442 FHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS, [aNNO 166Q. 



liveries at the end of 70 successions, than it would be at the very first, from 

 either of the single hands. 



3. Lastly, in stating the proportions of credibility for any part or parts of a 

 copy, it may be observed, that in an original, not very long, good odds may 

 be laid, that a copy by a careful hand shall not have so much as a literal fault ; 

 but in one of greater length, that there may be greater odds against any mate, 

 rial error, and such as shall alter the sense; greater yet, that the sense shall 

 not be altered in any considerable point ; and still greater, if there be many 

 of these points, that the error lights not upon such a single article : as in the 

 third proposition. 



On the late M. SivammerdaTns* Treatise de Apibus; the Ahmella Ceylonensi- 

 hus,"^ and the'Faba Sancii Ignatii. \ By Dr. Hotton. N° 257, p. 305. 



Account of a Book, viz. Analysis Geometrica, sive Nova et Vera Methodus re- 

 solvendi, tarn Problemata Geometrica, quam AritJimeticas Qu^stiones. Pars 

 prima, de Planis ; Authore D. Antonio Hugone de Omerique Sanlucarense. 

 N° 257, P- 351. 



The author of this book being of opinion that the method of deducing geo- 

 metric demonstrations from an algebraic calculation, is forced and unnatural, 

 has studied how to fitid an analysis purely geometrical, from which a synthesis 

 might easily be derived, according to the method of the ancients. 



He begins with an introduction; consisting of about 20 geometric proposi- 

 tions ; which are so many lemmas, in order to make his analysis the more easy. 

 The chief proposition of his introduction, and which he has occasion to use 

 most, is this : to find two lines whose sum or difference is given, that shall be 

 reciprocal to two given lines: this comprehending the construction of quadratic 

 equations. He divides the rest of his book into four parts. In the first he 

 considers those Problems that are solved by Simple Proportions. In the 2d, he 

 considers those that are solved by using compound ratio. In the 3d, he re- 



■* The manuscripts of Swamraerdam were at length purchased by Boerhaave, who caused them 

 to be published under the title of Bibtia Naturcp. Swammerdam before his death became melan- 

 choly, and had been long a convert to the doctrines of the famous female enthusiast Madam 

 Bourignon. Seethe biographical account of Swammerdam, vol. i, p. ipo, of this Abridgment. 



-j- Verbesina Acmella. Linn. 



? The Faba Sancti Ignatii has been celebrated for its efBcacy in fevers, dysenteries, and many 

 other complaints, and is a strong bitter. It is a native of the Philippine islands. It is of a roundish 

 figure, irregular, and uneven, and about the size of a middling nutmeg, and is said to be the seed of a 

 climbing gourd-like plant. See p. 356 of this vol. 



