trea- tife as this, to ferve by way of Memorandum or Pocket-Companion^ for thofe Parts which would be moft likely to efcape the Memory ; and Qt the fame 'Time knowing that my Father was too much engaged in Eufinefs^ to comply with thofe Requefts -, induced me to draw up this Analyfis ; which will I hope^ in feme Meafure^ ajifwer the End propofed. ( 3 O F A COURSE of L E C T U R E S ON NATURAL AND EXPERIMENTAL PHILOSOPHY. LECTURE I. On the general Properties of Matter- PHILOSOPHY is a Science that in every Age and Country, has, by the wife, and difcerning Part of Mankind, been culti- vated with the greateft Afiiduity ; nor if we confider its immenfe Ufe, could it well be other wife. To enumerate every Advantage which have accrued to the World from experimental Phi- lofophy, would far exceed the bounds of this Analyfis. Suffice it then to fay ; that there is not a fingle Art, or Science, to the Advantage of which it may not be applied. It infpires us B with ( 4 ) with noble and generous Sentiments, with the Love of Virtue, and the moil exalted Ideas of the Omnipotent Creator of the Univerfe ; and guides us in our refearches through the Ani- mal, Vegetable, and Mineral Worlds, which teem with Matter for the Exercife of our Minds : and nothing does in a more peculiar Manner afllft us in demonftrating the Truth of a general Providence, and in explaining fome remarkable Parts of Scripture. How noble then is it to exert in a fuperior Manner, the faculty of our Minds which is the Glory of our Nature, in . this fublime Science - y by which we are enabled to promote the higheft Services to our Country, and to Mankind ! The Deiign of this Courie of Experimental Philolbphy, being to demonflrate in as familiar, and natural a Manner as the Nature of the Subject will admit, all thole Principles by which the Univerfe is governed, regulated, and continued, and account for the various Phceno- mena, or appearances of Nature, which arife therein , it will be neceftary to confider in the firft Place, the known Properties of Matter. By which Word, we are to underftand what- ever thing we can fee, or feel ; or whatever has any weight, prefies, or refills prefTure. MATTER is the fame in all Bodies, and all the Variety we obferve amongft them, arifes from the various Forms, Connections, or Ad- hefions of their firft Particles. All Bodies are EXTENDED. This ( 9 ) When two Subftances are combined Chemi- cally they may be feparated by Elefiive At- traftion-y (i. e.) the Application of a third Subftance, which will unite with one, and feparate the other from it. As is proved by- Experiments in difcovering the Strength of Vinous Spirits. Acid and Alkaline Fluids being mixed to- gether, will ftrongly attract one-another, which will caufe a great Ebullition or Effervefcence, and fet at Liberty a large Quantity of Fixible Air from the two Fluids. Upon this Principle of Attraction, variety of Colours will be -produced, deftroyed, and reftcred : from whence a*lfo may be deduced, methods for taking out Stains in Silk, Iron-moulds out of Linen, and Ink out of 'Tables, &c. As Ink when good, is an Article that is extreamly Valuable ; I have here let down the Ingredients for making a good and durable Black Ink, as taken from Dr. Lewis. One Quart or three Pints of Wine, Vinegar, or Water ; three Ounces of Galls ; one Ounce of green Vitriol ; one Ounce of Logwood ; one Ounce of Gum Arabic. The Ingredients may be all put together at once in any convenient Veffel, and well fhaken four or five Times a Day. Jn 10 or 12 Days, or fooner, if fet in a warm Place, the Ink will be fit for Ufe j though both its Colour and Durability will be improved by its ftand- ing longer upon the undifTolved Ingredients, Or Or the Logwood and Galls may be firft boiled in the Liqupr for half an Hour, or more, with the addition of a little more Liquor to make up for that which evaporates in the boiling: ilrain the Decoction while hot, and add to it the Vitriol and Gum. Bits of old Iron, and broken Galls kept in the Vefiel with the Ink, will improve the Colour. Subftances may aft Chemically upon one- ^nother. Firft, by Solution ; when two Sub- fiances combine together. When two Subftances are combined Chemi- cally, one is called the Menjlruum^ the other the Soh' end, A Menftruum, or Diffolvent, will only com- bine with a certain Proportion of a Solvend, As Water will only diflblve a certain Quantity of Salt. Secondly, by Precipitation ? when a Solvend unites with a Menftruum, and feparates another from it, that falls to the Bottom. Thirdly, by Fermentation; which is a fpon- taneous inteftine Motion in Subftances, where- by the Arangement of the Parts is intirely altered. CRYSTALLIZATION, is a Property in Bodies, when they become Solid, to form themfelves into particular Shapes, and to run in certain Directions. This Power is capable of overcoming Refiftances ; Hence, Water in freezing, often breaks the Veflel in which jt is contained. WATER ( II ) WATER is feldom, if ever, found perfectly pure. For Waters that run within, or upon the Surface of the Earth, contain, according to the different Subftances through, or over which they run, various Earthy, Saline, Metallic, Vegetable, or Animal Particles. Snow and Rain Waters are much purer than thofe, although they alfo contain whatever floats in the Air, or has been exhaled along with the watery Vapours. The Method of trying the goodnefs and foulnefs of Waters, and alfo of detecting Frauds and Subftitutes in Chemical Medicines, will be explained by proper Experiments. REPULSION is that Power, by which Bodies are made to fly from each other , and where the Sphere of Attraction ceafes, a re- pulfive Power begins. It is upon this Principle that Water repels moft Bodies, till they are made wet-, and Flies walk upon it without wetting their Feet. This active Principle is proved by Experi- ments. Surprifing Experiments with Glafs Bubbles, Proofs, &c. LEG. ELECTRICITY. THE Term ELECTRICITY, is derived from [Ekktrcn] the Greek Name for Amber, which was firft difcovered to be in that Body, by Thales of Miletus, who flourifhed about fix Hundred Years before Chrift. But the ^fifft Perfon who^exprefsly mentions this SuBahce is Theoph^rftus, about the Year 300 before our Saviour's Time-, who fays, in his Hiftory of Precious Stones, that it is the Pro- perty of Amber when excited by Friction, to attract not only Straws, but thin Pieces of Copper and Iron. And from the great Improvements made fince that Time, it is now extended to fignify the like Power in all other Bodies wherein it refides, as Glafs, Wax, Refm, &c. It has alfo been found by Experience, that fome Bodies will admit this Electric Matter, to fpread over their Surfaces, and enter their Pores, but others will not. The former of thefe, are called Non-electrics, or Conductors : which are Metals, Ores, moift Wood) Water, Animal Bodies, and Vegetables^ The latter, which will not admit the Electric Matter to enter their Pores, are called Electrics, or Non-conduftors : which are Glafs, Amber^ dry Air, Wax, Silk, &c, All ( 13 ) All Bodies upon the Earth, have a Quantity of this Electric Matter infilled into them, which is called their natural Quantity, and it icems to lie in a quiefcent State, till acted upon by Friction, when it is emitted in the Ap- pearance of Fire. Any Body having more than its natural Quantity of this Matter, is laid to be electrified pofitively, or Plus; but having lefs than its natural Quantity, is faid to electrified nega- tively or Minus , which may be done either way by the common Machine. And Bodies being electrified either of thefe ways, will iirir mediately repel each other ; but fome being electrified Pofitively, and others Negatively, will mutually attract each other : one Body being electrified Pofitively, and the other having no more than its natural Quantity, will alfo attract each other. If a Feather be tied to the end of a Flaxen v Thread, and prefented to the Prime Conductor of the Machine, it will be ftrongly attracted by it, and if the Machine be kept Electrified, the electric Matter will be conducted from it, by the Thread to the Hand that holds it : fo that notwithstanding the Feather is continually receiving an additional Quantity of Fire, it is conducted from it by the Thread as faft; by which Means the Feather muft be conftantly attracted towards the Prime Conductor. If a Feather be tied to the end of a Bit o Silk, and prefented to the Conductor as in the C i laft Experiment ; it will be firft attracted to it, by which Means it will receive more than its natural Quantity of the electric Matter, and as Silk is not a Conductor, the Feather will initantly be repelled, and will continue to be fo till it has difcharged its additional Quantity upon fome conducting Body. This Electrical Attraction and Refill/ion^ will be further illuftrated by feveral curious and entertaining Experiments. By Means of the Friction of the Glafs Cy- linder againft the Leather Cufhion belonging to the Machine, is accumulated a large Quan- tity of Electrical Matter from the Table and Floor on which the Machine ftands j which is collected by fome fmall lharp-pointed Wires placed near the Cylinder, in order to convey it to the Metal Tube that is fupported upon Silk Strings, and which is generally called the Prime Conductor; near which if any conducting Body is held, Sparks of Fire will be perceived, ac- companied with a crackling Noife, and is, what is called the ELECTRIC SPARK. The fame kind of Spark that is produced from the Earth by Machines, has, by the AfTiftance of an Electrical Kite, been brought from the Clouds i which was firft attempted by the ingenious Dr. Franklin. And by the Elec- tric Matter thus obtained, he performed all the electrical Experiments which are ufually exhibited by an excited Cylinder or Tube. From, ( 15 ) From hence he deduced a Method of prefer v- ing Buildings from the dangerous Effects of Lightning, by having Metalline Rods creeled by the Sides of Building?, to reftore the equi- librium of the Electric Matter between the Clouds and the Earth. For the Clouds are fometimes in a Pofitive and fometimes in a Negative State of Electricity -, and if two fuch Clouds having different Quantities of the Elec- tric Matter mould meet ; that Cloud which is Pofitively electrified, will difcharge its abun- dance into the Cloud which is electrified Ne- gatively, and with a Flam of Lightning the Equilibrium will be reftored. The Fire in its Pafiage will rarify the Air, and the ad- joining Air, in rufhing in with great Violence to fupply its place, will make the Report which we call Thunder. If Water be made to go thro' the bore of a Capillary Syphon, it will fall in fmall drops ; but as foon as the Water becomes electrified, it will then run thro* the Syphon