Chapter II: Part 2

This faculty in the flowers of plants is not altogether a new discovery; but we are indebted to the same hand for additional observations upon this head likewise. It is so manifest in one of our common English plants, the _Tragopogon luteum_, that our country people long since called it _John-go-to-bed-at-noon_. Linnæus’s observations have extended to near fifty species, which are subject to this law. What we find principally upon this subject is in the _Philosophia Botanica_, p. 273. We will enumerate these plants, and mention the time when the flowers open and shut, that those, who have opportunity and inclination, may gratify themselves, and probably at the same time extend this branch of botanic knowlege still farther.

It is proper to observe, that as these observations were made by Linnæus in the academical garden at Upsal, whoever repeats them in this country will very probably find, that the difference of climate will occasion a variation in point of time: at least this will obtain in some species, as our own observations have taught us; in others the time has corresponded very exactly with the account he has given us.

Whether this faculty hath any connexion with the great article of fecundation in the oeconomy of flowers, I cannot determine: in the mean time it is not improbable. Future and repeated observations, and well-adapted experiments, will tend to illustrate this matter, and it may be lead the way to a full explanation of the cause.

1. Anagallis flore phœniceo C. B. pin. 252. Raii Syn. p. 282. Anagallis arvensis Lin. Spec. plant. p. 148. _The Male Pimpernel._ The flowers of this plant open about eight o’clock in the morning, and never close till past noon. This plant is common in kitchen-gardens and in corn-fields, and flowers in June, and continues in flower three months.

2. The Anagallis cærulea foliis binis ternisve ex adverso nascentibus C. B. pin. p. 252. Raii Hist. Plant. p. 1024. Anagallis Monelli Sp. plant. 148. _Blue-flowered Pimpernel with narrow leaves._ The flowers of this plant observe nearly the same time in opening and shutting as the foregoing.

3. Convolvulus peregrinus cæruleus folio oblongo C. B. pin. 295. Convolvulus tricolor Sp. plant. 158. _Little blue Convolvulus, or Bindweed._ This opens its flowers between the hours of five and six in the morning, and shuts them in the afternoon.

4. Phalangium parvo flore ramosum C. B. pin. 29. Raii Hist. Pl. 1193. _Branched Spiderwort with a small flower._ These open about seven in the morning, and close between the hours of three and four in the afternoon.

5. Lilium rubrum Asphodeli radice C. B. pin. 80. Hemerocallis fulvus Sp. pl. 324. _The Day Lily._ The flowers open about five in the morning, and shut at seven or eight in the evening.

6. Plantago aquatica minor. Park. 1245. Raii Syn. 257. Alisma ranunculoides Sp. pl. 343. Fl. Suec. 2. Nº. 325. _The lesser Water-Plantain_, during its flowering-time, only opens its flowers each day about noon.

7. Caryophyllus sylvestris prolifer C. B. pin. 209. Raii Syn. 337. Dianthus prolifer Sp. pl. 410. _Proliferous Pink._ The flowers expand about eight in the morning, and close again about one in the afternoon.

8. Spergula purpurea J. B. III. 722. Raii Syn. p. 351. Arenaria rubra. Sp. pl. 423. _Purple Spurrey._ These expand between nine and ten in the morning, and close between two and three in the afternoon. This little plant is common among the corn in sandy soils, and flowers in June.

9. Portulaca latifolia sativa C. B. pin. 288. Portulaca oleracea Sp. pl. p. 445. _Common Purslain_, opens its flowers about nine or ten in the morning, and closes them again in about an hour’s time.

10. Ficoides Africana, folio plantaginis undulato micis argenteis adsperso Boerh. Ludg. I. p. 291. Mesembryanthemum chrystallinum Sp. pl. 480. _Diamond Ficoides._ The flowers of this plant open at nine or ten, and close at three or four in the afternoon.

11. Ficoides Africana folio tereti in villos radiatos abeunte. Tourn. Mesembryanthemum barbatum Sp. pl. 482. The flowers of this species expand at seven or eight in the morning, and close about two in the afternoon.

12. Ficoides folio tereti Neapolitana flore candido Herm. Ludg. 252. Kali Crassulæ minoris foliis C. B. pin. 289. Mesembryanthemum nodiflorum Sp. pl. 480. The flowers of this plant open at ten or eleven in the morning, and close at three in the afternoon.

13. Mesembryanthemum folio linguiformi latiore Dillen. Hort. Elth. Mesembryanthemum linguiforme Sp. pl. 488. _Ficoides with a tongue-shaped leaf._ These open at seven or eight in the morning, and are closed about three in the afternoon.

14. Nymphæa alba J. B. III. 770. Raii Syn. 368. Nymphæa alba Sp. pl. 510. Fl. Suec. 2. Nº. 470. _White Water Lily._ This plant grows in rivers, ponds, and ditches, and the flowers lie upon the surface of the water. At their time of expansion, which is about seven in the morning, the stalk is erected, and the flower more elevated above the surface. In this situation it continues till about four in the afternoon, when the flower sinks to the surface of the water, and closes again.

15. Papaver erraticum nudicaule flore flavo odorato Dillen. Hort. Elth. 302. Papaver nudicaule Sp. pl. p. 507. _Wild Poppy with a naked stalk and a yellow sweet-smelling flower._ The flower of this plant opens at five in the morning, and closes at seven in the evening.

16. Alyssoides incanum, foliis sinuatis Tourn. Inst. 213. Alyssum sinuatum Sp. pl. 651. _Hoary Madwort with sinuated leaves._ The flowers of this plant expand between the hours of six and eight in the morning, and close at four in the afternoon.

17. Abutilon repens alceæ foliis, flore helvolo Dillen. Hort. Elth. 5. Malva Caroliniana Sp. pl. 688. _Creeping Indian Mallow with leaves like Vervain Mallow, and a flesh-coloured flower._ These open at nine or ten in the morning, and close at one in the afternoon.

