1 1753. PROCEEDINGS of the POLITICAL CLUB, &c. the electors to chufe that prince for 63 alone as little able to withstand the influence of France in time of peace, as her power in time of war. We muft give them our aflidance in time of peace as well as war, if we are refolved to preferve a balance of any forcible oppofition to their choice A power in Europe, and confequently I think, Sir, it is unanimoufly our own independency. How are In this light, Sir, I confider the treaty and the fubfidy now under confideration, and in this light I muft look upon it as a most prudent Dftep, whether we fucceed or not in the defign of getting the archduke Jofeph cholen king of the Romans during the life of his father, the prefent emperor. I fhould be glad that a balance of power could be preferved in Europe without our £ intermeddling in the affair, or being at any expence upon that account; but whilt France is at a great expence in time of peace as well as war, for carrying on her ambitious defign of overturning that balance, and rendering herself the fole arbitrefs of all the attains of Europe, we must be at fome expence in time of peace as well as war, in order to defeat that defign. As her defign is contrary to the real and remote intereft of all the princes of Europe, however much fome of them may be blinded by an imaginary and immedi te terelt, the muft carry it on with great art, and her expence must always vally exceed any expence we may mag occation G to be at; but ftill we must be at fome, out of our power to defend ourselves either by fea or land. For this reafon, Sir, whilft the feveral branches of the house of Bourbon continue to be fo united as they feem to be at prefent, and whilst the two chief branches of that house are attempting to make fuch incroachments upon us, I think we fhould take care not to be obliged to ftand alone in a war against the united power of that house; and this we can only do by preferving the power of the houfe of Auftria, by continuing that house in the poffeffion not only of all its prefent dominions, but alfo of the imperial diadem, and by cultivating as much as poffible a cordial union between the head and the feveral members of the Germanick body. This union it has always been the bufinefs of France to interrupt : For this purpose she has omitted no art, fhe has fpared no expence ; and on this account fhe is now more diligent, and at a greater expence, than the ever was heretofore. Is this therefore a time for us to betake ourselves to our own bottom, or to grudge the expence of two or three fmall fubfidies, when the fate of Europe, and confequently of this nation, hangs upon the fingle thread of the prefent emperor's life; when it is almost certain that this fate would be determined against us, if we do not take care to attach to the house of Auftria as many of the princes of the empire, as we can poffibly prevail with to embark in that caufe? D This, Sir, the houfe of Auftria are fully fenfible of, and therefore, C if we should ever be attacked by France or Spain, or by both at once, we may depend upon it, that at our defire the whole power of that house, and of all the allies that either of us could engage, would be employed in attackiug France, or the Spanish branches of the house of Bourbon fettled in Italy, at land; and whilft this continues to be the cafe, we have no occafion to be afraid of being attacked, not even by all the branches of the house of Bourbon together; for when they are E engaged in a heavy war at land, it will be easy for us to encounter them all together at fea. But I confefs, I have not fuch an opinion even of our naval ftrength, as to imagine that we should be able to carry on with fuccefs a naval war F against the united force of the house of Bourbon, if their force were no way diverted by a land war. And let us confider, Sir, that if they should, by any accidental misfortune happening to us, become fuperior to us but for one month or G two at fea, we fhould be undone; because in that time, France would pour in her numerous armies upon us, and by that means put it 3 This is fo evident, Sir, and fo obvious to every gentleman who confiders the prefent circumftances of Europe, that I was furprised to hear the least objection made to the treaty or fubfidy now under confideration; and I am perfuaded, that the oppofition arifes from gentlemens not duly attending to the great change that has been occafion ed in the state of affairs in Europe, by the whole Spanish monarchy's being 1753. Of LIME-WATER's preventing Putrefaction. being brought under the dominion of a Whilft branch of the houfe of Bourbon. that monarchy was under the dominion of a branch of the house of Auftria, that houfe was of itfelf a match for the houfe of Bourbon; and therefore it was not neceflary for this nation, or any of the other powers of Europe, to give themfelves much trouble about the quarrels between thefe two houfes; but the Auftrian scale is now become fo light, and the other fo heavy, that other ftates, and in par ticular this nation, must upon every occafion throw themfelves into the former; and the more of the ftates of Europe we can get to join with us in doing fo, the lefs of our own weight will it be necessary for us to throw in; confequently, this treaty, with the fubfidy attending it, I must look on as a piece of the greatest œconomy, instead of being a piece of extravagance. It is a prefent expence of a few thoufands, which may hereafter fave us the expending of millions; for which reason I shall most heartily give it my concurrence. [This JOURNAL to be continued in our next.] 65 he mixed fome calx ex conchis marinis. But at the fame time he notices, that they do not, like other falts, diffolve in water. Nam quemadmodum (fays lie) diverfæ particulæ falis, quæ ex cineribus conficiuntur, pleræque omnes minimo bumore dissolvuntur, aut in aquofam commutantur fubftantiam, Afic ha particula falis,, ex calce provenientes, e contrario in fummo humore durantur five rigefcunt, adeo ut eafdem rurfus in aquofi converti humorem nunquam