Altho’ the breadth of the river at Westminster-bridge is 1220 feet;
yet, at the time of the greatest fall, there is water thro’ only the
thirteen large arches, which amount to 820 feet: to which adding the
breadth of the twelve intermediate piers, equal to 174 feet, gives 994
for the breadth of the river at that time: and the velocity of the
water just above bridge (from many experiments) is not greater than 2¼
feet _per_ second.
Here _b_ = 994; _c_ = 820; _v_ = 2¼; 4_a_ = 64,3596.
Now 25_b_ ⁄ 21_c_ = 24850 ⁄ 17220 = 1,443.
And 1,443² = 2,082; And 2,082 - 1 = 1,082 = (25_b_ ⁄ 21_c_)² - 1.
Also _vv_ = (⁹⁄₄)² = ⁸¹⁄₁₆; And _vv_ ⁄ 48 = 81 ⁄ (16 × 64,3696) =
0,0786.
Then 1,082 × 0,0786 = 0,084 feet, the fall sought.
Which is about 1 inch; and is about half an inch more than the greatest
fall observed by Mr. Labelye.
LXIV. _An Account of the Earthquake in the West Parts of_ Cornwall,
July _15th 1757. By the Rev._ William Borlase, _M. A. F.R.S.
Communicated by the Rev._ Charles Lyttelton, _LL.D. Dean of_ Exeter,
_F.R.S._
[Read Jan. 26, 1758.]
ON Friday the 15th of July, 1757. a violent shock of an earthquake was
felt in the western parts of Cornwall.
The thermometer had been higher than usual, and the weather hot, or
calm, or both, for eight days before; wind east and north-east. On the
14th in the morning, the wind shifting to the south-west, the weather
calm and hazy, there was a shower. The afternoon hazy and fair, wind
north-west. The barometer moderately high, but the mercury remarkably
variable.
On the 15th in the morning, the wind fresh at north-west, the
atmosphere hazy. Being on the sands, half a mile east of Penzance, at
10 A. M. near low water, I perceived on the surface of the sands a
very unusual inequality: for whereas there are seldom any unevennesses
there, but what are made by the rippling of the water, I found the
sands, for above 100 yards square, all full of little tubercles (each
as large as a moderate mole-hill), and in the middle a black speck on
the top, as if something had issued thence. Between these convexities
were hollow basons of an equal diameter. From one of these hollows
there issued a strong rush of water, about the bigness of a man’s
wrist, never observed there before nor since.
About a quarter after six, P. M. the sky dusky, the wind being at west
north-west, it fell quite calm. At half past six, being then in the
summer-house at Keneggy, the seat of the Hon. J. Harris, Esq; near
Penzance, with some company, we were suddenly alarmed with a rumbling
noise, as if a coach or waggon had passed near us over an uneven
pavement; but the noise was as loud in the beginning and at the end,
as in the middle; which neither the sound of thunder, or of carriages,
ever is. The sash-casements jarred: one gentleman thought his chair
moved under him; and the gardener, then in the dwelling house (about an
hundred yards distant from us) felt the stone pavement of the room he
was in move very sensibly.
In what place the shock began, and whether progressive or instantaneous
in the several places where it was felt, is uncertain, for want of
accurately determining the precise point of time in distant places.
The shock was not equally loud or violent. Its extent was from the
isles of Scilly eastward as far as Liskerd, and towards the north as
far as Camelford; thro’ which district I shall trace it, according to
the best informations I could procure.
In the island of St. Mary, Scilly, the shock was violent. On the
shores of Cornwall, opposite to Scilly (in the parish of Senan, near
the Land’s-end) the noise was heard like that of a spinning-wheel on
a chamber-floor. Below stairs there was a cry, that the house was
shaking; and the brass pans and pewter rattled one against another
in several houses in the same parish. In the adjoining parish of
St. Just, two young men being then swimming, felt a strong and very
unusual agitation of the sea. In the town of Penzance, in one house
the chamber-bell rung; in another the pewter plates, placed edgeways
on a shelf, shifted, and slid to one end of the shelf: and it was
every-where perceived more or less, according as people’s attention was
engaged.