in a quick Stream. Hence 'tis found that a Perfon's Pulfe is accelerated almoft one third by being elec- trified. This acceleration has been found of infinite fervice in Obfti uttions of all kinds, Rheumatifms, &c. and the Electrical Shock has been found very efficacious in removing Deaf- r.efs, Head-ach, Tooth-ach, Paralytic Cafes, &c. The LEYDEN SHOCK, fee an Explanation of it in the next Lecture. L E C- ( 16 ) LECTURE IV. ELECTRICITY. FOR a Perfon to be ELECTRIFIED, it is neceflary that he fhould ftand upon a Cake of IVax^ Refm, or upon a Stool with Glafs Feet to it, (all of which are Non-conductors of the Electric Matter) to prevent any com- munication with him and the Floor ; being fo placed, if a communication be made from the Prime. Conductor to him, he will be more replete with Electric Matter than before , and Sparks of Fire may be drawn from any Part of his Body equally the fame as from the Conductor of the Machine. The Electrical Matter is capable of fetting Fire to feveral inflammable Bodies , fuch as ; Spirits of Wine^ Oil of Turpentine^ Inflammable Air^ and Gunpowder \ proved by Experiments. In the Year 1743, the late Profejfor Muf- chenbroek difcovered a Method of increafino- o the Force of the Electric Shock in a very furprifing Manner. Having fufpended a Can- non by Non-conductors, and holding a Glafs VerTel in one hand, containing Water, which had a communication with the Cannon by Means of a Wire, and with the other Hand difengaging it from the Cannon, was furprized by ( '7 ) by a fudden Shock in his Arms and Breaft, which for fome time deprived him of his Senfes. Dr. Franklin has obferved that after the Leyden Phial is charged by the Electrical Machine, there is no more Electric Matter in it than there was before. For whatever Quan- tity of .electrical Fire is thrown into the in- Jide, an equal Quantity muft come from the outfide. Therefore we can only alter the State of the Phial. And as no more electrical Fire can be thrown into the infide of a Bottle, when all is driven from the outfide, fo in a Bottle not yet Electrified, none can be thrown into it, when none can efcape from without, as will be illuftrated by proper Experiments. The fimilarity between Electricity and Light- ning, appears, not only in its being able to fet Fire to inflammable Bodies ; but alfo in f-ufing Metals, killing Animals, and rending Bodies which refill its PafTage ; proved by Experi- ments. That there is Fire in all Bodies, is proved by Phofphori and other Bodies producing Fire by Friction in a dark Room. LEG- ( 18 ) LECTURE V. MECHANICS. TH E Earth attracts all Bodies that are near it : and the force with which Bo- dies when they are fo attracted tend toward the Earth's Centre, is called Gravity. ATTRACTION of GRAVITATION is that Power, by which Bodies are made to tend towards the Earth and one another. This Power of Gravity from the Surface of the Earth upwards, is, at different Dif- tances from the Earth's Centre, as the Squares of thole Diftances inverfly. That is, if the Gravity of a Body when it is at the Diftancc of one Semidiameter from the Earth's Centre, is equal to i, at the fe- veral Diftances i, 2, 3, 4, &c. the Gravity of it will be as the Squares of thofe Diftances inverted. The Squares are i, 4, 9, 16, &c. in this Proportion the Force of Gravity decreafes, whilft the Diftances from the Centre increafe in the Proportion i, 2, 3, 4, &c. The Momentum or Quantity of Motion in Bodies, is as the Velocity and Quantity of Matter contained in them conjointly. Therefore as the Quantity of Motion is always proportional to the moving Force 5 it is as evident that two Bodies moving with equal Velocities, can make no difference in the Power of their Strokes ; except the different Quanti- ties of Matter they contain. Thus two Balls, .the one 500 Ib. Weight, and the other 100 Ib. .jnoving with equal Velocities, the Ball of 500 Ib. will ftrike with a Force four hundred times greater, than the Ball of loolb. MOTION, its various Kinds and Affec- tions, are by Sir Jfaac Newton laid down un- der three general Heads, commonly .called the three Laws of Motion. The firft of which is, that all Bodies continue in the fame State of refting or moving uniformly in a ftrait Line : unlefs fome external Force .imp relied upon -them., makes them alter that State. As is evi- dent by considering, that it is a Part of the Effence of Matter, not only to be inaftive or .unable to produce Motion in itfelf, but even to make a Refiftan.ee to Motion when com- municated to it by any external Caufe. Alfo when a Body is in Motion, it is as impoffi- ble for it to flop itfelf, as it was to put itfelf in Motion when at reft. For if a Veflel of Water is fuddenly moved forwards upon an horizontal Plane, the Water will not have the Motion of the Veffel com* municated to it fuddenly, but remaining in its State of reft, will, where the moving Force a&s, rife up againft the Side of the Veffel and dafh over. But when once the Water has the D Motion ( 20 ) Motion of the Veffel communicated to it, and begins to move with a Velocity equal to that of the Veflel, then it will remain in a State of Motion , and if the Veflel is fuddenly (lopped, it will run againft the other Side and dafh over as before. The fecond Law of Motion is, that the Changes made in the Motion of Bodies, are always proportional to the moving Forces im- prefled, and are produced in the fame right Line in which thofe Forces aft ; that is, a double Force will produce a double Quantity of Motion, a triple Force, a triple Quan- tity, and fo on. As fuppole it was required to throw a Ball of Lead equal in Weight to i Ib. . with a certain Velocity, we know that to throw the lame Ball v/ith double the Ve- locity, it will require double the Force. The third Law of Motion is, that re-attion is always contrary and equal to aftion ; or, the mutual Actions of two Bodies upon each other, arc equal and in contrary Directions. Thus, if a Horfe draws a Stone forwards, the Stone draws the Horfe back equally : i. e. juft 'lo much Motion as the Horfe communicates to the Stone, he will lofe fo much himfelf. For fuppole him able if he had no Stone be- hind him, to pufh forwards with his Bread a Weight equal to 600 Ib. it is evident that when he has a Stone of 400 Ib. to draw, fo much of his Strength will be laid out. that way, as to ( 21 ) to leave hiirrabje-to pufh forv/ards with his Bread no greater Weight than 200 Ib. For 600 400 200 Ib. He has therefor loft a Quantity of Motion forwards, juft equal to what he has communicated to the Stone, or as much as he . draws the Stone one way, ib much it draws him the contrary ; and was it not for the Difference of 200 Ib. which he has on his Side, he 'would not be able to move. And from this Power of Attion and Re- aftion, it is eafy to account for the flying of Birds, fwimming of Filh, and rowing of Boats ; for when the Medium is by the Wing, Fin or Oar, acted upon in any Direction, by an equal re-action, the Bird, Filh, and Boat are moved in a Direction juft the contrary, In Bodies confidered mechanically there are three different Kinds of Centres, viz. The Centre of Motion, Magnitude, and Gravity. The Centra of Motion is that Point round which all. the other Parts move, while it remains at reft. The Centre of Magnitude in any Body is that Point which is equally diftant from all its Parts^ The Centre of Gravity is that Point which being fuftained, or prevented from defcending, the Body will continue at reft. The Method of finding this Centre, fhewn by Experiment, alfo how a heavy Body may, be prevented from falling by adding a. heavier to it^ D 2, Some heavy Bodies when placed upon an inclined Plane Jlide down, fome roll, and others fall. A Body is faid to, Jlide down, when it defcends with the fame Bafe or Side continu- ally towards the Plane. It is faid to fall or roll, when the Line of Direction let fall from the Centre of Gravity falls without the Bafe. From hence we may fee the reafon why 'Towers and other Buildings much inclined do not fall j for whilft the Line of Direction from the Centre of Gravity will fall within the Bafe, the Building will ftand firm ; but if the Line Ihould fall never fo little out of the Bafe, the Building will then fall. The fimple Mechanic Powers are ufually, reckoned fix -, but perhaps may more properly be reduced to three, viz. The Levcr> Ba- lance, and Wheel and Axle may be called one ; the inclined Plane, Screw, and Wedge, two ; and the Syfem of Putties three. The LEVER is confidered as an inflexible Line, void of Weight, and moveable about a fixed Point, called its fulcrum or Prop ; and is applied either for raifing Weights or over- coming Refiftances. They are of three Kinds. Firft when the Fulcrum is between the Weight :yid the Power ; fecond when the Weight is be- tween the Power and the Fulcrum -, third when, the Power is between the Weight and the Fulcrum. To, To thofc of the firft Sort belong the Iron Crows ufed for raifing great Weights, as Stone, Sec. Sciffars alfo, and Snuffers, &c. are two Levers of the firft Kind joined together. The fecond Kind of Levers are Oars, &c. and cutting Knives as are made ufe of by Patten-makers, that are fixed at one End. Levers of the third Kind are generally re- ferred to the Bones of a Man's Leg or Arm ; when a Weight is lifted by the Hand, the Mufcle that is exerted to raife the Weight, is fixed to the Bone about one- tenth Part as far from the Elbow as the Hand is , and the Elbow being the Centre round which the Arm turns, the Mufcle muft therefor exert a Force ten Times greater than the Weight raifed. The Power of a Compound Lever is found by multiplying the Power of each into one another. A BALANCE differs very little from a Lever, the Centre of Motion being looked upon as the Fulcrum* The Nature of which will be ^luftrated by proper Experiments. The WHEEL and AXLE, or Axis in Peri- trochio^ is a very plain and ufeful Machine j and the Power gained, is juft in Proportion as the Circumference of the Wheel exceeds that of the Axis ; i. e. if the Wheel be fix Times as large as the Axle, a Man may lift fix Times as much by it, as by his own Strength, al- lowing for Fri&ion. PULLIES ( 24 ) PULLIES are either Tingle or combined. A Jingle Pulley that only turns round upon its Axis, gives no Advantage to a Power , it only ferves to change the Direction thereof. But by a Combination of Pullies, great ad- vantage is gained. And the method of com- puting the Advantage, is only to obferve the Number of Strings that go to the lower Block of Pullies. Thus, fuppofe a Man by his own Strength, or by a fingle Pulley, could raife and fupport i C. Wt. by the Afliftance of a Set of Pullies which had five Strings going to the lower Block, he would be able to fupport 5 C. Wt. and fo on. The