viderim. B September the 7th I began the fame experiment on fish, putting into each of the phials a dram weight of a fresh haddock; there being in the one five ounces of hell lime-water, and as much fountain-water in the other. The fountainwater ftunk in two days time; but the lime-water fmelled only of fresh fish, and continued fo to do till January 1752, when it was taken out as fweet as ever; while that in the common water was putrid enough, as may eafily be imagined. I mixed one part of filtered ten months Cold herring-brine, which was of a deep reddish brown colour, and very tranfparent, with two parts of lime water. The mixture became immediately white and turbid, without any obfervable change of fmeli. But on adding two parts more of lime-water, it fmelled of the fpirit of fal ammoniac. The mixture precipitated a white mucous fubftance, and became as clear as water above : And the volatile alcali being driven off, it fmelled only of well and recently cured herrings. Old falted beef brine, treated the fame way, gave the very fame pha The following Experiments lately published at L IME-WATER, fays this ingenious phyfician, prevents, or long protracts the putrefaction of animal fubftances. The 22d January 1752, having in one phial ftone lime-water, and in another fountain-water, I put into each a little bit of fresh beef, and corked them up. I did not draw the corks till the ift of February, when the fountain-water was become very fœtid, but the lime-water not in the leaft tainted. And thus it continued till the ift of May, when I cook both out. That in the fountain water was corrupted and abominably foetid; but the other quite found, and not at all putrid, more than when put into the lime-water. There were adhering to the fides of this lime-water phial, numerous little cryftalline bodies formerly defcribed. Which are very different from what Leeuwenhoek calls a falt, in his Obfervationes de figuris falis, p. 137-143 Where he gives the figures of fome fmall particles, of the lime probably, which his glaffes difcovered, both in water wherein he put fome calx lapidea quæ Lesdio advebitur; and alfo water with which February, 1753. F G nomena. And again, in anfwer to another phyfician upon the fame fubject, he fays, Although by renewing the lime-water on it, I believe flesh might be preferved from corruption, I do not know how long ; and the fame lime-water I found prevented corruption more than three months; yet it is not to be expected, that it would never become foetid, But that "when the putrefaction began, it became much more offenfive in this than in common: water," is what I never obferved, but rather the contrary, in every experiment I made and particularly in the following April 28, more tubid, fill foetid, mouldy fpots go e. May 1, it smelled lefs fœtidly, and more of camomile; the fmell of the flowers much leffening, and fometimes as it were overcoming the factor. After five or fix weeks, the fcent became more difagreeable; the infufion precipitated a good deal of flimy ftuf, but con- A tinued turbid. After they had flood macerating for fixty-eight days, I took both out. That which was in the infufion, was of a dark brown colour, very tender and fætid; neither colour, fmell, taite, nor confiitence of falmon remaining Whereas the piece that was in the lime-water, was quite found, retaining its proper tafte, fmell, confiftence, and colour; being ftill reddish, and only a little blanched, but not in the leaft foetid. When I had kept both liquors about fix weeks longer, and the lime-water began to ftink, I filtered both; and obferved, that the putrefaction of the infufion was much more offenfive than that of the lime-water. And having mixed one part C of this fætid lime water with two parts of fresh lime-water, obferved alfo, though the mixture was in a clofe corked phial, that in a day's time it loft its fœtor, retaining only a fifhy fmell, which fome compared to that of crabs, others to that of lobiters. If therefore lime water is more antifeptic than a ftrong infufion of camomile flowers, I leave it to my friend Dweckhe town in papers then published to be hoped, the company will order the to be made this next feason. And as the game laws are now carried fo ftriatly into execution, that thofe whofe eftates are at a distance from London, can never have any fresh game at their table, it would be worth their while to try this experiment; for if it holds, we might then have all forts of game fent fresh to London, even from Ireland and the northernmost parts of Scotland. To which we fhall add the advantage of our having fresh falmon, fresh trout, &c. at a very moderate price here at London. To the AUTHOR of the LONDON B MAGAZINE. to judge, whether it makes only "fome fmail refiftance to putrefaction." I never thought the virtues of kimewater confifted only in correcting putrefaction; but I was very glad to find that it had that quality; and confequently was perfectly fafe in fuch cafes, wherein otherwife it might have been E hurtful, and was generally reckoned fo. And it gave me great pleafure to obferve, that a fmall quantity of quick-lime could prevent the corruption of a great deal of common water; and confequently be fignally useful to mariners in long voyages, by contributing feveral ways to the health of that valuable part of mankind, on which the profperity of the natien not a little depends, and for whofe fake chiefly I have published this paper. Befides what the author has obferved, with respect to the preferving of common water on board our hips, thefe expertments deferve our attention, particularly at prefent, on two other accounts; for if herrings could be preferved fresh for five or fix weeks, without altering their delicious tafte or high flavour, it would be a great advantage to our herring fishery; and as the neceffary experiments may be made at fo fmall an expence, it is F SIR, IT is to be wished, that we had fome publick paper of entertainment, that, free from politicks and party, might animadvert upon the irregularities, which from time to time