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A groved wheel, about three feet diameter, is fixed on an axis, which turns horizontally over the well, and an endless rope, of a fufficient length to reach into the water in the well, paffes over it in the grove. On the fame axis a winch is fixed at one end to turn it by; and, at the other end, another wheel, loaded with lead, which acts as a fly, to increase the velocity. On turning the wheel, each part of the rope, as it comes to the bottom, paffes through the water; and, on account of the above-mentioned property, the water adheres to, and is brought up by it to the top, where it is difcharged from the rope into a ciftern,

placed to receive it, by the preffure of the rope upon the wheel, in paffing over it. And fo great is the fimplicity and effect of this machine, that we have been told by a very excellent mecha, nic, who has feen it, that notwithstanding the well is near 200 feet deep, he turned the machine with one hand, fo as to raife water fufficient to fill a pipe, the diameter of the aperture of which appeared to him, equal to the diameter of the rope that raised it. This, at leaft, is certain; the well had been long difufed before this machine was erected over it, on account of the difficulty they found in raifing the water out of it,

MATHEMATICS.

MATHEMATICAL QUESTIONS.

16. QUESTION I. by MATHEMATICUS, of Greenwich.

It is required to determine the dimenfions of the greatest oblique cone, which, when ftanding on its bafe, fhall but juft fupport itfelf from falling; the distance of the vertex from the middle of the base being 9 feet,

17. QUESTION II. by Mr. JOHN DALE, of Knightsbridge

In the fummer of 1783, the fun was obferved to rife N. 65° 41' E. and the fame day its meridional altitude was 61° 00': what was the latitude of the place, and the day when this obfervation was made?

The other queftion propofed by this gentleman is anfwered in Robert, fon's Navigation.

18. QUESTION III. by the late Mr. GEORGE BROWN, of Portsmouth. Given the fum of two numbers, 2, and the fum of their 9th powers, 32, to determine the numbers by quadratic equations.

This question has been propofed before; and the reasons for re-propofing it will appear in the answer.

19. QUESTION IV. by J. P.

Given the vertical angle of a triangle, the line bifecting it, and the fum of the fides about it, to conftruct the triangle.

20. QUESTION V. by BEN SUIB NOR BEN.

Through three given points, to defcribe a fquare, the area of which shall be equal to a given rectangle; and to determine the limits of poffibility when no two of the points are in the fame fide of the fquare.

21. QUESTION VI. by NAUTICUS.

Three hips fail from three ports which all lie in the parallel of 47° 8' North, and meet in latitude 44° 24'N. The diftance between the two extreme ports is 200 miles; and when they met, the fhip which failed from the middle port had run 216 miles: it alfo appeared that the rhumb fhe failed on bifected the angle comprehended between the rhumbs on which the other two fhips had failed. Required the diftance run by thefe two fhips, and the courses of all three.

The anfwers to thefe queftions must be fent, poft paid, to Mr. Baldwin's, in Paternofter-row, London, before the 1ft of December, 1783.

MEDICINE.

W

MEDICINE.

TO THE READERS OF THE LONDON MAGAZINE.

HILE the general fears of mankind and the particular attention of government are juftly awakened by the breaking out of the PLAGUE in various parts of Europe, the following obfervations, and method of prevention, recommended by Dr. Cullen, in his Firft Lines of the Practice of Phyfic, appear to us fo rational, and fo applicable to every fpecies of endemial contagion, as to demand a place in that department of our mifcellany which is allotted to phyfical difquifitions.

WITH respect to the prevention: as we are firmly perfuaded that the disease never arifes in the northern parts of Europe, but in confequence of its being imported from fome other country, fo the first meafure neceffary, is the magiftrates taking care to prevent the importation; and this may generally be done by a due attention to the bills of health, and to the proper performance of quarantains. "With refpect to the latter, we are perfuaded, that the quarantain of perfons may fafely be much lefs than forty days; and if this were allowed, the execution of the quarantain would be more exact and certain, as the temptation to break it would be in a great measure removed.

"With respect to the quarantain of goods, it cannot be perfect unless the fufpected goods he unpacked, and duly ventilated, as well as the other means employed for correcting the infection they may carry; and if all this were properly done, it is probable that the time commonly prefcribed for the quarantain of goods might also be shortened.

"A fecond measure in the way of prevention becomes requifite, when an infection has reached and prevailed in any place, to prevent that infection from spreading into other places. This can be done only by preventing the inhabitants, or the goods of any infected place, from going out of it till they have undergone a proper quarantain.

"The third meafure for prevention, to be employed with care, is to hinder the infection from fpreading among the inhabitants of the place in which it has arifen. The measures neceffary for this are to be directed by the docs

trine already laid down; and from that doctrine we infer that all perfons who can avoid any near communication with infected perfons or goods may be faved from the infection."

"For avoiding fuch communication, a great deal may be done by the magiftrate:

ift. By allowing as many of the inhabitants as are free from the infection, and not neceflary to the service of the place, to go out of it.

"2dly. By difcharging all affemblies, or unneceffary intercourfe of the people.