INCLINED PLANE, may be ufed with Advantage in raifing Weights : the Power of it is, as its Length is to its height; (i. e.) a Cylinder may be rolled upon an inclined Plane, that is ten Yards in Length, and but one Yard perpendicular Height, with one tenth Part of the Force that would be ne- ceffary to lift it that Yard in a perpendicular Direction. The SCREW is nothing more than ar> inclined Plane turned round upon a Cylinder, and as the Circumference of the Cylinder is greater than the Diftance between the Threads, fo much may the Power be lefs than the Weight or Refiftance, and yet be able to Ba- lance it, Therefor the greater the Circunv j aad the fmaller the Diftance of the Threads,. ( 25 ) Threads, the greater is the Power of the Screw. The WEDGE is a Mechanical Power, coniifting of two inclined Planes; the Power of which is according to its Length, but the RcTiftance is overcome according to its Thick- nefs : therefor as the Length of the Wedge is to half the Thicknefs of it, fo is the Power gained by its Ufe. Of any two or more of thefe fimple Machines combined together, all other Machines, however complicated, are compofed : and in treating of them, they are to be confidered as mathe- matically Exact, and moving without Friction. Experiments relating to Friftion, and the Method of loading Wheel-Carriages^ will be illuftrated by Experiments. The PILE-DRIVING ENGINE, made ufc of at Weftminfter and Black-Fryar's Bridges , was contrived by one Voulou^ a Watch-maker : it is fixed upon two Boats, and io contrived that while the Horfes that Work it, go continually round, the Ram rifes and falls from a great Height to the Top of the Pile, without the Horfes being fenfible when the Weight is dif- engaged from them, as the inequality of the Draught is regulated by a Fly. The Ram is immediately followed by a Pair of Tongs, that bring it up again : the Tongs are nearly coun- terpoifed by an other Weight, whofe fmall Rope is wound upon a Spiral Fufee, fo as to caufc caufe the Tongs to fall with a uniform Ve- locity. A curious Model of a new-invented Seed Furrow Plough^ that ploughs, lows, and harrows three different Furrows at the fame Time, will be he\vn and explained. LECTURE VI. MAGNETISM, and Ufe of the GLOBES, THE MAGNET or LOADSTONE, is an Iron Ore, found in many Parts of the World, and moft commonly in Iron-mines. Some of its moft remarkable Properties are the following, (i) In every Loadftone, there arc two Points called its Poles, by which the Magnetic Virtue is emitted. (2) One of thofe Poles attracts, the other repels Iron and Steel only. (3) It communicates this Virtue to Iron by the Touch, which renders it ftrongly Mag- netic. (4) A Piece of Iron, or Steel fo touched, and fufpended upon a fharp Point, will fettle itfelf in a Direction nearly North and South. (5) The End of the Needle touched by the South Pole of the Stone, will point Northwards ; and vice verfa. (6) This Virtue may be com- municated to Iron or Steel, by a ftrong At- trition all one way. (7) It pervades the Pores of of the hardeft Bodies. (8) Iron Rods or Bars, by long Handing in a vertical Petition, will acquire a magnetic Virtue. (9) This Power is intirely deftroyed by Fire and Ruft, alfo by having their Poles laid all one way. Hence, in order to preferve Magnets, their Poles mould be laid the contrary way j (i. e.) a North, and South Pole, together alternately. THESE, and many other wonderful Pro- perties of the Magnet, will be illuftrated by proper Experiments. ANY SPHERICAL BALL having a Map of the World accurately delineated upon it, will be a true Reprelentation of the Earth : for the higheft Hills are as inconfiderable with refpecl to the Bulk of the Earth, as the fmali Afpe- rites upon the Rind of an Orange, are to the Bulk of the Orange. Any Ball fo conftrudted, is called a TERRESTRIAL GLOBE j the principal Circles whereof are Ten. 5ix large Circles, and four fmaller ones. Circles are always divided, (or fuppofed to be divided) into 360 equal Parts,, called De- grees : a large Circle divides the Globe into two equal Parts. A fmall Circle divides the Globe into two unequal Parts. The fix large Circles, are the Horizon, Brafs Meridian, Equa- tor, Ecliptic, and two Colures, viz. the Equinoc- tial Colure, and Solftitial Colure. The four fmaller Circles are the two ^topics, viz. the Vropic of Cancer towards the North, E and and the Tropic of Capricorn towards the South, And the two Polar Circle s The HORIZON, is either Senfible or Rational. For the Earth being a Spherical Body, the Horizon, or limit of our View, muft change as we change our Place. The SENSIBLE HORIZON, is all that Space that we fee round about us, terminated by the Heavens, where they feem to touch the Earth. The RATIONAL HORIZON, is a great Circle that may be fuppofed to be drawn Parallel to the Senfible Horizon, parting through the Centre of" the Earth, and confequently dividing that, and the Heavens, into two equal Parts or Hemifpheres. The Horizon ferves to determine the Alti- tude, Azimuth, and Amplitude of the Sun, Moon, and Stars, the Times of their rifing, and letting, and the Length of their diurnal and nocturnal Arches. The MERIDIAN, is that great Brafs Circle wherein the Globe is fufpended. Any Place being brought to the graduated Side of it, it is fuppofed to be Mid- day or Noon -, it ferves alfo to determine the Latitude of any Place. The EQUATOR, is a large Circle that divides the Globe into two equal Parts, called the Northern and Southern Hemifpheres. This Circle ferves for the Hour-circle, upon Adams's New Globes, in (lead of the Brafs Circle, about the the North Pole of the old Globes ; parallel to the Equator, is a fmall Semi-circular Wire? which goes through the Brafs Meridian, and is inferted at the Eaft and Weft Points of the Horizon, carrying an Index that points out the Hour ; as the 24 Semi-circles drawn upon the Globe, each of which Reprefents the Geo- graphical Meridian of any given Place; divides the Globe into 24 equal Parts, confequently as the Equator contains 360 Degrees, there will be 15 Degrees contained between any two of thefe Semi-circles, which are neareft to one- another: for 24 x 15 360. The Longitude of Places, is alfo reckoned upon thi.s Circle. The ECLIPTIC, crofies the Equator in two oppofite Points, making an Angle of 23!- Degrees on each Side of the Equator. So that one Half of the Ecliptic is in the Northern* and the other in the Southern Hemifphere. As the Earth goes round it once every Year, the Sun will appear to do the fame, changing his Place almoit a Degree, at a mean Rate, every 24 Hours. So that whatever Place or Degree of the Ecliptic the Earth is in, the Sun will appear in the oppofite. The Ecliptic is divided into 12 Signs, and each Sign into 30 Degrees, which are again fubdivided into Halves and Quarters. The great Circle that pafles through the Equinoctial Points, at the beginning of Aries- and Libra, and through the Poles, of the E 2 World, (which are two oppofite Points, each 90 Degrees from the Equinoctial,) is called the EQUINOCTIAL COLURE. And the great Circle that paffes through the beginning of Cancer and Capricorn and alfo through the Poles of the Ecliptic, and Poles of the World, is called the SOLSTI- TIAL COLURE.. The TROPICS, are letter Circles in the Heavens, parallel to the Equator-, one on each Side of it, touching the Ecliptic in the Points of its greateft Declination -, fo that each Tropic is 23? Degrees from the Equator. The POLAR CIRCLES, are each 23* Degrees from the Poles, all round. That which goes round the North Pole, is called the Arftic-circle, from the Greek Word, [Arktos~\ which fignifies a Bear. The South Polar Circle, is called the Ant- arftic Circle, from its being oppofite to the Artik. The Circles upon the Celeftial Globe, are the fame as upon the Terreftrial Globe, but their Ufe is fomewhat different. As upon the Terreftrial Globe, the Latitude of a Place is its Diftance from the Equator, either North or South. And the Longitude of a Place is its Diftance from the firft Meridian either Eaft or Weft. But the Latitude of a Star, &c. is reck- oned from the Ecliptic. Their Their Longitudes from the Equinoctial Co- lure, or firft Point of Aries. Ccmus's furprizing Metals and Figures, (hewn and explained. LECTURE VII. On the SOLAR SYSTEM. ASTRONOMY, is a Science which. teaches us the Nature and Laws of the Heavenly Bodies, viz. the Sun, Moon, Stars, Planets, and Comets. Various have been the Syftems of Aftronomy ; but the only true one is called the Copernican, or Solar Syftem, which confifts of the Sun, fix Primary Planets, ten Secondary Planets, and the Comets. The fix Primary Planets, are Mercury, Venus, the Earth, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. The ten Secondary Planets, are the Moon, which is the Earth's Satellite; four Satellites that move round Jupiter, and five that move round Saturn. The SUN is a vaft Globe of Fire, placed in the Centre, and is the largeft of all; his Diameter is computed to be about a Million of Miles, and his Diftance from the Earth 83 Millions of Miles. He revolves round about his Axis in 25 Days and 8 Hours. Upon his Face when viewed through ( 32 ) through a good Telefcope there are feen feveral dark Spots, by which his Revolution upon his Axis is difcovered, as they are always uniform in their Motion over the Sun's Difk ; what thefe Spots are, has not been yet difcovered. The PLANETS move round the Sun, from Weft by South, to Eaft ; in Orbits which are nearly circular, and but little inclined to each other. , The COMETS move in all manner of Di- rections, in Orbits which are very long Elipies, much inclined to one another, and to the Orbits of all the Planets ; how many there are, is at prefent unknown. The Time in which any Planet moves round the Sun is the length of its Year ; and the Time in which it turns round its Axis, is the Length of its Day and Night taken together. The firil Planet, or that which is next to the Sun is MERCURY, whofe Diameter is 3000 Miles, its Diftance from the Sun is 42 Millions of Miles, and its hourly Motion in its Orbit is about 100 thoufand Miles ; its periodical Re- volution round the Sun is performed in 87 Days 23 Hours ; the Length of its Days and Nights are unknown, as it rifes and fets too near the Sun for any Obfervations to be made of its Spots. The fecond Planet is VENUS, whofe perio- dical Revolution round the Sun is in 224 Days 17 Hours ; its Diameter is near 7900 Miles, its Diftance ( 33 ) Diftance from the Sun is 79 Millions of Miles, its hourly Motion in its Orbit is 69 thoufand Miles, and it turns round its Axis in 24 Days and 8 Hours. The third Planet is the EARTH, which re- volves about the Sun in 365 Days 5 Hours 49 Minutes, at the Diftance of 83 Millions of Miles, its