18. Tragopogon luteum Ger. 595. Raii Syn. 171. Tragopogon pratense Sp. pl. 789. _Yellow Goats Beard_, or _Go-to-bed-at-noon_. The latter of these names was given to this plant long since, on account of this remarkable property. The flowers open in general about three or four o’clock, and close again about nine or ten, in the morning. These flowers will perform their _vigiliæ_, if set in a phial of water, within doors for several mornings successively; and I have sometimes observed them to be quite closed, from their utmost state of expansion, in less than a quarter of an hour. It flowers in June.

19. Tragopogon gramineis foliis, hirsutis. C. B. pin. 275. Raii. Hist. Plant. 253. _Rose-coloured Goats Beard._ These open between five and six in the morning, and close about eleven. Tragopog. hybridum Sp. plant. 789.

20. Tragopogon, calycibus corolla brevioribus inermibus, foliis lyrato-sinuatis. Hort. Ups. 244. Sp. pl. 790. Hall. Hort. Gotting. 2. p. 419. The flowers of this plant open at six or seven in the morning, and shut between the hours of twelve and four in the afternoon.

21. Sonchus Tingitanus papaveris folio. Tourn. Raii Suppl. 137. Scorzonera Tingitana Sp. pl. 791. _African Sowthistle with a poppy leaf._ This plant opens its flowers between four and six in the morning, and closes them in about three hours.

22. Sonchus repens, multis hieracium majus J. B. II. 1017. Raii Syn. 163. Sonchus arvensis Sp. pl. 793. _Tree Sowthistle._ These flowers expand about six or seven, and close between eleven and twelve in the forenoon. This is common in corn-fields, and flowers in June, July, and August.

23. Sonchus lævis Ger. Raii Syn. 161. Sonchus oleraceus Sp. pl. 794. _Smooth or unprickly Sowthistle, Hares Lettuce._ These open about five in the morning, and close again at eleven or twelve.

24. Sonchus lævis laciniatus cæruleus C. B. pin. 124. Raii Hist. pl. 225. Sonchus alpinus Sp. pl. 794. _Blue-flowered Mountain Sowthistle._ These open about seven, and close about noon.

25. Sonchus tricubitalis, folio cuspidato Merr. pin. Raii Syn. 163. Sonchus asper arborescens C. B. pin. 124. Sonchus palustris Sp. pl. 793. _The greatest Marsh tree Sowthistle._ It expands its flowers about six or seven, and closes them about two in the afternoon.

26. Lactuca sativa C. B. pin. 122. Sp. pl. 795. _Garden Lettuce_, opens its flowers about seven, and closes them about ten, in the forenoon.

27. Dens leonis Ger. 228. Raii Syn. 170. Leontodon Taraxacum Sp. pl. 798. _Dandelion._ It expands at five or six, and closes at eight or nine, in the forenoon. This flowers early in the spring, and again in the autumn.

28. Dens leonis hirsutus leptocaulos, Hieracium dictus. Raii Syn. 171. Leontodon hispidum Sp. pl. 799. _Rough Dandelion_, or _Dandelion Hawkweed_. This plant opens its flower about four in the morning, and keeps it expanded till three in the afternoon. In May.

29. Hieracium minus præmorsa radice. Park. 794. Raii Syn. 164. Leontodon autumnale. Sp. pl. 799. _Hawkweed with bitten roots_, or _Yellow Devil’s-bit_. The flowers open about seven, and keep in an expanded state till about three in the afternoon. It flowers in July and August.

30. Pilosella repens Ger. 573. Raii Syn. 170. Hieracium Pilosella Sp. pl. 800. _Common creeping Mouse-ear._ It opens about eight in the morning, and closes about two in the afternoon. Very common on dry pastures, flowering in June and July.

31. Hieracium murorum folio pilosissimo C. B. pin. 129. Raii Syn. 168. Hieracium murorum Sp. pl. 802. The flowers of this plant expand about six or seven, and close about two in the afternoon. Upon old walls, flowering in June and July. This is called in English, _French_ or _Golden Lungwort_.

32. Hieracium fruticosum angustifolium majus. C. B. pin. 129. Hieracium umbellatum Sp. pl. 804. _Narrow-leaved bushy Hawkweed._ The flowers of this species expand about six in the morning, and remain open till five in the afternoon.

33. Hieracium fruticosum latifolium hirsutum C. B. pin. 129. Raii Syn. p. 167. Hieracium sabaudum Sp. pl. 804. _Bushy Hawkweed with broad rough leaves._ These flowers are in their expanded state from about seven in the morning till one or two in the afternoon. In woods, flowering in June and July.

34. Hieracium montanum cichorii folio. Raii. Syn. p. 166. Hieracium paludosum Sp. pl. 638. Fl. Suec. 2. Nº. 702. _Succory-leaved Mountain Hawkweed._ The flowers expand about six in the morning, and close about five in the afternoon.

35. Hieracium hortense floribus atro-purpurascentibus C. B. pin. 128. Hieracium aurantiacum Sp. pl. 801. _Garden Hawkweed with deep purple flowers_, or _Sweet Indian Mouse-ear_. The flowers are in their expanded state from six or seven in the morning till three or four in the afternoon.

36. Hieracium luteum glabrum, sive minus hirsutum. J. B. Raii Syn. 165. Crepis tectorum Sp. pl. 807. _Smooth Succory Hawkweed._ The flowers of this plant expand about four in the morning, and close about noon.

37. Hieracium Alpinum Scorzoneræ folio Tourn. Inst. 472. Crepis Alpina Sp. pl. 806. _Mountain Hawkweed with a vipers-grass leaf._ These open about five or six, and close at eleven in the forenoon.

38. Hieracium dentis leonis folio, flore suave-rubente, C. B. pin. 127. Raii hist. pl. 231. Crepis rubra Sp. pl. 806. _Hawkweed of Apulia with a flesh-coloured flower._ The flowers remain in their expanded state from six or seven in the morning till one or two in the afternoon.