At Trevailer, the seat of William Veale, Esquire, about two miles from
Penzance, the noise was heard, and thought at first to be thunder:
the windows shook, and the walls of the parlour, where Mr. Veale
sat, visibly moved. The jarring of the windows continued near half a
minute; but the motion of the walls not quite so long: and some masons,
being at work on a contiguous new building, the upright poles of the
scaffolds shook so violently, that, for fear of falling, they laid
hold on the walls, which, to their still greater surprize, they found
agitated in the same manner. And a person present, who was at London
at the time of the two shocks in the year 1751, thought this shock to
resemble the second, both in degree and duration[10].
At Marazion, the next market-town east of Penzance, the houses of
several persons shook to that degree, that people ran out into the
street, lest the houses should fall upon them.
In the borough of St. Ives, on the north sea, six miles north of
Penzance, the shock was so violent, that a gentleman, who had been at
Lisbon during several shocks, said, that this exceeded all he had met
with, except that on the 1st of November 1755, so fatal to that city.
At Tehidy, the seat of Francis Basset, Esq; the rooms shook, and
the grounds without doors were observed to move. The shock was felt
sensibly at Redruth, St. Columb, Bodman, _&c._ along to Camelford,
which is about 90 miles from the isle of Scilly. From Marazion eastward
it was felt at several places in like manner, as far as Lostwythyel;
but at Liskerd, about ten miles east of Lostwythyel, it was but faintly
perceived, and that by a few persons. It was still less sensible at Loo
and Plymouth, “scarcely sufficient to excite curiosity or fear”[11].
The times of its duration were various. At Keneggy we thought the noise
could not have lasted above six seconds; at Trevailer, not two miles
distant to the west, it was thought to have lasted near half a minute;
in the parish of Gwynier half a minute; at Ludgvan, three miles east
of Penzance, the noise was rather longer than half a minute; but the
shaking felt in the garden, and observed in the houses, short and
momentary. In Germo great Pinwork, seven miles east of Penzance, it
lasted only a few seconds; but in the isles of Scilly it was computed
at 40 seconds.
Thus was this earthquake felt in towns, houses, and grounds adjacent;
but still more particularly alarming in our mines, where there is less
refuge, and consequently a greater dread from the tremors of the earth.
In Carnorth adit, in the parish of St. Just, the shock was sensibly
felt 18 fathom deep; in the mine called Boscadzhill-downs, more than 30
fathom.
At Huel-rith mine, in the parish of Lannant, people saw the earth
move under them, first quick, then in a slower wavy tremor; and
the stage-boards of the little winds or shafts 20 fathom deep were
perceived to move.
In Herland mine, commonly called the Manor, in the parish of Gwynier,
the noise was heard 55 and 60 fathom deep, as if a studdle[12] had
broke, and the deads[13] were set a running. It was nothing like the
noise of thunder.
In Chace-water mine the same noise was heard, at least 70 fathom under
the surface.
At Huel-rith mine, near Godolphin, the noise was seemingly underneath.
I felt (says the director of the mine) the earth move under me with a
prodigious swift, and apparently horizontal tremor: its continuance was
but for a few seconds of time, not like thunder, but rather a dull
rumbling even sound, like deads running under ground. In the smith’s
shop the window-leaves shook, and the slating of the house cracked.
The whim-house shook so terribly, that a man there at work ran out of
it, concluding it to be falling. Several persons then in the mine,
working 60 fathom deep, thought they found the earth about them to
move, and heard an uncommon noise: some heard the noise, and felt no
tremor; others, working in a mine adjoining called Huel-breag, were
so frightened, that they called to their companions above to be drawn
up from the bottoms. Their moor-house was shaken, and the padlock of
their candle-chest was heard to strike against the staples. To shew,
that this noise proceeded from below, and not from any concussion in
the atmosphere above, this very intelligent captain of the mine[14]
observes, from his own experience, that thunder was never known to
affect the air at 60 fathoms deep, even in a single shaft pierced into
the hardest stone; much less could it continue the sound thro’ such
workings as there are in this mine, impeded in all parts with deads,
great quantities of timber, various noises, such as the rattling of
chains, friction of wheels and ropes, and dashing of waters; all which
must contribute to break the vibrations of the air as they descend: and
I intirely agree with this gentleman’s conclusion, that thunder, or any
other noises from above in the atmosphere, could not be heard at half
the depth of this mine. This therefore could be no other than a real
tremor of the earth, attended with a noise, owing to a current of air
and vapour proceeding upwards from the earth.
