298 Effects of the ivhite Oxide of Bismuth, &c. 



hira, and, when necessary, has taken a small quantity in a 

 tea-spoon, without weighing it, every evening; for several nights. 

 Age, and its attendant infirmities, are now, I regret to state, 

 pressing upon him, as society will be deprived of one of its 

 most useful and valuable members. His old grievance is occa- 

 sionally troublesome -with the other symptoms of declining 

 years ; and the probability is, that some orgairic disease exists 

 about the stomach, most likely towards its pyloric orifice, the 

 progress of which has been materially impeded, with always a 

 great diminution, and occasionally a total loss, of pain for a 

 considerable space of time. His comforts have, therefore, been 

 greatly increased, and the approach of the infirmities of age 

 procrastinated by the use of the bismuth. It is here worthy of 

 remark, that the long-continued use of this medicine is pro- 

 ductive of no bad consequences, as is the case with some 

 remedies which produce temporary and beneficial effect, but 

 whose continued exhibition becomes injurious to health. Care 

 should be taken to have the white oxide of bismuth quite pure, 

 as it is apt to be mixed with noxious ingredients in its native 

 state before it is reduced to an oxide. 



Queen Street, May Fair, 

 Dec. 18, 1819. 



Art. XIV. On a new Hi/grometer, ivhich measures the Force 

 and Weight of aqueous Vapour in the Atmosphere, and 

 the corresponding Degree of Evaporation. By J . F. Daniell, 

 Esq. F.R.S. and M.R.I. 



In the year 1812, my attention having been accidentally di- 

 rected to the deposition of moisture which takes place upon 

 certain bodies, when brought into an atmosphere which is 

 warmer than themselves, the idea occurred to me, that the fact 

 was connected with meteorological phenomena ; and that expe- 

 riments founded upon it, might be devised to elucidate the re- 

 lation of air to vapour. 1 shortly after applied myself seriously 

 to the inquiry, and was soon satisfied that I had not been de- 

 ceived in my conjecture. The maimer in which I proceeded at 



