VOL. LII.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. 66/ 



considered, appear sufficient for that purpose : for in forcing any part of the wa- 

 ter contained in a hollow globe of gold through its pores by pressure, the figure 

 of the gold must be altered ; and consequently the internal space containing the 

 water diminished ; but it was impossible for the gentlemen of the academy del 

 Cimento to determine, that the water which was forced into the pores and through 

 the gold, was exactly equal to the diminution of the internal space by the 

 pressure. 



CIF. On the Solar Eclipse, October l6, 17^2. By Mr. Samuel Dunn. p. 644. 

 Mr. D. observed the solar spots instead of the sun's eclipse. 



Cf^. Remarks on the Catarrhal Disorder, which was very frequent at London arid 

 in its Neighbourhood in May 1762 ; and on the Dysentery, which prevailed the 

 following Autumn.* By IV. Watson, M.D., F.R.S. p. 646. 



In the beginning of May, 17^2, there was at London and in its neighbourhood 

 a disease, very epidemic, though not fatal, which had sometime before been very 

 prevalent both in Italy and Germany. It continued during the course of the 

 month, and some part of June. In it the breast was very much affected, and it 

 was very frequently attended with a fever. It is nearly the same disease which 

 was at London in April and May 1743, and then called influenza, the name applied 

 to it in Italy. Dr. W. remarks that it is very well described by Dr. Huxham in 

 the 2d vol. of his work, entitled, De Aere et Morbis Epidemicis, p. 101. Tho* 

 of the same catarrhal kind, it was by no means so severe or so fatal as the disease 

 of Feb. 1733, of which there is likewise a history in the 1st vol. of the above 

 mentioned work, p. 80. The disorder, though very general, seemed to attack the 

 women more severely than the men. Much bleeding did harm; and where there was 

 no fever, which was frequently the case, the patients recovered equally well with- 

 out it. Even without bleeding, or other evacuations, some, more especially wo- 

 men and lax-fibred men, were much debilitated during its whole continuance. 

 The blood in most was not sizy ; but the crassamentum was tender and the 

 serum bilious. Where the heat was great, gentle emetics brought up much bile, 

 and very much lessened the inflammatory state of tlie disease. The rest was to 

 be left to blisters, if the cough was very troublesome and the stricture on the 

 breast severe, balsamic medicines, gentle opiates, and light broths ; carefully 

 avoiding cordials of every denomination and volatiles. Towards the end of the 

 disorder, after gentle evacuations by stool, decoctions of Cort. Peruv. were of sig- 

 nal service, both in recruiting the strength, and carrying oft^the remaining cough. 



In the disorder of 1743, the skin was very frequently inflamed, when the fever. 



* Of this catarrhal disorder (influenza) and dysentery a more complete account was afterward* 

 published, in an elegant Latin dissertation, by Sir G, Baker. 



4 Q 2 



