On the Bile of a Snake cured Ly Fdat'de Alkali. ie5 



firm vours in relation to the induction that friction is an 

 imii'orni resistance, at least \v litre the rubl/mg surface 

 moves with a velocity of from 9 inches to 4 feet per se- 

 cond, and that in favourable cases it docs not exceed t'lie 

 J'vrlieth part of the pressure or weight which occasions it. 



The pivots of the spindles were steeled, ran in brasses, 

 which togetlicr might be seven or eight inches long (say 

 3Jr or 4 inches each), and were lubricated with mutton suet 

 laid against the pivots ; and as a very gentle heat was ex- 

 cited bv the friction the suet was softened, but by no njcans 

 in a fluid or even semi-fluid state. The necks of the spindle 

 had this kind of temperature when I made the experiments, 

 the stone having been at its usual work several hours be- 

 fore I began them; and I, being desirous of taking them 

 in their common state of work, made no alteration w hat- 

 ever in this respect. 



When tliese experiments were made (June 1797) I hoped 

 that some opportunity would soon occur of making further 

 ones on the same subject in the same manner, in which I 

 misht balance the stone and prepare every circumstance 

 wiTh due care : but as no such opportunity has since oc- 

 curred, I am induced to present this account to you, sir, 

 groiuidcd on the few experiments as they were made. 

 I am, sir, with great respect. 



Your most obliged servant, 



John Southern* 



These experiments are the more worthy of notice, as 

 Ihcy were made on actual and lieavy machinery, with con- 

 siderable variation of velocity of the rubbing surface, and 

 great spaces were rubbed over : the weight which caused 

 ihe friction being upwards of 33cwt., the velocity of the 

 rubbing surfaces 4 feet ])er second at the greatest, and the 

 Iv ngth of surface rubbed over more than 1000 feet in ea,cb 

 of Lwo experiments, and not much short of that in the 

 other. J. S. 



August 4, 1803. 



WI. On the Bite of a Snake cured Inj Volatile Alkali. Bt/ 

 David Ramsay, M. D. 



J\. xuMHER of extraordinary cures performed within the 

 last twenty years, in the East Indies, on persons bitten by 

 snakes, liave been conuiumicaled to the public in .loncs's 

 Asiatic Hesearches. These were efl'ectcd b\- can de luce, or 



bv 