Diameter is 7970 Miles, its hourly Motion in its Orbit is 68,243 Miles, and it turns round its Axis in 24 Hours ; its Figure is not exactly round, but refembles the Shape of a Bowl made ufe of upon a Bowling-Green, which is called an oblate Spheroid. The fourth Planet is MARS, at the Diftance of 167 Millions of Miles from the Sun, its pe- riodical Revolution is about 678 Days, and turns round its Axis in 24 Hours 40 Minutes, it moves at the Rate of 47,000 Miles an Hour, and by reafon of a very denfe Atmofphere with which it is furrounded has a red Appearance which is fuppofed to ferve it as a Moon. The fifth' Planet is JUPITER, which is the largeft of all, being near 90,000 Miles in Dia- meter, it revolves about the Sun nearly in 12 Years, its Diftance from the Sun is 570 Mil- lions of Miles, its hourly Motion in its Orbit is 30,000 Miles, and turns round its own Axis in 9 Hours 49 Minutes ; it is attended with four Moons or Satellites, fome larger and fome lefs than the Earth, which revolve round it, as our Moon does round us, It alfo appears to have cloud/ ( 34 ) cloudy Streaks crofting its Difk which are called Belts, and are fuppofed to be parts of its Atmof- phere drawn into Lines by its very quick Revo- lutions about its Axis. The fixth and laft primary Planet is SA- TURN, the fecond in Magnitude, its Diftance which is the greateft of all the Planets, is 949 Millions of Miles from the Sun , its Diameter is Dear 70,000 Miles, its hourly Motion is 18,000 Miles, it revolves about the Sun in nearly 30 Years, it is attended with five Satellites, and is alfo encompafled with a Ring, but its ufe or what it is, has not been as yet difcovered. The ten fecondary Planets, Moons, or Satel- lites, are, firft the MOON which belongs to our Earth, it revolves about the Earth from Change to Change in nearly 29 Days 12 Hours 44 Mi- nutes, which is the Length of her Day and Night taken together, for as feen from the Sun it turns only once round on its Axis in that Time. It re- volves round the Sun in one Year. The Moon (hines only by reflecting the Sun's light, being itielf entirely an opake Body. The periodical Revolutions of Jupiter's Satel- lites are as follow. Satellite Days Hours 1 in i : 18 : 36 2 3 13 ; J 5 3 7 : 3 59 4 16 : 18 : 30 The ( 35 ) The periodical Revolutions of Saturn's five Satellites are as follow. Satellite Days Hours 1 in i : 21 : 19 2 2 : 17 : 40 3 4 : 12 : 25 4 '5 : 22 : 41 5 79 : 7 : 4 8 For the fake of eafing the Memory, the above Calculations are given in round Numbers, and are the lateft that have been made. The apparent Motion of the Sun is owing to the diurnal Revolution of the Earth about its Axis from Weft by South to Eaft , consequently thofe heavenly Bodies which have no Motion of their own, mufl appear in the mean Time to revolve round the Earth from Eaft to Weft. The difference of Seafons is owing to the Axis of the Earth being inclined to the Plane of the Ecliptic at an Agle of about 66^ Degrees. The inequality of Days and Nights is owing to the Rotation of the Earth round its Axis. An Eclipfe of the Sun can never happen but when the Moon is in, or near one of its Nodes, and when it is in a ftrait Line between the Sun and the Earth. An Eclipfe of the Moon always happens at, or near the full, and when the Earth is between the Sun and Moon. All which with feveral other Phenomena will be very familiarly illuf- trated by an elegant ORRERY and PLANE- TARIUM, &c. F LEG- LEG T U R E VIII. HYDROSTATICS, O R, THE PROPERTIES OF FLUIDS IN GENERAL. THIS Science when firfl invented by Archi- medes n confifted only in the Art of weigh- ing Bodies in Water \ but, as fince improved, comprehends the Nature and Properties of Fluids in general. A FLUID is a Body that yields to any Force impreffed, and hath its Parts moved eafily one amongft another. The conftituent Particles of a Fluid muft be fmall, becaufe they cannot be difcerned with the beft Microfcope ; they muft be round and fmooth, becaufe they move fo eafily one among another j and hard, becaufe no Fluid except Air or Steam, is compreffible, or can be prefied into a lefs Space, than it naturally pofleffes, but in a very fmall Degree. That Fluids gravitate or weigh in Fluids,, is evidently proved by Experiment. That Fluids prefs in all Directions may be proved by four Glafs Tubes, open at both Ends and bent into different kinds of Angles, the Ends 6f which being immerfed in Water, the Water will rife to the fame Height (if the Diameters of their Bores be the fame) in every one of them. Wate ( 37 ) Water confidered Hydrqftatically t is luppoled to be divided into imaginary Surfaces. Thus take a long Glafs, which, for the fake of Illuf- tration may be divided by Threads at equ?l Dif- tances ; cyll che iirft Divifion A j the feconc B ; the third C ; and fo on. Suppofe each Diviiion contains an Ounce of Water, the Surface then at B, will, be preffed by one Ounce ; that at C, will fupport two ; that at D, three Ounces ; and the Boctom will lie under the Weight of four Ounces of Water. Confequently the Fluid mud remain upon a Level : as it is impoffible that the lower Divifion mould rife up and difplace the other three, or that the upper one mould, with the Weight of one Ounce defcend and difplace two. It is necefiary alfo to. confider Fluids as divided into imaginary Columns, in Manner refembling a Bundle of Reeds. Thefe being all of the fame Height, and Weight, muft, by prefling equally on every Part, caufe the Fluid to lie level. Bodies heavier than Water r when placed at a certain Depth under the Surface, will be fup^ ported and fwim, by Means of the PrefTure of Water upward, if the downward Preflure is by any Means kept from prefTmg upon the upper Surface of the Body. Bodies lighter than Water, when prefled down to the Bottom of the VefTel fo as to exclude all the Water from between it and the Veflel, will there remain ; as it will then not only have its own Weight to overcome, but that of a Column F 2 of ( 38 ) of Water equal in Diameter to the Body; A heavy Body immerfed in a Fluid always enda- vours to fink ; but as it cannot defcend with- out removing an equal Bulk of the Fluid, that equal Bulk will re-adt agamft the defcending Body with all its Power, and as thefe two Bodies act in contrary Directions, it muft lofe as much of its own Weight, as is equal to the Weight of a Quantity of Water of its own Bulk. Bodies lighter than Water will fo fwim in it, that a Quantity of Water equal to the Part im- merfedj will be equal in Weight to the whole Body. As when a Piece of Wood floats upon Water, a tart of it is below the Surface ; and as it finks by its own Weight, it muft difplace a Quantity of Water juft equal in Weight to its whole Bulk. The SPECIFIC GRAVITY of Bodies fig. nifies the Gravity or Weight of one Body com- pared with that of another under equal Dimen- fions. If the Weight of a Body in Air be di- vided by what it loofes in a Fluid, the Quotient will mew how much heavier it is than its Bulk of that Fluid, or its Specific Gravity. Thus the Specific Gravity of Gold is to that of Water as 19 to i, i. e. a Cubic Inch of Gold will weigh 19 Times as much as a Cubic Inch of Water. A A Table of the Specific Gravity of Bodies. Fine Gold - - 19,640. Standard Gold - 18,888. Quickfilvcr - - 14* Lead - --- 11,325. Fine Silver - - 11,091. Standard Silver - 10,535. Bifmuth ... 9,7 . Copper - - - 9- CaftErafs - - 8. Steel - - - - 7,85 Iren * - - - 71645 Tin ^ - - - - 7,32 A Di3morrd - - 3,4 Common Water - i. Sea Water - - 1,03 , Dry Oak - - - ,925. The Method of finding the Specific Gravity o Bodies is performed by the Affiftance of the Hydroftatic Balance ', the Nature of .which will be fully illuftrated by Experiments, together with the Hydrometer or Water-poife^ which is made ufe of for difcovering the Strength of Spirituous Liquors, and alfo the different Specific Gravity of Fluids. The PrefTure of a Fluid upon the Bafe of a Veflel is always in Proportion to that Bafe, and the perpendicular Height of the Fluid, whatever be the Quantity of Fluid or Figure of the containing Veflel : Hence arifes the Hydroftatic Paradox, that a fmall Quantity of Fluid may be made to prefs as much as any other Quantity how great foever ; for two Tubes, the one a fmall one and the other very large, being joined together at their Bottom, and having Water poured into either Tube, it will jufl rife as high in the other, though one mould contain ten thoufand times as much as the other does. L E C- ( 40 ) L E C T U R E IX. P N E U M AT I C S. f T"^ HE A I.R is a thin, tranlparent, cor-. X poreal, and elaftic Fluid, in which we live and breathe ; which is generally called the Atmofphere. It furrounds the Body of the Earth to the Height of about 45 or 49 Miles high, in the fume manner as the Down of a Peach does the Body of the Peach. * That the. Air is a Body^ is evident by its keeping all other Bodies out of the Place itfelf poflefTes .which may very eafily be proved by taking a Gla'fs, as fuppofe a Wine-Glafs, and immerfing its Mouth under the Surface of Water; it will be found that no Water will rife within the Glafs, owing to the Refiftance it meets with from the Air, of which the Glafs is full. 'The fame Glafs being afterwards filled with Water, and a Piece of fmooth Writing-paper prefled over the Top of it, fo as to prevent any Air infmuating itfelf, between the Surface of the Paper and Edge of the Glafs > if the Glafs is now inverted, the Water will, by the PrefTure of the Atmofphere, be kept in, and the Paper will remain Concave at the Bottom, which proves alfo, that the Air is capable of fupporting great Weights. Air, when compreffed always endeavours w free itfelf from that Preffure, and regain its 'its former Dimenfions, which proves that it is Elaftic. The rile of VAPOURS, is owing to the great Power of Attraction, between the Par- O ' tides of Air and Water -, for Air is found to diffolve Water, in the fame manner as Water does Sugar , therefor thofe Particles of Air that lie contiguous to thofe of Water, by conftantly rubbing upon them, attract as much Water as they can fuftain , which is afterwards taken up by the fupra Parts of the Atmofphere : and thereby leaves the lowed Air in a State to attract and difiblve frefh Particles of Water. Heat alfo, promotes both Evaporation and Solution ; and Cold in a great Degree, flops both. Water raifed by the Heat of a hot Day's Sun, immediately upon Sun-fetting, pre- cipitates in a fine Vapour, forming Drops of DEW upon all cold Bodies near the Surface of the Earth. Air lying over marfliy Ground, after Sun-fet growing cold, lets its aqueous Particles coalefce into imall vifible Particles, which form the MISTS that are obferved to rife over marmy Ground, in Summer Evenings. Clouds, that are very replete with Vapours* will run into Drops, heavy enough to fall down in RAIN. And if the Atmofphere is cold enough to freeze thofe Particles before they form Drops, it will then become SLEET or SNOW, But if the Drops of Rain are formed V 42 ) formed, and in their defcent, the Cold fhould be fo great as to freeze them into Ice, they then falj down in Storms of HAIL. The Denfity and Spring or Elafticity of the Air, is always equal to the PrerTure of the Atmofphcre j becaufe it always fuftains that Preflure. This Denfity is as the Force that prefies it. Therefor it has been demonftrated by Mathematicians, that the Air decreafes upwards in a Geometrical Proportion to the Altitude.