DIS 



DIS 



19 supposed to be divided into twelve 

 equal parts, called digits : in a total eclipse 

 of the luminaries, the whole disc is ob- 

 scured ; in a partial eclipse, only a part 

 thereof. 



DISCORD, in music, a dissonant and in- 

 harmonious combination of sounds, so 

 called in opposition to the concord. 

 Among various other discords are those 

 formed by the union of the fifth with the 

 sixth, the fourth with the fifth, the se- 

 venth with the eighth, and the third with 

 the ninth and seventh. 



DISCOUNT, a compensation for the 

 advance of money which is not due till 

 ^fter a certain period. The person ad- 

 vancing the money, had he retained it, 

 might have made in the given time a cer- 

 tain rate of interest ; therefore, if he ad- 

 vances it for the use of another, it is equi- 

 table that he should be allowed the same 

 gain as he would have made by retaining 

 it in his own hands during the time for 

 which it is^lent. Thus, if a person is en- 

 titled to luOL at the end of a year, and 

 has occasion for the money immediately, 

 the sum that ought to be given as an 

 equivalent thereto, allowing 5 per cent, 

 interest, is 95*. 4*. 9$d. ; for the discount 

 of is 4V. 15s. 2d. which is then retained, 

 will, if improved at 5 per cent, interest, 

 amount at the end of the year to 51. and 

 consequently the lender having then 105/. 

 will have made the same gain as he would 

 have made by retaining the money. This 

 is the true principle of discount, accord- 

 ing to which the tables published by 

 Mr. Smart are, computed; but in com- 

 mercial transactions, the general mode 

 is, to deduct from the sum to be discount- 

 ed, the simple interest on that sum for 

 the time for which it is advanced. Thus, 

 if 100/. is payable at the end of six months, 

 the discount deducted is 2/. 10s. being 

 the half of a year's interest ; or,- if 10U/. 

 is payable at the end of one month, the 

 discount deducted is 8*. 4d. being the 

 twelfth part of a year's interest. By this 

 means, although the legal rate of inter- 

 est to be received for money lent is re- 

 stricted to 5 per cent, the person who 

 employs his money in discounting makes 

 a greater rate ofnnterest, and the shorter 

 the periods are for which he discounts, 

 the greater his annual gains. In discount- 

 ing bills of exchange, the days of grace 

 are included in the time the bill has to 

 run, the discount being calculated to the 

 day on which the money is receivable. 



Discounting of bills of exchange is one 

 of the modes in which bankers employ 

 the money placed in th^ir hands : tlrey 



generally discount at 5 per cent, but in 

 time of peace, when the current prices 

 of the public funds are high, they are of- 

 ten willing to discount at 4 or 4 per 

 cent. The bank of England, and other 

 public banks, likewise employ very con- 

 siderable sums in discounting : the bank 

 of England never discount any bills which 

 have more than 65 days to run. 



Discount is likewise used for certain 

 customary allowances made by manufac- 

 turers, and wholesale dealers, to those 

 who purchase goods of them in order to 

 sell retail. In some trades this discount 

 is merely in lieu of credit, in others it is 

 made on all goods sold, whether for im- 

 mediate payment, or on credit ; and is 

 very different on different articles, being 

 on some not more than 1 or 2 per cent, 

 while on others it amounts to 50, and 

 sometimes more than 60 per cent. 



DISCRETE, or Disjunct Proportion, is 

 when the ratio of two or more pairs of 

 numbers or quantities is the same, but 

 there is not the same proportion 'be- 

 tween all the four numbers. Thus, if 

 the numbers 3 : 6 : : 8 : 16 be considered, 

 the ratio between 3 : 6 is the same as that 

 betwen 8 : 16, and therefore the num- 

 bers are proportional ; but it is only dis- 

 cretely or disjunctly, for 3 is not to 6 as 

 6 to 8 ; that is, the proportion is broken 

 oft' between 8 and 3, and is not continu- 

 ed as in the following continual propor- 

 tionals, 3 : 6 : : 12 : 24. 



DISCRETE quantity, such as is not con- 

 tinuous and joined together. Such is a 

 number, whose parts being distinct units, 

 cannot be united into one continuum ; for 

 in a continuum, there are no actual de- 

 terminate parts before division, but they 

 are potentially infinite. 



DISCUSSIO'N, in matters of literature, 

 signifies the clear treating or handling of 

 any particular point or problem, so as to 

 shake off the difficulties with which it is 

 embarrassed : thus we say, such a point 

 was well discussed, when it was well 

 treated of and cleared up. 



DISEASE, in medicine, the state of a 

 living body, wherein it is deprived of the 

 exercise of any of its functions, whether 

 vital, natural, or animal. See MEDICINE. 



DISGUISE, a counterfeit habit. Per- 

 sons doing unlawful acts in disguise are, 

 by our statutes, sometimes subjected to 

 great penalties, and even declared felons. 

 Thus, by an act, commonly called the 

 black act, persons appearing disguised 

 and armed in a forest, or grounds inclos- 

 ed, or hunting deer, or robbing a warreo 

 or a fish-pond, are declared felons 