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3dly. By rendering fome neceffary communications, to be performed without contact.

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4thly. By making fuch arrangements and provifions as may render it eafy for the families remaining to shut themfelves up in their own houfes.

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5thly. By allowing perfons to quit houfes in which an infection appears, upon condition that they go into lazarettos.

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"Of thofe obliged to remain in infected places, but not obliged to have any near communication with the fick, they may be preferved, by avoiding all near communication with other perfons, or their goods; and it is probable, that a fmail diftance will anfwer the purpose, if, at the fame time, there be no streams of air to carry the effluvia of perfons or goods to fome distance.

"For those who are neceffarily obliged to have a near communication with the fick, it is proper to let them know, that fome of the moft powerful infections do not operate but when the bodies of men expofed to the contagion are in certain ci:cumflances, which render them more liable to be affected by it; or when certain caufes concur to excite the power of it, and, therefore, by avoiding thefe circumftances and caufes, they may often efcape infection.

"The bodies of men are efpecially liable to be affected by contagion, when they are any how confiderably weakened, as they may be by want of food, or even by a fcanty diet, or one of little nourishment; by intemperance in drinking, which, when the ftupor of intoxication is over, leaves the body in a weakened flate; by excefs in vemery; by great fatigue; or, by any confiderable evacuation.

"The caufes which, concurring with contagion, render it more certainly active, are cold, fear, and full living.

"The feveral means, therefore, of avoiding or guarding against the action of cold are to be carefully ftudied.

Against fear, the mind is to be fortified as well as poffible; by infuring a favourable idea of the power of prefervative means; by destroying the opinion of the incurable nature of the difeafe; by occupying men's minds with bufinefs or labour; and avoiding all objects of fear, as funerals, paffing bells, and any notice of the death of particular friends.

"A full diet of animal food increafes the irritability of the body, and favours the operation of contagion; and indigeftion, whether from the quantity or quality of the food, has the fame effect.

"Befides giving attention to obviate the feveral circumftances which favour the operation of contagion, it is probable that fome means may be employed for ftrengthening the bodies of men, and thereby enabling them to refift contagion.

"For this purpofe it is probable that the moderate use of wine, or of fpirituous liquors, may have a good effect.

"It is probable alfo, that exercise, when it can be employed, if fo moderate as to be neither heating nor fatiguing to the body, may be employed with advantage.

"Perfons who have tried cold bathing, and commonly feel invigorating effects from it, if they are any way fecure againft having already received the infection, may poffibly be enabled to refift it by the ufe of the cold bath.

"It is probable that fome medicines, alfo, may be ufeful in enabling men to refift infection; but among thefe, we can hardly admit the numerous alexipharmics formerly propofed, or, at leaft, very few of them, and those only of tonic power. Amongst these laft, we reckon the Peruvian bark; and it is, perhaps, the moft effectual. If any thing is to be expected from antifeptics, I think camphire, whether internally or externally employed, is one of the most promifing.

"Every perfon is to be indulged in the ufe of any means of prefervation of which he has conceived a good opinion, whether it be a charm or a medicine, if the latter be not directly hurtful.

Whether iffues be useful in preferving from, or in moderating the effects of contagion, I cannot determine from the obfervations I have yet read,

"As neither the atmosphere in general, nor any confiderable portion of it, is tainted or impregnated with the matter of contagion, fo the lighting of fires over a great part of the infected city, or other general fumigations, in the open air, are of no ufe for preventing the difeafe, and may perhaps be hurtful.

"It would probably contribute much to stop the progrefs of the infec

tion.

tion, if the poor were injoined to make a frequent change of clothing, and were fuitably provided for that

purpofe; and if they were, at the fame time, induced to make a frequent ventilation of their houses and furniture."

To these ingenious remarks, little, perhaps, can be added. The following reafons, however, have been affigned for the Plague's being lefs frequent at prefent than it was formerly in our metropolis.

DR. TIMONI, in his account of the Plague at Conftantinople, obferves that the cleaner houfes were lefs liable to be infected with that diforder than the dirty; and Foreftus attributes the Plague at Cologne and Paris, in his time, to the multitude of poor inhabitants, and the filthinefs of the ftreets; in fhort, it is plain that for this laft century, peftilential fevers, putrid fcurvies, and dyfenteries, have remarkably abated in all parts of Europe, a bleffing which we can attribute to no other fecond caufes, than to our improve ment in every thing relating to cleanlinefs, and to the more general ufe of hopped beer, wine, and vinous liquors. Greens and fruit are alfo more univerfally eaten and falted meats make a much lefs part of our diet than formerly. To this, fays Sir John Pringle, may be joined the more general confumption of tea and fugar; which that learned physician, from feveral experiments, has proved to be great enemies to putrefaction. How far they may be abfed, or become the caufe of other diftempers, is not the queftion before us.

