SWIMMING. 449 



direction from the hind-leg ; and the fore-leg is rapidly advanced to 

 keep the vertical line within the base of sustentation, and thus prevent 

 the body from falling. There is, consequently, in running, a moment 

 in which the body is suspended in the air. 



d. Swimming. 



Although M. Magendie 1 affirms that the human body is, in general, 

 specifically heavier than water; and that consequently, if left to itself 

 in a considerable quantity of that fluid, it would sink to its lowest por- 

 tion, the question respecting its specific gravity has not been rigorously 

 determined; and many eminent practical philosophers have even held 

 an opinion the reverse of that of Magendie. Borelli 2 accords with 

 him; and a writer of a later period, Mr. Robertson, 3 who details a set 

 of experiments on this subject, seems to have originally coincided with 

 him also. He weighed, however, ten different individuals in water, 

 comparing the weight with that of the fluid displaced by their bodies; 

 and he affirms, that, with the exception of two, every man was lighter 

 than his equal bulk of water, and much more so than his equal bulk of 

 sea water; "consequently," he says, "could persons, who fall into 

 water, have presence of mind enough to avoid the fright usual on such 

 accidents, many might be preserved from drowning." In corrobora- 

 tion of this inference, Mr. Robertson relates a circumstance connected 

 with his own personal knowledge. A young gentleman, thirteen years 

 of age, little acquainted with swimming, fell overboard from a vessel 

 in a stormy sea; but having had presence of mind enough to turn im- 

 mediately upon his back, he remained a full half hour, quietly floating 

 on the surface of the water, until a boat was lowered from the vessel. 

 He had used the precaution to retain his breath whenever a wave broke 

 over him, until he again emerged. 



A case is given in the Rev. Mr. Maude's Visit to Niagara, in 1803, 

 which is corroborative of Mr. Robertson's view of this matter. The 

 author was on board a sloop on Lake Champlain, when a boy, named 

 Catlin, who was on deck cutting bread and cheese with a knife, was 

 knocked overboard by the captain jibbing the boom. He missed catch- 

 ing hold of the canoe, which was dragging astern, and an attempt of 

 Mr. Maude's servant to untie or cut the rope, which fastened it, that 

 it might drift to his assistance, also failed. Catlin was known to be 

 unable to swim. It was in the night and very dark, and it was with 

 difficulty that the captain, who considered that there was no hope of 

 saving his life, was at last prevailed upon to go in the canoe to attempt 

 it. He succeeded, however, in picking the boy up, and brought him 

 on board again in about a quarter of an hour. "Catlin's relation," 

 proceeds Mr. Maude, "almost exceeds probability. He had heard my 

 exclamation to seize the canoe, which he was on the point of doing, 

 when it gave a sudden swing and baffled him; but, finding he could 

 support his head above water, he dismissed all fear, expecting that the 

 canoe would come every moment to his assistance. When he no longer 



1 Precis Elementaire, i. 333. a De Motu Animalium, c. 23, de Natat. Prop., 217. 



3 Philos. Transact., vol. 1. ; also, Dr. Dalton, in Manchester Memoirs, vol. x. 



VOL. i. 29 