39. Hieracium echioides, capitulis cardui benedicti C. B. pin. 128. Raii Syn. 166. Picris echioides Sp. pl. 792. _Lang de bœuf._ On banks about hedges, and about the borders of fields, flowering in August. These expand about four or five in the morning, and never close before noon: sometimes they remain open till nine at night.

40. Hieracium Alpinum latifolium hirsutie incanum flore magno. C. B. pin. 128. Raii Syn. p. 167. Hypochæris maculata Sp. pl. 810. _Broad-leaved Hungarian Hawkweed._ These flowers are in their vigilating state from six in the morning till four in the afternoon.

41. Hieracium ramosum, floribus amplis, calycibus valde hirsutis, foliis oblongis obtusis: dentibus majoribus inæqualibus incisis Raii Suppl. 144. 76. Hypochæris Achyrophorus Sp. pl. 810. This plant opens its flowers about seven or eight in the morning, and closes them about two in the afternoon.

42. Hieracium minus dentis leonis folio, oblongo glabro C. B. pin. 127. Hypochæris glabra Sp. pl. 811. These expand about nine in the morning, and close about twelve or one o’clock.

43. Hieracium falcatum alterum Raii Hist. 256. Lapsana calycibus fructus undique patentibus, radiis subulatis, foliis lyratis Hort. Ups. 245. Sp. pl. 812. The flowers open at five or six, and close between the hours of ten and one.

44. Hedypnois annua Tourn. Inst. 478. Hyoseris hedypnois Sp. pl. 809. The flowers open at seven or eight, and close again at two in the afternoon.

45. Hieracium montanum alterum leptomacrocaulon Col. Raii Hist. 234. Lapsana chondrilloides Sp. pl. 812. _Mountain Hawkweed with long slender stalks and small flowers._ The flowers are in their expanded or vigilating state from five or six in the morning till about ten.

46. Cichoreum sylvestre Ger. em. 284. Raii Syn. 172. Cichorium Intybus Sp. pl. 813. _Wild Succory._ On the borders of fields, flowering in August and September. The flowers open about eight in the forenoon, and keep expanded till about four in the afternoon.

47. Calendula arvensis C. B. pin. 275. Raii Hist. 338. Calendula officinalis Sp. pl. 921. _Wild Marigold._ The flowers expand from nine in the morning till three in the afternoon.

48. Calendula foliis dentatis Roy. Ludg. 177. Miller, p. 50. Tab. 75. f. 1. Calendula pluvialis Sp. pl. 921. _Marigold with indented leaves._ The flowers expand from seven in the morning till three or four in the afternoon. Linnæus observes of this plant, that if its flowers do not expand about their usual time in the morning, it will almost assuredly rain that day; with this restriction indeed, that the plant is not affected by thunder showers. Phil. Bot. 275.

49. Sonchus pedunculis squamatis, foliis lanceolatis indivisis sessilibus. Hort. Upsal. 244. Flor. Suec. 2. Nº. 690. Lactuca Salicis folio, flore cæruleo. Amman. ruth. 211. Of this plant it is remarked, that whenever the flowers are in the expanded state in the night-time, the following day generally proves rainy.

LXVI. _An Account of the Case of a Boy troubled with convulsive Fits cured by the Discharge of Worms. By the Rev._ Richard Oram, _M. A. Chaplain to the Lord Bishop of_ Ely.

[Read Jan. 26, 1758.]

JOseph, son of John and Mary Postle, of Ingham in the county of Norfolk, was subject to convulsive fits from his infancy; which were common and tolerable till he was about seven years of age. About that time they began to attack him in all the varieties that can be conceived. Sometimes he was thrown upon the ground; sometimes he was twirled round like a top by them; at others he would spring upwards to a considerable height, _&c._ and once he leaped over an iron bar, that was placed purposely before the fire to prevent his falling into it. He was much burned; but was rendered so habitually stupid by his fits, that he never expressed the least sense of pain after this accident. His intellect was so much impaired, and almost destroyed, by the frequency and violence of his fits, that he scarce seemed to be conscious of any thing. He did not acknowlege his father or mother by any expressions or signs; nor seemed to distinguish them from other people. If at any time he escaped out of the house without the observation of the family, he had not understanding to find and return to it; but would pursue the direction or road he first took, and sometimes lose himself. Once he was missing for a whole night; and found the next morning in the middle of a fen, stuck fast in mud as deep as his breast. He was very voracious, and would frequently call for something to eat; which was the only indication he gave of his knowing any thing. No kind of filth or nastiness can be conceived, which he would not eat or drink without distinction. He appeared to be as ill as he really was; for he was become a most shocking spectacle. He was so much emaciated, that he seemed to have no flesh upon his bones; and his body so distorted, that he was rendered quite a cripple. His parents consulted a physician at Norwich, who very judiciously (as it will appear) considered his disorder as a worm-case, and prescribed for it accordingly; but (being afraid, I presume, to give too violent medicines to the boy) without success. In short, he was so singularly afflicted, that his parents told me they could not help thinking him under some evil influence.

It was observed, that his disorder varied, and grew worse, at certain periods of the moon.

In these miserable circumstances the poor boy continued to languish, till he was about eleven years of age (July 1757), when he accidentally found a mixture of white lead[18] and oil, which had some time before been prepared for some purpose of painting, set by on a shelf, and placed, as it was thought, out of his reach. There was near half a pint of this mixture when he found it; and, as he did not leave much, it is thought he swallowed about a quarter of a pint of it. There was also some lamp-black in the composition; which was added to give it a proper colour for the particular use it was intended for in painting. It was, as I suppose it usually is, linseed oil, which had been mixed with the lead and lamp-black.

