S W I 
s w o 
pdi a size and strength, that at length the 
k splits, and is forced to admit of the root’s 
fcer penetration; and with this little nutri- 
|t the tree increases to a stupendous size 
few years. 
D IMMING, thfc act of sustaining the 
y in water, and of moving in it, in which 
>n the air-bladder and fins of fishes bear 
i a considerable part. See Air-blad- 
jt, and Fishes. 
rvimming, as applied to human beings, 
he art of balancing the body on or near 
surface of the water, and of making a 
gress through it ; an art so useful, we might 
[so necessary, that every young person 
ht to be instructed in it; and as it is also 
holesome and pleasant exercise, it ought 
>e regularly taught at schools, as well as 
other athletic exercises. 
’he art of swimming is so antient, that we 
e no accounts ofits origin in the history of 
nation ; nor are there any nations so bar- 
ms but that swimming is known and prac- 
1 among them, and that in greater perfcc- 
than among civilized people. It is pro- 
ie, therefore, that the art, though not ab- 
tely natural, will always be acquired by 
pie in a savage state from imitating the 
be animals, most of whom swim naturally, 
eed so much does this appear to be the case, 
very expert swimmers have recommended 
' those who wished to learn, to imitate the 
ions of the frog in moving through the ele- 
it of water. 
he art of swimming depends entirely 
n keeping the body in a proper balance, 
this is easily and almost insensibly ac- 
'ed. The great obstacle is the natural 
id which people have of being drowned ; 
this it is impossible to overcome by any 
g but accustoming ourselves to go^ into 
water. With regard to the real danger of 
ijg drowned, it is but little; and on innu- 
■able occasions arises entirely from the ter- 
ibove mentioned, as will appear from the 
•wing observations by Dr. Frankiin : 
1st, That though the legs, arms, and head, 
human body, being solid parts, are spe- 
•aliy somewhat heavier than fresh water, 
the trunk, particularly the upper part, 
i its hollowness, is so much lighter than 
tv, that the whole of the body, taken to- 
ler, is too light to sink wholly under water, 
some part will remain above until the lungs 
ome filled with water ; which happens from 
ying water into them instead of air, when 
Irson in the fright attempts breathing while 
mouth and nostrils are under water. 
’ 2dly, That the legs and arms are speci- 
|y lighter than salt water, and will be slip- 
ped by it; so that a human body would 
sink in salt water though the lungs were 
d as above, but from the greater specific 
dty of the head. < 
dly, That therefore a person throwing him- 
on his back in salt water, and extending 
inns, may easily lie soastoFeep his mouth 
nostrils free for breathing ; and bv a small 
ion ofhis hands may prevent turning, if he 
lid perceive any tendency to it. 
|4thly, That in freshwater, if any man 
ftvs himself on his back near the surface, 
xmnotlong continue in that situation, but 
l proper action of his hands on the water, 
e uses no such action, the legs and lower 
[ of the body will gradually sink till ke 
OL. II. 
S W I 
comes into an upright position ; in which he 
will continue suspended, the hollow of th 
breast keeping the head uppermost. 
“ 5tbly, But if in this erect position the 
head is kept upright above the shoulders, as 
when we stand on the ground, the immersion 
will, by the weight of that part of the head 
that is out of the water, reach above the 
mouth and nostrils, perhaps a little above the 
eyes; so that a man cannot long remain sus- 
pended in water with its head in that posi- 
tion. 
“ 6thly, The bod) 7 ' continued suspended as 
before, and upright, if the head is leaned quite 
back, so that the face looks upwards, all the 
back part of the head being then under water, 
and its weight consequently in a great mea- 
sure supported by it, the face will remain 
above water quite free for breathing, will rise 
an inch higher every inspiration, and sink as 
much every expiration, but never so low 
that the water may come over the mouth 
“ 7thly, If therefore a person unacquainted 
with swimming, and falling accidentally into 
water, could have presence of mind sufficient 
to avoid struggling and plunging, and to let 
the body take this natural position, he might 
continue long safe from drowning, till per- 
haps help would come ; for as to the clothes, 
their additional weight while immersed is very 
inconsiderable, the water supporting it; 
though when he comes out of the water, he 
would find them very heavy indeed.” 