I do not hear of any person in those parts, who was so fortunate as to
be near any pool or lake, and had recollection enough to attend to the
motion of the waters; but it may be taken for granted, that during the
tremors of the earth the fluids must be more affected than the solids:
nay, the waters will apparently be agitated, when there is no motion
of the earth perceptible, as was the case of our ponds and lake-waters
in most parts of Britain on the 1st of November 1755. Whence this
happens is difficult to say: whether the earth’s bosom undergoes at
such times a kind of respiration, and alternately emits and withdraws
a vapour thro’ its most porous parts sufficient to agitate the waters,
yet not sufficient to shake the earth; or whether the earth, during the
agitation of the waters, does rock and vacillate, tho’ not so as to be
sensible to man; is what I shall leave to future inquiry.
Earthquakes are very rare in Cornwall. This was but of short duration,
and did no harm any-where, as far as I can learn; and it is to be hoped
not the sooner forgotten for that reason; but rather remembered with
all the impressions of gratitude suitable to an incident so alarming
and dangerous, and yet so inoffensive.
LXV. _Some Observations upon the Sleep of Plants; and an Account
of that Faculty, which_ Linnæus _calls_ Vigiliæ Florum; _with an
Enumeration of several Plants, which are subject to that Law.
Communicated to_ Wm. Watson, _M. D. F.R.S. by Mr._ Richard Pultney _of_
Leicester.
[Read Jan. 26, 1758.]
ACosta and Prosper Alpinus, who both wrote near the conclusion of the
XVIth century, are, I believe, the first, who recorded that nocturnal
change in the leaves of plants, which has since been called _somnus_.
It is an observation indeed as old as Pliny’s time, that the leaves of
trefoil assume an erect situation[15] upon the coming of storms. The
same is observable of our wood-sorrel; and Linnæus adds, of almost all
plants with declinated stamina[16]. In the _Trifolium pratense album
C. B._ or common white-flowered meadow trefoil, it is so obvious, that
the common people in Sweden remark, and prognosticate the coming of
tempests and rain from it.
The examples of sleeping plants instanced by Alpinus are but few.
That author says, it was common to several Egyptian species[17];
but specifies only the Acaciæ, Abrus, Absus, Sesban, and the
Tamarindtree. Cornutus some time afterwards remarked this property
in the Pseudo-acacia Americana. From that time it has remained almost
unnoticed, till Linnæus, ever attentive to nature’s works, discovered
that the same affair was transacted in many other plants; and his
observations have furnished us with numerous and obvious examples
thereof. Mr. Miller mentions it in the _Medicago arborea Lin. Sp. Pl.
778_. and we may add to the list two other common plants not mentioned
by Linnæus: these are the _Phaseolus vulgaris_, common kidney-bean;
and the _Trifolium pratense purpureum majus_, or clover-grass: in both
which this nocturnal change is remarkably displayed. Doubtless the same
property exists in numberless other species; and future observation
will very probably confirm Dr. Hill’s sentiment, that no “plant or tree
is wholly unaffected by it.”
It is now more than twenty years since Linnæus first attended to this
quality in plants. In his _Flora Lapponica_, when speaking of the
_Trifolium pratense album_, as above-mentioned, he remarks, that the
leaves of the Mimosa, Cassia, Bauhinia, Parkinsonia, Guilandina, and
others in affinity with them, were subject to this change in the night
time: and he had then carried his observations so far, as to find, that
heat and cold were not the cause of this quality; since they were alike
influenced by it when placed in stoves, where the temperature of the
air was always the same.
The merit of reviving this subject is therefore due to the illustrious
Swede; and the naturalist is greatly indebted to him for so far
extending his observations thereon.
The subject of the _somnus plantarum_ cannot but be highly entertaining
to the lovers of natural knowlege: and such, I apprehend, cannot be
less entertained with that faculty, which Linnæus calls _vigiliæ
florum_; of which we shall give a brief account.
Previous to our explanation of this affair it is proper to observe,
that the flowers of most plants, after they are once opened, continue
so night and day, until they drop off, or die away. Several others,
which shut in the night-time, open in the morning either sooner or
later, according to their respective situation in the sun or shade,
or as they are influenced by the manifest changes of the atmosphere.
There are however another class of flowers, which make the subject of
these observations, which observe a more constant and uniform law in
this particular. These open and shut duly and constantly at certain and
determinate hours, exclusive of any manifest changes in the atmosphere;
and this with so little variation in point of time, as to render the
phænomenon well worth the observation of all, whose taste leads them
this way.
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.
[Illustration: _Philos. Trans. Vol. L._ TAB. XIX. _p. 525_.
_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.