310 



THE POPULAR SCIEN^CE MONTHLY. 



the compass ; tlie other portion of the deflection being due to the 

 hard iron (that is, the semicircular deviation), a numher of steel 

 bar-magnets, M, are placed in a disk, which is turned to the requi- 

 site angle and then raised or lowered, until the needle returns to 

 the magnetic meridian N 8. The magnet H, to nullify the heel- 

 ing deviation, is placed at a predetermined distance vertically be- 

 low the compass-pivot. 



In considerable changes of naagnetic latitude the magnets have 

 to be slightly moved to counterbalance the altered condition of the 

 deviations, and sometimes, also, to correspond to a partial loss of 

 power in the magnets themselves. 



HOUSE-DRAINAGE FROM VARIOUS POINTS OF VIEW. 



By JOHN S. BILLINGS, M. D., 



SURGEON, TJMITED STATES AEMY, 



IN the year 1596 there was published in London a pamphlet en- 

 titled " A new discourse of a stale subject ; called the Meta- 

 morphosis of Ajax. Written by Misacmos," which was followed 

 in the same year by a second pamphlet entitled "An Anatomy of 

 the Metamorpho-sed Ajax, wherein, by a tripartite method, is 

 plainly, openly and demonstratively declared, explained and 

 eliquidated by Pen, Plot, and Precept, how unsavory j^laces may 

 be made sweet, noisome places made wholesome, filthy places 

 made cleanly. Published for the common benefit of builders, 

 housekeepers, and house owners, by T. C, traveller, apprentise in 

 poetry, practiser in music," etc. 



The titles of these little books were in the style of the age in 

 which they appeared ; but the contents were something new, for 

 they contain the first description and illustrations of a water- 

 closet which had appeared since the days of old Rome. They con- 

 tain a good deal more, it is true ; for the author. Sir John Har- 

 rington, made them the medium of a Rabelaisian satire upon 

 things in general, and his own times in particular, which was of 

 such a character that license to print was refused, and Queen 

 Elizabeth, who was not prudish, forbade the author from appear- 

 ing at court. His reasons for his device are interesting : " For 

 when I have found, not only in mine own poor confused cottage, 

 but even in the goodliest and stateliest palaces of this realm, not- 

 withstanding all our provisions of vaults, of sluices, of grates, of 

 pains of poor folks in sweeping and scouring, yet still this same 

 whoreson saucy stink, though he were commanded on pain of 

 death not to come within the gates yet would prease to the cham- 

 bers ; I began to conceive such a malice against all the race of 