The method of learning to swim is as fol- 
lows : The person must walk into water so 
deep that it will reach to the breast. He is 
then to lie down gently on the belly, keep- 
ing the head and neck perfectly upright, the 
breast advancing forward, the thorax inflated, 
and the back bent ; then withdrawing the legs 
from the bottom, and stretching them out, 
strike the arms forwards in unison with 
the legs. Swimming on the back is somewhat 
similar to that on the belly, but with this dif- 
ference; that the legs are here chiefly em- 
ployed to move the body forwards, and the 
arms are often unemployed, for the progres- 
sive motion is derived from the movement of 
the legs. In diving, after the plunge, a per- 
son uses the same action as in swimming, only 
the head is bent downwards ; and whenever 
he chooses to return to his former situation, 
he has nothing to do but bend back his head, 
and he will immediately return to the sur- 
face. 
It is very common for novices in the art of 
swimming to make use of corks or bladders to 
assist in keeping the body above water. Some 
have utterly condemned the use of these; 
Dr. Franklin, however, allows that they may 
be of service for Supporting the body while 
one is learning what is called the stroke, or 
that manner of drawing in and striking out 
the hands and feet that is necessary to pro- 
duce progressive motion. “ But (says he) 
you will be no swimmer till you can place con- 
fidence in the power of the water to support 
you : I would therefore advise the acquiring of 
that confidence in the first place, especially as 
I have. known several who by a little of the 
practice necessary for that purpose, have insen- 
sibly acquired the stroke, taught in a manner 
by nature. 
“ The practice I mean is this : choosing a 
place where the water deepens gradually, 
walk coolly into it til) it is up to your breast: 
5 D 
S W O 76 1 
then turn round your face to the shore, and 
throw an egg into the water, between you and 
the shore ; it will sink to the bottom, and he 
easily seen there if the water is clear. Jt 
must lie in the water so deep that you can- 
not reach it to take it up but by diving for it 
To encourage yourself in order to do this, 
reflect that your progress will be from deeper 
to shallower water ; and that at any time you 
may, by bringing your legs under you, and 
standing on the bottom, raise your head far 
above the water: then plunge under it with 
your eyes open, throwing yourself towards 
the egg, and endeavouring, by the action of 
your hands and feet against the water, to, 'get 
forward till within reach of it. In this attempt 
you will find that the water buoys you up 
against your inclination ; that it is not so easy a 
thing to sink you imagined ; that you cannot 
but by active force get down to the egg, 
Thus you feel the power of the water to sup- 
port you, and learn to confide in that power ; 
while your endeavours to overcome it, and to 
reach the egg, teach you the manner of act- 
ing on the water with your feet and hands ; 
which action is afterwards used in swimming 
to support your head higher above water, or 
to go forward through it.” 
SWINE-STONE, in mineralogy. The 
texture of this substance is often earthy ; frac- 
ture splintery ; specific gravity 2.7. ; colour 
grey, of various shades. When scraped or 
pounded, it emits an urinous or garlic smell. 
SWORD, a weapon used either in cut- 
ting or thrusting; the usual weapon of fights 
hand to hand. It also signifies, figuratively, 
destruction by war ; as fire and sword. 
Sword, broad. An original weapon of 
Scotland : it is sometimes called a back sword, 
as having bu* one edge: it is basket-handled, 
and three feet two inches long. 
Sword, regulation. The sword which is 
worn by British officers may be properly called 
along cut-and-thrust. It is a manifest imita- 
tion of the Austrian sword, and has been 
lately introduced. It is not, however, so 
conveniently used by us as it is by the Aus- 
trians. The latter have it girted round their 
waists, so that it hangs without any embarrass- 
ment to the wearer dose to the left hip or 
thigh ; whereas with us, it is suspended in an 
aukward diagonal manner from a cross belt 
over the loins. 
Sword, position of, at open order. When 
an officer stands or marches in front of his 
company 7 , &c. the position of the sword is di- 
agonal across the' chest. At close order, or 
when the officer is on the flank of his com- 
pany, &c. the hilt is close to the right thigh, 
and the blade in the hollow of the right shoul- 
der. When mounted, he carries it diagonally 
across the bridle-hand. 
When troops or squadrons of cavalry ad- 
vance, in the walk, the sword is carried with 
the blade resting on the right arm ; in the 
trot and gallop, the right hand must he stea- 
died on the right thigh, the point of the sword 
rather inclining forward ; and in the charge, 
the hand is lifted, and the sword is carried ra- 
ther forward, and crossways in front of the 
head, with the edge outwards. 
SYENA, a genus of the class and order 
triandria monogynia. The calyx is three- 
leaved ; petals three ; anthers oblong; cap- 
sules oue-celled, three-valved. There is one 
species, a mossy plant of Guiana. 
