ec6 Pel tabu Ele8rical Mtichint. 



for the convenience of taking the temperature of fmall quantities, or of mixtures in which 



mineral acids form a part. 



N. B. Thcfe vefil-ls are reprefeiued as in glafs, that being undoubtedly fitted for pur- 

 pofes in which corrofive acids are to be ufed. 



A 



IV. 



The BefcripUon ef a New Portable EMrical Machine. Invented by the Rev. If. Ps.lxsOXy 



of Lincoln. 



N electrical machine fufliciently portable, and at the fame time poflVning power ade- 

 quate to all the purpcfcs of medical ele<Slricity, has long been a dcfideratum among thofc 

 profefEonal gentlemen who attend the infirm, and are pcrfuaded tliat eledrictiy has a 

 fanative influence in ninnv diforders of the human body. The elcdrophore and medical- 

 bottle, as alfo the prepared ribbon and apparatus attached thereto, do both pofltfs the for- 

 mer property, but are found to be greatly deficient in the latter. Mr. Colman *, in his inge • 

 nious treatife on the means proper to be ufed for reRoring fufpcndcd rcfpiration, propofes 

 an eleftrical machine (fuch as is both portable, and likewife pofledcs power fufficient to 

 give a (hock of 35 inches of coated furface at about a quarter of an inch (Inking diftance)' 

 to conftitute one important article of his improved apparatus for the recovery of perfons 

 apparently drowned or fuffbcated -, but feems to lament that we have no machine anfwer- 

 ing fuch a defcription. A confideration of fuch magnitude as the want of an inftrument 

 •which promifes to benefit fociety in fo critical a moment as is that of the apparent extinSion 

 cf the vital principle., has turned the mind of the writer of this article frequently upon the 

 fubje£l, as having fome relation to his clerical fun£lion : he has in theory projected various 

 conftruftioas of a portable machine, which mature confideration convinced him would bo 

 objetlionable in praclice. For to anfwer all the purpofes requiftte for conltituting an clcc- 

 ti-ical machine fuitable for Hr. Colman's purpofe, it appears neceffiry not only that it have 

 the two deGred properties of portability and power, but alfo that its power be guarded fo 

 as i*)t to be annihilated by the moifture when ufed in the open air ; that it be capable of 

 being ufed without a table or {land in cafes of necefiity ; that it be rendered fit for ufe- 

 upon the (horteft notice ; that when ufed it charge the coated furface without confidcrablo 

 lofs of time ; and laftly, that it be not liable to be eafily broken. 



The writer, however, flatters himfelf he has at length hit upon a conflruiflion which 

 comprehends all thefe properties, and which he recommends to the notice of inftrument- 

 makers, from a conviiflion that it is pra£licable. Indeed he has conftrudled more than one 

 machine, which anfwer his molt fanguinc expe^aiion, and which therefore he will the 

 more circumftantially dcfcribe. 



rig. I. Plate XXI. rcpreftnts a view of the machine with the eye placed direifHy over if 

 at a fmall diftance ; A B C D is a fmall mahogany box 9x by 75- inches within, and 6 Inches 



* As it is two yc>rs fincc I perufcd this treailTc, and Ihavc not fcin it fincc, I cannot be certain 0/ tl>c 

 (jtaft vo-'ds otitic title, out whether tiic name U Colmwi or Coleman. W. T- 



drep,. 