The draught began to operate very soon, by vomiting and purging him for near 24 hours in the most violent manner. A large quantity of black inky matter was discharged; and an infinite number of worms, almost as small as threads, were voided. These operations were so intense, that his life was despaired of. But he has not only survived them, but experienced a most wonderful change and improvement after them: for his parents assured me in November 1757, when I saw him, that he had daily grown better from the time of his drinking the mixture, both in body and mind. Instead of a skeleton, as he almost was before, he is become fat, and rather corpulent: and his appetite is no longer ravenous, but moderate and common. His body too is become straight and erect. His understanding is at least as much benefited by this peculiar remedy. It cannot be expected, that he should already have attained much knowlege, as he seemed, before he was so wonderfully relieved, to be almost destitute of ideas. But he appeared, when I saw him, to have acquired nearly as much knowlege in four months, as children usually do in four years; and to reason pretty well on those things, which he knew. He is now capable of being employed on many occasions; is often sent a mile or two on errands, which he discharges as carefully, and then returns as safely, as any person.

It is farther remarkable, that the boy’s mother, her father, and sister, are frequently infested with worms. Her father, tho’ about 60 years of age, is still much troubled with them: the worms, which he voids, appear flat, and much larger than those, which his children have observed. Her sister is often exceedingly disordered by them. About three months since they threw her into violent convulsions, and for some time deprived her of her senses. But the mother of the boy has been affected in a more extraordinary manner than the rest. About 20 years ago she voided some worms, which forced their way thro’ the pores of the skin, as it is supposed; for they were found in small clusters under her arms. As she was very young then, she does not remember how she was particularly affected; only, that she suffered violent struggles and convulsions. She is still, about five or six times in a year, seized with fainting fits, which usually attack her in bed, and last three or four minutes; but she cannot certainly say, tho’ there is very little reason to doubt, that they are occasioned by worms.

_An Account of the same Subject, in a Letter from Mr._ John Gaze, _of_ Walket, _in the County of_ Norfolk, _to Mr._ Wm. Arderon, _F.R.S. Communicated by Mr._ Henry Baker, _F.R.S._

[Read Jan. 26, 1758.]

JOseph Postle, son of John Postle, of Ingham in Norfolk, until about the age of seven years was an healthy well-looking child; but about that age was afflicted with stoppages, which often threw him into convulsive fits, and at last rendered him quite an idiot. He continued in this condition for about four years, eating and drinking all that time any thing that came in his way, even his own excrements, if not narrowly watched. His father took the advice of several eminent physicians, both at Norwich and elsewhere; but all their prescriptions proved of no service.

About the beginning of August last he happened to get at a painting-pot, wherein there was about a pound of white lead and lamp-black mixed up with linseed oil. This he eat almost all up before he was discovered. It vomited and purged him, and brought away prodigious numbers of small worms. In a few days he grew well, his senses returned, and he is now able to give as rational answers as can be expected from a boy of his age. His appetite is good, he is very brisk, and has not had the least return of his former disorder.

I heard of the above by several people; but not being satisfied, got my friend to go to Mr. Postle’s house, of whom he had the foregoing account.

January 12th, 1758.

LXVII. _An Account of the extraordinary Heat of the Weather in_ July 1757, _and of the Effects of it. In a Letter from_ John Huxham, _M. D. F.R.S. to_ Wm. Watson, _M. D. F.R.S._

[Read Feb. 2, 1758.]

I Find by your letter, that the heat at London was not so great in the beginning of July 1757, as at Plymouth by two or three degrees of Fahrenheit’s thermometer. We had again, after much rain at the close of the month, and in the beginning of August, excessive heat; _viz._ on the 8th, 9th, and 10th of August; which mounted the mercury in that thermometer to 85; nay, on the 9th, to near 86. I never before remember the mercury in that thermometer to exceed 84; and that is even here a very extraordinary degree of heat.

The consequences of this extremely hot season were hæmorrhages from several parts of the body; the nose especially in men and children, and the uterus in women. Sudden and violent pains of the head, and vertigo, profuse sweats, great debility and oppression of the spirits, affected many. There were putrid fevers in great abundance; and a vast quantity of fluxes of the belly both bilious and bloody, with which the fevers also were commonly attended. These fevers were always ushered in by severe pains of the head, back, and stomach; vomitings of green and sometimes of black bile, with vast oppression of the _præcordia_, continual anxiety, and want of sleep. These were soon succeeded by _tremores tendinum_, _subsultus_, delirium, or stupor. The pulse was commonly very quick, but seldom tense or strong; was sometimes heavy and undose. The blood oftentimes florid, but loose; sometimes livid, very rarely sizy: in some however, at the very attack, it was pretty dense and florid. The tongue was generally foul, brown, and sometimes blackish; and towards the crisis often dry. The urine was commonly high coloured, and in small quantity; frequently turbid, and towards the end deposed a great deal of lateritious sediment. A vast number were seized with this fever, during, and soon after, the excessive heats; tho’ but few died in proportion. Long and great heats always very much exalt the acrimony of the bilious humours; of which we had this summer abundant instances.

Bleeding early was generally beneficial; profuse, always hurtful, especially near the state of the fever.

LXVIII. _An Account of the fossile Thigh-bone of a large Animal, dug up at_ Stonesfield, _near_ Woodstock, _in_ Oxfordshire. _In a Letter to Mr._ Peter Collinson, _F.R.S. from Mr._ Joshua Platt.

[Read Feb. 2, 1758.]

Dear Sir,

ABOUT three years ago I sent you some _vertebræ_ of an enormous size, which were found in the slate-stone pit at Stonesfield, near Woodstock, in this county.

_J. Mynde sc._]

I have lately been so lucky as to procure from the same place the thigh-bone of a large animal, which probably belonged to the same creature, or one of the same genus, with the _vertebræ_ above-mentioned.

As the bone, and the stone, in which it is bedded, weigh no less than two hundred pounds, I have sent you a drawing of it (_See_ TAB. XIX.); from which, and the following short description, you may, I hope, form some idea of this wonderful fossile.