Perhaps there is at prefent no great city in Europe fo little fubject to peftilential fevers, and other putrid difcafes, as London, though it feems formerly to be little lefs infected than others; notwithstanding the great advantages of its fituation, in a climate not liable to great heats or clofe weather, on a gravelly foil, and on the banks of a large river, which not only fupplies fresh water, but fresh air, by the conftant motion of the tides. London also ftands in a wide plain, where the fields in general are kept extenfively

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denham to the prefent, there appears to be a confiderable alteration for the better, with refpect to the health of the inhabitants of this metropolis; for, befide that they have known no plague, they have not fuffered in any great degree from epidemic fevers, or fatal dyfenteries; nor, if we except a few autumnal fevers of a bad kind, the smallpox, and meafles, from any infectious diftemper that could be called general. In fome of the lowest, moifteft, and clofeft parts of the town, and among the poorer people indeed, a few spotted fevers and fluxes are yet to be feen, which are feldom heard of among those of better rank, living in more airy fituations. Although many things, relating to the health of the people, might be better regulated, yet, fome of the main points have been well attended to; fuch as regard the priories, the common fewers, and the conftant fupplies of freth water; befide that the commonalty are very cleanly.

The London dirt of the channels does not feem to affect the health of the inhabitants of this refpectable city; for though the more offenfive kind of it may concur with other matters to render the air lefs healthful, yet it appears to have little influence in producing peftilential difeafes.

I cannot conclude this part of the fubject without obferving, that whilt this, and other large cities, furnith materials for vitiating the atmosphere, they are provided with two confiderable antidotes; the firft arifes from the circulation of the air, by the conftant motion of the people and carriages, and by the efficacious draughts made by fires; the other from the quantity of an acid, produced by fuel, the frongeft refifter of putrefaction.

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MISCELLANEOUS PAPERS.
FOR THE LONDON MAGAZINE.
DEDICATION S.

MR. EDITOR,

IN

ΟΝ

a former paper of the "HYPOCHONDRIACK" your readers were prefented with fome curious fpecimens of fingular dedications to books, ftrongly characteristic of the humour and turn of mind of the feveral authors. I have, however, in the courfe of my reading met with fome ftill more extraordinary. George Edwards's dedication of his works to God is not to be compared with Cornelius à Lapide's dedication of his Expofition of the Prophets to the HOLY TRINITY. It confiits of fix folio pages: and in it we have praife and prayer in all their branches: fchool divinity with all its diftinctions: and rhetoric with all its figures. Scripture is quoted for proof; and the fathers for illustration. Schifmatics are claffed with Saracens, and Heretics with Pagans: their total downfall is devoutly implored, and the triumph of the orthodox moft confidently anticipated.

The learned commentator, who was a Jefuit, about the beginning of the laft century, and whofe expofition confits of eight huge folios, hath racked his invention in this fingular dedication to find out metaphors and allufions that have even the moft diftant tendency to convey an idea of Trinity in Unity. The fertility of his imagination in this refpect was wonderful: but if he had feriously meant to burlefque the doctrine he was fo zealous to fupport, he could hardly have difcovered a more likely method to effect it, than that which in the fimplicity of his heart he adopted, in order to illuftrate it. "Thou art (fays he) the triangle of divinity; the tripartite hypoftafis: and the triumvirate of co-effentiality.Thou art the three-faced mirror, the three-bodied mind, the three-forked lightning, the three-edged fword, and the three-leaf tree of Paradife.Thou art the alpha of three corners; the

three tongued power of eloquence, and the three path'd road of wifdom: the trident of creation, the tripod of fubftance: the three-coloured rainbow: the three-finger'd hand; the threemouth'd fountain; and the rope with three knots." Thefe are fufficient by way of a fpecimen of the author's fancy; though the allufion is carried on through twenty TRIS, befide those which are here enumerated: fuch as "Deus trifmegiftus" and " Adamas trigemmis;"- Arx τριεμβολα" and "Tri

remis Abyfi.”

In the year 1657 a book was publifhed, entitled "The Art of Logick, unfolding to the meaneft Capacities the Way to difpute well, and to refute all Fallacies what foever." By Zachary Coke, of Grays-Inn, Gent. The book itfelf runs into all the intricacies of artificial reafoning, and inftead of " unfolding the principles of logic to the meaneft capacities," would rather render them incomprehenfible to the strongest; for it fetters the understanding in the chains of forms, and confounds the imagination in the labyrinth of diftinctions. But my concern is only with the dedication, which is the most extraordinary I ever remember to have read. It is compofed in that fpecies of language which Hudibras calls a Babylonifh dialect. It is English cut on Greek and Latin. This mode of compofition gained repute from the fanction of fome eminent names: particularly Sir Thomas Browne's; whofe writings are fo frequently quoted as authorities, in Johnfon's dictionary.

But to return to Mr. Zachary Coke's dedication. It is addreffed to the illuftrious, his Excellency OLIVER CROMWELL Generaliffime of England, Scotland, and Ireland, Chancellor of Oxford, &c. &c. and to the most renowned his general council of officers." It is an apology for logic against the infinuations

✦ He was a native of Holland. His real name was Stain or Stone, in Latin a Lapide.

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