* taken in Arithmetical Progreffion. Thus, r 71 r '4-1 21 I Mile from the Times more ra- - ^ 28 ^Surface of the<{ 256 ^rifled than at the | 35 Earth, Air is I 1204 Earth's Surface. I 4- c 9 b I a | 42 < U9J That the Air is heavy, is proved by weigh- ing it in a Balance, the fame as other Bodies ; and by that means its fpecific Gravity is dif- covered. The Prejfore of the Air, among a Variety of other Experiments, may eafily be proved by a Perfon laying his Hand upon the Top of an open Receiver, as the Air is exhaufting; when they may'obferve, and very fenfibly feel, the Spring of the Air in the Hand, forcing the Flelh down into the Glafs, alfo the Weight of the Air on the back of the Hand, will prefs down the Skin and Flefh, between the Meta- carpal Bones, The ( 43 ) The afcent of Fluids in Capillary Tubes. the fame in Vacuo, as in the open Air, proved by Experiments. The Conftruction of Hiero's Fountain, will be familiarly explained by the Model, while it is playing the Water up. LECTURE X. PNEUMATICS. TH E Weight and Spring of the Air, may- be proved by the few following Expe- riments. Two Marble-Plains being fufpended in a Receiver, and the Air exhauftcd, they will feparate by their own Weight if not too thin, owing to the Preffure of the Air being taken away ; for the lower Plain will then have nothing to fupport it, but a fmall Degree of Attraction of Cohefion. A Receiver having a Piece of Bladder, tied over one End of it, and placed upon the Pump, upon exhauilmg the Air, the outward Preffure will prefs upon the Bladder, and burft it. A fquare Glafs Vial being placed under a Receiver, when the Air is exhaufted the Spring of the Air within the Vial will be able to break it. And owing to this Spring and Preffure of the Air, it is, that Variety of Jets of Water, Quickfilver may be made, G Two ( 44 ) Two Brafs Hemifpheres, four Inches in Diameter, being properly put together, and the Air exhaufted from between them, they will require about 192 Ib. to feparate them ; for at a Medium, a Circular Inch is fubjedt to the Weight of about i2lb. and therefor we may take this for a general Rule, for finding the Quantity of the Air's Prefifure upon any Circular Plain whatever; fince the Areas of Circles are in Proportion to the Squares of their Diameters. And the Air preffes with the Force of I5lb. upon every fquare Inch. From hence, by an eafy Calculation, upon the Body of a middle fized Man, there will be found continually the Preflure of 30 or 40 Thoufand Pounds. k was a common Opinion among the An- t-icnts, that when a Receiver is fixed to the Pump by exhaufting the Air, it was owing to fomething within the Glafs, drawing it down, which they called Stiftion. That it is not owing to Svffion may be thus proved ; a fmall Receiver being placed on one fide the Hole of the Pump, and covered with a larger, upon exhaufting, the Air will make its efcape out of the fmall Glafs by its Spring-, and when the Air is fuddenly let in again, it will fall upon the fmall Glafs, and Prefs it faft down to the Pump : confequently it is not owing to Suftion, but an Inequality of Preffure. The ( 45 ) The Bufmefs of Refpiration will be illuf- trated by proper Experiments for that Purpofe. The effects which rarified Air muft have upon the Life of Animals, and upon Flame, is too obvious to need here a Defcription -, for it is very well known that an Animal cannot live without Air, nor can Flame be fupported without it. There is in all common Air, a certain vivifying Spirit, or fomething which is neceffary for the Continuation of the Lives of Animals. And this vivifying Spirit, by patting through the Lungs of Animals is deftroyed ; which is the Reafon why an Animal when placed under a Receiver dies, though no Air be exhaufted. Alfo the Flame of a Candle under the fame Circumftances will go out. Air by parting through Fire, becomes viti- ated : and alfo by remaining ftagnant in any Place a confiderable time, or by mixing with Steams arifmg from Mineral and Malignant Bodies, which is the Caufe of Damps in Mines ; the fatal Effects of which are too well known to thofe who are converfant in them. For it is fometimes fo much vitiated, as to give im- mediate Death to any Animal Body that comes into it : it alfo deadens Fire, and extinguimes. Flame. There are other Damps which are called Ful- minating or Fire Damps, that immediately ex- plode upon the Application of any Fire to them. G 2 ( 46 ) The Method of medicating and infpiring Air, will be illuftrated by a Machine invented for that Purpofe by the Author of the Letturcs. All Bodies fall equally fail in Vacuo -, as a Guinea and a Feather, let fall from the Top of an exhaufted Receiver, will reach the Bottom at the fame Time : for as each Particle in both Bodies is urged down by the fame Force, they muft of Courfe fall with the fame Velocity, there being no refilling Medium to hinder them. LECTURE XI. PNEUMATICS. TH E Art of Diving, or living under Wa- ter, is performed by a Machine in Shape refembling a Bell ; which is made of Wood or Copper, and loaded at the Bottom with a very confiderable Weight to make it fink when full of Air, in a perpendicular Direction with the Mouth downward : The Diver being placed un- der this Bell is let down with the included Air to the Depth defired. For the proper Management of this Machine it is neceflary to remark the following Princi- ples. 1. That Air is vitiated by paflmg through the Lungs of Animals. 2. That a Body immerfed in a Homogenial Fluid, is always prefTed with a Force proportion- able to its Diftance from the Surface. 3. That ( 47 ) g. That the Denfity of Air is always as the Force that prefies it, viz. with 2, or 3 Times the PrefTure, it will be prefied into half, or one gd of the Space it before pofiefied. As this Diving-Bell has received great Im- provements from the late ingenious Dr. Halley, I (hall beg Leave to give a Defcription of it in the Doctor's own Words : The Bell I made ufe of was of Wood, con- taining about fixty Cubic- Feet in its Concavity, and was of the Form of a Truncate Cone, whole Diameter at the Top was three Feet, and at the Bottom five. This 1 coated with Lead fo heavy, that it would fink empty, and I diftributed the Weight fo about its Bottom, that it would go down in a perpendicular fituation, and no other. In the Top, I fixed a ftrong, but clear Glafs, as a Window to let in the Light from above ; and likewife a Cock to let out the hot Air that had been breathed ; and below, about a Yard under the Bell, I placed a Stage which hung by three Ropes, each of which was charged with about one hundred Weight, to keep it fteady. This Machine I fufpended from the Maft of a Ship by a Sprit, which was fufficiently fee u red by Stays to the Mail-head, and was directed by Braces to carry it over-board, clear of the Ship-fide, and to bring it again within-board as Occafion required. To fupply Air to this Bell when under Water, I caufed a couple of Barrels, of about thirty-fix Gallons each, to be cafed with Lead, fo as to fink ( 48 ) fink empty ; each having a Bung- hole in its lowed Part to let in the Water, as the Air in them condenfed on their Defcent ; and to let it out again when they were drawn up full from below. And to a Hole in the uppermoft Part of thefe Barrels, I fixed a Leathern Trunk or Hofe, well liquored with Bees-wax and Oil, and long enough to fall below the Bung- hole, being kept down by a Weight appended j fo that the Air in the upper Part of the Barrel could not efcape, unlefs the lower Ends of thefe Hofe were firft lifted up. The Air-Barrel being thus prepared, I fitted them with Tackle proper to make them rife and fall alternately, after the Manner of two Buckets in a Well ; which was done with fo much Eafe, that two Men, with lefs than half their Strength, could perform all the Labour required ; and in their Defcent, they were directed by Lines faf- tened to the under Edge of the Bell ; the which paifed thro' Rings placed on both Sides of the Leathern Hofe in each Barrel , fo that fliding down by thofe Lines, they came readily to the Hand of a Man, who ftood on the Stage on pur- pofc to receive them, and to take up the Ends of the Hofe into the Bell. Thro' thefe Hofe, as ibon as their Ends came above the Surface of the Water in the Barrels, all the Air that was included in the upper Parts of them, was blown with great Force into the Bell, whilft the Water entered at the Bung-holes below and filled them; and ( 49 > and fo foon as the Air of the one Barrel had been thus received, upon a Signal given, that was drawn up, and at the fame Time, the other defcended , and by an alternate Succeffion, fur- nifhed Air fo quick, and in fo great Plenty, that I myfelf, have been one of five, who have been together at the Bottom, in nine or ten Fathoms Water, for above an Hour and a Half at a Time, without any Sort of ill Confequence ; and I might have continued there as long as I pleafed, for any Thing that appeared to the contrary. Befides, the whole Cavity of the Bell was kept entirely free from Water, fo that I fat on a Bench, which was diametrically placed near the Bottom, wholly drefled with all my Cloaths on. I only obferved, that it is neceflary to be let down gradually at firft, as about twelve Feet at a Time , and then to flop and drive out the Water that entered, by receiving three or four Barrels of frefh Air, before I defcended farther. But being arrived at the Depth defigned, I then let out as much of the hot Air that had been breathed, as each Barrel would replenifh with cool, by Means of the Cock at the Top of the Bell i thro' whofe Aperture, tho* very fmall, the Air would rufti with fo much Violence, as to make the Surface of the Sea boil, and cover it with a white Foam, notwithflanding the great Weight of Water over us. Thus I found I could do any Thing that was required to be done juft under us ; and that, by taking ( 50 ) taking off the Stage, I could, for a Space as wide as the Circuit of the Bell, lay the Bottom of the Sea fo far dry, as not to be over Shoes thereon. And by the Glafs Window, fo much Light was transmitted, that when the Sea was clear, and