106 PHILOSOPHICAL TBANSACTIONS. * [aNNO 1745. 



Thus, in the accidents described, the solids are supposed to be whole and 

 elastic, the juices in sufficient quantities, their qualities no othewise vitiated than 

 by a short stagnation, from the quiescence of that moving something which en- 

 ables matter in animated bodies to overcome the resistance of the medium it 

 acts in. 



Inflating the lungs, and, by this means, communicating motion to the heart, 

 like giving the first vibratitMi to a pendulum, may possibly, in many cases, 

 enable this something to resume the government of the fabric, and actuate its 

 organs afresh, till another unavoidable necessity puts a stop to it entirely. 



It has been suggested by some acquaintances, that a pair of bellows might 

 possibly be applied with more advantage in these aises, than the blast of a man's 

 mouth ; but if any person can be got to try the charitable experiment by blowing, 

 it would seem preferable to the other; 1st. as the bellows may not be at hand, 

 2dly, as the lungs of one man may bear, without injury, as great a force as 

 those of another man can exert ; which by the bellows cannot always be deter- 

 mined ; 3dly, the warmth and moisture of the breath would be more likely to 

 promote the circulation, than the chilling air forced out of a pair of bellows.* 



Concerning a Moving Moss in the Neighbourhood oj" Church-town in Lancashire, 

 By the Rev. L. Richmond, N" 475, p. 282. 



Jan. 26, 1744-5, a part of Pilling moss was observed to rise to a surprising 

 height : after a short time it sunk as much below the level, and moved slowly 

 towards the south side : in half an hour's time it covered 20 acres of land. The 

 improved land adjoining that part of the moss, which moves is a concave circle 

 containing near 100 acres, is well nigh filled up with moss and water. In some 

 parts it is thought to be 5 yards deep. A family is driven out of their dwelling 

 house, which is quite surrounded, and the fabric tumbling down. Mr. Buttler, 

 Whitehead, and Stephen White, are the first sufferers by this uncommon acci- 

 dent. An intense frost retards the regress of the moss to-day ; but it is feared 

 it will yet spoil a gi-eat deal of land. The part of the moss which is sunk like 

 the bed of a river, runs north and south ; is above a mile in length, and near 

 half a mile in breadth ; so that it seems there is a continual current to the south. 

 A man was going over the moss when it began to move : as he was going east- 

 ward, he perceived, to his great astonishment, that the ground under his feet 

 moved southward. He turned back speedily, and had the good fortune to es- 

 cape being swallowed up. 



• Would it not seem to be a circumstance in favour of the use of the bellows, and against that of 

 blowing the breath from the mouth, tiiat this latter air, having been already breathed, is thus ren- 

 dered noxious, and little suited to restore a person almost dead ? Besides, warm air may be blown 

 from bellows as well as cold. Dr. F. seems to have attended only to the mechanical part of the res- 

 piratory process, without being aware of the chemical changes produced on the blood by atmospheric 

 air, whether drawn or forced into the lungs. 



