PROGNOSTICS Of THE. WEATHER. W 



that is, when a large body of air, at above 32°, has gone to 

 the northward of thefe iilands. If the fnow lie to any depth, 

 I imagine this to be a fign of the preponderance of an under* 

 current from the fame quarter, which will generally produce v 

 a froil: of fome continuance, as well as fnow in the tirft in- 

 fiance. Where a S. or S. W. wind prevails, the fnow will 

 change into rain, and not lie to any depth. 



I abridge this precarious fpeculation, (which it would be Query, 

 eafy to extend into a pamphlet) and fupprefs many explana- 

 tions, in order merely to propofe, as a query, Whether a fnow t 

 like that which now covers the earth, be not always actually the 

 forerunner of afroji of fome days, and generally of fome weeks, 

 continuance ? 



During the prefent week we had the curious phenomenon On the inter- 

 ofa thaw for (I believe) near 48 hours, with the wind at mediatc **** 

 N. E. which no doubt arofe from a considerable upper cur- 

 rent from the contrary quarter, at no great elevation. But the 

 quantity of fnow, already on the ground, made me venture 

 repeatedly to fay, that the weather would not foon change to 

 a compleat thaw. 



In a fliort time I intend to put to prefs a report of the ope- Medical effefls 

 rations at the pneumatic inftitution here. The nitrous oxide °^ c ££ ou ' 

 has juftified the expectation, originally formed of its powers in 

 palfy, and alfo as a rejiorative, if I may employ this abufed 

 word, to certain conflitutions uniformly broken down, and has 

 proved an admirable foother of the fufferings of old age. We 

 (I fpeak of myfelf and other perfons, concerned at the infti- 

 tution) have frequently witnefTed in new patients the tempo- 

 rary reftitution of the voluntary power over a perfectly para- 

 lytic limb during the act of inhalation. This power has be- 

 come permanent afterwards in fome inftances, but not always, 

 though perhaps not from want of efficacy in the air. It has 

 alfo been difcovered here, that oxigen gas, Tong inhaled, 

 affects the growth and the internal parts, efpecially the bones, 

 in a very extraordinary manner. The effe6t on the bones I 

 had anticipated, and the altered growth, feems a natural 

 confequence. Some accurate drawings by Mr. King will 

 ferve to exhibit thefe effects. 



H 2 We 