efpecially When the Sun (hone, I could fee per- fectly well to write or read, much more to fallen and lay hold on any Thing under us, that was to be taken up. And by the return of the. Air-Barrels, I often fent up Orders, written with an Iron Pen, on fmall Plates of Lead, directing how to move us from Place to Place, as Oc- cafion required. At other Times, when the Water was troubled and thick, it would be dark as Night below , but in fuch a Cafe, I have been able to keep a Candle burning in the Bell as long as 1 pleafed, notwithftanding the great Ex- pence of Air requifite to maintain Flame. This I take to be an Invention applicable to various Dies , fuch as f-fning for Pearl, diving for Coral, tyunges^ and the like, in far greater Depths than has hitherto been thought pofTible ; alfo for the fitting and planning the Foundation of Moles, Bridges, &c. upon rocky Bottoms ; and for the cleaning and fcrubbing of Ships* Bottoms, when foul, in calm Weather at Sea. But as I have no Experience of thefe Matters, I leave them to thofe that pleafe to try. I mall only intimate, that by an additional Contrivance, I have found it not impracticable for a Diver to go out of our Engine to a good Diftance from it, the Air be* ing ( 5' ) ing conveyed to him with a continued Stream by fmall flexible Pipes ; which Pipes may ferve as a Clew to direct them back again, when he would return to the Bell. The Contrivance here mentioned, was a VefTel- made in the Shape of a Bell, fo big as to go over a Man's Head and Shoulders j and when they came to the Bottom of the Sea, one of the Di- vers took this Veffel, and having put it over his Head, walked out of the Bell upon the Bottom of the Sea, round about, and had the Air con- veyed to him by flexible Tubes. BAROMETERS are Inftruments made ufe of to determine the Air's Preflure at any Time. Various have been their Conitruction j the molt ufeful, as well as fimple are made in the follow- ing Manner. Take a Glafs Tube 34 Inches in Length, the Bore or Diameter of which ought to be half an Inch , and the Top of it Hermeti- cally fealed : At the open End fill it with Mer- cury that is quite clean and pure, then place your Finger upon the open End and invert it into a Balbn of Mercury -, upon taking your Fin- ger away, the Mercury will remain fufpended in the Tube, at the Height of about 29 Inches fometimes higher and fometimes lower, accord- ing to the State the Air is in at that Time ; for whenever the Preffure of the Atmofphere, on any Part of the Earth increafes, the Mercury in the Barometer will rife ; anid the Clouds floating in the Atmofphere will be buoyed up to a greater H Height ; ( 52 ) Height *, and there will eonfequently follow cleat and ferene "Weather ; and on the contrary, when the Preffure of the Atmofphere is by any Means decreafed, the Mercury in the Barometer will fall ; the Air will become thinner, and the Clouds floating in the Atmofphere will rufh into that Place , and therefor there will follow cloudy or rainy Weather. THERMOMETERS are Inftruments made ufe of to meafure the Degree of Heat and Cold in the Air at any Time. They are made of fmall Capillary Tubes with generally a round Bulb at the End, and filled to a certain Height with Mercury, and fometimes Spirits. All Fluids and Solids are, with certain Degrees of Heat and Cold capable of expanding and contracting. Mercury is a Fluid that is moft fenfibly affected by the leaft Degree of Heat and Cold, therefor is preferable to any other for the above Ufe. HYGROMETERS are made ufe of for dif- covering the Degree of Moifture or Drynefs of the Air-, and are generally made of Cat-gut, Whip-cord, or the Beard of a wild Oat. A Piece of Whip-cord fufpended from a confiderable Height, and having a Weight and Index fixed at the Bottom, if the Air is replete with moift Particles, will twift up and become fhorter, but if the Air is dry, it will be relaxed and become longer. PYROMETERS are made ufe of for mewing the different Degrees of Expanfion in Metals by Heatj ( S3 > Heat ; the Nature of which will be illuftrated, by a curious Pyrometer that renders the Expan- fion of Metals vifible to the 130,000111 Part of an Inch. Air is the proper Medium of found, as is evi- dent by placing a Receiver over a Bell which when rung can fcarcely be heard, tho* the Re- ceiver be not exhaufted, but when the Receiver is exhaufted no Sound at all can be heard ; for* as Sir Ifaac Newton has demonftrated, Sounds as they rife from the tremulous Motion of Ela- tic Bodies, are nothing more than the Propaga- tion of a Pulfe in the Air fhaken thereby j fa that by ftriking upon, the Drum of the Ear they put the internal Air in Motion by the Expanfion of the auditory Nerve which creates in us the Idea of Sound. The great Quantity of Air in Eggs may be- fhewn by putting an Egg into a fmall Jar of Water under a Receiver, and upon exhaufting,, the Air may be feen rifing up in little Streams, thro' the Pores of the Egg, Hot Water being put in a Glafs Jar under a Receiver, when the Air is exhaufted j the Water will aflfume the Appearance of boiling, owing to the Heat caufing the Air to expand itfelf in fuch. large Bubbles, when the outward Prefiure is, taken off. A Piece of raw Flefh being put under the Receiver in a Jar of Water and the Air taken- away, innumerable Bubbles of Air will rife from, ifs Surface.. H x, &Ui ( 34 ) Alfo if an Apple be pricked full of Holei and put into the Jar of Water under the ex- haufted Receiver, great Numbers of Jets of Air will rife from it thro' the Water. If a Jar of cold Water be placed under a Receiver and Air exhaufted, the Air contained in the Water will expand itfelf and arife very copioufly from all Parts of the Water. A Jar of new Ale or Beer placed under a Re- ceiver, upon exhaufting, the Air contained in the Beer will rife up and expand into innumera- ble Bubbks, which by means of the vifcid Par. ticks of the Beer, will be kept together and form a large Froth to the Top of the Jar. The Conftruction of the Air-Pump, together with its Manner of working, will be illuftrated by taking the Machine to pieces and explaining its different Parts. PROJECTILES, and the Art of Gunnery will alfo be illuftrated by proper Experiments. Owing to the Elaftic Power of the Air it is, that it may, by the Afliftance of a forcing Sy- ringe, be inje&ed into Veflels of Strength till it becomes ftrong enough to throw a Bullet by its Spring to a very confiderable Diftance ; as i& made evident by an Air or Wind-Gun. L E C- ( 55 ) LECTURE XII. OPTICS. LIGHT confifts of an infinite Number of the fmalleft and moft fubtle Parts of Mat- ter, which flow in right Lines from a luminous Body ; as from a lighted Candle, there are con- tinually flowing fuch Particles of Matter, in all Manner of Directions ; and thofe Particles by ftriking upon our Eyes,, excite in our Minds the Idea of Light. O When thefe fmall Particles flowing from the Sun or from a Candle, or any luminous Body, fall upon any other Bodies, and are by them re- flected to our Eyes, by a wonderful Property in Nature they excite in us the Idea of the Bodies they were laft reflected from. Its Velocity is fo great that it is computed to move after the Rate of near twelve Millions of Miles in a Minuet : For it is demonftrable by the Eclipfes of Jupiter's Satellites, that it takes about eight Minutes to move from the Sun to the Earth. When a Ray of Light falls upon an opakc Body, inftead of pafiing thro' it, Part is abforb- ed, and Part is bent back in the fame Direction it came, which is called Reflection. A Ray of Light palling out of one Medium into an other, does not pafs on in a right Line, but is a little bent, which is called Refraction. Wiiea When a Ray of Light pafies out of a rarer Medium into a denfer, it is bent towards the Perpendicular, and vice verfa. Hence by the refraction of the Atmofphere it is, that we fee the Sun five Minutes before it rifes above the Horizon, confequently we fee it five Minutes after it is fet. When Rays fall perpendicularly on any Medium, they pafs ftraight through without any Refraction. A "plain Looking-Glafs being laid in an hori- zontal Pofition r having a Stick erected perpendu. cularly upon it ; if a Ray of Light fhould fall obliquely upon the Glafs near to the Bottom of the Stick, it will be reflected on the other Side of the Stick in the fame oblique Direction, mak- ing an equal Angle on each Side the Stick, the former of which is called the Angle of Incidence,, the other that of Reflection., Thofe Bodies that are fmooth and polilhed fa, as to reflect the Rays of Light regularly, are call- ed Mirrours, which are of three kinds, viz. Plain, Convex, and Concave. An Object placed be- fore a plain Mirrour, always makes the Image of that Object appear as far behind it, as the Object is placed before ; and gives the true Reprefenta- tion of the Object, neither increafing nor dimir nifhing it, as is very well known by Experience in the common Looking-Glafs. It is the Property of a Convex Mirrour to di- minilli the Image of an Object placed before it, A v Concave Mirrour magnifies the Image of the Obje.ct.: ; ( 57 ) Object : and a Perfon being placed before it at a certain Diftance, will have the Reprefen- tation of a Body fufpended in the Air, between it and their Eye. Glafies for Optical Purpofes, may be ground into fix different Shapes, viz. 1. A Plain-Glafs, which is ground plain on both Sides, and is of equal Thicknefs in all its Parts , will refract the Rays of 'Light, but not colled: them into one Focus. 2. A Piano-Convex, being Plain on one Side, and Convex on the other ; if parallel Rays fall upon it, they pafs through it, and are to refracted, as to unite in a Point called its Focus, juft fo far behind it, as is equal to the Diameter of the Sphere of its Convexity. 3. A Double-Convex, one that is Convex on both Sides ; parallel Rays in patting thro* it, converge or meet in a Focal Point, at half the Diftance they do through the Piano-Convex ; and when thefe Rays meet in a Focal Point, it will burn. 4. A Piano-Concave, one that is ground plain on one Side, and Concave on the other, will diminifh the Object, and make it appear lefs. 5. A Double- Concave, one that is ground concave, or hollow on both Sides, and accord- ing >to the Laws of Refraction, parallel Rays in pafling through, diverge or fpread out, and make the Object appear lefs than the Piano- Concave. 