The bone is 29 inches in length; its diameter, at the extremity of the two trochanters, is 8 inches; at the lower extremity the condyles form a surface of 6 inches. The lesser trochanter is so well expressed in the drawing, that you cannot mistake it; and both the extremities appear to be a little rubbed by the fluctuating water, in which I apprehend it lay some time before the great jumble obtained, which brought it to this place; and from whence I imagine it to have been part of a skeleton before the flood. For if it had been corroded by any menstruum in the earth, or during the great conflux of water before the draining of the earth, it must have suffered in other parts as well as at each end: but as the extremities only are injured, we can attribute such a partial effect to the motion of the water only, which caused it to rub and strike against the sand, _&c._

The small trochanter was broken in lifting it out of the hamper, in which it was brought to me; but not unhappily; since all the _cancelli_ were by that means discovered to be filled with a sparry matter, that fixed the stone of the stratum, in which it lay. The outward coat or cortex is smooth, and of a dusky brown colour, resembling that of the stone, in which it is bedded.

One half of the bone is buried in the stone; yet enough of it is exposed to shew, that it is the thigh-bone of an animal of greater bulk than the largest ox. I have compared it with the recent thigh-bone of an elephant; but could observe little or no resemblance between them. If I may be allowed to assume the liberty, in which fossilists are often indulged, and to hazard a vague conjecture of my own, I would say it may probably have belonged to the hippopotamus, to the rhinoceros, or some such large animal, of whose anatomy we have not yet a competent knowlege.

The slate-pit, in which this bone was found, is about a quarter of a mile north-west from Stonesfield, upon the declivity of a rising ground, the upper stratum of which is a vegetable mould about eight or ten inches thick: under this is a bed of rubble, with a mixture of sand and clay, very coarse, about six feet deep, in which are a great number of _anomiæ_ both plain and striated, and many small oblong oysters, which the workmen call the sickle-oyster, some of them being found crooked, and bearing some resemblance to that instrument; but all differing from the _curvi-rostra_[19] of Moreton.

Immediately under this stratum of rubble is a bed of soft grey stone, of no use; but containing the _echini ovarii_, with great _mamillæ_, the _clypeati_ of different sizes, all well preserved; and also many _anomiæ_ and _pectines_. This bed, which is about seven or eight feet in depth, lies immediately above the stratum of stone, in which the bone was found.

This stratum is never wrought by the workmen, being arenarious, and too soft for their use. It is about four or five feet thick, and forms a kind of roof to them, as they dig out the stone, of which the slates are formed; for they work these pits in the same manner as they do the coal-pits, leaving pillars at proper distances to keep their roof from falling in.

This last bed of slate-stone is about five feet depth, and lower than this they never dig. So that the whole depth of the pit amounts to about 24 or 25 feet.

It was by working out the slate-stone, that this bone was discovered sticking to the roof of the pit, where the men were pursuing their work; and with a great deal of caution, and no less pains, they got it down intire, but attached to a large piece of stone; and in this state it now remains in my possession.

There is no water in the works, but such as descends from the surface thro’ perpendicular fissures; and the whole is spent in forming the stalactites and stalagmites, of which there is great variety, and whose dimensions are constantly increasing. One of the workmen has been so curious, as to mark the time of the growth of some of them for several years past.

I am, with the greatest esteem,

Dear Sir,
Your ever obedient,
and most humble Servant,
Joshua Platt.

Oxon, Jan. 20. 1758.

LXIX. _A Discourse on the Usefulness of Inoculation of the horned Cattle to prevent the contagious Distemper among them. In a Letter to the Right Hon._ George _Earl of_ Macclesfield, _P. R. S. from_ Daniel Peter Layard, _M. D. F.R.S._

[Read Feb. 2, 1758.]

My Lord,

THE honour you have done me, in condescending to peruse my Essay on the contagious Distemper among the horned Cattle, claims my most respectful thanks; and I am no less obliged to your Lordship for the just remark you made, “That before inoculation could be practised on the horned Cattle, it is necessary to bring proofs, that this disease is not susceptible more than once; and also assurances, that a recovery from the distemper by inoculation guards the beast from a second infection.”

An intire conviction of the analogy between this disease and the small-pox would not permit me to omit mentioning the great advantages, which must arise from inoculation; and therefore, my Lord, I recommend its use: nor do I find any reason to alter my opinion, after having carefully read over what has been published, and made the strictest inquiry I was able in several parts of Great Britain.

I shall, in the concisest manner possible, submit the following particulars to your Lordship’s consideration, and the learned Society, over which you so deservedly preside.

The Marquis de Courtivron, in two memoirs read before the Royal Academy of Sciences in the year 1748, and published by that learned body, relates the observations he, together with Monsieur Pelversier de Gombeau, formerly surgeon to the regiment de la Sarre, made on the rise, progress, and fatality, of the contagious distemper at Issurtille, a town in Burgundy; to which are added experiments they made, by application, digestion, and inoculation, towards communicating the disease; and concludes from the failure of these attempts, that the distemper can only be communicated from one beast to another. Besides, notwithstanding the Marquis observes[20] the regularity of the illness, the critical days, on the seventh and ninth, and particularly that all such as recovered had more or fewer pustules broke out in different parts of the body; yet[21] he will not allow of Rammazzini’s opinion, of the analogy between this distemper and the small-pox, nor that it is an eruptive fever; but ranks it as a plague.

But the Marquis goes still farther. He positively say,[22] “That in the preceding years, in the provinces of Bresse, Maconnois, and Bugey, some private persons had suffered by buying cattle recovered from the distemper, which had, at that time, the pustules remaining on them: which cattle had the distemper afterwards.” Nay, he adds that “even after recovering twice, a third infection has seized and killed many.”

No wonder, my Lord, that such positive assertions should stagger, and cause the practice of inoculation not to be received, till the nature of the disease be absolutely determined, and facts prove the contrary of what has been asserted.

In a matter of so great importance to every nation, it were to be wished, that the Marquis de Courtivron had produced attested observations of these second and third infections: for tho’ a nobleman of his rank, character, and great abilities, would not willingly impose upon the world; yet it may happen, that he may have received wrong informations.