are apt to creep into the manners of a people; I remember the days of good queen Anne, when I was more in the great world than I have been of late: I have heard it obferved then, as well as often fince, that the politencfs, which diftinguished that particular æra, was in a great measure owing to the genteel raillery, which was conveyed weekly under the titles of Tatlers and Spectators; but as there are no checks of that kind now, every perfon, so difpofed, plays the fool without fear or wit. Gaming, which at beft can produce no good confequences, is of late run into fuch a vice, that the happiness of the married ftate is in a great measure deftroyed by it; the care of the family, and the education of the children while they are young, which is the province of the mother, are in hundreds of inftances intirely given up and facrificed to a game at cards. There is no moderation in the purfuit of this pleasure, or let me call it by its proper name, of this vice. Thofe riotous meetings, nor improperly called routs, were first begun by people of quality. It is ftrange, that any thing, that has fuch an affinity to mobbing, fhould take its rife among thofe, from whom we should expect a better taste. But fee the force of bad example, and how fond people are of imitating their betters in their worft fafhions. Thefe Grouts have been spreading lower and lower, till now they are come fo low as among the bucaneers: People of this denomination have their routs, but with fome improvements; for out of a particular ambition to affront religion and decency, * See our Magazine for laft Year, p. 463, 595. 2. 158. Se our Magazine for lat Yar 1753. FORMATION of the human FCTUS. decency, they hold them on the Sabbath day. Perhaps nothing could happen fo effectually to put an end to them among people of quality as this, which looks like a burlefque upon routs ; I wish it may, but if they continue to fpread among the lower people, they will have several bad effects. I am an inhabitant of a quarter of To the AUTHOR of the LONDON SIR, H AVING already given you the history of the formation of a chick in the egg, and the various degrees by which it arrives at perfection *, I shall next give you from the fame author, the hiftory of the formation of the human fætus in the womb, as far as it can be col A B 67 Seven days after the conception, we may with the naked eye difcover the fift lineaments of the foetus, but as yet without any form. At the end of these feven days we can perceive only what may be feen in an egg at the end of 24 hours of incubation, a little lump of jelly almost tranfparent, which has already fome folidity, and in which we may diftinguish the head and the trunk, as it is of an oblong form, and the upper part, which reprefents the trunk, is longer and smaller than the lower. We likewife fee fome fmall fibres like a bird's tuft, which grow out from the middle of the body of the foetus, and end at that membrane in which it is inclofed, together with the liquor that furrounds it. These fibres afterwards form the umbilical veffel or navel-ftring. A fortnight after conception, we begin to diftinguish the head, and to discover the moft remarkable features of the face: The nofe is as yet but like a little prominent C thread, and perdendicular to that line which indicates the feparation of the lips. We may perceive two little black points in the place of the eyes, and two little holes in that of the ears: The body of the fetus has also grown a little bigger, and on the two fides of the upper part of the trunk, and at the bottom of the lower part, we fee little protu lected from the observations of anatemifts. D berances, which are the firft traces of E Our author, the learned Buffon, begins with obferving, that no fuch exact history can be given of the formation of the human foetus in the womb, as of the formation of a chick in the egg, becaufe opportunities for obfervation feldom occur, therefore we can know no more of it than what may be gathered from the writings of anatomifts, furgeons, and midwives; from which he tells us, chat in three or four days after conception, there appears to be in the matrix or womb an oval bubble, whofe longeft diameter is fix lines in length, and its shorteft four. This bubble is formed by a membrane which is extremely fine, and contains a limpid liquor very much refembling the white of an egg. In this liquor there may already be perceived a few small fibres united together, which are the first sketches of the fœtus; and npon the furface of this bubble we fee fpread, a net of fmall fibres which covers one half of this bubble from one end of the long axis as far as the middle of G the bubble, that is to fay, as far as the circle fuppofed to be formed by a revolution of the fhort axis. Thefe are the first traces of the placenta. the legs and arms, and the length of the whole body is then about five lines. A week afterwards, that is to fay, at the end of three weeks, the body of the foetus has not grown but about a line longer, but the arms and legs, the hands and feet are apparent: The growth of the arms is quicker than that of the legs, and the fingers are feparated before the toes. At the fame time the internal organization of the foetus begins to he fenfible: The bones are reprefented by little threads as fine as hairs, and the ribs may be diftinguished, which are as yet but like threads regularly 'difpofed upon each fide of the fpine. The arms, the legs, the fingers and toes, are alfo reprefented by the fame fort of threads. In a month's time the foetus is above an inch in length: In the fituation which it naturally takes amidst the liquor with which it is furrounded, it is a little bent: The membrane which contains the whole is increafed both in bigness and thickness: The whole mafs is fill of an oval figure; and now its longest diameter is about an inch and a half, and its shortest about an inch and a quarter. The human fhape of the fetus is no longer doubtful I 2 * See our Magazine for last year, p. 458. A line in measure is the 12th part of an inch. |