298 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [aNN0 1668. 



Having assigned this cause, he endeavours thence to deduce all the appear- 

 ances and symptoms peculiar to this disease, and suggests that upon that ground 

 it ought to be the main intention of the physician to remove such obstructions, 

 and to strengthen the nerves : subjoining a general method for curing this in- 

 firmity, and specifying the principal remedies both internal and external to be 

 used therein ; among which he chiefly recommends the spirits of sal ammoniac, 

 hartshorn, blood, urine, soot, as such, that by the high volatility and subtle- 

 ness of their parts are able to dislodge those obstructions which cause this 

 disease.* 



II. A Discourse concerning Physic, and the many Abuses thereof by the 

 Apothecaries. London, An. 1668, in 8vo. 



In this discourse there is nothing sufficiently interesting to require notice. 



A New and Universal Method for working Convex Spherical Glasses on 

 a Plane. By S. Mancini. N" 42, p. 837. 



This method is found in an Italian book entitled L'Occhiale all* Occhio, 

 'overo Dioptrica, Prattica del Carlo Ant. Mancini, in Bologna 1660, in 4to. It 

 treats of light ; of the refraction of rays ; of the eye and the sight ; and also of 

 the considerable helps that may be affbrded to the eye, to make it see what is 

 almost incredible. Besides which there are delivered in it the practical rules 

 for working spectacles for all sorts of sights, and especially telescopical glasses 

 for observing the planets and fixed stars by sea and land ; and others to mag- 

 nify the smallest of near objects thousands of times. There is also among the 

 rest, a particular way, called new and universal, for making convex-glasses on a 

 plane for all practicable lengths of diameters of spheres, without other dishes or 

 concave moulds ; which is as follows : 



To give a spherical figure to a plane by a plane, which at first sight may 

 seem a paradox, by moving one plane on another by a circular motion, pro- 

 ceed in this manner : Let the piece to which the glass to be wrought is fastened 

 be adjusted in the head of a pole, which is to be of such length as the semi- 

 diameter of the sphere of the lens requires ; and on the stool or form where 



* In the disease termed rickets there appears to be a deficiency of ossific matter (phosphate of 

 lime). Hence, in addition to the usual strengthening measures, such as a nourishing diet, country air 

 and chalybeates, some physicians have of late recommended the internal use of phosphate of lime 

 joined with phosphate of soda, washing the surface of the body at the same time with potash dissolved 

 in water. Perhaps however the latter part of the treatment here mentioned will be regarded by some 

 as too chemical j since if we improve by the first mentioned remedies the general state of health, and 

 with it the processes of digestion, nutrition and secretion, a healthy ossification will necessarily 

 follow. 