As to the nature, rise, progress, and fatality, of this distemper at Issurtille, it appears to be the same disease as raged in these kingdoms. All the symptoms agree, as described by Rammazzini, Lancisi, the Marquis, and in my Essay. A distempered beast gave rise to the three infections. The illness was every-where the same in Italy, France, and Britain; and either terminated _fatally_ on the fourth or fifth day, when a scouring prevented the salutary eruptions, or in some cases by abortion; and on the seventh or ninth _favourably_, when the pustules had regularly taken their course. Tho’ the Marquis did not observe, that any particular medicines were of use, he says, that in general acids were beneficial, especially poor thin wines somewhat sour; and that the distempered beasts were all fond of these acids[23].

The fatality was likewise the same, as will appear from the Marquis’s tables. Of 192 head of cattle, 176 died. The mortality was chiefly among the fat cattle, cows with calf, and young sucking or yearling calves; and of the surviving sixteen, only two calves out of seventy-seven lived, and these two, with seven other beasts of the sixteen, escaped the infection, tho’ constantly among the diseased: so that it is plain,

Of 192 beasts, 176 died
7 recovered
9 escaped the infection.
---
192

The mortality was as considerable in these kingdoms.

Whoever will compare the appearances, progress, and fatality, of the small-pox, with what is remarked by authors of authority, as Rammazzini and Lancisi, and other observers, relative to the contagious distemper among the horned cattle, will not be at a loss one moment to determine, whether this disease be an eruptive fever, like unto the small-pox, or not.

Now if, as the Marquis has granted in both his memoirs[24], it be a general observation, that an eruption of pustules on some parts of the body, regularly thrown out, digested, and dried, is the means used by nature to effect the cure; and that in general the morbid matter does not affect the parotid, inguinal, or other glands, nor produce large carbuncles and abscesses, as the plague does: Nay more, since it is observed by the Marquis, that the difference between the contagious distemper of 1745 and 1746, and of 1747 and 1748, was, that in the former the salutary eruptions appeared, but in the latter were, as he justly apprehends, checked by the excessive cold weather; and should it appear, that by inoculation the same regular eruptive fever has been produced, with every stage, and the same symptoms as arise in the small-pox; the nature of this distemper will then be ascertained.

I shall now proceed, my Lord, to lay before your Lordship and the Society the accounts I have received relating to the infection and inoculation of the cattle, and make some observations on the experiments made at Issurtille.

So long, my Lord, as the distemper has raged in Great Britain, not one attested proof has been brought of any beast having this disease regularly more than once. I make no doubt but these creatures may be liable to eruptions of different kinds; but as all sorts of eruptions, says Dr. Mead[25], are not the small-pox, nor measles, so every pustule is not a sign of the plague. Thro’ ignorance, or fraud, persons may have been deceived in purchasing cattle, and have lost them, as well in England as in the provinces of France mentioned by the Marquis; but until a second infection be proved, the general opinion must prevail in this case, as in the small-pox: for tho’ many have insisted on the same thing with regard to the small-pox, yet a single instance, properly vouched and attested, has never been produced, either after recovery from the natural way, or from inoculation; unless what is frequently the case with nurses and others attending the small-pox, that is, pustules breaking out in their arms and face, be allowed as the signs of a second infection.

The farmers and graziers in Huntingdonshire, Cambridgeshire, Lincolnshire, Kent, and Yorkshire, from whence I have written testimonies, all agree, that they never knew of a beast having the contagious distemper more than once. In this county particularly, Mr. J. Mehew, the farmer mentioned in my Essay, has now among his stock at Godmanchester _eight cows_, which had the contagious distemper the first time it appeared in Godmanchester in 1746. It returned in 1749, 1755, and 1756; the two last not so generally over the town as the two former years. All these four times Mr. Mehew suffered by the loss of his cattle; yet those _eight cows_, which recovered in 1746, remained all the while the distemper was in the farm the three years it raged, were in the midst of the sick cattle, lay with them in the same barns, eat of the same fodder, nay of such as the distempered beasts had left and slabbered upon, drank after them, and constantly received their breath and steams, without ever being in the least affected. Is not this a convincing proof? If in general the cattle be susceptible of a second infection, how comes it, that not one of these _eight_ cows were affected?

In the years abovementioned the distemper spared no beast, but such as had recovered from that disease: and this is confirmed to me by Mr. Mehew’s father and brother, all the chief farmers of Godmanchester, and is the opinion of all the farmers and graziers in Huntingdonshire, who are so thoroughly convinced of there being no second infection, that they are always ready to give an advanced price for such cattle as have recovered from the contagious distemper.

The Rev. Mr. Scaife, assistant to the Rev. Dr. Greene, Dean of Salisbury, in his parish of Cottenham, Cambridgeshire, acquaints me, that the farmers in that neighbourhood lost, in 1746 and 1747, twelve hundred head of cattle, in 1751 four hundred and seventy; and tells me, that Mr. Ivett, Sayers, Moor, Dent, Lawson, chief farmers at Cottenham, Mr. Taylor, Sumpter, and Matthews, of his own parish of Histon, and the farmers of Wivelingham alias Willingham, unanimously declare, they never had one instance of a beast having the distemper twice.

Mr. Thorpe, a farmer and grazier near Gainsborough in Lincolnshire, has had beasts recovered from the distemper, which have herded with cattle fallen ill afterwards, and never met with a single instance of a second infection.

Mr. Lostie, an eminent surgeon at Canterbury, has inquired for me of the farmers and graziers in that part of Kent, and about Romney-Marsh; and from whence no belief of a second infection can be had.

The Rev. Dr. Fountayne, Dean of York, writes me word, that no beast has been known, in his neighbourhood, to have had the distemper twice. And several persons from that county, and others, have told me the same thing.

