310 LETTERS ON NATURAL MAGIC. 



he brought both ends of it together before hiin, and he 

 then pulled it almost straight again. This last feat was 

 the most difficult, because the muscles which separate the 

 arms horizontally from each other are not so strong as 

 those which bring them together. 



8. He broke a rope about two inches in circumference, 

 which was partly wound about a cylinder four inches in 

 diameter, having fastened the other end of it to straps that 

 went over his shoulder. 



9. Dr. Desaguliers saw him lift a rolling stone of about 

 800 Ibs. weight with his hands only, standing in a frame 

 above it, and taking hold of a frame fastened to it. Hence 

 Dr. Desaguliers gives the following relative view of the 

 strengths of individuals : 



Strength of the weakest men - - 125 Ibs. 

 Strength of very strong men - - 400 

 Strength of Topham - - - 800 

 The weight of Topham was about 200. 



One of the most remarkable and inexplicable experiments 

 relative to the strength of the human frame, which you 

 have yourself seen and admired, is that in which a heavy 

 man is raised with the greatest facility, when he is lifted 

 up the instant that his own lungs and those of the persons 

 who raise him are inflated with air. This experiment 

 was, I believe, first shown in England a few years ago by 

 Major H., who saw it performed in a large party at Venice 

 under the direction of an officer of the American Navy. 

 As Major H. performed it more than once in my presence, 

 I shall describe as nearly as possible the method which he 

 prescribed. The heaviest person in the party lies down 

 upon two chairs, his legs being supported by the one and 

 his back by the other. Four persons, one at each leg, and 

 one at each shoulder, then try to raise him, and they find 

 his dead weight to be very great, .from the difficulty they 

 experience in supporting him. When he is replaced in 