6. A ( 58 ) 6. A Menifcus, or Concavo-Convex, which is ground Concave on one Side, and Convex on the other. Having already mentioned, that the Rays of Light are refracted in pafiing Obliquely through different Mediums : I muft now ob- ferve, that fome Rays of Light are more refracted than others ; and that according as they are differently refracted, they excite in our Minds, Ideas of different Colours. If the Sun is let to mine through a fmall Hole in a dark Chamber, and a Prifm be held obliquely before the Hole ; the Rays of Light in palling through the Prifm, will fuffer differ- ent Refractions - 9 and falling upon the oppofite Side of the Room, will paint upon it a Series of mod beautiful, lively Colours ; the largeft Particles will be mod attracted, and appear of a fine Indigo Colour , the next in Size, will ap- pear to be of a Violet Colour , the next Blue; the next Green ; the next Tellow ; the next Orange; and the laft Red. Thefe Rays being blended together by means of a convex Lens, will appear of a Yellowifh White. As White is a Compofition of all Colours, fo Black is a Privation of all, and therefor, properly no Colour. All Bodies appear of that Colour, whofe Rays they reflect moft-, as a Body appears Red, when it reflects moil of the Red-making Rays, ( 59 ; Rays, and abforbs the reft ; a Blue" or Green Body reflects the Blue or Green- making Rays, and To of the Reft. The Eye when taken out of the Head, is nearly Globular; and confifts of three Humours, and as many Coats. The firft Coat forms both the Anterior and Pofterior Part of the Eye ; the Anterior Part, is called the Cornea, which is Tranfparent ; the Pofterior Parr, which is a Con- tinuation of the Cornea, is called the Sclero- tica : next within this Coat, is a very thin, foft, black Coat, called the Choroides ; and within this, is that moft curious one, called the Retina, which is the immediate Organ of Vifion, and is an expanfion of the Optic Nerve. Clofe under the Cornea, lies a Water-like Fluid, called the Aqueous Humour, which ferves to keep up a due Degree of Convexity in the Cornea. The next Part that is met with is the Uvea, or Iris, in the middle of which is a Perforation or fmall Hole, called the Pupil. It ferves to Regulate the Quantity of Light for diftinct Vifion, by the AiTiftance of mufcular Fibres, with which it is fupplied, called the Ligamentum Ciliare. Thefe Fibres, by an admirable Power of contracting and dilating, alter the Convexity of the Cryftalline Humour, and move it forward or backward in the Eye, to adapt it to the different Dif- tances of Objects. 1 Behind ( 60 ) Behind the Iris, lies a hard Jelly-like Sub- fiance, called the Cryftalline Humour, in Shape refembling a Double Convex Lens,, which converges the Rays that pafs through it, to a Focus on the Retina. The Cryftalline Humour, is enveloped by the Vitreous Humour, which is about the Confiftence of the White of an Egg, it is tranfparent, and the largeft of all in Quantity ; it keeps the Eye in a globular Form, and ferves to give the Rays of Light, a free Ad- miflion to the Retina. The Rays of Light which flow from the feveral Points of an Object, through the dif- ferent Humours, will meet each other again at fo many respective Points upon the Retina, at the Bottom of the Eye ; where there wiVl be painted an inverted Picture of all Objects, that are placed before the Eye. The Optic Nerve, is very wifely placed a little on one Side of each Eye, to prevent the fame Parts of an Image from falling upon the fame Parts of the Optic Nerve in each Eye, at the fame time , as there is inferted the Optical Artery, near the Nerve, which renders the Image of Objects that fall upon it invifible. If three Bits of Paper, be placed at about a Foot Diftance from each other on a Wall, and the left Eye be covered, during the time that the right looks fleadfaftly at the left Hand Paper j by walking gently backwards, the middle ( 61 ) middle will difappear ; walk a little further back and the middle will again appear, but the right Hand Paper will difappear. The nearer any Object is placed to the Eye, the greater is the Angle under which it is feen ; therefor at the Diftance of one Mile any tall Ob- ject will appear twice as large, as it would at the Diftance of two Miles. The Limit of diftinct Vifion in moft Eyes is at the Diftance of eight, or ten Inches ; but fuch as have the Cryftalline Humour, or the Cornea, or both of them, more convex than ordinary, can fee diftinctly at a lefs Diftance, and are faid to be purblind, or fhort fighted, and in order to fee diftant Objects diftinctly, are obliged to make ufe of a Concave- Glafs placed before the Eye. On the contrary, if the Cryftalline Humour, or Cornea, or both of them be too flat, a Convex- Glafs muft be placed before the Eye, as is the Cafe in moft old Eyes. A SINGLE MICROSCOPE confifts of a fmall Convex-Glafs, having the Object placed in its Focus, and the Eye at the fame Diftance on the other Side. The Method of rinding the magnifying Power of this Glafs, is thus : di- vide the leaft Diftance, at which an Object can be diftinctly feen with the naked Eye, by the Focal Diftance of the Glafs, and the Quotient will fhew how much the Glafs magnifies. The The DOUBLE or COMPOUND MICROS- COPE confifts of an Object Glafs, and one or two Eye-Glafies. The Object is placed a lit- tle farther from the ObjedbGlafs, than its prin- cipal Focus -, this Image is viewed by the Eyo thro* the Eye-Glafs * and according to the laft Calculation, if each Glafs magnifies fix Times, the Image will be magnified 36 Times in Dia- meter, and confequently 36 Times 36, or 1296 Times in Surface. To this Inftrument there belongs a Concave Mirrour, which reflects the Rays of Light on the underfide the Object, and the Object being placed in the Focus of a move- able Lens, has its upper Side alfo enlightened. The SOLAR MICROSCOPE invented by Dr. Liberkun, a Pruffian^ about the Year 1740, is made ufe of in the following Manner, Hav- ing procured a very dark Room, let a Hole be made in the Window-Shutter, about three Inches Diameter, thro* which the Sun may caft a Cylin- der of Rays into the Room. In this Hole place the Microfcope, and the Rays will be fent in a rectilineal Line thro* the Tube, by the Reflection of the plain Mirrour on the outfide j they will then pafs through a Convex-Lens, after which they will fall upon, and enlighten the Object, which is placed in the Focus of a fmall Magni- fier, through which a large inverted Image will be carried to a white Sheet placed at a proper Diftance for its Reception. DIOPTRIC DIOPTRIC or REFRACTING TELES- COPES may be made of two Convex-Glafies, viz. an Object-Glafs, and fln Jfye-GJafs j but Objects leen thro' thefe kind of Refractors are inverted, the.refpi they are only fit for viewing CehOial Objeu A REFRACTING TELESCOPE: for view- ing Terreftrial Objects ihpuld have two equal Conve^-GlaiTes added to their Eye-Glafs j and as thefe three do but cpmpofe as n were one Eye-Glafs , they muft all three ftand at double their Focal Diftances from one another. To find the magnifying Power of thefe Telefcopes, divide the Focal Diftance of the Object-Glafs, by that of any one of the Eye-GlafTes. CATOPTRIC or REFLECTING TELES- COPES confift of a great and fmall Tube fcrew- ed to the End of one another. At the Bottom of the great Tube is placed a large Concave Mirrour with an Hole through its Middle. Pa- rallel Rays falling upon this Mirrour, are re- flected back by it, and form the Image near the fmall Concave Mirrour placed towards the up- per End of the Tube, and appofite to the Hole in the large one. The Rays from this Image diverge to the fmall Mirrour, where meeting with a Convex-Lens, are refracted fo as to form the Image in the fmall Tube, which now re- quires nothing but a proper Eye-Glafs to fend it duly magnified to the Retina. On the outfide of the Tube is fixed a Screw that joins to the fnuli ( 64 ) fmall Mirrour to adjuft it to the greater or lefier Convexity of different Eyes j and alfo to the Object, for Rays coming from Terref- trial Bodies do not come parallel, but diverge a little, by which Means the Image is formed nearer the great Mirrour, than it is in view- ing Celeftial Objects ; as the Rays from them always come parallel. Great Variety of other Optical Inftruments will be ftiewn and explained. FINIS. FIRE ANALYSED; O R, The feveral Parts of which it is compounded CLEARLY DEMONSTRATED By EXPERIMENTS. The TEUTONIC PHILOSOPHY PROVED TRUE By the fame EXPERIMENTS. AND The MANNER and METHOD OF MAKING ELECTRICITY MEDICINAL and HEALING CONFIRMED By RICHARD S T M E S, of St. WERBURGH'S, Briftal. BRISTOL: Printed by Thomas Cocking in Small-flreet. And fold by ROBINSON and ROBERTS, in Pater-nofter-Row, London}; Mr*. PALMKR, inBriftol; and Mr. FftiDSRicK, in Bath, MDCCLXXI. [Price is - ADVERTISEMENT. .A70THING but the Low of Truth, and tie Dejire of imparting the Knowledge of it, is the Motive for publifhing this Treatife* Had any one undertaken the Tajk from the Hint, given by me nine Tears ago in the Gentleman's Ma- gazine, it would have faved me much Trouble, and afforded me more Pleafure. But unwilling to let the Difcoveries I had made perijh with me \ and thinking them of too inter cfting a Nature to be buried in Oblivion, 1 have made them public, wi/hing that the Subjeft may be pur- fued and improved for the Benefit of future Ages. CONTENTS. INTRODUCTION THREATS of the contrary Powers, that are in Nature, *- both within and without Man, and of the rich Treafures to be found in the Writings of JACOB BEH- and Mr. LAW. CHAP. II. Explains by Experiments the Arcana and Wonders of Nature as opened in the Works of JACOB BEHMEN, and Mr. LAW. page 6. CHAP. III. Proves that there is only one Fire in all Nature, de- monftrates by Experiments that Fire is the Life of all Things, and contains a curious Remark on Precipitate. $agt 19. i CHAP. IV. Shews that the Syflole and Diaftole of the Heart is caufed by Fire, and that Fire is the Caufe of the Red- nefs of the Blood. page 29- CHAP. V. Shews the Sentiments of Mr. BOYLE, and Dr. Boxn- HAAVE, refpefting Men's Ignorance of Nature, alfo proves that Sir ISAAC NEWTON was a Reader of BEH- MEN, and borrowed from him his two Powers of Attrac- tion and Repulfwn, and concludes with the Remarks of the ingenious Dr. WATSON on Electricity. page 35. CHAP. VI. Treats of the Number Seven, and of the frequent Men- tion of Fire in the Scripture, ftiews from whence the fire fhall come,' that will caufe the laft Conflagration, ind concludes with a fcrious Addrefs to Infidels; CHAP. VII. Shews that Ele&ricity comes the neareft to a Panacaea of apy Medicine yet difcovered, explains the eleftrical Shock, and defcribes a Planetarium, that beautifully fhews the Revolutions of the Planets. page 52. CHAP. VIII. Contains feveral and various Cures performed by E- leftricity, viz. 1. Hyfteric Fits. 2. Hemiplegia. 3. Tertian Ague. 4. Swelled Arm from Bleeding. r. Lof of Sight. 6. Pains and Swellings. 7. Wrenched Knee. ( vii ) 8 White Swelling. 9. Scalds and Burns. * o. Eryfipelas. 1 1. Weaknefs and Loft of Strength from Lying-in. 1 2. Rheumatic Pains. 13. Decay of Sight. 