If the above testimony of persons of character and veracity, together with the concurrent persuasion of farmers in general, be allowed of, it must be determined, that there is no instance of a second infection. Supposing now it should appear, that this distemper is regularly, as in the natural way, tho’ in a milder manner, produced by inoculation, and that inoculation secures a beast also from a second infection; then undoubtedly inoculation will be recommendable.

The very few trials made in England, and those not with the greatest exactness or propriety, will yet serve to put this matter out of all doubt.

The Rev. Dean of York had five beasts inoculated, by means of a skein of cotton dipped in the matter, and passed thro’ a hole, like a seaton, in the dew-lap. Of these five, one cow near the time of calving died: the other four, after going thro’ the several stages of this contagious disease, recovered; two of which, being cows young with calf, did not slip their calves. All four have herded with distempered cattle a long while, and never had the least symptom of a second infection.

Mr. Bewley, a surgeon of reputation in Lincolnshire, inoculated three beasts two years old, for Mr. Wigglesworth of Manton, in the dew-lap, and with _mucus_ from the nostrils. All three had the regular symptoms of the contagious distemper in a mild manner, recovered, and tho’ they herded a twelvemonth after with five or six distempered beasts, they never were the least affected. Mr. Bewley also declared to Mr. Thorpe, that there never was one instance produced, that he knew of, of a second infection.

Since it is plain, that notwithstanding neither well-digested _pus_ was made use of, nor incisions made in the properest places, and it may be supposed few medicines were given; yet inoculation succeeded so as to bring on the distemper in a regular and mild manner, as appears by the cows with calf not slipping their calves. One may fairly conclude, that in this contagious distemper, like unto the small-pox, the practice of inoculation is not only warrantable, but much to be recommended.

But how comes it then, that neither by application, digestion, nor inoculation, the distemper was not communicated in France?

The Marquis says, that this distemper is not communicated but from one beast to another immediately. I must beg leave to say, that to my knowlege the distemper in February 1756 was carried from the farm-yard, where I visited some distempered cattle, to two other farm-yards, each at a considerable distance, without any communication of the cattle with each other, and merely by the means of servants going to and fro, or of dogs.

The experiments made on four beasts, by tying over their heads part of distempered hides, or pieces of linen and woollen cloth or silk, which had received the breath and steams of dying cattle, serve to shew, by the bullock’s forcing off the cloth tied about him, that the putrid stench was disagreeable to him; but that neither his blood, nor that of the other three beasts, was then in a state to receive the infection.

With regard to the pustules, which the Marquis relates were mixed with oats and bran, or dissolved in white wine; the distempered bile, which was mixed with milk; milk taken from diseased cows; water, in which part of a distempered hide had been steeped; and the precaution taken to force these mixtures into the paunch of calves, by means of a funnel, whose end was covered with a piece of raw distempered skin, that the beast might both swallow and suck in the disease. All these experiments could have no other effect than what followed; which was, that the acrimony of the distempered bile created first a _nausea_, and then produced a violent scouring, which killed the beast, leaving marks of its irritation on the intestines.

The practice of inoculation is but lately followed, and even now but little known, in the provinces of France. Its advantages have not long since been strangely disputed at Paris. In the case of inoculating cattle, instead of a slip of raw hide taken from a beast just dead, or putting a pustule into the neck, they should either have passed in the dewlap cotton or silk dipped in well-digested _pus_, or have inserted in proper incisions cotton-thread or silk soaked with _pus_ either on the shoulders or buttocks; the true way of inoculating in the English manner. Some persons have indeed thought, that to inoculate with the blood of the infected would answer the intention; but most of the modern practitioners chuse to depend on digested matter.

Several constitutions will not receive infection, let them be inoculated ever so judiciously. A Ranby, a Hawkins, a Middleton, and other inoculators, will tell us, that the incisions have sometimes suppurated so much, and pustules have appeared round the edges of the wound, without any other particular marks of the disease; and yet the patient has never had the small-pox afterwards. The Marquis mentions an instance somewhat of the same kind in his first Memoir, p. 147.

The examination of these very important and interesting particulars has, I observe, drawn me into a prolixity, which I fear may prove tedious to your Lordship: but should I have removed all doubts, and brought convincing proofs of the absurdity of fearing a second infection; should I have shewn inoculation to be a necessary practice, and that the contagious distemper may be communicated more ways than one; I hope your Lordship will excuse the length of this letter. I shall only add my earnest wishes, that the legislature may, by effectual means, prevent the importation of distempered cattle and hides into these kingdoms; the only means of naturalizing and perpetuating a dreadful distemper, now, thank God! much decreased among us.

I am, with the greatest respect,

My Lord,
Your Lordship’s
Most humble and most obedient Servant,
Daniel Peter Layard.

Huntingdon, 26 Nov. 1757.

LXX. _Trigonometry abridged. By the Rev._ Patrick Murdoch, _A. M. F.R.S._

[Read Feb. 2, 1758.]

THE cases in trigonometry, that can properly be called different from one another are no more than _four_; which may be resolved by _three_ general rules or theorems, expressed in the sines of arcs only; using the supplemental triangle as there is occasion.

_J. Mynde sc._]

CASE I.

_When of three given parts two stand opposite to each other, and the third stands opposite to the part required._

THEOREM I.

_The sines of the sides are proportional to the sines of angles opposite to them._

DEMONSTRATION.

Let QR (TAB. XX. _Fig._ 1.) be the base of a spherical triangle; its sides PQ, PR, whose planes cut that of the base in the diameters QC_q_, RC_r_. And if, from the angle P, the line PL is perpendicular to the plane of the base, meeting it in L, all planes drawn through PL will be perpendicular to the same, by 18. _el._ 11. Let two such planes be perpendicular likewise to the semicircles of the sides, cutting them in the straight lines PG, PH; and the plane of the base in the lines LG, LH.

Then the plane of the triangle PGL being perpendicular to the two planes, whose intersection is QGC_q_, the angles PGQ LGQ will be right angles, by 19. _el._ 11. PG likewise subtends a right angle PLG, and the angle PGL measures the inclination of the semicircle QP_q_ to the plane of the base (_def._ 6. _el._ 11.) that is (by 16 _el._ 3. and 10 _el._ 11.) it is equal to the spherical angle PQR: whence PG is to PL as the radius to the sine of PQR. The same way PL is to PH as the sine of PRQ is to the radius: and therefore, _ex æquo_. PG the sine of the side PQ is to PH the sine of PR, as the sine of PRQ is to the sine of PQR.

CASES II. _and_ III.

_When the three parts are of the same name._

And,

_When two given parts include between them a given part of a different name, the part required standing opposite to this middle part._

THEOREM II.

_Let_ S _and_ s _be the sines of two sides of a spherical triangle_, d _the sine of half the difference of the same sides_, a _the sine of half the included angle_, b _the sine of half the base; and writing unity for the radius, we have_ Ssa² + d² - b² = 0; _in which_ a _or_ b _may be made the unknown quantity, as the case requires_.

DEMONSTRATION.

Let PQR (_Fig._ 2.) be a spherical triangle, whose sides are PQ PR, the angle included QPR, the base QR, PC the semiaxis of the sphere, in which the planes of the sides intersect.

To the pole P, draw the great circle AB, cutting the sides (produced, if needful) in M and N; and thro’ Q and R, the lesser circles Q_q_, _r_R, cutting off the arcs Q_r_ _q_R equal to the difference of the sides; join MN, Q_q_, _r_R, QR, _qr_.

Then the planes of the circles described being parallel (_Theod. sphæric._ 2. 2.), and the axis PC perpendicular to them (_10. 1. of the same_), their intersections with the planes of the sides, as QT, and R_t_, will make right angles with PC; that is, QT and R_t_ are the sines (S, _s_.) of the sides PQ PR, and MC NC are whole sines. Now the isosceles triangles MCN, QT_q_, _rt_R, being manifestly similar; as also MN, the subtense of the arc which measures the angle QPR, being equal to (2_a_) twice the sine of half that angle; we shall have MN: MC∷ Q_q_: QT∷ _r_R: R_t_; or, in the notation of the theorem, Q_q_ = 2S_a_, _r_R = 2_sa_. And further, the chords Q_r_ _q_R being equal, and equally distant from the center of the sphere, as also equally inclined to the axis PC, will, if produced, meet the axis produced, in one point Z. Whence the points Q, _q_, R, _r_, are in one plane (2. _el._ 11.), and in the circumference in which that plane cuts the surface of the sphere: the quadrilateral Q_q_R_r_ is also a segment of the isosceles triangle ZQ_q_, cut off by a line parallel to its base, making the diagonals QR, _qr_, equal. And therefore, by a known property of the circle, Q_q_ × _r_R + (_q_R)² = (QR)²; which, substituting for Q_q_ and R_r_ the values found above, 2_d_ for Q_r_, 2_b_ for QR, and taking the fourth part of the whole, becomes S_sa_² + _d_² = _b_² the proposition that was to be demonstrated.

_Note_ 1. If this, or the preceding, is applied to a plane triangle,
the sines of the sides become the sides themselves; the triangle
being conceived to lie in the surface of a sphere greater than any
that can be assigned.

_Note_ 2. If the two sides are equal, _d_ vanishing, the operation
is shorter: as it likewise is when one or both sides are quadrants.

_Note_ 3. By comparing this proposition with that of the Lord
Neper[26], which makes the 39th of Keill’s Trigonometry, it appears,
that if AC, AM, are two arcs, then sin. (AC + AM) ⁄ 2 × sin. (AC -
AM) ⁄ 2 = ((_b_ + _d_) × (_b_ - _d_) =) (sin. ½ AC + sin. ½ AM) ×
(sin. ½ AC - sin. ½ AM). And in the solution of Case II. the first of
these products will be the most readily computed.

CASE IV.

_When the part required stands opposite to a part, which is likewise unknown_: Having from the _data_ of Case I. found a fourth part, let the sines of the given sides be S, _s_; those of the given angles Σ, σ; and the sines of half the unknown parts _a_ and _b_; and we shall have, as before, S_sa_² + _d_² - _b_² = 0; and if the equation of the supplements be (Σσα² + δ²) - β² = 0; then, because α² = 1 - _b_² = 1 - (S_sa_² + _d_²), and β² = 1 - _a_², substituting these values in the second equation, we get

THEOREM III.

(1 - Σσ × (1 - _d_²) - δ²) ⁄ (1 - S_s_Σσ) = _a_²; in words thus:

_Multiply the product of the sines of the two known angles by the square of the cosine of half the difference of the sides: add the square of the sine of half the difference of the angles; and divide the complement of this sum to unity, by the like complement of the product of the four sines of the sides and angles; and the square root of the quotient shall be the sine of half the unknown angle._

If we work by logarithms, the operation will not be very troublesome; but the rule needs not be used, unless when a table of the trigonometrical analogies is wanting. To supply which, the foregoing theorems will be found sufficient, and of ready use; being either committed to memory, or noted down on the blank leaf of the trigonometrical tables.

_Note_, The schemes may be better, raised in card-paper, or with bent
wires and threads.

LXXI. _An Account of Two extraordinary Cases of Gall-Stones._ By James Johnstone, _M. D. of_ Kidderminster. _Communicated by the Rev._ Charles Lyttelton, _L. L. D. Dean of_ Exeter.

_To the Rev. Dr._ Lyttelton, _Dean of_ Exeter.
[Read Feb. 9, 1758.]

Rev. Sir,

ACcording to promise I send you a short account of the two extraordinary cases we talked of, the last time I had the pleasure of seeing you at Kidderminster.

The truth of the first narrated case you are already a sufficient judge of; and if it is at all necessary to ascertain the second in like manner, I can at any time produce the poor woman and her husband before you, who will attest the truth of sufferings, which will not easily escape their memory.