1 4. Sciatic. 15. Violent Contufion from a Fall. 16. Tertian Ague. 17. Numbnefs. 18. Rheumatic Pains. 19. Diftorted Hand. 20. Lofs of Limbs after Lying-in. 21. Pain in the Back caufed by frequent Mifcarriagcs, 22. Gout in the Stomach. FIRE ^Treats of the contrary Powers, that are in Nature, both within and without Man, and of the rich Treafures to be found in the Writ- ings of JACOB BEHMEN and Mr. LAW. THE Generality of Mankind pafs through Life without Reflection. No one, com- paratively fpeaking, feeks to know himfelf, or enquires how he ftands related to Nature or Nature to him. Having feen how others come into the World this fatisfies him as to his own Exiftence; and as mofl are only folicitous how to preferve and indulge them- felves, his Concern carries him no further than to tread in their Steps. But now and then one arifes, who ventures out of this general Path, not fatisfied with the mere Acts of Eating, Drinking and Sleeping, he begins to confider the End of Exiftence, and B this this leads him to enquire into Nature, the Qualities of it, and of what it confifts. Such an one, Reader, fuffer me to fay it* it is fpoken without Vanity, is the Author of this Treatife. Perceiving throughout Nature Qualities diametrically contrary, this awak- ened his Attention to confider why and for what Reafon there was nothing either with- in or without him but what had its Oppofite. Without, his Eye clearly faw it. Within, his Feeling was his Evidence. Within, he felt the contrary Qualities of Anger and Love, Rage and Meeknefs, Joy and Sor- row, &c. Without, he perceived Fire and Water, Light and Darknefs, Heat and Gold, Calms and Tempefts, &c. Now in himfelf he obferv'd thcfe contrary Qualities often ilirred up and exerting an uncontroulable Power. If Anger arofe, it hurried him to Acts, that Reafon condemned, but could not prevent. If Sorrow was ftirred up, Joy dif- appeared, the Remembrance was gone, and it was as tho' it had never exifted. Now thefe two contrary Qualities, he felt, had a Power to fupprefs and overcome each other; .and alfo at the fame Time that they were acted upon and called forth independant of his [ 3 ] his Will. Good News called forth Joy. Bad News ftirred up Sorrow. Now this fhovvs that Man has Powers within him that Sounds and Objects can do more with than has ever yet been effected by the boafted Ability of Reafon. But now as it is with the Powers of Joy and Sorrow, fo is it with Rage and Meeknefs. They are equally and independant of Reafon ftirr'd up in us, bu with this Difference, the former feems more prevalent in Mankind than the latter; the latter has its Stirrings, and ofte/i meets with Incidents that call it into Action, even in the moft choleric ; but the former prevails for the moft Part in Man. The two firft Chil- dren that were born of EVE are finking In- fiances of the Power of .thefe two contrary Qualities ruling and governing in the Heart of Man. In CAIN Rage ruled and govern- ed, in ABEL Meek fiefs-, but CAIN'S Rage got the Maftery over ABEL'S Meeknefs. BUT now as to outward Nature, where the Will of Man cannot reach, there the- contrary Qualities are regulated by an all- wife, but invifible Agent. The Heat and Cold are wifely temper'd, .neither are fuf- fered to deftroy the other. The Earth an- J B 2 nually [ 4 ] nually brings forth numberlefs Produ&ions for the Service of Man ; but yet were thefe contrary Qualities fuffered to work blindly . by themfelves, Vegetation would ceafe and every earthly Life would end; for if the Heat prevailed, all would be burnt up. If the Cold, all would be one congealed and fixed Body. And yet I think it cannot but be vifible to every one how necefTary Heat and Cold are in the Creation and that they are always at work, but at the fame Time governed and directed by an all- wife, and all-powerful Agent; becaufe if they were left to themfelves, the one would foon be the Death of the other. WHILST my inquifitive Mind was fearch- ing into thefe Things, and yet unable to find out the why and wherefore fuch oppo- fite Qualities mould be in Nature, providen- tially I met with two Authors, in whofe Writings thefe Myfteries are explained, and Nature as it were differed. Thefe Authors are JACOB BEHMEN and Mr. LAW ; whofe Works may be juftly compared to a Mine full of the richeft Ores. The Searcher and Enquirer after Truth will find in them That of fo precious and fublime a Nature, as mutt [53 muft fatisfy the moil enlarged Capacity. Some indeed, who have cafually ftum- bled on them, either prejudiced in Favour of their own fuppofed Knowledge, or hav- ing no Relim for the Truths contained in them, have defpifed and treated them with Contempt; but fo it has been and ever will be with Men of Eminence. They will have their Defpifers as well as Admirers; but Scorn and Contempt can never invalidate Truth. Truth will ever and invariably re- main Truth, let its Oppofers be ever fo numerous : But that thefe Men have opened the deepeft Truths in their Writings, if Ex- periments are any Criterion to judge from, I will, by thofe that are incontrovertible, make it clear and evident. But how I be- came able to prove by Experiments the Ar- cana of Nature, as laid open by JACOB B EH MEN and Mr. LAW in their Writings, /ball be the Subject of the next Chapter. CHAP. CHAP. II. Explains by Experiments the Arcana and Wonders of Nature , as opened in the Works of JACOB BEHMEN and Mr. LAW. MY Attention was ftirred up by a Book, published by Mr. LOVETT, viWor- cefler., fetting forth a Variety of Cures per- form'd by Electricity. I had fcen many Years before this an electrical Machine, and had tried all the common Experiments that were then known ; for very little had been written on the Subject, and that by no Means fatisfactory j no one being able to trace out the Caufe of the ftriking Appear- ances raifed by an electrical Apparatus. Like other ftrange Sights therefore, which the oftener they are feen, the lefs they affect us, fo it happened with electrical Experiments. They tired and ^then naturally funk into Neglect j for having loft their Power to keep up the Attention; and defpairing of ever reaching the Caufe, I left it, where I then thought it, impenetrably hidden, amongft the occult Qualities. But reading in Mr. LOVETT ( 7 ] LOVETT of its Medical Virtue, this roufed my Attention to a more accurate Difquifi- tipn, and to fearch minutely after what I had before given up as not to be found. I tried every Experiment my Imagination fug- gefted, and at laft difcovered the Secret I fought for. But here I own that I owe my Succefs to a Letter of the ABBE NOLLET'S* publifhed at that Time in the Gentleman's Magazine. The ABBE was then trying Experiments, and maintained in his Letter that there were two Currents in the electrical Fire diametrically oppoiite. This Hint was enough for me, who was before fufficiently convinced that there were in Nature Qua- lities directly contrary and oppofite to each other, both from my own Experience and JACOB BEHMEN'S and Mr. LAW'S Writings. But now I was able to demonftrate this Truth by Experiment, and to bring forth to open View thefe hidden fecret working 'Powers, known only to us by their Effects. But what was more, I found now I could prove by Experiments to the Senfes that there were in Nature feven Properties, as fet forth and maintained in the Books of the above * Gentleman's Magazine Aug. 1759, p. 364, [ 8 ] above two eminent Writers ; the Ground of which are the two oppofite Qualities be- fore-mentioned. Such a Difcovery, as may naturally be imagined, made me defirous of publifhing it to the World, in hopes that fome abler Hand might throw more Light on the Subject, accordingly I fcnt to the Gentleman's Magazine the following Letter, which was published in the Month of April 1762. " A LETTER to the Author of the Gen- tleman's Magazine : Wherein the Principles of Electricity are proved by Experiments to be the fame with thofe of JACOB BEHMEN'S, and Mr. LAW'S Philofophy. 5 I R. " WITHOUT .making any Apology I fend you this Letter, which I think, is on an in- terefting Subject. " My Defign is not to make myfelf known, I only write for Information, and to ftir up fome abler Hand to finifh what I think only the Outlines of a moft important Difcovery. For if JACOB BEHMEN'S and Mr. LAW'S Phjlofophy can be proved by Electricity, and, vice verfa, Electricity can be - [ 9 1 be explained by their Writings j there is fcarce any Phenomenon in Nature, but what may be made intelligible. C BUT not to detain you longer from what I intend to lie in as little Compafs as poffible, the following are my Experiments to prove, that Mr. LAW'S Philofophy is the fame that the electrical Machine difcovers to our Senfes. Mr. LAW fays, " there are feven Proper- ties in Nature," indeed he does not fay this as the firft Difcoverer of this great Myftery, for he is candid enough to tell us from whom fee had it; but as he was a perfect Mafter of it, and has given it to us in a Style more eafy at firil to be comprehended, than that of JACOB BEHMEN, from whom he had it; I fcruple not to call it, Mr. LAW'S Philp- ibphy. " IN proving thefe feven Properties, Mr. LAW fays, " Nature took its Rife from the " Will of the Deity." This he explains after the following Manner. " Will is Defire, now Defire has thefe Properties belonging to it, comprejjing^ inclof- ing y or faulting up ; drawing or attracting. Now the firft of thefe, fomfrejjmg^ indofing, or [ 1 ] or flatting up, is contrary to the laft, draw- ing or attracting, for the firft has no Mo- tion in it, but only compreffes, holds toge- ther or endeavours to abide in Stillnefs ; but the laft has Motion in it, and therefore is contrary to, and never continues in a quiet State. " Now thefe two Properties brought forth by the fame Will, have equal Strength and equal Power, and always adl in Oppolition to each other, which Oppofition unavoidably produces a third Property, viz. a whirling round, for as the holding faft and going out are equal in Strength and Power to each o~ ther, and neither for the other's Oppofition, can go backward or forward, up or down, each acting equally againft the other, a 'whirl- ing round muft be caufed. " Now thefe three, the holding f aft ^ the going oufy and whirling round, all necefTa- rily anting from, the Will of the Deity, Mr. LAW calls the three firft Properties of Na- ture. The fourth Property, he fays, is Fire,- produced from the violent Agitation, Mo- tion and Anguim of the three firft. The fftb Property, he fays, is Light. Thcfatb, Life, t ] Life, and by the Seventh, as JACOB BEH- MEN alfo does, he means, Spirit. " Now I prove by the Help of the elec- trical Machine, thefe feven Properties to be in Nature, exactly as Mr. LAW has defcrib- ed them, after the following Manner.